I hit a point on 1911s with roll your own

[BE Mike]

THERE'S A LOT OF COLT 1911 CRITICISM, ON THIS THREAD, ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT I NEVER EXPERIENCED.....

I CARRIED A WELL WORN COLT, USGI MODEL, WITH OBLITERATED NUMBERS, AS A PERSONAL WEAPON, IN VIETNAM. IT RATTLED LIKE A PAINT CAN, AND WENT BANG, EACH AND EVERY TIME. I PURCHASED IT FROM A DUDE ON HIS WAY HOME, AND SOLD IT WHEN MY TOUR OF DUTY WAS OVER.....

UPON MY RETURN TO THE WORLD, I GRAVITATED TO THE COLT 1911, FOR EDC. FOR OVER 3 DECADES, I CARRIED GOLD CUP, SERIES II, NATIONAL MATCH, PISTOLS----MILDLY PERSONALIZED WITH SOME WILSON COMBAT PARTS, LIKE BEAVERTAIL GRIP SAFETY, OVERSIZE MAG RELEASE BUTTON, AND SLIDE RELEASE LEVER. I NEVER HAD A SERIOUS PARTS FAILURE--EVEN THROUGH A DOZEN SEASONS OF BULLSEYE COMPETITION. I REPLACED RECOIL SPRINGS, A COUPLE OF FRONT SIGHTS THAT BLEW OFF, AND A BROKEN EXTRACTOR.....

ONE THING I CAN SAY IS THAT THE FEED RAMP, WAS VERY FINICKY, WITH REGARD TO THE OGIVE OF THE AMMO. NATURALLY, IT RAN 230GR, FMJ, FLAWLESSLY. FOR SD, I CARRIED CORBON , POW R BALL, WHICH HAD A TEFLON BALL, IN THE HP CAVITY, OR GOLDEN SABER, JHP. BOTH OF THEM FED AND CHAMBERED, FLAWLESSLY.......

MY LGS, THAT SPONSORED OUR TEAM, SOLD 230GR, LSWC, RELOADS, THAT WERE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, AND REASONABLY PRICED, ITS WHAT MOST OF US SHOT, IN PRACTICE AND IN MATCHES.....

IN ANY EVENT, IMHO, COLT GOLD CUPS ARE QUALTY PISTOLS. MOST OF THEM SHOOT BETTER, THAN MOST OF US CAN HOLD THEM......

Thank you for your service! How did your Gold Cup group at 50 yards from a machine rest? Mine couldn't hold a 6" group. I don't know anyone who is an outdoor expert or above that shoots a stock Colt Gold Cup. I shot conventional pistol matches from 1971-2006. I have two Colt accurized "Government Model" pistols, one a series 70 and the other a pre-series 70. I don't knock Colts, but they did have a few design issues, one being the collet bushing. I wouldn't risk my life on a part that has been known to break. I wouldn't have a collet bushing in a pistol that I was going to shoot at Camp Perry, where I was going to spend hundreds of dollars to compete.

 

[BE Mike]

This discussion, especially the Colt fingered collet barrel bushing leads me to ask if anyone has any experience with the Briley spherical bushing system? Depending on WHO and where you ask, you can be told that it's extremely precise or it's a "no labor shortcut cheat."

All I can confirm is that my Smith & Wesson Performance Center Limited target pistols have them, (not 1911's mind you) and these are truly elite and inspiringly accurate pistols that any gun gearhead or craftsman would appreciate. The fit between barrel and titanium spherical ring on these guns are absolutely fine, they just seem to float. It kind of "feels" like perfection to me, but I am no manner of a craftsman like many of you folks.

The pistolsmiths I've talked to say that the Briley spherical bushing system is good, but no better or worse than a standard fitted bushing/ barrel. Maybe S&W is able to keep the cost of the pistol down a little (less labor) by using the Briley...who knows? I wouldn't have any problems with it.

 

[44wheelman]

While I am a big fan of the Briley bushing, I have a pistol dynamics build that will outshoot my 945’s. I bought that one used, cause I couldn’t afford it new.

In fact you guys keep making them, I have bought more than one used excellent shooting custom build for cheap.

 

[AJ]

In the early to mid 80's I built about 25 1911 "Night stand" grade guns. I used Federal Ordnance alloy frames, usually a rewelded slide, and mostly GI parts. The last one I sold was $135. I test fired every one they kept mixed ball ammo in a large paper plate @ 25 yards, and I guaranteed them to "Go Bang" Repeatedly! You couldn't get factory Colts to do that! I sand blasted everything but the frame and parkerized everything to match the frame. Then I refit the whole pistol (took 10 minutes more than normal reassembly)



Ivan

Ivan,

Did you have any problems with the Fed Ord frames? I bought one directly from Fed Ord in El Monte, Ca. when I was stationed in Ca. Drove to their store and bought it. Like a candy store of surplus guns.

The frame had some issues. Once it was assembled and test fired, it would double and triple at times. Usually about half a mag would go auto. Figured out the sear pin was drilled a touch low. Welded the hole and redrilled using a Colt frame as the template. Problem solved. and sold the gun to a Cop that new what problem it had.

 

[AJ]

THERE'S A LOT OF COLT 1911 CRITICISM, ON THIS THREAD, ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT I NEVER EXPERIENCED.....

I CARRIED A WELL WORN COLT, USGI MODEL, WITH OBLITERATED NUMBERS, AS A PERSONAL WEAPON, IN VIETNAM. IT RATTLED LIKE A PAINT CAN, AND WENT BANG, EACH AND EVERY TIME. I PURCHASED IT FROM A DUDE ON HIS WAY HOME, AND SOLD IT WHEN MY TOUR OF DUTY WAS OVER.....

UPON MY RETURN TO THE WORLD, I GRAVITATED TO THE COLT 1911, FOR EDC. FOR OVER 3 DECADES, I CARRIED GOLD CUP, SERIES II, NATIONAL MATCH, PISTOLS----MILDLY PERSONALIZED WITH SOME WILSON COMBAT PARTS, LIKE BEAVERTAIL GRIP SAFETY, OVERSIZE MAG RELEASE BUTTON, AND SLIDE RELEASE LEVER. I NEVER HAD A SERIOUS PARTS FAILURE--EVEN THROUGH A DOZEN SEASONS OF BULLSEYE COMPETITION. I REPLACED RECOIL SPRINGS, A COUPLE OF FRONT SIGHTS THAT BLEW OFF, AND A BROKEN EXTRACTOR.....

ONE THING I CAN SAY IS THAT THE FEED RAMP, WAS VERY FINICKY, WITH REGARD TO THE OGIVE OF THE AMMO. NATURALLY, IT RAN 230GR, FMJ, FLAWLESSLY. FOR SD, I CARRIED CORBON , POW R BALL, WHICH HAD A TEFLON BALL, IN THE HP CAVITY, OR GOLDEN SABER, JHP. BOTH OF THEM FED AND CHAMBERED, FLAWLESSLY.......

MY LGS, THAT SPONSORED OUR TEAM, SOLD 230GR, LSWC, RELOADS, THAT WERE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, AND REASONABLY PRICED, ITS WHAT MOST OF US SHOT, IN PRACTICE AND IN MATCHES.....

IN ANY EVENT, IMHO, COLT GOLD CUPS ARE QUALTY PISTOLS. MOST OF THEM SHOOT BETTER, THAN MOST OF US CAN HOLD THEM......

Have to say I agree with you on the subject of the Gold Cups. I built over 30 M1911's and owned another 20 or so Colt, military issue M1911's and Springfields. After all that I own two M1911's, one is a Series 70 Gold Cup National Match, the other is a Colt that started life as a .38 Super and was converted to .38 Special. Both are keepers!

 

[BE Mike]

Have to say I agree with you on the subject of the Gold Cups. I built over 30 M1911's and owned another 20 or so Colt, military issue M1911's and Springfields. After all that I own two M1911's, one is a Series 70 Gold Cup National Match, the other is a Colt that started life as a .38 Super and was converted to .38 Special. Both are keepers!

I suppose the thing I don't care about, is the term Gold Cup. It comes from the Gold Cup Trophy from the National Matches. It would make one think that the pistol is match ready for bullseye shooting, which it is not. It's fine for a plinker, but without modifications, like replacing the collet bushing and roll pin holding the Eliason rear sight in place, I don't consider it ready for serious match shooting or defense.

 

[Rastoff]

I have thought about building a 1911, but the small amount of research I've done shows that it will be more expensive to build than to buy a decent one already to go.

With ALL the 1911's out there, is there a true left handed 1911 that ejects to the (wrong) left side?

As a lefty, I too am surprised that there aren't more. There is one that I know of, but break out the check book because it ain't cheap: Cabot Gun | South Paw

 

[AJ]

I have thought about building a 1911, but the small amount of research I've done shows that it will be more expensive to build than to buy a decent one already to go.

As a lefty, I too am surprised that there aren't more. There is one that I know of, but break out the check book because it ain't cheap: Cabot Gun | South Paw

Read this: American Rifleman | Rifleman Q&A: The Portsider

Cabot Gun | an American Gun Company

 

[Muley Gil]

Back in 1981, I bought a RMT aluminum full size frame. I added a Remington-Rand slide, a National Match barrel and bushing, a long trigger, a wide spur hammer and a flat mainspring housing. All of the innards were GI. It shot and still shoots good.