Kit Guns

[variac]

Who else out there has built a 1911 "kit gun", I realy enjoyed building my own gun, I learned a lot, and despite several frusterating kinks along the way it was an overall positive experience.

I don't have a pic yet, but parts are as fallows;

Double star parkerized 80 series frame,
Double star stainless barrel,
Auto ord. parkerized G.I. slide,
Auto ord. G.I. mainspring & flat housing, extractor, ejector, slide stop, thumb safety, sear, disconnector, etc.
Auto ord. target/match stainless trigger & hammer, 3 dot sights, ZG-51 Pitbull grip safety, checkered oiled wood grips.
Misc; Stainless barrel bushing, stainless firing pin, oversized firing pin stop, oversized barrel link, grip spacer plates, 80 series frame filler plate

I had to modify the grip safety arm to work in the 80 series frame by welding up the end and reshaping it.

After shooting about 100 rounds the frame/slide rails developed the traditional "G.I. slop" and I had to tighten them myself, which made a big difference in accuracy.

Alot of "drop in" stock fit and target parts had to be adjusted and tweaked in order to work properly, but after about 2 months of adjustment its finaly comming together now, and shooting/functioning properly. I'm grouping tighter at longer distances with less malfunctions every trip to the range.

[Hawkmoon]

A few of us:

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=11509&highlight=junk+parts

I suspect that many of the more serious shooters among us have built their own pistols, but using all personally-selected, high quality parts rather than generic kits.

[variac]

I forgot to mention that I replaced the stock Auto ord sear spring with a wolf which worked perfectly, the stock spring was a very poor excuse, also I had to adjust the stock Auto ord G.I. magazine fallowers to properly engage the slide stop.

If I do build another gun in the future I will defenatly go with more high end parts, but as for now I have a good quility/better than stock entry level gun that will outshoot most higher priced G.I. spec "stock guns".

[bearboy]

as hawkmoon suggested many build pistols from individually selected parts.i for one have noticed a great disparity in parts quality.for example an essex frame i purchased was not countersunk for the sear pin or hammer pin.installing a mccormick thumb safety required enlarging the slot in the safety that slips in the frame when engaged .the frame was a little too thick. just lots of little things.i have a caspian frame on the bench while i'm doing this so i sort of use it and a kimber as basis of comparison.as for sarco i would be sure to measure everything.and as my smith friend says alter the cheapest opposing part first.i.e.file the safety not the frame.

[variac]

I did a lot of reasearch on kit gun parts before starting my project, most reviews on the internet said to stay away from sarco, sportsmans warehouse etc., the suprising thing was how many bad reviews essex had, I was originaly going to use an essex slide/reciever combo from brownells but changed my mind after seeing all the problems people had with their frames.
I finaly decided on auto ord since their reviews improved after the Kahr takover. I didn't know much about double star when I got the frame, but it was on sale, made in the U.S.A. so I figured I'd take a chance, I didn't know it was an 80 series when I ordered it, and if I could go back I would have gotten the matching A/O frame with the slide.

[7790314]

I didn't know Double Star started cutting an 80 slot in their frames. The one I built a couple years ago was a regular frame. I seriously doubt Double Stars are actually made in Kentucky as I have been told they are produced by Armscor. But then that was just something I heard. 94 dollars retail for a domestic frame don't add up to domestic. Essex ain't even that cheap. Also the slide stop pin hole on mine was extremely close to the radius and the slide stop bar over hung it. Not a problem just looks kinda funny.
Discussed this many times for many years on other forums but I can tell you from my own personal experience if you buy cheap parts like Sarco, Masen, Sportsmans Guide, 45 parts .com you will have a long painful and expensive learning experience.

[Gammon]

I didn't know Double Star started cutting an 80 slot in their frames. The one I built a couple years ago was a regular frame. I seriously doubt Double Stars are actually made in Kentucky as I have been told they are produced by Armscor. But then that was just something I heard. 94 dollars retail for a domestic frame don't add up to domestic. Essex ain't even that cheap. Also the slide stop pin hole on mine was extremely close to the radius and the slide stop bar over hung it. Not a problem just looks kinda funny.
Discussed this many times for many years on other forums but I can tell you from my own personal experience if you buy cheap parts like Sarco, Masen, Sportsmans Guide, 45 parts .com you will have a long painful and expensive learning experience.

Amen. Quality parts from a reputable supplier like Brownells is the only way to go. It is easier to build a high end custom than a clunker and well worth the extra money. A friend of mine attempted to build an AR using a parts kit he bought on the recommendation of a local buffoon. He had to pay a gunsmith $250 to finish the job and the gun was still a POS. No reflection on the gunsmith; he did the best with what he had. Had I been the gunsmith, however, I would have told him to dump everything but the lower reciever, and start over. I say this having dissassembled the gun, it is a POS through and through. Just because a gun works, doesn't mean its worth building or even owning. The idea of building a gun is to improve upon what the MFRs offer, not painstakingly duplicate mediocrity.

PS On my recommendation, my friend did eventually dump everything and start over. He now has a beautiful custom Ar that shoots under one moa. He is one happy camper; he has an AR he is PROUD of.

[7790314]

Forgot mention Dare Gun Room sells alot but not all junk as does Numrich. As for Brownells they they sell mostly good stuff but are not immune to the mediocre. Anyhow, read, ask questions, this is a good resource for neophyte's and those that have experience.

[Gammon]

Forgot mention Dare Gun Room sells alot but not all junk as does Numrich. As for Brownells they they sell mostly good stuff but are not immune to the mediocre. Anyhow, read, ask questions, this is a good resource for neophyte's and those that have experience.

The great thing about Brownells is that, if you don't like it they will take it back. Fantastic customer support.