Series 70 Colt Government Cracked Frame

[Brick]

So I was able to get a few hours in at the range today and I took along my favorite cal. .45 bullseye pistol. A Clark Heavy Slide that has been modified to accept a Weigand frame mounted bridge base for a red dot sight.

During the course of shooting, I noticed a crack at the rear of the dust cover. Now I need to know, ist it repairable? And if it is, how?

I'm pretty peeved because this is my favorite pistol and I've used it in competition since the mid 1970s. I've fired tens of thousands rounds through it.

[jdlv4_0]

Give EGW a call, you might be able to have the crack welded, but in all honesty I'd just get a new frame and have the slide and parts properly fitted.

That sucks that it cracked, I hope you can get it fixed.

Prices from EGW (under gunsmithing services/repairs)

Weld and redrill bolt face to correct primer erosion $50.00
Weld and recut and polish feed ramp in frame .45 $60.00
Replace stripped/loose grip bushing with O/S bushing (each) $15.00
Weld and recut disconnector track (series 80) $50.00
Repair cracked dust cover (per side) $40.00
Replace front strap with HI-GRIP insert $175.00
Carry bevel package to remove sharp edges $50.00
Weld and recut width of bolt face (Colt) $50.00

EGW did some killer work on my Kimber and I like to try and keep my guns in the state

[Lougotzz]

This should is actually a complement towars colt. 10's of thousands of rounds. Thats pretty good. Sorry it cracked but that is a lot of rounds.

[Brick]

Now I'm in a quandry. I just got a call from the 'smith and he tells me the frame has more than one crack and he doesn't believe it's repairable.

So here are my options, buy a new frame (say Baer) and have the innards from the old pistol installed, & fit the old slide to the new frame. (est'd cost $600)

Buy a new Clark or Baer bullseye (wadcutter) pistol (est'd cost $1700). The down side to this is that here in NE PA there is no NRA Conventional Pistol competition!

Give up on the wadcutter gun and stick with my Hardball (Clark Hardballer Series 80, I hate the trigger) gun. completely.

[chalmitch]

Buy the new frame and install the old guts. That way you have a gun that you love to handle and fire. If you ever find a match then you got the tools.

Best regards,
chalmitch

[Brick]

Buy the new frame and install the old guts. That way you have a gun that you love to handle and fire. If you ever find a match then you got the tools.

Best regards,
chalmitch

Just got the gun back from the 'smith. Turns out the frame isn't just cracked, it's also bent downward about 1/16". I tried to see if the old slide would fit my hardball gun but it doesn't slide on and I really see no way of fitting the two without doing some work on the hardball frame which would screw up the fit of the hardball slide. So a new frame it is, I believe it'll be a Les Baer since it's a forged frame not a casting. All of the internals seem to be in fine shape, and the Nowlin titanium nitride coated sear and disconnector look brand new! (I also notice they are no longer listed in Brownell's catalog) Ain't it a b**ch when they stop making things because they're too good!

I'm also going to use a slide mounted base for the red dot instead of the frame mounted bridge.

[Broom Rider]

The parts may not be out of production, they may have been discontinued due to slow sales or the agreement for distribution of those parts may have lapsed and not been renewed.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Did you gun have the Giles Slide Guide on the end of the dust cover?

[Brick]

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Did you gun have the Giles Slide Guide on the end of the dust cover?

Thanks!

I've never heard of the "Slide Guide" nor have I ever seen it cataloged.

[Broom Rider]

The slide guide appears to look like a small horse shoe shaped thing on the end of the dust cover, and would have two small screws in it that would bear up on the slide when it locks up.