Colt Series 70 Accuracy

[esp1]

I have three older version Series 70 Colt Govt models and one has never been an accurate shooter. The other two shoot, one is a Gold Cup National Match, just fine.

Everything functions fine and I never have jams or ejection issues etc. but seriously the inaccurate one can't hit the broad side of a barn. Sometimes I'll shoot at a target at 7 yards and I cannot get on target at all!

I'm not the best of shots, but I can shoot any other gun without any issue and get respectable groups on paper.

I was told by folks on another forum that it could be that I don't know how to shoot a 1911 properly, which I kind of reject because I do good with my other two.

I read about barrel fit, bushing fit and slide fit and I've fired the gun from the bench as well to the same effect.

Was hoping there might be some inkling of where to start on trying to figure out what is going on here. I have the box and papers for this one so I'd like to really fix this gun as it is a complete kit and I always figured it would be my keeper but it really bugs me that it won't shoot very well.

thank you!

[RR.44]

I would say start with the barrel and bushing, then go from there, is the trigger heavy and causing you to pull it to one side? Let someone else try it and see if they can help you determine a cause.

[FeuerFrei]

If you can't get on paper at 7 yds then use bigger paper.
Have someone else shoot it to see if they get the same results.

['ol shooter]

1911's that don't shoot suffer from tolerance stacking, slop in the slide, barrel lock-up and bushing all contribute to poor accuracy. The bushing is a good place to start. If it fits loosely in the slide, you will have to fit an over-sized bushing. The slide is more involved, pinching it and the frame rails in a specific spot to lock up securely in battery, and still be free in recoil. You have to decide on a cost vs. benefit, depending on your budget and accuracy needs. Series 70's also had that awful finger bushing, which needs to be replaced with a solid bushing anyhow.

[Dutch Henry]

All of the Series 70 Colts that I've owned had MK IV Collet Bushings and reverse tapered barrels. The bushing had 'fingers' that supplied tension to the barrel when the slide was locked. The reverse taper provided the tight lockup and also allowed the pistol to cycle properly.

Though I never experienced it, one common malady with the collet bushing was breakage of the 'fingers'. It was always wise to have a spare bushing on hand.

Accuracy as you describe seems to indicate a pistol that is badly worn or has had parts replaced.

You should consider a trip to the local pistolsmith and have it checked out.

[GM4spd]

There is nothing wrong with finger type bushings on series 70 pistols. If your
Gold Cup has a better trigger then the other two pistols,you might swap the
complete slide assembly (including the barrel and bushing) from the one that doesn't shoot well and mount it on your GC to see how it does. Pete

[klewan]

There is nothing wrong with finger type bushings on series 70 pistols. If your
Gold Cup has a better trigger then the other two pistols,you might swap the
complete slide assembly (including the barrel and bushing) from the one that doesn't shoot well and mount it on your GC to see how it does. Pete

+1, that is what I was going to suggest. Most of us don't have multiple copies of the same gun, so we don't have the chance to swap parts. When I first read your post, I thought the peeps on the other forum were correct about your ability. But I reread it, and saw you could hit the paper with the GC, so it's back to the gun....