Posted: 1/20/2013 12:00:25 PM EDT
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Hello everybody, I'm new to 1911's so please forgive some of these questions. I have a 1911 that I'm pretty happy with. Only want a few things changed. I've shot a few high end custom jobs, and I want to know what makes the slide move like butter on the frame on a high end custom job, vs the grindy, clunky slide movement on an out of the box basic? I've been looking at many custom 1911 gunsmiths websites and I'm thinking about sending mine off, but I don't know what to ask for. Is this the slide to frame fit? Also, do you guys think the Sig 1911 GSR needs anything else done to it? It's checkered, I'm going to have the trigger changed out and a trigger job done. I'm going with the 10-8 flat trigger. I'm changing the sites to the Trijicon HD's. It already has a magwell, checkering, etc. Does the Sig need a reliability package done? Throating or polishing? Any other thoughts or guys to send it to, hopefully close to Texas? Thanks Green.
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As for what to do to your 1911, I won't venture an opinion. You need to shoot it, a lot, and figure out for yourself--what do you like and what don't you like.
Beautiful thing about 1911s--they're something different for everyone. As for the first question, though, yes, what you describe is primarily a function of slide-to-frame fit. Many factory guns are a bit loose out of the box--hold the grip and shake the pistol back and forth. You'll probably hear the slide rattle. If that fit is tightened up, that slop disappears. The ultimate fit comes from tightening things till the slide barely moves on the frame--I mean actually requires a mallet to move--and then use some fine lapping compound to "mate" the surfaces. When the rail surfaces (male and female) are perfectly smooth and have almost no clearance, you'll be amazed at how smoothly the slide moves. Having said that, an ultra-tight fit is not absolutely required for accuracy, and might be problematic for reliability under field (or combat) conditions. ...But it does feel good! Read a lot. Get familiar with the 1911 design, and think about what you want your pistol to do. Then you can decide what work you want to do (or have done). As long as the pistol is functioning, there's no reason to rush into anything! |