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To: 1rudeboy

Although not addressed to me I thought I would take a shot at answering...

For turning a stock 1911 into a custom fighting 1911...
1) Slide to frame fit should be tightened
2) Barrel bushing should be fit to slide and barrel
3) All MIM internal parts should be removed and replaced with tool or carpenter steel parts
4) Ejection port should be opened and flared
5) Chamber should be throated
6) Trigger should be polished and set between 3.5 and 4.5 lbs
7) Combat sights installed with tritium bead in front
8) Heinie mag well installed
9) Barrel either recrowned or replaced depending on accuracy

The last three are optional but the first six would be my must have’s for work performed on a stock 1911 to improve performance.

There are many things you can do from an aesthetics standpoint - checkering front and back strap, flatten and serrate top of slide etc that do not impact reliability or accuracy.


27 posted on 07/13/2008 3:21:25 PM PDT by Radio_Silence
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To: Radio_Silence

Thanks. I’ll have the translators take a look at your comment. ;)


30 posted on 07/13/2008 3:23:45 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Radio_Silence

Would it be worth it to take a cheap Armscor .45 (Phillipine manufactured 1911 clone) to a smith?


34 posted on 07/13/2008 4:03:44 PM PDT by Tony in Hawaii (Lookin' for the joke with a microscope)
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To: Radio_Silence

Wow.. That list brings me back to my 1911. I bought a Auto Ord M1911-A1C several years ago. It was my first semi-auto pistol. I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with it. I thought it was the sights so I went to replace them. The gunsmith suggested combat sights, opening the ejection port, National Match bushing, tapered barrel, trigger, polishing the bluing off the safeties, new hammer and beaver tail and a few other things. On my first post upgrade test drive, I hit a playing card 5 out of 5 rounds at 7 yards. It was worth the high cost of the upgrades.

If I had to do it over again, I would have bought a better pistol to begin with. I guess we all learn from experience.


35 posted on 07/13/2008 4:05:39 PM PDT by Dutch Boy
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To: Radio_Silence

i carry 9mm double action only and have a trigger pull of 12 pounds. it only goes off when you want it to!


40 posted on 07/13/2008 4:51:09 PM PDT by thefactor (the innocent shall not suffer nor the guilty go free...)
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To: Radio_Silence

...and...maybe...
...add slight radius to all sharp edges
...Beef up the recoil spring ( I like 18.5lbs)and firing pin spring
...ambidextrous thumb safety


45 posted on 07/13/2008 5:32:33 PM PDT by woollyone (100 rounds per week totals over 5000 rounds in a year. Just thought you'd want to know.)
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To: Radio_Silence

...and...maybe...
...add slight radius to all sharp edges
...Beef up the recoil spring ( I like 18.5lbs)and firing pin spring
...ambidextrous thumb safety


46 posted on 07/13/2008 5:32:34 PM PDT by woollyone (100 rounds per week totals over 5000 rounds in a year. Just thought you'd want to know.)
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To: Radio_Silence; 1rudeboy

I’ll agree with all of that.

I’ll add: a recoil spring set to the ammo you use.


62 posted on 07/13/2008 8:23:22 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: Radio_Silence

For turning a stock 1911 into a custom fighting 1911...
1) Slide to frame fit should be tightened...


Wouldn’t that decrease reliability (in the event of dirt or contaminant) while gaining accuracy>

In a gunfight, benchrest accuracy is not needed. Never fail reliability is.


104 posted on 07/15/2008 6:43:36 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Guns don't kill people, criminals and the governments that create them do.)
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