How hard is it to build a 1911?

[Cool Custard]

I'm curious how hard it is to build a 1911 from the frame up? I want a winter project to tinker with and might have found a bare frame to build on. Is it as easy as slapping an AR together or do you have to have a specific companies parts to go with the frame and slide for it to run right? This isn't an 80% or anything, just a stripped frame. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks

[Hank15]

Build it up and have it function moderately well?

Not too bad, each INDIVIDUAL part can be fit with some handiwork in 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

Have it shoot to its potential and function 100% for 10s of 1000s of rounds? Very difficult.

There's a saying among competitive shooters: "Gunsmithing a Glock is like circumcision, gunsmithing a 1911 is like brain surgery."

I recommend using "drop in" parts on the frame, and just buy a .22 conversion kit slide to start off.

[Cyc Wid It]

Much more complicated than assembling an AR.

[Yugo]

Build or assemble?

I am interested in how difficult it will be for me to do rails and all the work needed for the KTO frame and kit.

[Cool Custard]

Build or assemble?

I am interested in how difficult it will be for me to do rails and all the work needed for the KTO frame and kit.

Yea, I mean more assemble. This was a gun at some point but has been stripped down.

[sigfan91]

Building (assembling) is easy. To make it accurate and reliable is a different matter.

[Cool Custard]

Building (assembling) is easy. To make it accurate and reliable is a different matter.

Yea, I don't want a sloppy jalopy! Would also like it to be able to run and not jam up.

[350skylark]

i put together a 1911 a little while back. Its a 9mm colt commander slide on a Springfield officers sized frame. It wasn't to bad its not a tightly fitted tack driver but it functions very well. Every once in a while the extractor needs tunning but other then that its great. Only things that really needing fitting for me was the firing pin stop, ejector (only because it was a .45 frame and the 9mm is different), the trigger i had didn't quite drop in but everything else did.

[wu_dot_com]

Yea, I don't want a sloppy jalopy! Would also like it to be able to run and not jam up.

for the most part, you can get drop in parts with minor fitting polishing if any rather easily.

however, done expect crisp trigger break, low pull weight, and blended contours.

[saudadeii]

Well, it's a pretty big ocean when it comes to 1911 parts.

"Drop in" really means the tolerances are quite liberal and require minimal, if any, filing/honing/etc. Hopefully, the pluses and minuses balance out to a decent system both functionally and cosmetically.

[Cool Custard]

for the most part, you can get drop in parts with minor fitting polishing if any rather easily.

however, done expect crisp trigger break, low pull weight, and blended contours.

Not after a super tuned, tight fitting show piece, just curious if I can get it to run reliably and do the work myself. Had a colt that rattled a bit but it shot 100% of the time and that was more than fine with me.

[sigfan91]

Sig's first foray into the world of 1911 was a disaster. Someone there thought they could just buy some expensive parts, slap them together, stamp a logo, and make them run well. They would run, but not well. They required tuning.

[CK_32]

Unless you have the tools, touch and knowledge pretty dam hard.


Look to invest a good amount as well. Last I checked it's adds up.

[M. D. Van Norman]

[wu_dot_com]

Yea, I don't want a sloppy jalopy! Would also like it to be able to run and not jam up.

http://www.blindhogg.com/gunsmithing.html

here are some good basic info / concept with 1911 build. i advise you to take a look and use what you can.

light sand papering is needed to get it run just right especially for brass ejection.