Buying a 1911 Frame and Building Up

[California44]

Come January 1, will we be able to purchase pistol frames and separate parts to assemble our own firearms ? I've never done this before but I'm interested in assembling a 1911 in 38 Super at some point. I recently came across some Colt pistol lowers and slides but was not in the market to make a purchase within the next couple of months. Has this ever been an option for california residents? Will this option be gone come next year with sse going away?

Can I purchase a fully assembled slide and assemble it on to a frame from an on-roster pistol or does this have to be done by an FFL?

[Spyder]

It's generally not an option now. ?

[edgerly779]

Not anymore. Check with sse shop. Cannot do handgun safety test with unassembled frame.

[colossians323]

thought 80 percenters were still fair game

[cdtx2001]

I always thought a 1911 frame was called a frame, not a lower.

[vliberatore]

Come January 1, will we be able to purchase pistol lowers and separate parts to assemble our own firearms ? I've never done this before but I'm interested in assembling a 1911 in 38 Super at some point. I recently came across some Colt pistol lowers and slides but was not in the market to make a purchase within the next couple of months. Will this option be gone come next year?

Pistol receivers/frames/lowers are not on the roster

[IVC]

Not sure it's going to work that way. The 80% AR lowers are "pieces of metal," while the 1911 frame is an actual firearm (serialized).

To do an 80% 1911 you'd have to have a piece of metal that requires some additional work to become a frame. Might be the next thing to do, but I'm not sure it's done routinely these days. Besides, you have the 80% requirement to avoid registration and serial number, but with handguns in CA you still have the CA roster (I'm not quite sure, but I believe the process of building an 80% AR in CA relies on the SSE which is about to go away).

[edgerly779]

Where does the op say anything about 80%ers. He is talking about factory parts. No more buying frames for pistols and assembling. Cannot dros in ca. Have ti have ffl assemble.

[California44]

Where does the op say anything about 80%ers. He is talking about factory parts. No more buying frames for pistols and assembling. Cannot dros in ca. Have ti have ffl assemble.

Thanks. I fixed my post. I'm talking about a fully assembled pistol frame.

[edgerly779]

Possibly the ffl will let you bring in slide and put on for safety test. Like putting an upper on ar rifle

[California44]

Can I purchase a fully assembled slide and assemble it on to a frame from an on-roster pistol or does this have to be done by an FFL?

[JTROKS]

Unless you just want to do it as a hobby and slap parts together then go for it. Assembling a 1911 with a regular tolerance frame and slide is not exactly going for a match fit.

That said Some FFL guys are easier and cheaper to work with than others.

[L84CABO]

Forgive me if I'm being remedial but it's hard to tell sometimes what people know and don't know...

You know putting together a 1911 is not like putting together a AR? 1911's are not plug and play like AR's are. They require a fair amount of actual gunsmithing.

[California44]

Unless you just want to do it as a hobby and slap parts together then go for it. Assembling a 1911 with a regular tolerance frame and slide is not exactly going for a match fit.

That said Some FFL guys are easier and cheaper to work with than others.

I was thinking about that and its really just to be able to switch from 45 to 38 when I feel like it. Nothing more than a hobby.

[Steve_In_29]

I was thinking about that and its really just to be able to switch from 45 to 38 when I feel like it. Nothing more than a hobby.

Unless I am forgetting something, it's not a quick easy switch from .45 to 38 Super. The common route is to get a 9mm pistol and buy the parts (only requires a barrel really) for 38 Super or vice-verse 38 Super pistol and 9mm barrel. The magazines will work for either caliber, though the caliber specific ones do tend to work better, and sometimes a different recoil spring helps.