1911 gunsmith in SoCal?

[WolfMansDad]

Anybody know a good gunsmith for 1911's in the LA area?

Shot an old colt series 70 yesterday and had five failures in 100 rounds!

[EBWhite]

One of the most famous 1911 places arounds, Kings Gunworks, is located in Glendale.

[glen avon]

it's 951 eh. 909 is for the meth cooks north and east.

[voodoo]

Jim Hoag In Canoga Park (West SFV). Ask anyone worth a lick who Jim Hoag is... he is one of the greats. The last number I had for him was (818) 998-1510.

[Black_Talon]

Hoag is tops and is still at that number.

All look at Alan Tanaka in Gardena, right at the end of the 91 Freeway. He's doing some real nice 1911 work these days. 310-327-4641

[10K2HVN]

Ade recommended World of Warriors in Orange for me...

I havent called yet, but I will in the near future.

[stevie]

Have you tried different ammo and mags? Applied enuff lube on the rails?

[Ryan HBC]

Big +1 for Alan Tanaka.

17924 South Hobart Blvd
Gardena, CA 90248
310-327-2721

[five.five-six]

evans shooters world... pricy and you will wait for ever but if you want the best...

[Lethal_Addict]

+1 for Evan's He does it right!

[Mute]

Evans does good work, but I would hardly call him the best. Alan Tanaka and Jim Hoag are first rate. So is Kings Gunworks. I've had good results from all three in the past. I've also heard good things about Will O'Hara.

[WolfMansDad]

Thanks! Lots of good information here.

I suspect it needs a new barrel, but I want a professional opinion. The existing barrel has a wide spot near the muzzle, which the previous owner insisted was a feature, not a bug. This, along with a special bushing, was supposed to align the barrel consistently with the slide and thus improve accuracy. All of the failures were the same: fire and eject always worked, but on the feed cycle the slide would only return half or two thirds of the way forward. In some cases, the feeding round would be stuck in the chamber, and in others, it was loose and would fall out if I tipped the pistol. The slide is loose enough to rattle if you shake the pistol, so the only two places I figure it could bind are the muzzle/bushing interface or the chamber. The bushing does bind near the muzzle on field stripping, and there is some pitting in the chamber. A new barrel and bushing would take care of both problems, but as I say, I want a professional opinion before spending money on the parts. Also I have heard that barrels need to be fitted, or is that just for target pistols?

Not entirely coincidentally, I am thinking about getting a new .45. Two that look good are the Kimber Custon II and Springfield Mil-Spec.

[WolfMansDad]

Accuracy sucks, by the way. I have no particular attachment to the old barrel...

[JiminCA]

Your problem could be as simple as the magazine. I think it is the mag because of the fact that occasionally the round is in front of the extractor. That indicates a premature release from the magazine - likely caused by wide feed lips or cracked lips.

Get a new Wilson mag or a recent manufacture new Colt mag. Put in a new 16 or 18.5 lb recoil spring. Shoot factory ball ammo from Win or Federal or Remington.

If you still have probs I'd look at the extractor next. On a 1911 too much extractor tension can hold up feeding like you're experiencing.

All of this is prefaced on the assumption that the slide closes OK with no round being fed - ie on an empty chamber. If it doesn't close on an empty chamber then you need to see a gunsmith.

[kantstudien]

1911 barrels absolutely must be fitted. Even "semi-drop-in" barrels usually do not drop-in. Actually, most 1911 parts must be "fitted." That is why I like my Glocks.

And Alan Tanaka is a very good 1911 smith.