To continue the theme of CZ finalized its purchase of Colt, i took the Series 70 Gold Cup Trophy out and shot it against the CZ Shadow 2 Orange. Both are 9mm, of course. In the case of the Colt it’s the original Browning 9x23 SR (that’s .38 Super to you inches people), while the Orange is 9mm Luger.
As always, the links to Colt and CZ for those who want to read factory spiels.
www.colt.com
The GCT had me scratching my head because at MSRP of $1749 it’s a spendy piece for not much gun. Allow me to elaborate: this gun maybe geared towards competition (mag well chute, Bomar style sights, checkered front and rear straps) but it doesn’t have any hand tuning for mechanical accuracy or trigger tuning for competition shooting. So why did I buy it? Because it’s a Colt .38 Super and I got a good discount on the price plus I was COVID19 bored.
In contrast, the Shadow 2 Orange benefited from factory trigger tuning and barrel fitting via barrel bushing and general hand fitting. The GCT felt sloppy like typical service grade Colt while the Orange feels tight unlike typical service grade CZ 75. Yes, the Orange is MSRP at $2245, but if one were to look at the Shadow 2 Blue at around MSRP 1359, that gun was made with superior fit - maybe not hand fitted but still superior fit and finish.
Before the Colt haters started to whine about the lack of tight fit, a) the Colts shoot great with sloppy slide to frame fit and no barrel budging to barrel fitting at all. Tight frame to slide fit on a 1911 doesn’t mean Jack when it comes to accuracy.
Going in with known disadvantages but how much disadvantage does the Colt truly have?
The GCT’s trigger pull is good for service pistol but atrocious for a competition piece. It’s heavier and grittier than its cheaper brethren the Competition. This is my biggest pet peeve with Colt - inconsistent quality control. My 8-years-old Series 80 GCT had the best trigger I’ve encountered from anything 1911 short of custom job. It’s truly a dice roll with Colt.
The skeleton trigger shoe is also wider. Good for bullseye? Maybe, but not with the current nasty take up and break. Bomar style rear sight gave slightly improved sight picture over the Novak but from sight is the same fiber optic across the various Colts that have this front sight. Checkered front and rear straps are well done and functional.
The Orange iron sights are the same as the Blue, which gives excellent sight picture and sight alignment. The trigger is tuned for even cleaner and lighter break in the one on the Blue. Fitted barrel bushing too. Checkered front and rear straps are comfortable and sticky.
You guys already know what I’m gonna say: feel and balance go to Colt. Even the mag chute didn’t change the good natural feel of the Government Model at all.
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![939134]( "939134")
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![939136]( "939136")
As always, the links to Colt and CZ for those who want to read factory spiels.
Gold Cup - Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
www.colt.com
The GCT had me scratching my head because at MSRP of $1749 it’s a spendy piece for not much gun. Allow me to elaborate: this gun maybe geared towards competition (mag well chute, Bomar style sights, checkered front and rear straps) but it doesn’t have any hand tuning for mechanical accuracy or trigger tuning for competition shooting. So why did I buy it? Because it’s a Colt .38 Super and I got a good discount on the price plus I was COVID19 bored.
In contrast, the Shadow 2 Orange benefited from factory trigger tuning and barrel fitting via barrel bushing and general hand fitting. The GCT felt sloppy like typical service grade Colt while the Orange feels tight unlike typical service grade CZ 75. Yes, the Orange is MSRP at $2245, but if one were to look at the Shadow 2 Blue at around MSRP 1359, that gun was made with superior fit - maybe not hand fitted but still superior fit and finish.
Before the Colt haters started to whine about the lack of tight fit, a) the Colts shoot great with sloppy slide to frame fit and no barrel budging to barrel fitting at all. Tight frame to slide fit on a 1911 doesn’t mean Jack when it comes to accuracy.
Going in with known disadvantages but how much disadvantage does the Colt truly have?
The GCT’s trigger pull is good for service pistol but atrocious for a competition piece. It’s heavier and grittier than its cheaper brethren the Competition. This is my biggest pet peeve with Colt - inconsistent quality control. My 8-years-old Series 80 GCT had the best trigger I’ve encountered from anything 1911 short of custom job. It’s truly a dice roll with Colt.
The skeleton trigger shoe is also wider. Good for bullseye? Maybe, but not with the current nasty take up and break. Bomar style rear sight gave slightly improved sight picture over the Novak but from sight is the same fiber optic across the various Colts that have this front sight. Checkered front and rear straps are well done and functional.
The Orange iron sights are the same as the Blue, which gives excellent sight picture and sight alignment. The trigger is tuned for even cleaner and lighter break in the one on the Blue. Fitted barrel bushing too. Checkered front and rear straps are comfortable and sticky.
You guys already know what I’m gonna say: feel and balance go to Colt. Even the mag chute didn’t change the good natural feel of the Government Model at all.
