Question on .250 radius

[Boogalou]

I noticed on the Essex Arms webpage that they have an "enhanced" frame with the .250 radius for beavertailed grip safety's. How does this frame differ from a plain jane frame? More metal removed for a drop-in beavertail?

Also, for those who have built their own, any thoughts on the Sarco 1911 parts kit or the one from DIY guns?

http://www.diyguns.com/

Thanks in advance.

[pa_guns]

Hi

The 0.25 radius matches some of the beavertails out there. It saves you some machine work, but does not eliminate the fitting.

I would avoid the Sarco frames. Their parts kits are not as bad, but they are nothing special. Part of the fun of a build is deciding on exactly who's parts to use for each of the things you need.

Bob

[berkbw]

Actually, Bob, you pennsultky guy... Building on a Sarco package is not a BAD thing. ALL of the parts are substandard to the "best" of parts. But so what, sir? It gives a newbie a low cost entry, and an opportunity to see the weaknesses of many parts. This (IMHO) is a good thing. You must know the pleasure of firing the very first shot.. on a gun that I built from scratch. Both the frame and slide were O/S and they actually worked fine.

I think that Sarco is a GREAT place to start, and after one learns parts fitting, upgrade to new and better parts

Just thoughts, Bob

b-

[Hawkmoon]

Sarco's parts kit is okay. The parts are generic. The one I got included a medium-length solid trigger, a generic clone of a wide-spur GI hammer, and a GI A1-style grip safety. The grips were brown plastic and may have been GI take-offs. I received one side with the reinforcing ring and one side without. I later bought another pair, which by divine chance was also mismatched, the opposite way -- which allowed me to put together two sets that were at least visually consistent.

I was able to follow the instruction from the Home Page article "Poor Man's Trigger Job" and get a nice, crisp 5-pound trigger using the Sarco parts. The magazine was a phony GI mag that fed fine for three magazines or so, and then the welds broke, spewing the floor plate, springs and ammo on the floor.

[pa_guns]

Hi

I guess everybody has their view of things.

You don't have to spend more money. You can get the same set of parts for roughly the same amount of money. The difference is that by picking things out you can get the ones you like.

Bob

[jwenum]

I started with a Caspian frame(because I couldn't see the extra money for a NM Springfield Armory frame(3 teenagers!) and gun show barrel and a Colt 'export' slide with Brazilian markings on it. After the first incident of the barrel link totally freezing up&locking 'Everything' up;I haven't had any other problems.I haven't tried wadcutters in it yet; but it feeds ball &hollow points without fail.Whatever you start with; it's all a learning experience, but still enjoyable.

[pa_guns]

Hi

Picking through piles of 1911 parts at gun shows can be so much fun .... :D

I guess that I do indeed *assume* that your time doing that kind of thing is free. It is a hobby after all.

Bob

[Hawkmoon]

I started with a Caspian frame(because I couldn't see the extra money for a NM Springfield Armory frame(3 teenagers!) and gun show barrel and a Colt 'export' slide with Brazilian markings on it.
A Colt slide with Brazilian markings? I don't think I ever heard of Colts being sold to Brazil. I thought all the Brazilian 1911s were made by Imbel.

Got any photos?

[Hill]

Hi

Picking through piles of 1911 parts at gun shows can be so much fun .... :D

I guess that I do indeed *assume* that your time doing that kind of thing is free. It is a hobby after all.

Bob

Maybe I'll move to Pennsylvania.

The days of piles of parts at gunshows on the west coast are long gone, and I mean LONG. The last shows that I remember as places to find mounds of used or surplus parts of firearms were in the late 1970's/early 1980's. Now the only "piles" at gunshows are made up of cheap nylon holsters from China piles, and cheap lousy looking replica webgear from China piles. There's plenty of brand new guns too, usually priced higher than the same guy would sell it to you if you visit his store 60 or more miles away. Guess he's gotta' pay for his diesel like everyone else.

Oh yeah, I DID notice a guy selling piles of ammo cans at the last one I went to last month, but it was a smaller non "Collectors West" show.

[pa_guns]

Hi

I just got back from a gun show. I would say there were maybe six guys there with hardcore parts piles. There were probably another six or so with dedicated piles stuff like AR-15 or M-1 parts.

Bob

[Jigballs]

Hi

Picking through piles of 1911 parts at gun shows can be so much fun .... :D

I guess that I do indeed *assume* that your time doing that kind of thing is free. It is a hobby after all.

Bob


I agree ! gun shows are fun to browse and haggle for parts , i love coming across a big pile of "stuff " and sifting through it. :)

[pa_guns]

Hi

I admit that scrounging around isn't for everybody. I think that most of us have a pretty good junk pile in the basement before we ever start playing with a build from scratch.

Bob

[jwenum]

Just got back from the 'outdoor' range..40deg...It's cold in Ohio when you're old.No pics yet,but I'm looking right at the slide--rt. side says--Exercito Brasileiro No 9391.Right below is 1940..Left side-Colt's etc. --last pat. aug.19,1913 Cal.45 Automatic..Found it at a gunshow in Akron,Oh. in the 1990's(black in color,,not Parkerized)That's all I know..I'l get pics later.

[pa_guns]

Hi

If it's got the Colt / Hartford roll marks with patent numbers on it - good bet it's a Colt.

Bob