Post by "DoubleAction" on Sept 25, 2004 19:46:21 GMT -5
The Gold Cup Trophy is for all practical purposes, a Target Grade 1911 pistol, chambered for the .45 acp. This model is the stainless version, featuring the factory installed BoMar rear sight, "Round Top" slide, dove tail front sight, and three hole trigger.
These pistols come from the factory with the lowered and flared ejection ports, trigger jobs, throated barrel chambers, polished feed ramps, stainless steel flat checkered mainspring housing, beveled magazine well, and the narrowed Gold Cup barrel hood. One feature about all the Colt Gold Cups is the wide trigger, and the wide channel groove milled into the frame. These wide triggers can make a 4 lb. trigger break seem like 2 lbs.
This pistol is factory stock, from Colt's Custom Shop, with the exception of a drop in Wilson Combat Grip Safety. Colt's Grip Safety was the very first thing to go upon purchasing the pistol; The safety was purchased at the same time as the pistol. For the price I paid for this pistol, new, ( $859.), I think one would be hard pressed in finding the target shooter, that this pistol represents.
Because of the wide rear sight blade on the BoMar, this pistol will not do for carry; The higher front patridge sight testifies to this also. One should not expect the slide edges on these pistols to be beveled off; They are very defined.
I've taken this pistol to the range and compared it side by side with a stainless Wilson Protector, putting over 300 rds through each during one session.
The front sight on the Trophy is black, no white dot, just black; Picking up on it is not as fast as with some others, but one will get accustomed to it after a little time. On the day with the Wilson, I had gotten so bored with 10 rings, I began cutting the outline of the target out from the outside edges, until the entire target was one big hole. One of the range guys walked over, I handed it to him, and he was shooting at the target logo at the top corner. Accuracy is no problem with this pistol, and I shot it as well as the Wilson, so much in fact, later on I was offered an incredible deal on the Wilson and turned it down. All total; I've put around 2,000 rds through this pistol with no malfunctions, using the same factory recoil spring, detail stripping and cleaning between each session of 300 to 400 rds each.
Because this pistol comes with the Commander style hammer, the grip tangs are much shorter than a standard long spur hammer found on the Government Models and earlier Gold Cups. This makes the Wilson Drop In grip safety work for obtaining a higher grip in relationship to the bore and recoil of the slide. Not as high as a custom fitted safety, but good.
Out of the box, the trigger broke clean at around 3 1/2 lbs; That is excellent for a Series 80 pistol with the internal firing pin safety levers; Which is another feature added to this pistol for those starting off; The Series 80 Firing Pin Safety block. The only way the firing pin can pass to the primer cap on the cartridge, is for the trigger to be depressed to the rear. Even then, the thumb safety will have to be disengaged, and the grip safety will have to be depressed, in order to assure the firing of the cartridge.
Field Stripping the Trophy is no different from any standard 1911; Remove the barrel bushing, releasing the tension on the recoil spring, move the silde to the slide stop notch, remove the slide stop, and release the slide to gain entry to the removale of the guide rod and barrel.
Detail stripping the Trophy is a little different from it's National Match brother, because the Trophy lacks in the dreaded " Sear Depressor Lever". That is a big plus, added to the factory BoMar, and BoMar slide cut.
Properly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained, the Trophy will service the needs of most anyone who is looking for a target grade 1911, at a reasonable price. One thing to check out with the Colts is a good slide to frame fit, tight barrel lockup, tight bushing, and smooth trigger. Although the Model number might match, there are variances found at different times when a pistol is manufactured. Both the vertical and horizonal fit of the slide should be checked, not just the Colts, but any semi-auto, before deciding on a purchase.
These pistols come from the factory with the lowered and flared ejection ports, trigger jobs, throated barrel chambers, polished feed ramps, stainless steel flat checkered mainspring housing, beveled magazine well, and the narrowed Gold Cup barrel hood. One feature about all the Colt Gold Cups is the wide trigger, and the wide channel groove milled into the frame. These wide triggers can make a 4 lb. trigger break seem like 2 lbs.
This pistol is factory stock, from Colt's Custom Shop, with the exception of a drop in Wilson Combat Grip Safety. Colt's Grip Safety was the very first thing to go upon purchasing the pistol; The safety was purchased at the same time as the pistol. For the price I paid for this pistol, new, ( $859.), I think one would be hard pressed in finding the target shooter, that this pistol represents.
Because of the wide rear sight blade on the BoMar, this pistol will not do for carry; The higher front patridge sight testifies to this also. One should not expect the slide edges on these pistols to be beveled off; They are very defined.
I've taken this pistol to the range and compared it side by side with a stainless Wilson Protector, putting over 300 rds through each during one session.
The front sight on the Trophy is black, no white dot, just black; Picking up on it is not as fast as with some others, but one will get accustomed to it after a little time. On the day with the Wilson, I had gotten so bored with 10 rings, I began cutting the outline of the target out from the outside edges, until the entire target was one big hole. One of the range guys walked over, I handed it to him, and he was shooting at the target logo at the top corner. Accuracy is no problem with this pistol, and I shot it as well as the Wilson, so much in fact, later on I was offered an incredible deal on the Wilson and turned it down. All total; I've put around 2,000 rds through this pistol with no malfunctions, using the same factory recoil spring, detail stripping and cleaning between each session of 300 to 400 rds each.
Because this pistol comes with the Commander style hammer, the grip tangs are much shorter than a standard long spur hammer found on the Government Models and earlier Gold Cups. This makes the Wilson Drop In grip safety work for obtaining a higher grip in relationship to the bore and recoil of the slide. Not as high as a custom fitted safety, but good.
Out of the box, the trigger broke clean at around 3 1/2 lbs; That is excellent for a Series 80 pistol with the internal firing pin safety levers; Which is another feature added to this pistol for those starting off; The Series 80 Firing Pin Safety block. The only way the firing pin can pass to the primer cap on the cartridge, is for the trigger to be depressed to the rear. Even then, the thumb safety will have to be disengaged, and the grip safety will have to be depressed, in order to assure the firing of the cartridge.
Field Stripping the Trophy is no different from any standard 1911; Remove the barrel bushing, releasing the tension on the recoil spring, move the silde to the slide stop notch, remove the slide stop, and release the slide to gain entry to the removale of the guide rod and barrel.
Detail stripping the Trophy is a little different from it's National Match brother, because the Trophy lacks in the dreaded " Sear Depressor Lever". That is a big plus, added to the factory BoMar, and BoMar slide cut.
Properly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained, the Trophy will service the needs of most anyone who is looking for a target grade 1911, at a reasonable price. One thing to check out with the Colts is a good slide to frame fit, tight barrel lockup, tight bushing, and smooth trigger. Although the Model number might match, there are variances found at different times when a pistol is manufactured. Both the vertical and horizonal fit of the slide should be checked, not just the Colts, but any semi-auto, before deciding on a purchase.
Top : Colt Gold Cup Trophy, with a Dlask Trigger, Wilson Beavertail Grip Safety, and Coca Bolo Grips
....Bottom : Colt Gold Cup National Match
....Bottom : Colt Gold Cup National Match
