Posted: 7/25/2007 8:12:05 AM EDT
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Well since we have been talking about 1911's lately, I thought I'd share my new blaster I just got back from my good friend Robert Miller of Miller Custom The gun is a older Series I Kimber that had 200 rounds through it. I basically stole it from a guy for $300 cash. I did not need or really want another 1911 as I have one nice one that runs like a champ........but for $300 I damn sure wasn't going to pass it up! It sat in the safe for about 6 months, and like most gun lovers, I just decided that I couldn't leave it stock. It actually shot damn good stock - no reliabilty issues and it was unusually accurate for a stock gun. The plan for this 1911 was less is more. I just wanted to do a few key upgrades that I thought would enhance my ability to shoot it well, but I didn't want to spend a ton. Since I have been shooting 1911's for a while now, I have been able to learn what I like and dislike on them. One of the main things I have decided is that I do not like checkering. It looks great and feels awesome in your hand............until your are 400 rounds into a pistol class. I'd like to think that between work and weightlifting that my hands are pretty rough, but they still get tore up at a class. I was going to just leave the frontstrap smooth until Bob suggested that I try a new frontstrap treatment. Many smiths are starting to offer some sort of golfballing, and I think its just about the best fronstrap treatment I have ever encountered. It provides great traction, yet doesn't tear your hands up. Plus for the price Bob can do it for (Under $100 I believe) it is a steal. I went with a 10-8 flat trigger because.....hell I don't know. I read some good things about the flat trigger design and noticed that most competition shooters run them, so I decided to try it. I love it. In fact I like it so much I think my other 1911's will be getting one soon. It just feels right. You don't have to adjust your finger. I went with the 10-8 rear sight, which I also love. It has a rear U notch and is super fast to aquire. I tried out a gold bead front sight as again, some very experienced 1911 shooters had recommended it, so I wanted to see for myself. The gold bead is super fast to aquire, and captures any light that is available. Its almost as if it glows, and you can see it better at night with a flashlight that you can tritium. Speaking of night, I had a Dawson rail installed. I don't really need one as 90% of the time the gun will never have a light installed. But for a bedside gun, I like the idea of being able to have a gun with a light that is on in one hand and a cell phone with the cops on the line in my other hand. The cool thing about the Dawson Rail is it is not expensive and most of your standard leather and kydex holsters will still work. I had a ambi put on it and then had it parkerized. I've tried some of the other fancy finishes, but for me, a $50 park job works best. If you need more rust protection than that in Vegas, you must be one nasty, sweaty SOB. It was after it was refinished that we learned the slide stop and mag catch were stainless, so sooner or later they will get guncoated. The grips are some cheasy knock offs I had laying around. I had planned to get some new cool guy high speed grips, but screw it - these feel good and work. So thats my new 1911. I think total I'm just at $600. Not too shabby. Bob did all the usual stuff under the hood to make sure she runs perfect. I also replaced the plunger tube with a new one from 10-8 that is supposed to be bulletproof, along with new hardened pins throughout. If anyone needs any 1911 work, check out Miller Custom Bob does awesome work, fast, and his prices are far too low. I told him to take care of anyone from Vegas, and he said he will.     |
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Scot45, I love it!! Simple with some very cool features. I love the sights, golfballing, and the flat trigger. I agree completely with your theory on parkerization and keeping it simple. It is a very clean looking pistol. I am also not a big fan of checkering. It can beat your hands up but most of all I find it fragile if you use the gun a lot. It is easy to ding and get flat spots from getting knocked around. I REALLY like the golfballing and it looks like Mr. Miller did a great job. How does it shoot? I have shot a few competition guns with flat triggers and always wanted to put one on a carry 1911. Keep me posted on your opinion of it. Congrats on your new blaster! |
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Well I ran 200 rounds through it last night and it shot great. It has at least another 300 to go before it gets cleaned. The accuarcy is uncanny for a stock barrel and bushing. When Bob had it, he put it in a Ranson rest and shooting WWB got a 1 hole group at 25 yards. I was a little skeptical but I'm a believer now. Not that you need that type of accuracy on a CCW piece, but I'll take it! I'm sold on the golfballing. It is enough to lock your hand in, especially if it is sweaty or raining like last night. Some people seem to be able to shoot checkering all day, I can't. The golfballing can be sharper than it is in the pictures, but I asked Bob to really knock down the points, I wanted no sharp edges at all. If I was going to be carrying this gun on duty with the possiblity of gloves, I'd want the points sharper. The trigger is great. It just feels right and I am wondering why 1911's even have curved triggers. If anyone wants to try it out let me know. |
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Some people have PM'd me asking moe about the flat trigger. I went to 10-8 and found a post that the maker, Hilton Yam, posted the flat trigger and why he decided to start using one. "The gun also has a prototype flat trigger based on my existing 10-8 trigger with the rear mounted overtravel stud. I had always used flat triggers when I shot USPSA, and the design makes a lot of sense on the 1911 where the trigger actually moves straight back. The flat trigger gives you the same feel wherever you pick it up, and the length of pull is the same as the shortest spot on the standard curved trigger face. Folks usually hate how it looks, but once they try it, they like how it feels." |