Posted: 10/24/2011 10:07:35 AM EDT
| I'm looking at getting another 1911A1, all the ones I've ever owned were Colts. There are many manufacturers out there, and I'm thinking of maybe building my own. I was wondering about the cast frames and slides and how durable they are vs the forged. If I go with building my own, what parts actually need to be "fitted", I've never built one from parts. I'm looking to spend around $1000-1200.00 on a 5" government .45 and was wondering if it would be better to build one or just try to find a good quality one for that price. |
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cast vs forged is like 9mm vs 45.
each group has some good and some bad. a lot of people bad mouth cast, but there are a lot of guns, not just 1911's that are cast frames. 2 or 3 of the top names use cast frames for 1911's. Caspian, STI, are the two I know off the top of my head. as for building one, unless you have all the tools you need already, you will have to double what you planned on spending for tools alone to complete the build. I got a tool list from the vicker's build class and I just did a quick search and added up cost in the 2200 range. no gun parts in that, as they ordered them in bulk for the class. So I would probably buy for that price. and there are some darn nice one's too. not up to the quality of a hand built vicker's but still very nice. |
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Ruger is, maybe the only company, I would have no fear from owning an all cast 1911. (frame and slide I mean)
Are RIA cast too? I would own one of those too, but I would probably use other pistols I own for carry/SD/HD/SHTF. ( unless I got to really trust it) Honestly though, for what other 1911s cost, Colt is (IMHO) a nice value. Can't really go wrong going that direction. |
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Quoted:
Skip cast slides. Caspian and Ruger both use cast STI uses both cast and barstock (some builders call this forged that would be a lie). for 1200 you can purchase one hell of a gi 1911. To be fair barstock is forged, its not drop press forged but the bar steel has all the qualities of forged steel. The bars are shaped and sized on roller mills and some times even pressed forged. Cast steel on the other hand is not forged either hot or cold. |
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They do forge frames...or at least use to.
I've seen pics of the drop-forge machine..and pics of the drop forged slug..(shaped like a 1911 frame)..ready for the machine tools to turn it into a finished frame. I believe the pics were in a Colt collectors book showing 1911 manufacture pics. |
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Quoted:
They do forge frames...or at least use to. I've seen pics of the drop-forge machine..and pics of the drop forged slug..(shaped like a 1911 frame)..ready for the machine tools to turn it into a finished frame. I believe the pics were in a Colt collectors book showing 1911 manufacture pics. Colt, among others such as Kimber, S&W, and SA, use forged frames. |
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Quoted:
They do forge frames...or at least use to. I've seen pics of the drop-forge machine..and pics of the drop forged slug..(shaped like a 1911 frame)..ready for the machine tools to turn it into a finished frame. I believe the pics were in a Colt collectors book showing 1911 manufacture pics. Not all use true Drop Forge frames. The differenced between barstock and drop forged, is drop forged the "grain" structure of the steel will follow the "contour" of the die. while barstock goes straight. Cast has no "grain". As posted Drop forged and barstock are real close, while cast is generally about 10% to 13% weaker. these are rules of thumb numbers. |
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Honestly we are not even defining strong , the whole debate is moot unless you start diving in to areas of science far beyond the scope of the question. As many have said both are strong enough for your intended use.
Use Gregs guide if its really an issue for ya . |