Posted: 7/15/2010 1:37:47 PM EDT
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So I was looking at ways to lighten my carry 1911. I have a commander springer that is being built from the ground up. It started as a base GI forged steel gun. Needless to say its gone a long way from there. One of the things I have been tossing around in my head is doing lightening slots to make it nicer to carry in summer. Vegas in the summer with 115+ degree heat the reduced weight would be nice.
So 2 questions. 1 Have any of you done these? and if so good/bad? EGW does some and what do you guys think of the way it looks? http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=85&products_id=368 2. If I do decide to do this should I just go all the way and get it ported as well? Thanks for looking and maybe ill try to get a pick of her how she stands up cause well we all love pictures of 1911s... Edit* pic now included 
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I would use an aluminum mainspring housing and beavertail. Titanium hammer, strut, sear, disconnector and firing pin will shed a little more.
Flatten and serrate the slide and perhaps front cocking serrations. Should that not be enough, you can have the slide thinned instead of lightening cuts. I have been this route and have a custom 23.5 OZ. Gov't model built for me by Neil Wiggans. |
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Plastic MSH would be a better use of your money, IMO, or even an aluminum frame. That bull barrel and FLGR will make it heavier than it needs to be, too.
On a 4" slide I don't know how many lightening cuts they'll be able to take, so I don't think it'd be worth it. At any rate, I wouldn't consider barrel porting. |
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"I would use an aluminum mainspring housing and beavertail. Titanium hammer, strut, sear, disconnector and firing pin will shed a little more.
Flatten and serrate the slide and perhaps front cocking serrations. Should that not be enough, you can have the slide thinned instead of lightening cuts. I have been this route and have a custom 23.5 OZ. Gov't model built for me by Neil Wiggans." Ti sear? Ti disco? Ti firing pin reducing weight? Oh geeze! Are you serious? Some of us did not fall off the Turnip truck last night...... |
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i'm no 1911 expert, but i'd be concerned that a lightened slide might do strange things to slide velocity, which may lead to malfunctions especially on a shorter barrel/slide pistol. if i was in your position, i wouldn't want to modify one of my carry guns in such a manner, especially if it is my only carry gun. hopefully someone more familiar with 1911s can comment if a lighter slide will mess with functionality.
i might want to get a front sight before i did anything else; i don't think thats a good way to reduce weight 
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Just a head up, I have a set of sights ordered already, as well as I am going to go get the top flattened and serrated. I am debating on the front serrations I also instead of getting checkering done on the front strap , I am having it flattened and crisscrossed rather than LPI. Just a personal preference. I am just trying to get all the frame work done before I send it off to be refinished. Someone has shown me the lighting slots but I have never seen them done without the weapon being ported. But not sure if it was something that was a decent idea or not.
Some of the work done so far for those curious EGW Trigger set to 4.5lbs exactly with an amazing break EGW grip saftey EGW Sear lowered and flared ejection port New spring(dont remember what lbs) Lanyard loop cut off Customized back strap EGW guide rod New extractor Ramp job(its all shiny) ect... And more to come! |
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You can "tri-top" the slide to lower weight. In USPSA I see a few LTD guns with "fat free" slides. On a carry gun I would see if the GS can remove metal without punching thru the outside of the slide.
When you lighten the slide you may have to play with spring rates to get the gun working in optimal condition. Same as if you reload at less than factory specs or over factory specs. eta hard to see but my open gun is lighten, Nothing fancy just 3 slots cut with a endmill to remove mass. |
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Quoted:
Ti sear? Ti disco? Ti firing pin reducing weight? Oh geeze! Are you serious? Some of us did not fall off the Turnip truck last night...... I could not care less what truck you fell off . 
I listed what was done to my particular pistol except the fact that it has an aluminum frame and a Briley ramped barrel with spherical bushing. Yes, we got carried away with the titanium parts but we were trying to make the lightest pistol possible without the lightening slots. I will say this about titanium. it makes for the best trigger I have ever felt. Most people's jaws drop when they dry fire my pistol. We went with a five inch gun because we were concerned with slide velocity and functioning. I now have a five inch gun which is considerably lighter than a Lightweight Commander but cycles like one. |