1911 build

mxsailor803 · June 14, 2015, 05:07 PM

Alright guys, I've decided to take on a 1911 build. I've dealt quite a bit with factory 1911's just never a custom build one. I'm planning on starting with a Palmetto State Armory slide and frame. What I'm wondering does anyone out there sell a "kit" with all the smalls together? Kinda like a one p/n order for a major build up. I've seen different action enhancement kits, pin kits, spring kits, and such. My main reasoning was for when its ready to work on, there won't be a "oops i forgot to order this". Oh, and some people may say just buy a built already, well, this is for my wife and she would appreciate the extra effort of doing it myself a lot more.

Dixie Gunsmithing · June 14, 2015, 06:39 PM

Take a look on Sarco, if you're looking for military grade/surplus parts kits, and maybe Numrich. If you want precision parts, you'll most likely have to buy some of that separately.

Roughedge · June 14, 2015, 07:06 PM

Your best bet would be to go to Brownells and get the good parts, you will be happier in the end. If you're going to the trouble of building one it might as well be a accurate one.

HiBC · June 14, 2015, 07:20 PM

Just one opinion,first investment would be a Kunehausen manual.
For myself,the next investment is a Cylinder and Slide hammer/sear/disconnect kit of your choice.I go with the ones in the 4.5 lb trigger zone.I put them in and they are fine without modification in my experience.
There are a number of good barrels.So far,I like Ed Brown.
IMO,if you look at the stresses on the link and the slide stop,I choose premium parts.I prefer a forged slide stop.
Be advised it is not unusual to find a poorly staked plunger tube.You may want to look very close at this when you get your frame.
If there is anything that looks unreliable,you may need the staking tool.Get the pin that supports the ID of the plunger tube.I'd order a spare plunger tube if I had to do the job to avoid delays if something goes wrong (tube crush)
Choose your trigger and grip safety style with care.Once you get all these parts working in balance as a team....making changes can be a pain.
There is a balance of spring tensions to achieve with the sear spring.Having a spare is good.

mxsailor803 · June 14, 2015, 08:13 PM

HiBC - I saw the Cylinder and Slide enhancement kit was wondering how well they worked. Luckily I've got time to build this. I'm doing as a graduation gift since my wife has spent the last 5 years working towards her masters in dental hygene. As far as barrels, I was looking at several with the movable barrel link and some with the fixed hole. What are the advantages to each? I've only dealt with the moveable versions and never given it any real thought about the fixed one.

Hunter Customs · June 14, 2015, 08:34 PM

I've whipped out a few 1911s in my day, HiBC gave you some very good advice.

Use all top shelf parts to build your gun, you will be much happier in the long run.

If you want cheap parts to practice on find some factory take off parts that some may have from their custom build.

g.willikers · June 16, 2015, 10:16 AM

Before investing all that time and money, make doubly sure the frame and slide are as they should be.
Just a pin hole drilled wrong can really mess things up.
Maybe downloading a blueprint of the 1911 would help make sure things are as they should be before starting.
Just a thought.

dahermit · June 16, 2015, 11:58 AM

Consider this: There are subtleties involved in getting a 1911 created from a collection of separate parts to work. If you happen to find that the gun has functioning problems after it is assembled, you will have no recourse as to any manufacturer whereas, if you purchase a brand name gun and it proves to be problematic, you can always go back to the manufacturer for warranty work. Nevertheless, if you are hot to construct one and it is not critical that it works, by all means go for it and enjoy yourself.

CowTowner · June 16, 2015, 12:07 PM

Or purchase a kit which can include manufacturer support.

Not a whole lot of savings, but.........

http://www.fusionfirearms.com/handguns/kits

g.willikers · June 17, 2015, 11:24 AM

Without intending to discourage you, there's two types of firearms that I wouldn't buy used, unless their history is known.
1911s and ARs.
For some reason, there's a lot of otherwise sensible folks who just gotta' mess with them, even when they shouldn't.
Far more than any other types of guns.

**4V50 Gary** · June 17, 2015, 08:19 PM

DixieGunsmithing - so Sarco is good to go? I'm only looking for frame components. Don't need a slide or barrel.

skizzums · June 18, 2015, 06:04 AM

Quote:

there's two types of firearms that I wouldn't buy used, unless their history is known.1911s and ARs.

don't know why a used AR would be an issue. the most your looking at is throwing on a new barrel, I guess possibly a bolt, but not likely. 1911's I could see being a possible headache with worn slides etc though.

Dixie Gunsmithing · June 18, 2015, 10:25 AM

Gary, Sarco buys a lot of military surplus, so they may have everything, one just has to look. They used to have a several page ad in Shotgun News. They have what they call auto build kits for the 1911. which supposed to be everything but the slide, frame, and barrel, according to the kit.

Below is a link to their pistol parts:

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/pistolparts.aspx

1911 kit with barrel:

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/451911auto...eandslide.aspx

June 14, 2015, 05:07 PM	#1
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	1911 build Alright guys, I've decided to take on a 1911 build. I've dealt quite a bit with factory 1911's just never a custom build one. I'm planning on starting with a Palmetto State Armory slide and frame. What I'm wondering does anyone out there sell a "kit" with all the smalls together? Kinda like a one p/n order for a major build up. I've seen different action enhancement kits, pin kits, spring kits, and such. My main reasoning was for when its ready to work on, there won't be a "oops i forgot to order this". Oh, and some people may say just buy a built already, well, this is for my wife and she would appreciate the extra effort of doing it myself a lot more.

June 14, 2015, 07:06 PM	#3
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	Your best bet would be to go to Brownells and get the good parts, you will be happier in the end. If you're going to the trouble of building one it might as well be a accurate one. __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

June 14, 2015, 07:20 PM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	Just one opinion,first investment would be a Kunehausen manual. For myself,the next investment is a Cylinder and Slide hammer/sear/disconnect kit of your choice.I go with the ones in the 4.5 lb trigger zone.I put them in and they are fine without modification in my experience. There are a number of good barrels.So far,I like Ed Brown. IMO,if you look at the stresses on the link and the slide stop,I choose premium parts.I prefer a forged slide stop. Be advised it is not unusual to find a poorly staked plunger tube.You may want to look very close at this when you get your frame. If there is anything that looks unreliable,you may need the staking tool.Get the pin that supports the ID of the plunger tube.I'd order a spare plunger tube if I had to do the job to avoid delays if something goes wrong (tube crush) Choose your trigger and grip safety style with care.Once you get all these parts working in balance as a team....making changes can be a pain. There is a balance of spring tensions to achieve with the sear spring.Having a spare is good. Last edited by HiBC; June 14, 2015 at 07:35 PM.

June 16, 2015, 10:16 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Before investing all that time and money, make doubly sure the frame and slide are as they should be. Just a pin hole drilled wrong can really mess things up. Maybe downloading a blueprint of the 1911 would help make sure things are as they should be before starting. Just a thought. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 16, 2015, 12:07 PM	#9
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Or purchase a kit which can include manufacturer support. Not a whole lot of savings, but......... http://www.fusionfirearms.com/handguns/kits __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

June 14, 2015, 06:39 PM	#2
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Take a look on Sarco, if you're looking for military grade/surplus parts kits, and maybe Numrich. If you want precision parts, you'll most likely have to buy some of that separately.

June 14, 2015, 08:13 PM	#5
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	HiBC - I saw the Cylinder and Slide enhancement kit was wondering how well they worked. Luckily I've got time to build this. I'm doing as a graduation gift since my wife has spent the last 5 years working towards her masters in dental hygene. As far as barrels, I was looking at several with the movable barrel link and some with the fixed hole. What are the advantages to each? I've only dealt with the moveable versions and never given it any real thought about the fixed one.

June 14, 2015, 08:34 PM	#6
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I've whipped out a few 1911s in my day, HiBC gave you some very good advice. Use all top shelf parts to build your gun, you will be much happier in the long run. If you want cheap parts to practice on find some factory take off parts that some may have from their custom build.

June 16, 2015, 11:58 AM	#8
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Consider this: There are subtleties involved in getting a 1911 created from a collection of separate parts to work. If you happen to find that the gun has functioning problems after it is assembled, you will have no recourse as to any manufacturer whereas, if you purchase a brand name gun and it proves to be problematic, you can always go back to the manufacturer for warranty work. Nevertheless, if you are hot to construct one and it is not critical that it works, by all means go for it and enjoy yourself.

June 17, 2015, 11:24 AM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Without intending to discourage you, there's two types of firearms that I wouldn't buy used, unless their history is known. 1911s and ARs. For some reason, there's a lot of otherwise sensible folks who just gotta' mess with them, even when they shouldn't. Far more than any other types of guns. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 17, 2015, 08:19 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	DixieGunsmithing - so Sarco is good to go? I'm only looking for frame components. Don't need a slide or barrel. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

June 18, 2015, 10:25 AM	#13
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Gary, Sarco buys a lot of military surplus, so they may have everything, one just has to look. They used to have a several page ad in Shotgun News. They have what they call auto build kits for the 1911. which supposed to be everything but the slide, frame, and barrel, according to the kit. Below is a link to their pistol parts: http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/pistolparts.aspx 1911 kit with barrel: http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/451911auto...eandslide.aspx