Posted: 12/18/2009 7:31:35 AM EDT
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Hey guys, been wanting a 1911 for a LOOOONG time. almost bit on an Ed Brown from PSI, but went with a Mac11 instead (PHENOMENAL DEAL).
anyhow, I don't have the funds to buy a complete 1911 or do a build all at once... however, i am interested in doing a long term project on one. I think it'd be a great time, good learning experience, and i'd end up with something i'm proud of and will (hopefully) go bang every time... anyone interested in joining in on the project? -n |
| I bought a matched slide, frame, barrel, and bushing from Fusion. Call and ask about mil, LEO discounts (for those interested who qualify). I found Bob Serva, the company president to be a good guy to deal with. (they are wiling to do as little or as much of the build as you want, and were more than tollerant of talking me through options and helping me make descisions). |
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Just a word of caution, there is no other animal like the 1911 when it comes to making one right. Sure you can slap together an old GI 1911, but the 1911 of today is a precision fit gun that takes an extensive knowledge of the gun to get a 100 percent running pistol. Being able to take a Glock apart or building an AR doesn't make one qualified to gunsmith build a 1911.
That all being said, if you are willing to learn the system, put in the time and get all of the proper tools you can be rewarded with a reliable, very nice shooting and slick looking pistol. The best way to get started is buy a Springfield Mil-Spec and upgrade from there. The gun works already and the upgrades can be made a little at a time. |
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Quoted:
Just a word of caution, there is no other animal like the 1911 when it comes to making one right. Sure you can slap together an old GI 1911, but the 1911 of today is a precision fit gun that takes an extensive knowledge of the gun to get a 100 percent running pistol. Being able to take a Glock apart or building an AR doesn't make one qualified to gunsmith build a 1911. That all being said, if you are willing to learn the system, put in the time and get all of the proper tools you can be rewarded with a reliable, very nice shooting and slick looking pistol. The best way to get started is buy a Springfield Mil-Spec and upgrade from there. The gun works already and the upgrades can be made a little at a time. I was gonna say this too. You want a starter gun to learn on. No one who's not intimately familiar with the inner workings could hope to build a slick ass 1911 on the first try with an unfitted frame and slide. +1 on the Springer Mil-Spec or similar [RIA, etc.] |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Just a word of caution, there is no other animal like the 1911 when it comes to making one right. Sure you can slap together an old GI 1911, but the 1911 of today is a precision fit gun that takes an extensive knowledge of the gun to get a 100 percent running pistol. Being able to take a Glock apart or building an AR doesn't make one qualified to gunsmith build a 1911. That all being said, if you are willing to learn the system, put in the time and get all of the proper tools you can be rewarded with a reliable, very nice shooting and slick looking pistol. The best way to get started is buy a Springfield Mil-Spec and upgrade from there. The gun works already and the upgrades can be made a little at a time. I was gonna say this too. You want a starter gun to learn on. No one who's not intimately familiar with the inner workings could hope to build a slick ass 1911 on the first try with an unfitted frame and slide. +1 on the Springer Mil-Spec or similar [RIA, etc.] that being said... any suggestions as to where to find said base model? i just have a problem- Marky can confirm it. i don't like to buy more than once. I come from the school of "buy quality, but once, hurt once." any 1911 smiths out there willing to have a few minute phone convo w/ me regarding what skills / tools / etc i would need to do this thing right? I'm not a stupid guy- with the right resources and time (and the patience not to force something and screw it up), i'm fairly confident i can work it out. though i'm sure many have said that and regretted it later... thoughts? |
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What they have said is largely why I went with a fitted slide,frame, barrel and bushing. These are the hardest parts to fit that also have the largest affect on function and accuracy.
I'll IM you my number if you want to talk about some of what goes into a 1911 build. I've done the Fusion Kit, and build upon a Springfield GI that was mostly a pile of incomplete parts. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just a word of caution, there is no other animal like the 1911 when it comes to making one right. Sure you can slap together an old GI 1911, but the 1911 of today is a precision fit gun that takes an extensive knowledge of the gun to get a 100 percent running pistol. Being able to take a Glock apart or building an AR doesn't make one qualified to gunsmith build a 1911. That all being said, if you are willing to learn the system, put in the time and get all of the proper tools you can be rewarded with a reliable, very nice shooting and slick looking pistol. The best way to get started is buy a Springfield Mil-Spec and upgrade from there. The gun works already and the upgrades can be made a little at a time. I was gonna say this too. You want a starter gun to learn on. No one who's not intimately familiar with the inner workings could hope to build a slick ass 1911 on the first try with an unfitted frame and slide. +1 on the Springer Mil-Spec or similar [RIA, etc.] that being said... any suggestions as to where to find said base model? i just have a problem- Marky can confirm it. i don't like to buy more than once. I come from the school of "buy quality, but once, hurt once." any 1911 smiths out there willing to have a few minute phone convo w/ me regarding what skills / tools / etc i would need to do this thing right? I'm not a stupid guy- with the right resources and time (and the patience not to force something and screw it up), i'm fairly confident i can work it out. though i'm sure many have said that and regretted it later... thoughts? One thing to keep in mind then, is the type of frame and slide your buying. A forged frame is a forged frame, and regardless of brand name, a cast frame is a cast frame. Caspian frames are now cast.....and they are brand name. I'd go with a forged frame and slide if its going to be that type of project you mentioned. That being said, I have a Rock Island Armory hi-cap 1911a2 model that uses the 14 rnd Para mags. and I love it and its a cast frame gun. I only mention it because people knock brands like the RIA because they are made cast instead of forged, well no reason to pay a lot of money for a brand name cast frame in my opinion. If you want a hi-cap gun, you'll be buying a cast frame though, the only forged frames that were made hi-cap by springer had problems with.......cracking. |
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I have to agree with madcap and my little Buddy Ikick. The 1911 is like no other firearm, and if you want it to function, you need to make sure you have your ducks in order. I have been issued and used 1911s since 1974. I am very familiar with it, and have done alot of part swapping and fitting. The way I built mine up awhile back was starting with the Springfield milspec. It already had all the parts fitted and it functioned well from the get go, even though it was very plain, and bare bones. I started replacing parts one at a time, fitting them slowly but surely. I am not the most patient man, (shut up Derek) and it was very hard for me not to want to hurry up and just get it finished. I made a plan up front of everything I wanted to do and then followed it, with some hicups. As I changed and fitted each part I went back to the range to insure that the pistol still functioned flawlessly. If it didn't back to the bench until it was right, and then on to the next part. Whatever you do, don't change several parts, and then go test. If you do and it doesn't function properly, you may not be able to figure out which part went wrong. Then you get frustrated and it all goes to hell. You can change more than one part, if they don't both have to do with function. In example, you could change the sights, and the safety ect. When you go test fire the safety working or not is a form of function. and has nothing to do with where your bulletts wind up. You can go to Brownells website and a few others and order DVDs that will show you how to do alot of the chores involved. Whatever you do, study what you want to do, make a plan, buy the right tools, and go slow. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RLTW,  Steve
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