Railed 1911 for custom build for IDPA CDP/USPSA Single Stack

[Hank15]

I just freed up some funds through a few sales and am looking to invest it in a single stack build.

That being said, I would like your suggestions and recommendations on a good base gun for a single stack build.

The preferences are as follows:

1) Adjustable sights with Bomar cut
2) Light rail
3) Frame allows for a good EGW grip safety fit (I believe it's .265 radius or something)


Also, for those of you that shoot USPSA, why is the trend shifting towards .40 S&W with a light rail? Is the recoil significantly lighter?

[speedrrracer]

Maybe I'm not sufficiently tuned in to single-stack fashion in USPSA, but I have not noticed light rails coming into vogue in any caliber. In fact, I think I rarely see light rails at all in USPSA single stack.

As for shooting 40, that makes some sense -- you can dial your power factor down as low as possible and still shoot major for less cost than .45

But if you're looking to get serious with a custom build for competition, consider:

http://www.ccgunworks.com/store/custom-pistols/

and

http://cameronscustomguns.com/index.php/firearms/C6/

Post pics once you get it!

[Hank15]

The gunsmith that built my Colt will probably build this one as well:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=820748

Are there any railed 1911s you recommend as a base gun?

[Ronin2]

Also, for those of you that shoot USPSA, why is the trend shifting towards .40 S&W with a light rail? Is the recoil significantly lighter?

Maybe I'm not sufficiently tuned in to single-stack fashion in USPSA, but I have not noticed light rails coming into vogue in any caliber. In fact, I think I rarely see light rails at all in USPSA single stack.

I dont shoot USPSA much anymore but I think that a rail might limit your holster options....

[speedrrracer]

Are there any railed 1911s you recommend as a base gun?

If you're having a 1911 custom made, just have them mill a rail for you when they're making the frame.

If you're not going custom, some of the better options might include:

http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/pistols/heinie-models/heinie-signature-recon.html

http://wilsoncombat.com/new/handgun-cqb-tactical-le.asp#.UnwuJ_msh8E

http://www.lesbaer.com/URecon.html

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_785112_-1_770151_757752_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

I dont shoot USPSA much anymore but I think that a rail might limit your holster options....

There's probably something off the shelf somewhere, but even if not, custom kydex is inexpensive these days.

[twolane]

What about STI? You could go just the frame route or buy a complete gun and have it tuned.

[9mmepiphany]

I think a good base gun for what you want would be a Dan Wesson PM7 or a Springfield Rangemaster. If you don't mind going SSE, a STI Trojan is a good base gun to build on too.

If you spend a little more on the base gun, the smith you pick can spend most of their time on the fitting and tuning. The nice thing about the guns I've listed is that you can start out shooting them as they come and make up a list of what you want changed to suit your taste.

It does seem odd that you'd even want a light rail for your stated use

[redcliff]

If you're having a 1911 custom made, just have them mill a rail for you when they're making the frame.

Virtually all custom 1911 smiths start with a base frame; the rail needs to be included in the forging otherwise you have to add one after the fact which frankly isn't ideal and doesn't have the reinforcing done to frames designed for rails.

For the OP, yes the weight of the rail, and it's center of gravity location does help in the reduction of recoil and muzzle flip. However some railed 1911's in the past have been too heavy for certain classes, so be sure of the rules before you start your build.

[Hank15]

I would very much like to start off with a bare frame, but CA laws make it impossible/extremely expensive. Last I saw a bare frame for sale it was about $500!

As for the custom guns, I am not a big fan of them since some of the fitting (aesthetically speaking) leaves a little bit to desire.

I like the STI route since they're pretty reasonable in cost and do come out pretty well out the box.

If you're having a 1911 custom made, just have them mill a rail for you when they're making the frame.

What do you mean? Do I request a framed 1911 straight from Les Baer?

I guess it wouldn't be a bad route, I just have unreasonable demands for the grip safety fit and magwell fit/blend.


As for the railed option, it's pretty much what redcliff said.

I am working towards nationals in IDPA this year and planning for USPSA the next year, so I've seen a lot of footage, interviews, etc.

The pistols of the top 25% of shooters are generally railed and chambered in .40 S&W, so I am just trying to secure every advantage I can get.

[speedrrracer]

As for the custom guns, I am not a big fan of them since some of the fitting (aesthetically speaking) leaves a little bit to desire.

Then we're not talking about the same kind of custom.

What do you mean? Do I request a framed 1911 straight from Les Baer?

Not sure, but I think Les Baer doesn't do that kind of work. I'm talking about dealing with someone like Matt Mclearn or SVI, where they build what you want from a hunk of billet barstock, and when it's perfect, it's done.

It also sounds like you have champagne tastes, but only a beer budget, so what I'm recommending is probably not the right option for you. I think some of the above posts might contain more appropriate solutions for your situation.

The pistols of the top 25% of shooters are generally railed and chambered in .40 S&W, so I am just trying to secure every advantage I can get.

That's (railed guns) the opposite of what I've noticed. Nils is pretty much king in that division, isn't he?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...85103718_o.jpg (pic way too big for this page)

Heck, even the STI gun named for USPSA doesn't: http://stiguns.com/wp-content/upload...SA-SS_Main.jpg

But again, maybe I'm not paying close enough attention. If you've done the homework and determined railed is what the top guys are using, and more importantly, it's what you want, then go for it

[postal]

I am working towards nationals in IDPA this year and planning for USPSA the next year, so I've seen a lot of footage, interviews, etc.

The pistols of the top 25% of shooters are generally railed and chambered in .40 S&W, so I am just trying to secure every advantage I can get.

....Of course you realize a .40 is not CDP in IDPA... you'd go limited and get whooped bad by doublestack 9mm's.

[postal]

You also dont seem to realize that.....

When you look at the TOP shooters in the country....

1- MANY OF THEM have sponsors. A lot of their gear could be sponsorships.....
2- A LOT OF BIG COMPS have guns as prizes.... Wonder how many of them are shooting something picked up off a prize table... That was either a custom gun or been worked over by their favorite smith

[Hank15]

....Of course you realize a .40 is not CDP in IDPA... you'd go limited and get whooped bad by doublestack 9mm's.

Right, I already have CDP for IDPA covered. I knew I couldn't go with a railed 1911 because with my S&A magwell I would risk going over the 41/42 ounce weight limit at the time.

What do you mean by limited? Are you referring to USPSA?

When you look at the TOP shooters in the country....

1- MANY OF THEM have sponsors. A lot of their gear could be sponsorships.....
2- A LOT OF BIG COMPS have guns as prizes.... Wonder how many of them are shooting something picked up off a prize table... That was either a custom gun or been worked over by their favorite smith

I'd say almost all their gears are sponsorships. But they do go through a gunsmith of choice or a custom shop.

Not sure what you mean by the prize table comment.

[cal3gunner]

To the OP, have you shot both IDPA and USPSA? Do you already have a 1911?

You need to shoot both sports and see what one you like better. Don't forget, they are both games and even though many IDPA people think of it as real life training, its not. In both games you are racing against a clock, to shoot known targets with highly tuned competition guns.

If you really want one gun for both sports, you are going to have disadvantages because of the calibers. IDPA CDP has to be 45 but 40 is cheaper to shoot in USPSA plus once you start shooting Limited, you can have one load for both single stack and limited. You can shoot 45 in USPSA with no problem, just expect a bigger ammo bill every month.

If it was me and I wanted to shoot both sports with the same gun. I would buy a STI Duty One in 40. I would shoot major power factor loads in USPSA and load minor loads and shoot IDPA ESP.
Buy the STI because its ready to go out of the box, then once you have some matches under your belt, make the modifications you think you need.

If you have money and time to burn, buy or have a SV single stack built. They have interchangeable breech faces and you can easily change calibers with just a barrel, breech face, extractor and mags. You can set it up for IDPA CDP in 45. IDPA ESP in 9mm, and USPSA Single Stack and Limited 10 in 40. One gun that fits all!

Get a railed gun. It adds a little extra weight which is nice but not super important, but if you shoot night matches, its great. I think you should run a weapon mounted light for self defense so having a rail is great. Getting holsters for it is easy.

[Hank15]

To the OP, have you shot both IDPA and USPSA? Do you already have a 1911?

Yup! I shot both with a Glock 34 to learn the games while my single stack was being built. Classified as Expert with the Glock in IDPA over a span of 7 months and 5000 rounds and decided to stop investing any more time and money into it until my 1911 was finished.

I do have a 1911 already: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=820748

^
If you see the before and after pictures you'd understand my rationale and preference for wanting a good base gun for a custom build by my smith of choice, rather than purchasing a custom/semi-custom from one of the big names.

The custom/semi custom shops do great work, but for about the same amount of money (possibly a little less) I prefer to have my smith do the work.

IDPA CDP has to be 45 but 40 is cheaper to shoot in USPSA plus once you start shooting Limited, you can have one load for both single stack and limited. You can shoot 45 in USPSA with no problem, just expect a bigger ammo bill every month.

Excellent point, that's one of the reasons mentioned for the growing trend of single stack .40s. 1 load, 2 guns.

If it was me and I wanted to shoot both sports with the same gun. I would buy a STI Duty One in 40. I would shoot major power factor loads in USPSA and load minor loads and shoot IDPA ESP.
Buy the STI because its ready to go out of the box, then once you have some matches under your belt, make the modifications you think you need.

The STI Duty One looks promising, not sure about the cocking serrations though...

This is slightly off topic, but can you load minor with a .45 as well?

Good point about the ESP too, looks like with a .40 I can shoot in 3 divisions.

If you have money and time to burn, buy or have a SV single stack built. They have interchangeable breech faces and you can easily change calibers with just a barrel, breech face, extractor and mags. You can set it up for IDPA CDP in 45. IDPA ESP in 9mm, and USPSA Single Stack and Limited 10 in 40. One gun that fits all!

I am somewhat of a geek when it comes to things that can be researched, and in the past 4 years that I've gotten into guns in general, and 2 years I've gotten into 1911/2011s specifically, I've NEVER heard of the interchangeable breech face!!!

That is perhaps the most innovative design I've ever seen. Have you used that setup with success? Or do you know anyone who's used that setup with success?

That's definitely something worth looking into, I might build a 9mm slide for my 2011 and use it in ESP. Does the ejector have to be switched too?