Posted: 10/27/2009 12:06:23 PM EDT
So after reading all of the suggestion threads for a good starter 1911, I set out today looking to find a Colt or SA. After going to 3 shops and not finding anything that struck my fancy, I ended up in a pawn&gun shop that had a decent selection. I was really hoping to find a blued Colt Series 70, but the only Colts they had in stock anywhere were stainless..which I'm really not fond of. There were 2 nice Springfields in the case, both parkerized, so I fondled them both. The first was a used full-size Loaded, and I really liked the sights, grip safety, and hammer on it but it looked like somebody went spastic when reassembling it. There was bare metal all around the "idiot scratch" area. I also wasn't fond of the grooves on the front of the slide, but for just over $520 I could have looked past that had it not been for the abuse to the finish. I normally wouldn't be worried about cosmetics on a tool, but I figure this is going to be my first, and when it gets dinged up it'll be by me. 
So I ended up laying down $600 for a NIB Mil-Spec. Now the research starts on aftermarket upgrades. 
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Here is what it needs:
Grip safety Sights Trigger Hammer, sear, Disconnector Thumb Safety Slide Stop Then I would send it to someone who knows how to fit this shit correctly.
ETA: And also this
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I had a funny feeling I would see an SA Mil-spec when I opened this post. Nice buy! I love mine and havent changed a thing. Well, I got CheckMate stainless magazines for it but that is all. I actually have it on the hip right now at work  . Have fun and dont go too crazy with the parts at first. Buy some ammo and blast away!
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Sweet gun, you should shoot it for a while before doing any upgrades to see what you think needs fiddling.
For me, all that gun needs is: Better sights Flat MSH with lanyard loop trigger Better grips After that you can look into things like: Beavertail Hammer / sear / disconnector |
My recommendation is to shoot it...... a lot. Several hundred rounds at least. 
Find out what you like and dislike about it. Does the hammer bite? Any problems using any of the features of the pistol? After that, then I'd start looking at what I'd want changed. Heck, you might even like it as is. |
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Thanks folks! I really appreciate all the input, and I will definitely be shooting it unmodified for a while. The shop where I bought it gave me a discount on a range membership, $60 for a year. Considering they are quite a bit closer than where I regularly go to shoot, I foresee being on a first name basis in short order.
I noticed a few of you mentioned the flat MSH. That was something that I really liked about the Loaded model I looked at today. It felt way more comfortable to me. Is that a cosmetic/ergonomic change only or does it require modification of some sort? Also, for someone that is interested in learning to work on all aspects of 1911's, what books/dvd's would you recommend as a foundation? Are the AGI materials worth the money? It'll be a long time before I'm brave enough to do any tinkering with my new weapon, but if I find a cheap beater at a gun show I may just make it a guinea pig. Bill |
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Originally, the 1911 was built with the flat mainspring housing. Later when the 1911A1 version came out, (around 1924 as I recall) one of the changes was the arched mainspring housing. The idea behind the arched version was to alter the grip angle a bit causing the gun to tilt upward slightly in the hand, thus raising the bullets point of impact.
A gunsmith could easily install the flat one for you, but its an easy enough job to do oneself. Books are available showing you how to disassemble it as are articles online as well as videos on Youtube too. |