Ultimate "Fighting" 1911? Give me some ideas...

[Greg Bell]

Guys,

When I have mastered the 1911, I will replace my Kimber Warrior with a 1911 of my own construction. This 1911's purpose will be fighting, pure and simple. The primary goals will be, in this order; 1. Reliability; (2) Accuracy; (3) ease of use; (4) carry-ability.

1. Carbon steel frame and slide. Caspian?
2. Cylinder and Slide drop in 4 pound trigger.
3. Bar-sto match barrel.
4. Ed Brown memory groove grip safety.
5. Ed Brown misc parts.
6. Short trigger (no holes).
7. NP3 finish or possibly a "kote" finish.
8. Carry bevel


No front serrations.
No ambi safety.
No Lanyard, or recessed lanyard.


Any additions? Disagreements?

 

[BobK]

1. No FLGR
2. Storm Lake Barrel
3. Tru Glo night sights
4. Caspian frame with mag well
5. Laser Grips

 

[Greg Bell]

I agree on the tru glos. Those things are fantastic.

 

[Freetacos]

Get a used Norinco and use all the money that you save on a good training course. Then you will have a true "fighting" 1911.

 

[WIN71]

Wow

I'm going to have to watch this thread. I don't know what half that stuff is. Up untill a couple minutes ago I felt pretty good about the 1911a1 parkerized Remington Rand $17.50 NRA purchased in 1959 "property of U.S" pistol I have. I don't know how many thousand rounds have been fired through it but enough for me to feel confident about its reliability.

Anxiously awaiting more posts,

Igor

 

[Greg Bell]

Here is a link to the tru-glos. They are fantasticly easy to see. I will buy some as soon as I am satisfied that they are durable.
http://www.truglo.com/content/prod_handgun_sights/tfo_facts.asp

 

[tony pasley]

I believe that a Colt, Remmington rand, Singer, Union Switch and Signal, all made fighting 1911a1s. Funny they seemed to do the job for many years.

 

[Greg Bell]

I'll never understand posts like the above.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Greg
If you stay around guns for a few more years, I'm sure you will.
Bill

 

[Gib]

Greg Bell -
From what I've read most of these guys that build custom 1911's start with a good carbon steel frame and go from there. Are you going to do the work yourself or have someone do it? The reason I ask is there are schools out there where you can take the class and build the 1911 yourself. I don't know if I trust myself with $1500 of parts my first time out, but some have and like the results.

 

[gc70]

Greg,

It sounds like you know what you want. Have fun building it!

 

[Greg Bell]

I plan to do some of it myself. I want to learn the gun inside and out. However, a lot of the serious work will be done by the pros. Caspian will cut the frame and slide, do most of the lapping, etc. I will use C&S ignition bits, etc. I will pay Bar-STO to fit the barrel and bushing. Other things, I can do.

GHB

 

[King_chin0]

A fighting pistol, well like above said, tru-glo sights. Extended slide lock, extended saftey, I don't see why not ambi, it is better for fighting, but everyone has a personal preference. a beavertail grip saftey. Slimline grips, micarta would be my preference, but palm swells feel better from houge. A larger and extended mag release. Personally for a fighting gun, I would like an enlarged magwell/mag guide, or get a 30LPI Bobtail Mainspring housing for easier CC. A light trigger, such as an STI trigger, I would definately get a lighter trigger pull, a trigger job would definately be worth it. I would definately get a recoil buffer and a lighter recoil spring for less muzzle flip to stay on target. A full length guiderod. Checkered front strap. Also one more thing I would like to add is, other then the Bar-Sto barrel, have you thought about Nowlin Bull Barrels? I love Cerakote finishes. they have a great selection of color, not as much as Dura, but its a much harder finish.

 

[WIN71]

"I'll never understand posts like the above"

obviously

 

[Greg Bell]

I don't see why not ambi, it is better for fighting

I am right handed. It seems like the value of being able to take the saftey off weak handed isn't as valuable as having a less snagy exterior. I punched a hole in my T-shirt with My Kimber Warror's right hand saftey.

Personally for a fighting gun, I would like an enlarged magwell/mag guide

I agree, I just want one that is fairly subtle.

A larger and extended mag release

Maybe a little bigger. Nothing too wild.

., or get a 30LPI Bobtail Mainspring housing for easier CC.

I like the feel of the 1911 grip. Frankly, I prefer the swell of the A1.

I would definitely get a recoil buffer and a lighter recoil spring for less muzzle flip to stay on target.

Sounds like that might effect reliability.

Also one more thing I would like to add is, other then the Bar-Sto barrel, have you thought about Nowlin Bull Barrels?

I have not. I will look into it.

 

[Axion]

What exactly is a "fighting" pistol for someone who will, hopefully, never be in a gun fight?

 

[Greg Bell]

That is a fair question, anticipated and answered in the first post...

The primary goals will be, in this order; 1. Reliability; (2) Accuracy; (3) ease of use; (4) carry-ability.

 

[RickB]

I haven't been in a gun fight, but the gun that I would hope to have with me, if I was, is very basic. To a certain extent, it is really designed more for carrying than fighting. Fixed sights with rounded edges (Heinie), no oversize or extended anything, except the thumb safety; I've found oversize and extended stuff doesn't really make it any easier to operate, but it makes me lazy, so I start to miss if the stuff ISN'T oversize/extended. If it was a duty gun, rather than concealed carry gun, then I'd probably have a magwell funnel. I have a competition gun built on the Caspian "race ready" frame, with the built-in funnel, and I think it is too long and bulky for concealed carry; I'd want the kind that requires cutting off the end of the frame, as they don't increase the size of the gun (much). My gun has a Kart barrel, which does NOT have a match chamber, and that would be a requirement.

 

[Greg Bell]

Rick,

That is a good point about the match chamber. Hmm. I guess I should look into a semi-drop in from either Kart or Bar-sto. Karts tend to be cheaper, I believe.

 

[Sarge]

....This 1911's purpose will be fighting, pure and simple. The primary goals will be, in this order; 1. Reliability; (2) Accuracy; (3) ease of use; (4) carry-ability.....
Greg Bell

http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_sargesrollcall_archive.html

Watch the 'match' barrels. They tend to have chambers that run to the minimum of the SAMMI dimensions. This is great for a bullseye gun, and an unnecessary source of potential malfunctions on a fighting .45 auto. Given good ammo, decent fitting and .002-.003 bushing-to-barrel clearance, any good USGI spec barrel will shoot 4-5" at 50 yards- which would still keep your shots on a man's torso at 100 if you're properly zeroed at 50- and hold on his head.