Best quality frames & slides?

[Ben H]

I need your opinions on the finest frames/slides available for custom bullseye builds. Some members appear unimpressed with Caspian's current quality control regarding specs/tolerances with adherence to original blueprints. There are also frames/slides by RRA, Les Baer and SVI to name a few.

Thanks in advance,

[Greg Derr]

Gee: I've never heard anymore issues with Caspian than any other maker of frames. The advantage Casoian offers is a wide selection of options in sight cuts, no cuts,cocking serrartions etc. etc. Les Baer and Rock River are good but aren't as option oriented as Caspian. You want a custome serial number on your 1911- Caspian offers that. I olny once had to send a frame back to Caspian and they took care of the issue- no questions. I suggest you talk to the smith who will built your BE gun and ask them. Both the AMU and Marines use Caspian frames and slide- for them money is no issue, they could buy from anyone. What does that say?

[wichaka]

Wow.......I too have never heard of anything bad with Caspian.

I have used them before.......and will again!

[Ben H]

This is the thread that got me wondering about Caspian's current quality control. Caspian certainly does offer more options than any other(s).

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=28346

[robot1911]

Les Baer sells really good frames and slides...but he doesn't make them.
That being said, every Bullseye pistol I've built over the past few years has been on Springfield MilSpec pistols.

Bob

[jaysouth]

I know a very well regarded smith who specializes in PPC and bulleye guns who moved from Les Baer matched slides and frames to Caspian. Neither he nor his customer have voiced any complaints with the the (gasp!! dread CAST) Caspian frames. He is enough of a gentleman to not bad mouth his problems with Les Baer, but he did make the switch.

[robot1911]

There's nothing wrong with cast Caspian frames so long as the 'smith is willing to do a little fixing.

[jaysouth]

There's nothing wrong with cast Caspian frames so long as the 'smith is willing to do a little fixing.

The smith that I am thinking of quit Les Baer because they required more 'fixing' than the Caspian.

Among serous smiths, the ONLY drawback to cast frames that they have ever encountered in that that a quality forged slide/frame will take a higher quality well polished deep blue than a cast one.

Remember that Browning went from Forged frames to cast to get a stronger frame for the .40 S&W round.

AND, there is no comparing a cast frame with accurately centered pin holes to a forged frame with off center pin holes, like the MkIV Series 70 that I once got stuck with.

Basically, Colt told me, my dealer and the distributor that they were making so much money making M-16s that they really did not care if I was happy with my pistol, and did not really need my business. This was 1972 and I have not touched a Colt Product since, nor have I passed up a chance to go by their SHOT show booth and tell them. Sorry to be so childish, but they did a poor job making the gun and even poorer job supporting it.

[John]

Colt is an all different company now. You are the only one who misses by not considering their products.

[auto45]

Wilson, Nowlin and Briley sell frames also.

Actually, a fair amount of choices now if you don't want cast.

[3jaw]

Does anybody know if the STI frames are any good? They offer both cast and forged.

[dogdollar]

There are also frames/slides by RRA, Les Baer and SVI to name a few.



Ben,
I am also considering a frame/slide also for a custom CCW. Be aware - although SVI show their frames in their online catalogue, they do NOT sell them except in a finished gun, and if you buy a slide from them, it WILL have Infinity rollmarks.

So far, to me, Caspian is a no brainer. Cost for a LBC, Wilson, RRA, or Colt is ridiculous and the options are limited.

Tim

[clughog]

Does anybody know if the STI frames are any good? They offer both cast and forged.My gunsmith (one of our sponsors, Ken Crawley at Crawley Custom) likes the STI. But he also likes the Caspian frames a lot. For the money and my experience (or is that "inexperience") level, Caspian is the best choice for me. I'm trying an RIA frame for a project right now, but I like the Caspian frames I have better--can't really put a finger on it, but I do.

[rsilvers]

Remember that Browning went from Forged frames to cast to get a stronger frame for the .40 S&W round.

They went to a thicker frame to make it stronger. They want to cast to save money. The end results was stronger, but not *because* it was cast. It was stronger in spite of being cast.

A well done cast part is better than a moderately done forged part. But a fact is a fact -- forged steel is simply stronger if it is the same alloy and heat treat.

[jaysouth]

Hmmm. I have two BHPS laying here in front of me. One is cast(newer one), one is forged(with the ribs on the butt). Which part is thicker, my micrometer is trying to figure it out?