Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! - The Firearms Forum

Slabsides · 08-22-2009, 09:42 PM

Project M1911A1 build 1 is almost complete. It still needs a new front sight. I can tell the one I have on it is going to be too short, other than that everything looks to be a go!

It went a bit over budget, but what the heck....I refuse to build a POS.

It's an Essex receiver, Caspian slide and other parts include Cylinder and Slide, Les Baer, Chip McCormick, Ed Brown, Pachmayr, Swensen and a couple of Sarco mil-spec parts.

I managed to keep the tolerances in the slide fit and barrel fit to 0.002", so it should hold a nice pattern. I can't wait till tomorrow to squeeze some rounds off!

Special thanks to Shooter45 for posting his "reliability tricks" in the sticky....they were applied to this weapon with good results.

glocknut · 08-22-2009, 10:43 PM

Eeewwww...looks nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love stainless!!!!!

mike
gn

Kieran McCaig · 08-23-2009, 12:43 AM

Very nice Slabsides Very nice.

ivarr · 08-23-2009, 05:01 AM

beautiful, hopefully around the new year i will start my very first complete build on a fusion frame

Insulation Tim · 08-23-2009, 08:37 AM

What's involved in a project like this. Does one need a lot of machining skills and equipment?

BTW...Beautiful Gun.

fyimo · 08-23-2009, 08:56 AM

Great looking Custom Gun that I'm sure will make you proud.

Slabsides · 08-23-2009, 09:39 AM

Thanks guys! Only a few more hours till some rounds get ran through it. I live way out in the country, but I still respect Sunday morning quietness.

Tim: No heavy machine work was required. A bit of hand filing and sanding on some parts and the VERY VERY careful use of a Dremel with sanding, cutting and polishing bits. Also needed is some laping compound. I used some old valve grinding compound (400grit/23micron) to lap the slide-to-receiver fit. Some precision measuring equipment is required as well.

Getting a pre-fit, enhanced slide/receiver would have made things alot easier, but I wanted to try it out at least once. Fitting the barrel to get proper lockup is the most labor (and mind)-intense part. While these weapons are simple in design, there is alot involved in fitting new parts, esp. when using several different manufacturers.

I will say that anyone planning to build one should use good quality parts. You will be happy you did and actually SAVE money by not having to pay for a POS part and then re-ordering a nice one that fits and looks good.

Oh yea, when you figure out the buget for a build.....double it.

Slabsides · 08-23-2009, 12:23 PM

Results: At 15 yds, unrested it printed a 1.4" pattern using Remington 230gr FMJ.

Me likes.

JLA · 08-23-2009, 07:16 PM

Very Nice slabsides. You did an excellent job. Makes me want to hurry up and finish mine.. (waiting on backorders)

Insulation Tim · 08-23-2009, 08:49 PM

Slabsides, approximately how much do you have invested in materials cost?

jacksonco · 08-23-2009, 09:31 PM

I don't see a picture of your creation. Hows about putting one up for us all?
Ive kicked around trying a build but I am better off buying completed packages for as of now.

Slabsides · 08-23-2009, 09:46 PM

Thanks, JLA. I know about the backorder thing.

I'm still waiting on another slide I ordered a month ago. I broke the bank and sprung for a Caspian because it was avail. now. I was going to get an Essex, but they are in process of moving their factory now and will not resume production until sometime in September.

Tim, I don't have a total just yet. I will soon add up the parts and let you know. I'm scared to know at the moment.

One thing is for sure: It's waaaaay less costly than a manufactured custom hand-fitted 1911.

jacksonco: Is the pic in my original post not showing up? Here is a link to a pic.. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/pict...&pictureid=939

Shooter45 · 08-24-2009, 07:49 AM

Nice.

JLA · 08-24-2009, 08:00 PM

Tim, I am in the process of building a .460 Rowland on an Essex reciever and Essex enhanced slide. When finished, I will have appx 1300 bucks in it. Im sure Slabsides has gotten close to that, maybe a tad less. Just to get an idea how much building one can save. Go look on the wilson combat site at thier Hunter model. Thats essentially what im building and they are retailing thiers for 3500 bucks

heres a link...http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_460.asp

08-22-2009, 09:42 PM	#1
Slabsides Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: L.A. (Lower Alabama) Posts: 926	Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Project M1911A1 build 1 is almost complete. It still needs a new front sight. I can tell the one I have on it is going to be too short, other than that everything looks to be a go! It went a bit over budget, but what the heck....I refuse to build a POS. It's an Essex receiver, Caspian slide and other parts include Cylinder and Slide, Les Baer, Chip McCormick, Ed Brown, Pachmayr, Swensen and a couple of Sarco mil-spec parts. I managed to keep the tolerances in the slide fit and barrel fit to 0.002", so it should hold a nice pattern. I can't wait till tomorrow to squeeze some rounds off! Special thanks to Shooter45 for posting his "reliability tricks" in the sticky....they were applied to this weapon with good results. __________________ /l ,[____], l---L -OlllllllO- ()_)-()_)-o-)_) --> Last edited by Slabsides; 08-22-2009 at 09:45 PM..

08-22-2009, 10:43 PM	#2
glocknut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: THE FORUM MASCOTT... Posts: 12,482	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Eeewwww...looks nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love stainless!!!!! mike gn __________________ Where O where are you tonight? Why have you gone and left me alone? I searched to world over and a thought i found true love... You met another and PTThhh you were gone....

08-23-2009, 12:43 AM	#3
Kieran McCaig Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: canada Posts: 1,469	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Very nice Slabsides Very nice.

08-23-2009, 05:01 AM	#4
ivarr V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts Posts: 90	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! beautiful, hopefully around the new year i will start my very first complete build on a fusion frame __________________ DEFENDING AMERICA IN THE COMMUNIST OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF MASSACHUSETTS

08-23-2009, 08:37 AM	#5
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,304	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! What's involved in a project like this. Does one need a lot of machining skills and equipment? BTW...Beautiful Gun. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*

08-23-2009, 08:56 AM	#6
fyimo V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 187	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Great looking Custom Gun that I'm sure will make you proud.

08-23-2009, 09:39 AM	#7
Slabsides Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: L.A. (Lower Alabama) Posts: 926	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Thanks guys! Only a few more hours till some rounds get ran through it. I live way out in the country, but I still respect Sunday morning quietness. Tim: No heavy machine work was required. A bit of hand filing and sanding on some parts and the VERY VERY careful use of a Dremel with sanding, cutting and polishing bits. Also needed is some laping compound. I used some old valve grinding compound (400grit/23micron) to lap the slide-to-receiver fit. Some precision measuring equipment is required as well. Getting a pre-fit, enhanced slide/receiver would have made things alot easier, but I wanted to try it out at least once. Fitting the barrel to get proper lockup is the most labor (and mind)-intense part. While these weapons are simple in design, there is alot involved in fitting new parts, esp. when using several different manufacturers. I will say that anyone planning to build one should use good quality parts. You will be happy you did and actually SAVE money by not having to pay for a POS part and then re-ordering a nice one that fits and looks good. Oh yea, when you figure out the buget for a build.....double it. __________________ /l ,[____], l---L -OlllllllO- ()_)-()_)-o-)_) Last edited by Slabsides; 08-23-2009 at 09:41 AM..

08-23-2009, 12:23 PM	#8
Slabsides Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: L.A. (Lower Alabama) Posts: 926	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Results: At 15 yds, unrested it printed a 1.4" pattern using Remington 230gr FMJ. Me likes. __________________ /l ,[____], l---L -OlllllllO- ()_)-()_)-o-)_)

08-23-2009, 07:16 PM	#9
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,328	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Very Nice slabsides. You did an excellent job. Makes me want to hurry up and finish mine.. (waiting on backorders) __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-23-2009, 08:49 PM	#10
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,304	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Slabsides, approximately how much do you have invested in materials cost? __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*

08-23-2009, 09:31 PM	#11
jacksonco Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jackson County West Virginia Posts: 2,237	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! I don't see a picture of your creation. Hows about putting one up for us all? Ive kicked around trying a build but I am better off buying completed packages for as of now.

08-23-2009, 09:46 PM	#12
Slabsides Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: L.A. (Lower Alabama) Posts: 926	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Thanks, JLA. I know about the backorder thing. I'm still waiting on another slide I ordered a month ago. I broke the bank and sprung for a Caspian because it was avail. now. I was going to get an Essex, but they are in process of moving their factory now and will not resume production until sometime in September. Tim, I don't have a total just yet. I will soon add up the parts and let you know. I'm scared to know at the moment. One thing is for sure: It's waaaaay less costly than a manufactured custom hand-fitted 1911. jacksonco: Is the pic in my original post not showing up? Here is a link to a pic.. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/pict...&pictureid=939 __________________ /l ,[____], l---L -OlllllllO- ()_)-()_)-o-)_)

08-24-2009, 07:49 AM	#13
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,755	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Nice.

08-24-2009, 08:00 PM	#14
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,328	Re: Project M1911A1 ready to test fire! Tim, I am in the process of building a .460 Rowland on an Essex reciever and Essex enhanced slide. When finished, I will have appx 1300 bucks in it. Im sure Slabsides has gotten close to that, maybe a tad less. Just to get an idea how much building one can save. Go look on the wilson combat site at thier Hunter model. Thats essentially what im building and they are retailing thiers for 3500 bucks heres a link...http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_460.asp __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF! Last edited by JLA; 08-24-2009 at 08:05 PM..