South-Central Penna

[flash60601]

I'm old, retired, and no longer hunt but I still reload and shoot. Bullseye Pistol, skeet, and trap were passions. I've built several 1911's for competition which was a fun thing, but now I've sold all the machines and am slowly winnowing down the contents of the gun locker. Any day at the range is a good day. An old comrade and I do a tailgate day about two or three times a year, and the grill and cooler are just as important as the guns. Sometimes the keyboard can be nearly as satisfying as the pistol box though.


Now as for this new forum, I wonder : Do we actually NEED another forum/board for "firearms/outdoors" in the Commonwealth ? With the invitation to spend thirty bucks ?
Some of the other f/b's have become rather localized, narrowed, and some have become something entirely different from what they claimed at startup.
Let's see how this one works out. It will have to build a roster of some size to be worth much, and it will have to do it quickly in order for there to be much interest. Athing like this is an ambitious thing and will need a lot of participation.

Again, "Let's see how this one works out. "

 

[jmiles1960]

My GI (Ithaca) 1911A1 is my favorite center fire handgun at the range. Someday, I'd like to build my own and get into the details of improving the accuracy of the 1911 platform. I do my own reloading for 45 ACP for more manageable target loads. My son shoots a Kimber, but I'd rather build vs. buy... Take care! - Jim

 

[flash60601]

Building a good 1911-A1 really is not that hard. It just takes a little patience, a few tools, a good book and a small (and not terribly expensive) group of parts. You can get the parts from SARCO, and the only thing you need is a barrel you can fit up to the slide and maybe a barrel link. I would add a mid-length trigger to suit my hand and finger combination. From that, you can make a fully complete gun that will outperform most of the out-of-the-box ones that sell for $1000-$1200 - at a third of the price. Plus, you will have gained a whole new set of knowledge, skills, and pride of your own work.

 

[jmiles1960]

Thanks for the info. What do you think of using a Rock Island Armory 1911A1 frame and slide for a custom build? Its a low budget basic 1911A1 model I can pick up cheap at my local shop. Does it matter what frame I start with? From a value and collectible perspective, I am keeping my Ithaca "as is", although I love shooting it and have gotten fairly adjusted to it's accuracy.

 

[flash60601]

Thanks for the info. What do you think of using a Rock Island Armory 1911A1 frame and slide for a custom build? Its a low budget basic 1911A1 model I can pick up cheap at my local shop. Does it matter what frame I start with? From a value and collectible perspective, I am keeping my Ithaca "as is", although I love shooting it and have gotten fairly adjusted to it's accuracy.

First,decide what you want to accomplish: Better than factory, but all-purpose? Gold Cup? National Match ?

RIA frame and slide is a good basis for a build. Get Kuhnhaususen's (sp?) book, read it carefully from end to end before you go any further. Then get a barrel that is just a bit too long in the "hood" over the chamber and follow the book on fitting the barrel. Barrel fit to the slide is the single most important thing. A longer link ensuring tight lock into the slide is next important, right along with a good snug bushing always means bore is more consistently aligned with sights.

Tightening the slide and peining the rails to reduce frame-to-slide slop is OK if you're going to "Match" specs, but should be thought about carefully if you want a "go anywhere, shoot anything" gun.

The "Marvel Cut" is a real improvement over St.John's design, and trigger work depends on your desired end-product use. But be extremely careful here, as sloppy work makes a slopy trigger, and often unsafe.