1911 questions

[2new]

I have a SA Mil spec .

Just a thought, why not have your Mil Spec worked over to your specs by a good smith? It might not be quick, but the end result could be spectacular! However, I do understand if you want another 1911!

[ojisan]

When each click of your mouse produces the sound of a burst of gunfire, we'll talk. And do tell me where you got it, that'd be cool.

Shot Show
It says Pro-Mag on it.
I'll look for more.

[retired]

Just a thought, why not have your Mil Spec worked over to your specs by a good smith? It might not be quick, but the end result could be spectacular! However, I do understand if you want another 1911!

I thought about it for only a moment, but I want to keep that one the way it is. I bought it from another leo in Mo. and really like it. It has a TRP barrel and a match bushing. He also replaced all of the plastic pins with GI metal ones. It is my first 1911, so I'd like to keep it the way it is.

I want to have a 1911 that is a couple of levels up in quality. Thanks for the suggestion tho.

[PutTogether]

Retired - Switching from a gun that came stock with a full length guide rod to the shorter "GI" version makes zero performance difference - UNLESS one believes in the issue in the first place that a full length guide rod actually provides some benefit in the first place. I do not believe it does.

No gun is designed around a full length rod, it is just that some have them, some don't. They are a truly interchangeable, not really specific to the gun kind of feature.

No matter which one your gun came with new - the gun won't be able to tell you changed it -kind of like grips.

NOTE: This is applies to 5" guns. The springs and such can get downright strange on some of the baby 1911s.

[postal]

Do you "have" to use a full length rod to use a shock buff? Where do you put the buffer?

Not meant to hijack this thread but if someone can enlighten me on what exactly is "loaded" as in Springfield Loaded model?

Back in the days when a 1911 was a 1911 was a 1911.... even with some other companies manufacturing them, they were basically "mil-spec" copies.

The origional colts and clones were very frequently modified by gunsmiths for reliability and accuracy.

Very commonly referred to as a "reliability package", or "accuracy package".

I forgot all the things typical, but a short list is-
Reliability:
Recut the ejection port lowering and extending it
polish feed ramp
tune the extractor
etc....

Accuracy:
custom fit barrel bushing and link on match grade barrel
tighten slide to frame
trigger work
etc....

The springfield "loaded" and kimber custom have all this fairly standardized modification done at the factory. It's a real bargain compared to a regular mil spec sent to a quality smith to do the same work. Though a quality smith will do a far better job than a factory.


Starting with a loaded or kimber custom then going to a smith for "a little extra" work on the trigger saves a great deal of money for a quality 1911.

[2new]

Is it time for pictures yet?!

[sholling]

GI guide rods make a 1911 super easy to take down and reassemble. The only downside is if you have a defective plunger. There have been extremely rare instances of the end of the plug breaking lose sending the recoil spring into low earth orbit.

I haven't really found any important advantage to a full length guide rod. Without the right tool they make it huge pain in the butt to reassemble your pistol, but as long as you use a Cylinder & Slide bushing wrench it's a piece of cake. It has a flange that holds everything in place while you turn the bushing.

The only real downside to an internal extractor is that they have to be tuned (bent) to fit when they are changed and as they wear. It's an archaic design. Despite some FUD there are no disadvantages to well designed external extractor. They've been used very successfully in a ton of designs since the 1930s. The problem with Kimber's implementation was it was a victim of typical Kimber engineering - nothing to be proud of.

Sig had teething problems early on due to using all outsourced parts. This left them with stacked tolerances that added up to trouble. Once they started producing parts in house they were in a better position to get a handle on quality control and I haven't heard of any problems in years.

S&W uses two very slightly different designs. Both are drop in if you ever manage to wear one out. The well respected Hilton Yam claims that it's theoretically possible that after many tens of thousands of rounds that the extractor used in the production line models might maybe suddenly show the effects of wear - but hasn't actually seen or heard of any cases. He goes on to say that there is no such risk with the Performance Center version which sits at a slightly better angle. Both are under lifetime warranty.

Extractors wear out but I suspect that properly designed external extractors will wind up having longer and more trouble free lives.