The DIY 1911 thread... I think I'll call her Becky

[jalopi]

If I'm going to spend $1100-1300 on a gun, Id rather do this and make it truly my own weapon.

FTFY, unfortunately it looks like this is gonna be the actual price when everything's said and done :(

$500 of that is just the slide and barrel... and it's not even the top notch stuff (in between mid and high tier. I've read that you do NOT fuck with the quality of the barrel/bushing or the slide on 1911s or you're gonna have a bad time). That figure is including the cost of the jig though, so the number does go down as you add ladies to the harem :D

[IronFreak]

so take that $1300, are we in the Kimber quality range etc? If you can land there for $1300 and say "I built the biiish...." I'd be happy, but that's just me. I enjoy the build as much as the ride...if not more.

[TeXJ]

I'm too cheap, I was thinking about taking my $600ish Ruger 1911 and getting a trigger job on that. Then it would be a sweet shooting gun for $650ish.

Doing it this way I guess you get the thrill of doing it yourself and not have a serial number attached to it?

Here in Texas, there is no gun registration, so if you bought a gun used from an individual, then you could have a gun with no paper trail.

[IronFreak]

I'll live in Texas one day, for pleasure or to revolt.....Or both.

[TeXJ]

haha

[Gregs///M]

Sub'd, I look forward to reviewing your process. I'm currently working on a 80% AR, thinking 1911 next.

[jalopi]

So I did a video, but goddamn it's taking youtube forever to upload it. Finished cutting the slides tonight, too late/tired to do a written review yet. I'll get to that sometime tomorrow. Anyway, here's some pics of the finished product:






mmmm, dat fit

[DER E30]

How can you use that tool as a substitute for the real slide that will belong to it? I thought really tightly fitted 1911s couldn't really swap parts...

[jalopi]

so take that $1300, are we in the Kimber quality range etc?

Apparently, if done right, the gun will be capable of 2" groups @ 25 yards

How can you use that tool as a substitute for the real slide that will belong to it? I thought really tightly fitted 1911s couldn't really swap parts...

You can't, but at least if you get a tight fit with the tool you know it'll be a good baseline for fitting the slide (tool gets run on the slide rails to cut the barrel seat)

[jalopi]

[jalopi]

Whelp, pulled the trigger on a Caspian slide and Kart "EZ fit" barrel. Hopefully I'll be good to start fitting the barrel sometime next week!

[jalopi]

Hey bros, just an update - didn't want you to think I abandoned this build thread or something. Still waiting on the barrel & slide to come in, according to UPS they should be here tomorrow.

Apparently Brownells vets its first time customers... they called me on Tuesday to verify that I was actually the one putting the order through. Didn't ship my parts out until Wednesday... can't say I'm very pleased with the laxidasical way they process orders over there.

So, over the weekend I decided to cut the barrel seat... I made something of a boo boo :( Accidentally cut a bit too much material off and now the seat is about .01" over spec (.087 deep instead of .077 deep)

I think I can fix this by doing a bit of filing on the lower lugs of the barrel though - I'll take some pics of the process once I FINALLY get the barrel in tomorrow

[myinfernalbmw]

Brownells can eat a dick. Midway seems to get shipments to me faster and with less bullshit. Their prices generally seem better on most items too.

Keep up the good work duder.

[jalopi]

Brownells can eat a dick. Midway seems to get shipments to me faster and with less bullshit.

TIL. Thanks for the info, that'll be handy to know when I order the rest of my parts up.

On the bright side... UPS came a day early

[DER E30]

yay