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Laugh at my learning curve - an update!

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  • Experimentalist
    Banned in Amsterdam
    CGN Contributor - Lifetime
    • May 2006
    • 1171

    Laugh at my learning curve - an update!

    Hi everyone

    I just wanted to post up what the final pistol looks like. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post in a thread that's more than 113 days old, so I've no recourse but to begin a new one.

    Here's the end product. Overall I'm quite happy with the end product, and very glad for what I've learned along the way. This pistol started life as a Springfield Armory MilSpec in .45 ACP.



    I did some hand checkering of the front strap, with moderate results. I did learn a *lot* about the process, hopefully the next one will go better. I hand fitted the grip safety, smoothed out the trigger components and did a careful trigger job. I used a jig, studiously adhered to the directions, and have a trigger that is about like breaking glass. A 5 shot average yields a trigger weight of 4 pounds 2 ounces. I like it this way, plenty light for my purposes.

    I milled a circular recess into the vertical impact surface to yield the "bow tie" feature that relieves stress on the barrel legs. I inked the barrel legs and checked the fit to ensure the bottoms of the legs indeed clear the vertical impact surface. My first effort was insufficient; I am constantly worried about removing too much material. A little more work and the fit was fine.

    I also hand fitted and silver soldered the picatinny rail to the dust cover.



    From Caspian arms, it jutted out past the front of the dust cover as received from the maker. So I spent some patient hours with hand files carefully contouring both the sides and the element that wraps around the trigger guard. The final fit is... Not bad. I'm pretty happy with my file work, but still have much to learn about silver soldering. Fortunately I was able to cover it all with paint! Brownells' Alumahyde in Magpul flat dark earth for the body, and semigloss black for the accents.

    The Trijicon RMR sight is CNC milled into the slide. I'm really happy with how this came out.







    I took some time in both CAD and CAM to make sure everything was just right. I gave a couple thousandths of an inch for clearance, and only had to do some very light file work to get the adapter to slide in like a glove. The front sight of course had to be installed as well, a simple dovetail. I was a bit nervous when filing the front sight to fit, removing too much material seems super easy to do. Fortunately I think I got it right, it slid in with modest effort with my sight tool.

    And yes, it's chambered in .460 Rowland. Probably the most straight forward part of the conversion as it's all drop in. I like how the compensator looks, this pistol is quite imposing in appearance and in heft.



    My next pistol is also a Springfield Armory MilSpec, this one in Stainless Steel. I want to do some more learning about silver soldering before I start in on this project. Hopefully it'll turn out even better than what I've done with the first.

    Thanks for looking!
    "An unarmed man can only flee from evil. And evil is not overcome by fleeing from it" - Col. Jeff Cooper

    "Shot placement trumps all."

    Originally posted by CSACANNONEER
    Who uses 9mm for SD? Anything less than a 50BMG is stupid to use. Personally, I prefer canister rounds out of a 10lb Parrott rifle for SD.
  • #2
    mtenenhaus
    Veteran Member
    • Jul 2007
    • 3416

    great job...congratulations. Can't wait to hear how it shoots.

    Comment

    • #3
      Skip_Dog
      Veteran Member
      • Apr 2017
      • 2656

      Looks good.

      Comment

      • #4
        ar15barrels
        I need a LIFE!!
        • Jan 2006
        • 57083

        Originally posted by Experimentalist
        Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post in a thread that's more than 113 days old, so I've no recourse but to begin a new one.
        All you have to do is check the box that you are AWARE the thread is 113 days old and then the response will post.
        Randall Rausch

        AR work: www.ar15barrels.com
        Bolt actions: www.700barrels.com
        Foreign Semi Autos: www.akbarrels.com
        Barrel, sight and trigger work on most pistols and shotguns.
        Most work performed while-you-wait.

        Comment

        • #5
          Experimentalist
          Banned in Amsterdam
          CGN Contributor - Lifetime
          • May 2006
          • 1171

          Good to know about the 113 day override.

          See? I'm *still* learning from this project.
          "An unarmed man can only flee from evil. And evil is not overcome by fleeing from it" - Col. Jeff Cooper

          "Shot placement trumps all."

          Originally posted by CSACANNONEER
          Who uses 9mm for SD? Anything less than a 50BMG is stupid to use. Personally, I prefer canister rounds out of a 10lb Parrott rifle for SD.

          Comment

          • #6
            Old Flash
            Senior Member
            • Dec 2008
            • 1224

            Excellent job!
            Man, I'd like to see that pistol with a magwell.

            Comment

            • #7
              Experimentalist
              Banned in Amsterdam
              CGN Contributor - Lifetime
              • May 2006
              • 1171

              Originally posted by Old Flash
              Excellent job!
              Man, I'd like to see that pistol with a magwell.
              Thank you for the encouragement.

              I waffled on the magwell, and in retrospect I agree it would've been a good addition.

              My next project will almost certainly have a magwell. It'll be a stainless steel pistol and I want to play with equivalent stainless steel (that I don't have to DROS to acquire) in order to get the hang of it. How it files, how it sands and polishes. How it silver solders.

              I really need to practice silver soldering. I watched some videos and practiced on a few scrap pieces with reasonable success. My main issue is controlling heat, knowing when enough is added without getting excessive. I know melting flux is a good indicator and an application of silver solder is telling... I just need to put the understanding into practical context. Part of it I'm sure is confidence, and practice should help with that.
              "An unarmed man can only flee from evil. And evil is not overcome by fleeing from it" - Col. Jeff Cooper

              "Shot placement trumps all."

              Originally posted by CSACANNONEER
              Who uses 9mm for SD? Anything less than a 50BMG is stupid to use. Personally, I prefer canister rounds out of a 10lb Parrott rifle for SD.

              Comment

              • #8
                ACfixer
                Calguns Addict
                • Feb 2012
                • 6053

                Good stuff OP, I'm engaging in what I call "hobbysmith" gun stuff myself these days and it's fun to watch others.
                Buy made in USA whenever possible.

                Comment

                • #9
                  REDdawn6
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2011
                  • 2447

                  Vey nice man! Looks sweet
                  sigpic

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Experimentalist
                    Banned in Amsterdam
                    CGN Contributor - Lifetime
                    • May 2006
                    • 1171

                    Thanks guys.

                    I've been doing some research on a variety of topics related to 1911s, and the problem really seems to be too much information. Sorting out the good from the bad can be a little challenging.

                    I suppose that's what tinkering is for, at least in part. See what works.
                    "An unarmed man can only flee from evil. And evil is not overcome by fleeing from it" - Col. Jeff Cooper

                    "Shot placement trumps all."

                    Originally posted by CSACANNONEER
                    Who uses 9mm for SD? Anything less than a 50BMG is stupid to use. Personally, I prefer canister rounds out of a 10lb Parrott rifle for SD.

                    Comment

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