Colt Gold Cup

Does anyone like these?  They don't seem to be mentioned here much.

IMO there are much better options at the price than a Colt for Bullseye (or for anything for that matter)

They can be built into a reputable Bullsye gun using accurails and a competent gunsmith

If you have one then shoot it. Mine shoots very respectable groups. Like most pistols in today's world the older ones are better. If you can get your hands on a older 70 series you have a great starting platform. Sure the Sprinfield Range Officer is a better place to start if having to buy new. But dang they are ugly.

+1 with len, If you want to go with Gold Cup NM, i recommend before 1980 series 70, think the old ones are better than actual productions. If you want a new 1911, go with Springfield range officer.

I've worked on several series 70 Colts and Gold Cups this year. The slide internals are very rough from machining and very common for slide lugs to be off center or has poorly machined lug. The frame slot for the barrels is commonly off center as well. The frame to slide fit can vary from 0.005" - 0.010" loose. They require tradeoffs when being accurized. They will turn out to be good pistols, but requires more work by pistolsmith to compensate for poor machining and tolerances. They are nearly my last choice to use for a pistol build. They do make pretty pistols when refinished, but in the BE game lack in comparison to modern pistols.
Jon

when i started shooting in the late 60s, i bought a gold cup. and had work done by old new jersey master Joe K, perth amboy. he told me it would never shoot as good as a colt government model because the slides used were softer on the gold cup and did not hold up. what he said seems to have had some merit as i never shot then as well as regular colts. today there are many other brands that can build fine bullseye guns.

Purchased mine new in 2018 and it was poorly fitted from the factory. I should have sent it back. Trigger was nice and crisp. A friend fitted a new barrel and bushing, so it's accurate now. Using it for my Nelson conversion. That should give you a clue how I feel about my experience with the gun. 

Best 
Arthur

Well I ended up buying a new one.  Mainly because of the looks.  Hoping it will be semi tight and accurate. It will be a bring to the range gun and shoot some plates or bowling pins and not for bullseye.  In my area there is only indoors at 50 ft. for bullseye.  Now I have to wait a week maybe two for it to get shipped.  It might take me that long to find some ammo.

The newer Gold Cup is machined better than the older ones. Frame to slide has not been as good as RO in most cases. They build nicely!
Jon

I bought a Series 70 Gold Cup in the mid 70’s, replaced the collet bushing with a solid, fitted one and have been shooting it every since. Maybe I just got a good one but I have been very pleased with it. I have never felt equipment limited in a match.

Gold cups are one of my most favorite pistols.  I like the style and they fit me well.  Pretty pistols. The new models are built with better tolerances today and can be massaged into nice wad Guns.  But as most top gurus will attest, the SA and Government models are their faves.

Just to be clear, my previous comments were specifically related to series 70 GC and later about the new one. All 1911 pistols are capable of being built into match winning pistols. I have built a RIA 45 that shoots 1.5" at 50 and shooters first ever clean targets were shot with it. So having said this, shoot what ya brung! Guns are usually not what limit the shooter, it's between their ears.
Jon

60 s vintage (and earlier) slides were soft hence the AMU among others had accurizing manuals and procedures that called for squeezing the slide to get tighter slide- frame fit. This method is bad news for the hard 70 series because many didn't recognize the difference and cracked the slide.

Just like the Arrmy manuals are wrong for disassembly of a modern match pistol, so all other written data must be taken in context of when it was written.

I ended up put my new Gold Cup up for sale.  I bought it for plate shooting and my thinking was with the weight of the gun and shooting a light load  it would work out good. Now I know I should of went with a 9mm.  Anyone interested in a beautiful gun it's listed in the classified.