Series 70 vs 80 for carry — does the firing pin safety actually matter?

Question

I'm looking at used 1911s for carry and keep seeing people split on Series 70 vs Series 80. The firing pin safety on the 80 sounds like a good thing in theory, but I've also read that it adds creep or that Series 70s are "proven." I don't have strong hands yet, so if there's a real difference in trigger feel, that matters to me.

Is the firing pin safety actually a meaningful safety feature for carry, or is this one of those internet debates? And does it change how the gun shoots?

I live in Massachusetts if that's relevant to the liability question people mention.

Vic Calloway · Accepted Answer

jmb's right on the drop safety mechanics, but I want to walk you through what the plunger actually does to trigger travel, because that's where the real cost lives.

The Series 80 plunger sits on top of the firing pin. When you press the trigger, you're not just moving the sear—you're also fighting that plunger down against spring pressure until the hammer falls enough to clear it. That's not creep in the traditional sense. It's additional resistance *before* the sear breaks.

How much? Depends on the plunger spring and how much hand-fitting the gunsmith did. A stock 80, you're looking at maybe 2–3 pounds of extra effort over the first quarter-inch of press. Some guns worse. A properly fitted 80 where someone's relieved the plunger track and tuned the spring? Barely noticeable.

Here's what I'd ask you: When you dry-fire a 70 (safely, hammer down), does the trigger feel like it breaks clean to you, or do you notice grittiness? And when you handle used 80s, does the extra resistance feel like something you could train through, or does it feel sluggish?

If you're genuinely building press strength, a heavier trigger isn't your enemy—inconsistency is. A Series 70 with a rough sear or a Series 80 that hasn't been gone through will both teach you bad habits. Either gun in competent hands is fine. Either gun neglected will disappoint you.

I'd let the gun itself tell you, not the series number.

Earl Whitmore · Answer

The firing pin safety is real, but not the way most people talk about it. It's a drop safety. If your gun falls, the Series 80 plunger prevents the firing pin from moving forward if the hammer hasn't fallen all the way. Series 70 relies on the half-cock notch alone.

Now. The Series 70 half-cock notch works fine if it's in spec and you don't abuse the gun. Millions of them never had a problem. But "fine" and "safer" aren't the same word. The 80 closes a gap.

On the trigger: yes, the plunger adds friction. It's not the disaster people claim, but you will feel it. Could be a few ounces of creep, might be nothing depending on the gun's internals. If your hands aren't strong yet, that's a real consideration—every bit of resistance matters when you're building press.

Here's what I'd tell you: if you're carrying for real, the Series 80 is the more complete design. Firing pin safeties matter less when the gun is holstered, but drop testing a carry gun is a reasonable thing to care about. Get a Series 80 with a good trigger job if creep bothers you. Brownells or a decent smith can run one out at under $500 total.

If you find a Series 70 that shoots clean and the price is right, it won't bite you. But I wouldn't seek one out for duty carry just to avoid the plunger.

David Walsh · Answer

Both of you nailed the mechanics. I'm adding the liability layer, because OP mentioned Massachusetts and carry, and that's where the Series 70 vs. 80 question stops being academic.

Massachusetts requires you to carry under a License to Carry (LTC). Your licensee has a duty of care. If your firearm discharges as a result of a drop—negligent storage, dropped holster, whatever—and someone is injured, a plaintiff's attorney will absolutely subpoena the gun's design specs. They will ask: "Why did the defendant choose a Series 70 when a Series 80 with a mechanical firing pin safety was available?"

You don't have to answer that question the way I'm framing it. But that's the frame they'll use.

The Series 80 plunger doesn't eliminate drop-fire risk—nothing does—but it's a documented mechanical barrier. In a negligence or products-liability deposition, having chosen the gun with *fewer* safeties is discoverable and admissible. Whether it's determinative of liability is a different question, and that depends on facts, jurisdiction, insurance, and your lawyer. But you've just made your lawyer's job harder.

If you're carrying for lawful self-defense under an LTC in Massachusetts, the Series 80 is the defensible choice. Not because it's theoretically safer (though jmb's right that it is), but because you can articulate why you chose it and you can show a jury or investigator that you considered the design.

Everything shop.rat said about trigger feel and training is real. Get the gun that shoots cleanest for *you*. But if all else is equal, the 80 closes a liability door the 70 doesn't.

Talk to a lawyer about your specific carry scenario and homeowner's or self-defense insurance before you strap anything.