I'm figuring on opening my springfield 1911 up and replacing the hammer,trigger,safety,grip safety, etc.

If anyone has experience with Wilson Combat parts (particularly "drop-in beavertail grip safety") or other aftermarket-type parts.  ie: installation/performance. I would appreciate any warnings/considerations.

also, what would be a nice complemant of tools for this project.

You might want to check out 1911forum.com  theres lots of good information on there.

Wilson`s are one of the best ways to go.....get the ultralite $35 trigger....trust me on that one........

I just did what you are talking about a couple of weeks ago, minus the new trigger.

I used Wilson drop in beavertail (fit as well as a non-frame altering one could), value line hammer and sear, and reduced weight hammer spring.  The parts were excellent.

For tools I recommend a fine grit stone and maybe a medium grit for polishing the trigger mechanism sliding points.  I left the sear and hammer hook geometry alone since they came from Wilson better than I could have made them as far as shape and polish.  I used a very fine tooth file and one of the above mentioned stones to fit the grip safety.  Other tools a screw driver that fits the grip screws, a small dia. punch to disassembly the mainspring housing.

For instructions see the Blind Hogg website and Boderous(sp?) custom guns.  Hint (learned the hard way):  Make certain you know how to remove the magazine button before you bugger the screw.

Results crisp 4# pull w/o creep.  It is a series 80 so I have some take-up and w/o the new trigger I have some over travel.  I'll install the trigger latter.

Good luck! I learned a lot about my 1911 from this project.

Ian

You can't go wrong with Wilson parts!

The most important thing for your project is to make sure your completed 45 passes all of the safety tests for thumb safety, disconnector, and grip safety. There are different function tests for all of these, please make sure your pistol passes them all.

Oh there is also a test to check that the hammer stays at full cock and doesn't follow the slide back to battery.

OK, I have just installed a Smith and Alexander beavertail safety last night and it is awesome, but the gun will release the hammer when in the "half cocked" mode. Any ideas? I have a Wilson ambi thumb safety , sear and hammer that will be here monday if that is the fix but I dont think it is.

Quoted: For instructions see the Blind Hogg website and Boderous(sp?) custom guns.  Hint (learned the hard way):  Make certain you know how to remove the magazine button before you bugger the screw. Ian

What is the trick on removing the mag release button??

I've never had a problem with any of the Wilson parts that I've used....Oh my belt buckle still works fine too.

What is the trick on removing the mag release button??

The little part that looks like a screw on the right side of the mag catch is called the mag catch lock.  Although it looks like a screw, it isn't.  You simply turn it about 90 degrees, then you can pull the mag catch out.  It's easy to remove, as long as you don't think the little piece that looks like a screw is a screw.  If you try turning it, you can break the tab off of it.  That's what Green_Canoe is warning about.z

Thanks to every one for your responses- particularly the advice about the mag release lock.

I'm sure, with some looking, I'll find some advice on springs and the like.

Get the two Kuhnhausen 1911 shop manuals.

You can get them at Brownells (and other places), and they're probably the most valuable information resources any 1911 owner could ever want.

Not much of a plot, but they're good books anyway

Bill Wilson sells a few books also.....available at most gun shops.......

Quoted: Thanks to every one for your responses- particularly the advice about the mag release lock. I'm sure, with some looking, I'll find some advice on springs and the like.

                                        Wilsons are tops....but here`s a few others.....ed brown.....gil heben.....dpms.....these are some of the best.....also...chip mccormik.....use wollf springs......and get a brownell`s catalog.......you`ll have all the bases covered........

Anybody tried the barrels? They make a barrel and bushing combination in stainless that interests me.
E. Pluribus Uterus

I'm in the process of upgrading mine as well.

Here it is:


For more info, take a look at this thread at 1911forum.com: www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12959

If you want, i'll post more info.

BTW my beavertail is from King's Gunworks, it is a drop-in.