Fire Control Groups

[1911austin]

Hello all,

I plan to start an attempt to build my first 1911 from the ground up in a few months. First I want to try some modifications to some older guns that I already own to see how that goes. I have decided to try a trigger job or an old Series I Kimber Royal with a nasty trigger pull. Please post your opinion on who makes the best fire control group and vote in this poll. Thanks.

[bigwagon]

Does anybody know which or how many of those companies actually manufacture their own parts in-house? From a decade of working in the automotive aftermarket industry, I am always somewhat suspicious because I know how many companies in that industry market repackaged products under different names. I've got to believe the crowded 1911 market is very similar. That said, I purchased an EGW four-piece ignition kit, although I haven't used it yet so I can't comment beyond that.

[wichaka]

A lot of the major named comp shooters use EGW parts.........that should say soemthing right there. And they also make their parts in house, so.......'nuff said.

I generally don't use one brand of parts. I use either a Brown Hardcore Barstock hammer with a Nowlin Pro-Match sear, or one of Nowlins Pro Hammers.

The only other parts I use are EGW or Cylinder & Slide.

[Bud White]

I have had good luck with 2 nowlin set ups

[abarth]

Are you planning to do the polishing and matching work yourself or are you buying parts already finished and just drop in? If you are doing the polishing and matching work yourself, why not use the existing parts in your Kimber. Of cause unless they are all MIM in the Kimber.

[jeff1124]

I voted for Nowlin because it's the only one I've used. I had excellent results on my Armscor made High Standard GI. That being said it's hard for me to discount the others without a trial!!

[1911austin]

Are you planning to do the polishing and matching work yourself or are you buying parts already finished and just drop in? If you are doing the polishing and matching work yourself, why not use the existing parts in your Kimber. Of cause unless they are all MIM in the Kimber.


The Kimber stuff is MIM and I want to replace them with better parts. I would like to get the jigs and other tools needed and finish the parts myself. C&S and Nowlin do have some drop in parts that look good also.

Thanks for all of the replies so far!

[Farnorth]

I have only used the Nowlin Speed Demon kit and the EGW set. The Nowlin dropped into a SA GI and gave a very satisfactory feel and pull. I'm sure it was just luck, but there it is. I have installed the EGW kit and have had very good luck with it also. I like the EGW setup for its simplicity and efficiency. I can set the trigger pull and crispness to whatever is required or wanted. You will have to have the stones, jigs and other assorted tools to install them, but thats really the fun in doing this. Good luck, Greg

[Tolly]

Several of the Very Best 1911 pistolsmiths and fullhouse custom builders would tell you that you are cheating yourself by not having the Yost-Bonitz ignition set listed in your poll. http://www.yost-bonitz.com/products/ignition/
I have seen a bunch of custom 1911s built by Chuck Rogers, Ted Yost, Bob Rodgers and many others and they will tell you that most of the products you mentioned are good quality, but if you lay everything available out on the bench in front of them and tell them to take their pick I can almost guarantee you it will be the Yost-Bonitz or Cylinder & Slide set. I am sure others will argue, but that has been my observation.

[hitachifixer]

A subject my gunsmith and I discussed a few weeks back. His reccomendation is to use the same Mfg. of parts together. In other words stick with ALL C&S parts, or all Nowlin, don`t mix and match sears and triggers.

[daysleeprx]

I've got one gun with an Ed Brown Hardcore trigger group, and another with an EGW trigger group. Both are excellent! If anything, the EGW trigger group might be better for you to use if this is your first time building a gun just due to the fact that costs a little less.

[Sniper350]

The answer is really not a simple one ................ because I have found different companies seem to make certain parts that are simply the best, while other parts they make are just darn good.

For Slide Stops ...... Wilsons "Bullet Proof" model is excellent ....with machined "detent" in them. A bit pricey though.

For sears .......EGW ...........makes the best with very little stoning needed if any

For barrel bushings ..again EGW ......... allows for hand fitting, without spending hours to get to the final fit.


For Extractors ............ Ed Browns Hardcore ......if I am remembering correctly

Well, you get the point........each company has parts where they shine above all others

JF.