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Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Canada
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Points: 1728
Topic: Colt 1911 Project Gun Posted: 21 November 2003 at 16:06
Just getting a well used Colt 1911 .45ACP from a friend... going to turn it into a nice plinker... here's what I'm starting with...
All parts are there and it is fully functional. The outside needs some TLC. Barrel is grungy and GI but serviceable.... a few hours later and a good cleaning and rubdown with fine steel wool & oil... added replacement grips from the gun box...
Going to get my 'smith to do a bead blast & reblue so that it looks parkerized. Should cover up some of the external blemishes....
I will post further pics as the project progresses!
Joined: 11 June 2003
Location: Antigua And Barbuda
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Points: 886
Posted: 22 November 2003 at 11:46
Those old beaters can be a bunch of fun. We found an old S&W 1917 .45 revolver wraped up in an oily canvas rag in this old junker car. Outside was as rough as your 1911 and there was rust and crud in the inards. The barrel was pitted some but servicable. Grips were half rotten. It cleaned up ok and we replaced the pawl and mainspring. We finally found some half moon clips and some .45 Auto rim brass.
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Eritrea
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Points: 8857
Posted: 22 November 2003 at 12:00
Sir North;
Them there stock G.I. sights were the biggest reason the thing had a rep as not to be able to hit the broad side of a barn. Decent replacement sights are cheap & will enhance the plinkability of the gun to no end. After all, if'n ya can't hit it, where's the positive reward?
The only positive answer to that question would involve being rewarded with the sexual favors of an anti-gunner for missing. It's an ugly thought, but there it is.
So, are you going to go with adjustable sights or a combat type like Chip McCormick's?
900F
Birth certificate!? He don't need no steenkink birth certificate!!
Joined: 16 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2373
Posted: 23 November 2003 at 05:08
Sounds like a very fun project ! Acouple of inexpensive improvements I would certainly make are, the barrel bushing, The old GI bushings are, not condusive to good accuracy, and the barrel link. If you have messed with a 45 much you may allready think of the link as the cam that controls the cycle , and forces the barrel into the lock up posision after each shot. You can buy a kit that come with 3 links of different lengths, a longer link pushes the barrel lugs farther into the receses in the slide, to lock up the rear, and a better bushing will lock up the muzzle end and you will have a much better chance of hitting what you shoot at.
I think I would have a smith look at the lock up befor shooting your pistol if you replace the link. But You can buy the parts and install them your self. Of corse on the bushing you can buy a match bushing and have it fitted to your gun, but it seems like that might be going a little farther than you need to go for this project. ...tj3006
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1728
Posted: 05 December 2003 at 05:38
TJ - I agree about the barrel/bushing/link parts being key to accuracy. I already have a nice replacement factory Colt barrel that has been throated for this project. Also have a set of Wilson replacement links of various increments if the one on it doesn't give good service. This barrel also has a nicely fitted bushing to it.
I've also found in the past that a full length guide rod & plug assembly is a real help to accuracy in the 1911. I've picked up a used 5" two piece Clarke guide rod for duty in this pistol.
The stock trigger pull is liveable but I will try and get a lighter mainspring and see if that doesn't get it right for me. Although the picture doesn't show it well, the slide already has a non-stock fixed site set on it that is a much better profile than stock GI military sites. I was tempted to get my 'smith to install a new set of fixed combat 3 dot sites [which is my personal preference] but I think I will try it out just as is first with the new barrel/bushing and full length recoil spring guide.
The next step for this 1911 is for my 'smith to give it a parkerized finish. The finish is virtually all gone right now and is quite rough. If he gives the parts a bead blast and reblues it will come out looking like a GI parkerized gun from the WWII era. Then I will drop in all the new parts and have a nice plinker, I think. Beyond that I don't think I will spend much more on this gun. I just wanted a fun project and a plinker. I'm not looking to build a super accurate target gun or IPSC race gun on this. I think it will have all the practical accuracy it needs with the mods I am going to do.
I will post some pics when the project is done and a test target, too!
Joined: 16 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2373
Posted: 05 December 2003 at 16:19
Sounds like you have some prety sound ideas ! Colt has a version of the government model out that intreegs me. I think it is basicly just a series 70, govermwnt model. I have seen 2 so far and the price is right at 568.00. I would like to get my hands on one of those and mabye give it a reliability and accuracy job and see how it works. Gotta get my financial house in a little better shape befor I spend that much cash though...tj3006
Joined: 10 June 2003
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1728
Posted: 05 December 2003 at 18:43
tj3006 wrote:
Sounds like you have some prety sound ideas ! Colt has a version of the government model out that intreegs me. I think it is basicly just a series 70, govermwnt model. I have seen 2 so far and the price is right at 568.00. I would like to get my hands on one of those and mabye give it a reliability and accuracy job and see how it works. Gotta get my financial house in a little better shape befor I spend that much cash though...tj3006
TJ - Yeah, a lot of the new Colts intrigue me... the rerelease of the Series '70 type Government models and also to the 1911A-1 and 1911 USGI models being rereleased in modern form. The originals are way too pricey now with nostalgia and all. I do love those originals, though, too! Here's an original Remington-Rand1911A-1 USGI I also found earlier this year...getting rarer and harder to find in Canada now...
I gotta admit I have an affection for 'ole slabsides'...
Joined: 16 June 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2373
Posted: 06 December 2003 at 12:15
I like those oldies too !
The cool thing about the government model is that if you are a nostagia guy you can get an old one or a repro, Or for more serious use you can buy one ready for duty, or trick out a basic one, And no question in my mind witch hangun of all would be my first choice in a gun fight, when i shoot a 1911 the holes seem to be very close together and just about where i want them.
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Colt 1911 Project Gun
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tj3006 wrote:
