Posted: 11/20/2013 9:51:56 AM EDT
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My cash stash is grown big enough that I am thinking I need my first 1911. I want to find one that I can get and tear down to learn about the operation. I would also like to slowly upgrade the parts to someday get to a custom gun.
After doing some reading on here I kind of settled on the Springfield 1911 GI... but am kind of eyeballing the new Rugers now. So the question is: If i purchase one of the nicer Springfields or the Ruger is there really much room for improvement by an amateur "gunsmith" such as myself? My price range is no more than $1,000. I understand that that will buy a real nice 1911, but does it get one that the 'average joe' could upgrade? My mind is in no way set on a SA or the Ruger if ya'll have a better suggestion for this type of project. Thanks in advance! |
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Buy a Springfield Loaded 1911 in stainless or parkerize, some good magazines, and a shit-load of ammo. Shoot up all the ammo and get more. Repeat until you find something about the gun that needs to be changed. Don't dick around and start swapping parts until you find the ones that really need to go. "Upgrading" for the sake of changing out parts is a good way to separate you from your money, but little else.
For example, my Springfield GI has had better sights installed and a mild reliability package. I'm left-handed so it needs an ambi safety and about 1/4" knocked off the back of be hammer spur to stop it from beating up my hand, but that's all. I like simple, reliable, no-nonsense guns, and these "upgrades" I mentioned would make it more user-friendly for me. 'Yer welcome. |
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Buy a Springfield Loaded 1911 in stainless or parkerize, some good magazines, and a shit-load of ammo. Shoot up all the ammo and get more. Repeat until you find something about the gun that needs to be changed. Don't dick around and start swapping parts until you find the ones that really need to go. "Upgrading" for the sake of changing out parts is a good way to separate you from your money, but little else. 'Yer welcome. Should also be mentioned parts are not plug and play. Think tiny file and precision fitting for optimal function. The biggest challenge is knowing how to fit them right. Ive messed up several parts thinking I knew what I was doing, but then in actuality I had no clue. Ive been messing with 1911s for over a decade and I am still far from knowing how to build one correctly Its not like an AR if thats what your asking. Entirely different galaxy But also not impossible. So many guys on here have helped me through small things. The biggest thing is misinformation I have found online about fitting parts. |
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Get a SA Loadded or equiv. It is just not worth the hassel upgrading a bare bones 1911 to what you can purchase off the shelf.
With SA I would purchase a new extractor (egw, Wilson , etc) and new recoil spring (Wolff, ISMI.) 16 to 18.5 lb for govt size. and learn how to tension an extractor. For me SA extractors are a weak link and most will need to be addressed within 500 rounds. |
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Get a SA Loadded or equiv. It is just not worth the hassel upgrading a bare bones 1911 to what you can purchase off the shelf. With SA I would purchase a new extractor (egw, Wilson , etc) and new recoil spring (Wolff, ISMI.) 16 to 18.5 lb for govt size. and learn how to tension an extractor. and fit For me SA extractors are a weak link and most will need to be addressed within 500 rounds. Added a little something there. Ive yet to see an aftermarket extractor that has the correct bevel and radius on the hook and engagment area of the extractor. Ive had aot of headaches with extractors simply because of them not being beveled and radiused. I even had a C&S extractor that the hook was so long it would ride up on the bevel of the casing too much and cause FTF with anything over 1# of tension. Then again I once apon a time simply dropped a wilson BP extractor in a 1911 and it ran right off the bat. So many variables with 1911s |
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What about the DE1911G any experiences with this pistol? With the exception of the horrific engraving on the side of the DE, it is a fine pistol. Very accurate, and well made. It has no resale value, as it's not as popular as others. That said, in the price range you are looking, the Springfield Range Officer ($800 new) is the pistol you should consider.. The frame is finished in the US. The slide to frame fit is superior to the Brasil frames, and it is wicked accurate. If you hate the rear sight, Harrison Design makes an LDA cut rear sight to replace it. |
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Buy the SA... learn the gun.
Send it to a good smith.... (Karl Sokol) and have him do a reliability package, sights, trigger, beavertail etc. It's a better use of cash to have a smith work your gun over than buy a production gun. You'll be much happier in the end. |
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SA doesn't outsource to Brazil any longer... Quoted:
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Nothing wrong with a colt either in that price range! SA does sell good quality guns but I just can't bring myself to buy a 1911 which uses primarily foreign made parts SA doesn't outsource to Brazil any longer... So where does Springfield source their 1911 frames, slides and other parts if it is not IMBEL Brazil |
| I'm looking at picking up my first 1911 after Christmas. My budget is about 1000$. I'm really liking the Sigs. They seem like a lot of 1911for the money, night sights, checkering, grips and a rail. Triggers feel pretty good too. Take note however that I'm a Sig fan boy. |
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So where does Springfield source their 1911 frames, slides and other parts if it is not IMBEL Brazil Quoted:
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Nothing wrong with a colt either in that price range! SA does sell good quality guns but I just can't bring myself to buy a 1911 which uses primarily foreign made parts SA doesn't outsource to Brazil any longer... So where does Springfield source their 1911 frames, slides and other parts if it is not IMBEL Brazil I'm assuming they do their own now. I've been told Brazil is no longer part of the equation at all. |
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Buy the SA... learn the gun. Send it to a good smith.... (Karl Sokol) and have him do a reliability package, sights, trigger, beavertail etc. It's a better use of cash to have a smith work your gun over than buy a production gun. You'll be much happier in the end. That is quite subjective. I'd rather spend the money on a higher priced pistol than spend the equivalent on a cheaper pistol and a bunch of gunsmithing work. |
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heard from where? thats big news and if true wouldnt be kept secret since it would be good news not bad. I like their guns but would like them more if its true. +87 I'd buy a true US made SA in a heartbeat and so would many more. That would be BIG news IMO |
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I'm assuming they do their own now. I've been told Brazil is no longer part of the equation at all. Quoted:
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Nothing wrong with a colt either in that price range! SA does sell good quality guns but I just can't bring myself to buy a 1911 which uses primarily foreign made parts SA doesn't outsource to Brazil any longer... So where does Springfield source their 1911 frames, slides and other parts if it is not IMBEL Brazil I'm assuming they do their own now. I've been told Brazil is no longer part of the equation at all. You've been told by whom? Springfield Armory, "the first name in American Firearms" still imports the frames for its 1911 pistols from IMBEL in Brazil. They do more of the work on their higher end guns, including finishing the frame rails and the fitting, here in the U.S.A. though. Claims that SA no longer imports it's 1911 frames surface from time to time and have always proven false. If you have evidence that proves your assertion to be correct, I'd like to see it, because it would be huge news for 1911 enthusiasts. Thanks. |
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Alchemy Custom, former SACS employees, stated on 1911forum.com that Brazil is out. What that means and where they source their parts from is anyone's guess. SA has never really forthcoming on such info. That's the part I believe until I see proof that SA no longer imports from IMBEL. |
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Just shoot for several hundred rounds before you even think about any upgrades.
When you get it use the loaded coupon and buy as many mags as you can. BTW I think you made a good choice. I use 2 SA Loadeds in competition. They are very good pistols. You made a good choice. There are other good pistols but this is almost the standard the others are measured against. |
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Read these before you start dicking around with your 1911. They're good coffee table/bathroom books anyway.
1911 Shop Manual Vol 1 1911 Shop Manual Vol II ETA: Oh yeah, here you go... 
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Get a SA Loadded or equiv. It is just not worth the hassel upgrading a bare bones 1911 to what you can purchase off the shelf. With SA I would purchase a new extractor (egw, Wilson , etc) and new recoil spring (Wolff, ISMI.) 16 to 18.5 lb for govt size. and learn how to tension an extractor. For me SA extractors are a weak link and most will need to be addressed within 500 rounds. I'm glad mine isn't like most. Had my Range Officer for a while now. Close to 2000 rounds through it and she's still good. Everytime I shoot it... it's like sex. |
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I'm glad mine isn't like most. Had my Range Officer for a while now. Close to 2000 rounds through it and she's still good. Everytime I shoot it... it's like sex. Quoted:
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Get a SA Loadded or equiv. It is just not worth the hassel upgrading a bare bones 1911 to what you can purchase off the shelf. With SA I would purchase a new extractor (egw, Wilson , etc) and new recoil spring (Wolff, ISMI.) 16 to 18.5 lb for govt size. and learn how to tension an extractor. For me SA extractors are a weak link and most will need to be addressed within 500 rounds. I'm glad mine isn't like most. Had my Range Officer for a while now. Close to 2000 rounds through it and she's still good. Everytime I shoot it... it's like sex. I put many thousands of rounds through one of my Loadeds before I had an issue with the extractor. Mine started throwing brass straight up and some even went to my left. I mistakenly thought it was MIM so I bought a Wilson Bullet Proof extractor when all I needed to do was tweak mine. OP when your pistol arrives check the extractor tension. Some do come a little tight. There are some very good instructions online on how to check it. It is easy to check and easy to tweak. If you can't find the info I will post it for you this evening when I get home. |
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Just shoot for several hundred rounds before you even think about any upgrades. When you get it use the loaded coupon and buy as many mags as you can. BTW I think you made a good choice. I use 2 SA Loadeds in competition. They are very good pistols. You made a good choice. There are other good pistols but this is almost the standard the others are measured against. Picked it up yesterday. What a beautiful gun! Thanks for the heads up on the Coupon. Looks like the limit is 10. Do I need my actual receipt when I send it in? It doesn't say anything about it in particular. Thanks! |
| If you go with a "lower-end" 1911 with plans to customize and upgrade yourself, then plan to invest some money into 1911 gunsmithing tools. If you don't customize a lot of 1911's, then the tool investment might not be economically sound. If you want to only do small customizing and upgrades, then go with a mid to high-end 1911. Do it once, and do it right. |
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Picked it up yesterday. What a beautiful gun! Thanks for the heads up on the Coupon. Looks like the limit is 10. Do I need my actual receipt when I send it in? It doesn't say anything about it in particular. Thanks! Quoted:
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Just shoot for several hundred rounds before you even think about any upgrades. When you get it use the loaded coupon and buy as many mags as you can. BTW I think you made a good choice. I use 2 SA Loadeds in competition. They are very good pistols. You made a good choice. There are other good pistols but this is almost the standard the others are measured against. Picked it up yesterday. What a beautiful gun! Thanks for the heads up on the Coupon. Looks like the limit is 10. Do I need my actual receipt when I send it in? It doesn't say anything about it in particular. Thanks! Call SA. I don't remember needing to send a copy of the receipt. I think they just needed the coupon but that was years ago. |
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Call SA. I don't remember needing to send a copy of the receipt. I think they just needed the coupon but that was years ago. Quoted:
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Just shoot for several hundred rounds before you even think about any upgrades. When you get it use the loaded coupon and buy as many mags as you can. BTW I think you made a good choice. I use 2 SA Loadeds in competition. They are very good pistols. You made a good choice. There are other good pistols but this is almost the standard the others are measured against. Picked it up yesterday. What a beautiful gun! Thanks for the heads up on the Coupon. Looks like the limit is 10. Do I need my actual receipt when I send it in? It doesn't say anything about it in particular. Thanks! Call SA. I don't remember needing to send a copy of the receipt. I think they just needed the coupon but that was years ago. That is kind of the way it reads. But I wasn't 100% In other news... the coupon appears to be next to worthless at the moment as the mags look to be on sale on their site (and CHEAPER than the coupon). Holster, etc is only like $2-3 cheaper on the coupon than the sale prices on the site.... 
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That is kind of the way it reads. But I wasn't 100% In other news... the coupon appears to be next to worthless at the moment as the mags look to be on sale on their site (and CHEAPER than the coupon). Holster, etc is only like $2-3 cheaper on the coupon than the sale prices on the site.... Quoted:
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Just shoot for several hundred rounds before you even think about any upgrades. When you get it use the loaded coupon and buy as many mags as you can. BTW I think you made a good choice. I use 2 SA Loadeds in competition. They are very good pistols. You made a good choice. There are other good pistols but this is almost the standard the others are measured against. Picked it up yesterday. What a beautiful gun! Thanks for the heads up on the Coupon. Looks like the limit is 10. Do I need my actual receipt when I send it in? It doesn't say anything about it in particular. Thanks! Call SA. I don't remember needing to send a copy of the receipt. I think they just needed the coupon but that was years ago. That is kind of the way it reads. But I wasn't 100% In other news... the coupon appears to be next to worthless at the moment as the mags look to be on sale on their site (and CHEAPER than the coupon). Holster, etc is only like $2-3 cheaper on the coupon than the sale prices on the site.... Go ahead and just buy them and save the coupon for later when you want more and they go up in price. Or just send me the coupon. 
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