Just finished my first 1911

[BD55]

TL;DR BD55 build gun, it go Bang! Much fun had. Want to build another...

So this was quite the challenge for me. It's the first pistol I've gotten, aaaand I got to build it. First gun I bought was an AR lower, and built the lower and purchased a complete upper from Palmetto State Armory, so I figured "heck, why not build a 1911?" Strangely enough, they are completely different. When building an AR: "fitting? Huh? ". When building a 1911: "fitting? You mean that thing you do with 90% of the parts?".

It was a lot of fun, and a great surprise (my amazing wife saw I was interested in the frame and surprised me with it at Christmas). I have a couple bugs to work out, but it's a great shooter - amazing in my eyes considering my inexperience with 1911s or even pistols in general. The trigger pull is very short with no discernible creep and very very crisp at what should be around 4 - 4 1/2 lbs pull weight, with a short reset.

Parts:
PSA SS Gov't Frame (beautifully machined)
Ed Brown drop-in match barrel and bushing (also beautifully machined)
SS Caspian slide (even more beautifully machined)
Cylinder and Slide Tactical ignition parts (have I mentioned beautiful machining?)
Fusion mainspring housing, K trigger, and sights
Wilson Combat SS high rise grip safety, ambi thumb safety, mag release, recoil parts, firing pin and stop, extractor, and ejector
Ed Brown pins and springs
Magpul TSP grips (great grip, not real pretty)

Time spent fitting parts (estimated; in order of build):
- Grip safety to frame: 10 hours rough fitting, 5 hours polishing
- Thumb safety to sear: 2 hours
- Mainspring housing to frame: 1 hour
- Plunger tube to frame: 1 hour
- Ejector to frame: 2 hours
- Upper barrel lugs to slide: 5 hours
- Sights to slide: 5 hours (see issues below)
- Trigger to frame: 2 hours
- Magazine release to frame: 2 hours
- Slide to frame: 0 for slide to frame rails (but no slop! What are the odds?!) 5 hours for contouring and polishing

Parts not fitted (due to perceived challenge, lack of specialized tooling, or it fit without work):
- Hammer, Sear, Strut, and Disconnector (ignition parts came as a fitted set)
- Barrel hood length and width (length was perfect, width was acceptable)
- Barrel lower lugs to slide stop (came fitted to barrel link)
- Barrel bushing to barrel (came fitted)
- Barrel bushing to slide (it fit - a little too loose for my liking, but tight on lock up)

Frame

Progress

Progress

Progress

Done!

25 yard result on 8.5x11 target sheet with loose front sight (may account for some side-side variability)

So far I've put 130 rounds through it in one range trip using PMC, Winchester White Box, and Magtech 230 gr ball ammo with a few workable issues. I think with the front sight tightened, the other issues resolved, and practice I can get much better groupings.

Issues:
- False lock back occasionally. I think this can be attributed to the shok buffer. Going to remove it and hit the range again.
- Rounds nose diving causing failure to feed. May need to polish the feed ramp; may just be a magazine issue (Act Mags)
- Front sight is a little loose! Need to peen it and re-set.

Don't be afraid to take on a challenge! I was a little intimidated by the prospect of taking a file to expensive metal parts where the removal of too much material means that part goes in the garbage. Take your time, check and measure often, and you'll have a rewarding , albeit sometimes frustrating , experience.

TL;DR BD55 build gun, it go Bang! Much fun had.

 

[Sonnie]

Nice work Brandon... wow!

Check out our FB page... https://www.facebook.com/upscalepawnandfamilyfirearms

Share that sales flyer and you might win a gun or a cooler or a knife... who knows.

I just bought a Daniel Defense v7 and rigged it out... looking to build an AR pistol now. Just haven't been able to find the right upper that I want.

 

[BD55]

Thanks Sonnie! It was a fun project.

You have great prices! Thanks for sharing the FB page - I'll definitely share that around.

 

[Michael Scott]

wheeee, things that go bang, and one of my top three designs (I've got a serious weakness for 1911's, CZ 75s and Glocks.....sorry, don't shoot me on the glock love they just work).

are you gonna finish it with a duty style coating or just leave SS?

 

[BD55]

Haha, Glocks are great for what they are - reliable duty guns, and I have nothing against them and wouldn't mind having a few. But for elegance and accuracy you can't beat the 1911. For mine, I'll just leave it polished as it won't be a carry gun or anything. It was my first attempt at gunsmithing, so I didn't want to add doing a coating to the list, and SS is great since you can leave it in the white without really worrying about corrosion. I think the next one I do will be carbon steel and I'll do a diy parkerize on it. Maybe cerakote it... I'm not sure, I think my wife is kind of wanting one, so it would be whatever coating/color she'd want. She just doesn't want it in 45.

 

[BD55]

... looking to build an AR pistol now. Just haven't been able to find the right upper that I want.

Well now that the ATF has reversed their opinion again on shouldering arm braces on pistols, you may have to jump on one quick and get that AR pistol build going! I've never shot an AR pistol, but they do look fun but I imagine they are uncomfortably loud... Hmm maybe need to do suppressed 300 Blackout or 9mm AR pistol...

 

[Michael Scott]

they're not that loud. The shorter barrel reduces velocity and doesn't increase the sound of the report very much at all. Now that they've reversed the decision on blade butts I may have to add one to my build and keep that sucker for in the home defense (an 11.5 inch barrel like I have on mine would make some wicked maneuverability compared to my 16 inch one I have now on bed duty).