What modifications? I hate that little bump on the back bottom of the grip safety. I've never had a problem mashing in the smooth kind, so I'll undoubtedly quickly swap that out with my local gunsmith (in case there is some fitting required).
Also, whatcha bet there is a full length guide rod hidden in this photo? I can swap that out for the standard recoil spring plug easily enough my own self.
And that's it of required changes. I might as well miniaturize the thumb safety on the side I don't use, too. So 3 parts. Nothing else needs to be monkeyed with, as it comes with Tritium sights. I likes them.
Update: BULL BARRELS and no GI style barrel bushing? Crap. Square one.
Where are the decent GI style barrel Commanders? I mean besides stuff like the Officer size Les Baer. Or the slightly larger Les Baer. (Note: Lack of left hand thumb safety on the second link) Oooo, concept VIII. LB calles them 'Commanche' size. One in non-stainless is a Concept VII.
Smiff? Crap. Scandium seems to be what they offer for the frame. Better double check the Les Baers for all steel construction, too, or cross them off the list. If so, I'm back to pure custom or get lucky with a used or new Colt (O4012XSE). Maybe investigate what SIG has on offer, too.
16 comments:
"I've never had a problem mashing in the smooth kind, so I'll undoubtedly quickly swap that out with my local gunsmith (in case there is some fitting required)."
I didn't either, until I started learning to shoot better and really choking up on the grip. Now I understand why it's there. It's also added insurance if you have to use the gun for real from a less-than-perfect grip in a scuffle.
As an aside, I'm kinda down on the Springfield and Kimber "Commanders" because they use 4" barrels instead of the traditional Colt (and SIG and Para) 4.25"; also, they use bull barrels that mandate the use of a full-length guide rod and don't allow its replacement with the stubby GI unit. :(
Bull barrels?!!! Thanks for the tip, Tam. Dammit.
Got any alternative suggestion for steel Commander style 1911s?
My smith told me the bump is good if your hands are small or if you have a light grip.
I have neither. It was wearing a hole in my hand.
He said if you shoot 100 rounds in one sitting and feel a blister coming on you don't need it.
I swapped mine out. Much better now.
YMMV
I always thought I choked up pretty high on my grip now, but the proof would be in the pudding if I took a class with an instructor that was careful in imparting that gripping style. Maybe I'd have issues then. If so, no worries after class. When I swap out the bumpy safety I'd still have it to put back.
Note to self... Bring bumpy grip safety to any training class just in case.
S&W make Commander length 1911s, but I am not sure about their guide rods.
What Eric said. And you can always swap out the guide rod with a GI unit from Brownells.
Or you could track down a used Colt Combat Commander and have it built the way you want it...
First additional thing I noted (after the empty chanber) when clearing the Wiley Clapp Colt that will be mine was NO Guide Rod. This pistol is a) hard to find and b) a trifle spendy but it's got what I want and nothing I don't want. YMMV.
Be careful. This is a common way to ruin a gun.
When tolerances matter you may be way better off paying more initially and getting exactly what you want from factory spec.
This is why Glocks are so reliable. Factory micro tolerances are maintained. People don't mess with them.
I have seen way to many 1911s turned into stove pipe POS's by buying a base model and applying too many after market changes.
Spend the cash up front and get what you really want.
Anon 10:02,
There's a simple solution for that: Don't send your heater to an incompetent gun butcher.
I've had literally dozens of 1911s modified over the years. I only had problems with the first couple, before I realized that not everyone who claims the title of "gunsmith" knows what the heck they're doing.
Just get the Colt. Why not?
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/tabid/61/CatID/12/Default.aspx
Huh, when you mentioned Sig, I was about to comment 'if you want a steel frame Sig probably isn't the way to go', but I see they do have a all stainless frame model now.
My personal favorite compact 45 is Sig's now out of production P245.
I am a guy that can never leave well enough alone with my guns. I do most of the part swapping myself. I don't mind chasing springs that sproing.
I support upgrades and mods to to 1911s. I was very lucky to find a good gunsmith shop (their specialty is custom 1911s).
But I also think if you can order exactly the Colt you want, just do it. A few hundred dollars means little in the long run. Especially when you count the cost of parts and smithing.
Just get the Colt.
To Anon @10:02
To nitpick, glocks don't have very good tolerances. What they have is good clearances. That is what aids in reliability. It seems that some guns, like glocks and hi-powers, don't shoot as well from a “ransom rest” as from sandbags. Apparently (iirc) their slides do not lock-up on the frame the same way each time they cycle. 1/10th of a degree difference means 1.5 inches at 25 yards.
But from sandbags, you use the sights and adjust for that shift. The good news is these guns have good lock-up between the barrel and slide. Thus the barrel alines to the sights better than the frame. Which is better than the other way around.
I read so much stuff about guns on the internets that just isn't so...
I agree with Tam, get a GOOD gunsmith... Wayne Novak, Billy Laughridge for example. Either one can do what you want done, or build what you want. It will not be cheap, but it WILL be quality and work day in and day out...
Tam, I'm not sure if your remark was for me or not.
I never said glocks have poor tolerances, it's just that it is the clearances that make them reliable.
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