Good base 1911 for custom work?

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Subject: Good base 1911 for custom work?
buzzard 3/4/2008 2:07:28 PM

After having much trouble finding anything in the way of customizing equipment for my P220, I've decided I might as well go with the flow and get myself a full sized 1911 to custom up. What would you folks recommend for a baseline?

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GOP 3/10/2008 2:33:59 PM

I went with the Taurus PT1911 since there are no Springfields to be found these days. I was told their military contracts are eating all their capacity so they only rarely are available and get snatched up in no time.

I added a bushing type compensator to the Taurus (Accutek, I think was the brand). Yesterday I took it for a test drive at a range. I just used some FMJ reloads that I normally shoot. After about 120 rounds through it I'd say it was a decent gun, though there are some issues. It only rarely locks back on an empty magazine, and the compensator did not impress me in its ability to control muzzle flip. I may end up buying a better compensator. I think this one only had one port (maybe 2, I'll have to look), so that may be the issue. The Wilson ones look like they might be more effective. As for the lockback issue, I suspect that could be related to the magazines, which weren't all that great. It is likely that I will opt again for the Wilson product and get some of their combat magazines. Those always impressed me favorably on my 1991 Officers. The trigger is also likely to get some work, since I don't really like the feel so much there. It could use some smoothing and lightening. Other than the lockback issue, it did perform flawlessly, and was as accurate in my hands as the P220 that I normally shoot.

buzzard

Wilson products are top notch from what I've seen/heard, can't really go wrong with them. Highly recommended. However, not sure if the mags will fix the problem or not. I know very little about compensators and trigger work though, so can't offer any advice on that.

After you put in more trigger time, you will become a better shot with it. If you are already as accurate with it as you are with your P220, then you can expect it to have even better performance in the future than your P220. Sounds like a solid gun.

Actually I was still shooting a little better with the P220 actually but it was close. Though I don't really practice enough to shoot to the accuracy of any gun I own. I should put more time into it, but I generally don't get to the range more than once a month.

I know the P220 is plenty accurate as I've had better shooters than myself do things that amazed me with it.

buzzard

The P220 is an amazing gun. I want one. Of course, I feel the P220 should be a more accurate gun, but with more trigger time they should even out. It really comes down to the individual shooter. I like Front Sight's motto "Any gun will do - if you will do".

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Yimmy 3/10/2008 4:51:24 PM

Any reliable sources?

Whose this directed at? Sorry, maybe it's obvious, but Im retarded

ChdNorm et al concerning NORINCO's.

I have only ever had a dry play with their AK's and .22LR's, however I hear lots of people on the internet saying they are Chinese junk because of XYZ, while others (whom seem a little more open minded about where the firearms they use come from) who own an example have little but positive things to say about them, other than elements such as the quality of woodwork.

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GOP 3/11/2008 12:24:29 AM

Any reliable sources?

Whose this directed at? Sorry, maybe it's obvious, but Im retarded

ChdNorm et al concerning NORINCO's.

Well, I've heard bad things about their AK's. Of course, AK's are hit and miss across the board. It seems they can either be very well made and shoot accurately, or be very inaccurate. Obviously this has alot to do with whether they are milled or stamped, type of trigger, bore, etc.

Im certainly not saying their pistols are crap, Im not a pistol guy at all. But, I certainly wouldn't go to them for any rifle needs.

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Horsesoldier 3/11/2008 11:18:42 PM

ChdNorm et al concerning NORINCO's.

The only direct experience I have with their handguns is shooting their Sig P226 clones (don't ask). They did go boom every time they were supposed to (and never did when they weren't supposed to), but it was definitely a cheap knock off kind of thing. DA trigger pull must have been in excess of 20 pounds, and the decockers engaged so deep into the movement of the lever that you were kind of sitting there hoping it would catch eventually and wondering what you'd do with a cocked 9mm pistol if it didn't.

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ChdNorm 3/15/2008 4:49:39 AM

Buzzard,
You might be well served by grabbing a handful of Wilson Mags. That's really the only magazine I use for serious purposes. I like the slim base pad if the pistol doesn't have a mag well. But, if you plan on eventually installing a well (I like the S&As myself ... they're pretty much a drop in part with little beveling of the frame) on your Taurus you might want to consider the thicker base pad from the start. The slimline pad does not protrude enough to reliably seat the magazine with a mag well.

If you're serious about wanting a comp, you might look into Clark's drop in comped barrel. It doesn't require permanent modification of the slide (no milling for a reverse plug needed ... but you will need a bushing wrench to field strip). So, you would be able to go back and forth as needed. Realistically though, a .45 ACP doesn't really provide the blast to get the most out of a compensator, that's really about the only reason the .38 Super is still with us. Also, the use of a compensator will put you in the open class in pretty much all shooting disciplines.

GOP,
I won't really say anything bad about the Kimbers, other than I just don't like them. They use Chip McCormick style parts, which I never really warmed up to. Kimbers just feel a tad bit wrong to me. Their quality and execution is among the best of the factory pistols, so it's really just a matter of taste. I do think the Colt style ambi-safety Kimber uses is decidedly inferior to the Swenson style that is just about industry standard though.

By now I have pretty clear cut preferences as far as what I do and don't want in a 1911. I feel the same way about Wilson pistols/parts on the whole, and they are undeniably some of the best available. That's the thing about 1911s ... there's something for everybody and enough choices out there to have it just how you want it.

Yimmy,
Do you mean reliable sources like second, third, and fourth hand opinions you pass along on the Internet? Now granted, we can't all be open minded and worldly Euros ... but it's got nothing to do with small mindedness about where they're made. I'll tell you the same thing about Auto-Ordnance's 1911s.

I've been given three Norincos to see what's wrong with them and at least trouble shoot the problems. Of those three the results were ...

1. Firing pin was too long and the firing pin spring too weak which resulted in pierced primers. To put in a new one I had to drill out the firing pin stop because as it left the factory it was too small to accept a factory Colt firing pin.

2. Extremely crappy trigger pull ... about like pulling a 20# bag of gravel across a driveway. My advice was to just trade it off. The sear and disconnecter were still essentially rough castings. The engagement surfaces on the hammer were too pitted to hone and stay within safe tolerances or have the hammer following the slide home. it would have required all new internals to get anything out of it whatsoever (if they'd have fit).

3. The third was just a total absolute cluster. Only one upper lug was engaging, and even then just barely. After barely three hundred rounds it was peened and battered to the point that the slide would fail to go into battery without whacking the rear of the slide. By then, it also had dangerously excessive headspacing as well. There were so many things wrong with it that it simply wasn't worth fixing.

In addition to those, I have shot several, handled many more at gunshows, matches, etc. ... and I'll admit, they werent all crap. Only 95% of them are. The other 5% sits squarely in the marginal at best catogory. Even the "good" ones are ten footers at best when it coms to fit and finish.

I've also read a lot of the same stuff about Norincos that you have. None of it changes the fact that Norincos are crap. That some people just don't know the difference between shit and shinola is their problem.

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RockyMTNClimber Recommended rail lubricant... 3/29/2008 3:09:17 PM

What do you guys recommend for a 1911 rail lube? I have been using a squirt of Remoil or little Hoppes on the rails of my semi-autos. Is there a better alternative?

Check Six

Rocky

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YelliChink 3/29/2008 3:25:33 PM

What do you guys recommend for a 1911 rail lube? I have been using a squirt of Remoil or little Hoppes on the rails of my semi-autos. Is there a better alternative?

Check Six

Rocky

I don't know what manufacturers recommend, but the ones I've seen in my service unit of ROCA are lubed by motor grease. Some of them are made in 1924 (M1911, not even A1) and still function well.

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RockyMTNClimber I'd love to buy one of those ancient 1911s if the ROC ever decides to sell them as suplus! 3/30/2008 4:19:58 PM

What do you guys recommend for a 1911 rail lube? I have been using a squirt of Remoil or little Hoppes on the rails of my semi-autos. Is there a better alternative?

Check Six

Rocky

I don't know what manufacturers recommend, but the ones I've seen in my service unit of ROCA are lubed by motor grease. Some of them are made in 1924 (M1911, not even A1) and still function well.

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Nichevo 4/27/2008 8:51:30 PM

I don't want to work. I want my piece ready to go straight out of the box, for the purpose of shooting scary people till they don't scare me anymore. (Hope that line works in court.)

As such, I though the Dan Wesson Bobtail I handled in a PA gunshop last year was a honey. Frankly I didn't like the Kimbers I saw, would rather have the Taurus GI model.

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Yimmy 4/28/2008 2:25:14 PM

With regard to my earlier comments concerning NORINCO - I was wrong. After seeing their ammunition in action today - needless to say I didn't buy any.

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