trying to learn something

[dirty harry]

HI I am looking to learn something. I am a newby to the 1911 pistols but have been around guns my hole life. I just bought a Norinco 1911a1. I see everyone telling me to replace the springs in it. and everyone is talking mods. I have some questions on verrious mods and hope you can help me. I realy like this site the best on the net. it has a norinco posting site. and it not as stuffy here as other sites. so here is my questions.

On the springs I have changed sevral sets in other guns. berettas, sig sauer, smith and wesson and so on. I was planing on buying a set from gil hebart guns and they have a interesting set for a 1911. its all wolf springs except the sear spring wich is a factory colt spring. but the kit is only 13 bucks. the same kit from wolf is 17 bucks. Is thier anything special about the sear spring I should know before changing it?

My other question is this. everyone is talking about mods. Most of them I dont care for. like extened slide releases, ambi extended safteys and such.
I put 150 round throught my nork yesterday. and it seamed as fast or faster than I can shoot. is thier realy a need for Commanders hammers that are opened up. and ultra light triggers?how much of a diference will it make? I can see overtravel stops. what is a good accuricy inhancer? having a barrel bushing fitted tighter? how do you get hammer bite? is this something that comes with a commander hammer. I looked at my 1911 and the safty looks like it would prevent the hammer from doing this?

I guess I am lost. could someone explain the benifits and flaws of the common mods. I think that the only mods I want to do is defently change the sites. put on a extended mag release. and have a trigger job done.maybe a mag well. would like to try one before i would change it. I am willing to bet the gun is way more accurite than I am out of the box.

I dont mean to offend anyone. just tring to learn what all this stuff does. I am defently one that cant leave well enough alone. I am a hot rodder and love to customize everything I own. but wierd as it sound I already like the way this gun is set up. thanks guys and gals this site rocks.

[Joni Lynn]

Most of the modifications people do to their guns are just what they desire to match their preferences or taste. I myself don't replace anything until I am sure of what I want. If the sear spring works correctly, does it need replaced? Hammer bite I think is when the hammer comes back and hits your hand. It doesn't happen to me, but it does to my father. In short, if you like the gun the way it is, that's great, you've saved the $$$ it would take to change it.

[wichaka]

I use Wolff springs for everything except the sear, and I use a factory Colt for that. Not much to say, but it may change your trigger pull weight. So when you're done, you'll want to check out the safety checks in the tech section before you shoot it.

There are no mods that are needed. Everyone likes different things. If you like the gun the way it is, then keep it that way. You pobably won't tell a whole lot by changing hammers etc, until you have a trigger job done. Which entails having a bit lighter pull, and noticable creep, or roughness to the pull smoothed out.

One way to get better accuracy is a proper fitted bushing. One that has .001" clearance between the barrel and bushing, then again between the bushing and the frame.

Hammer bite is the web of your hand creeping over the edge of the grip safety, and when the hammer comes back after a shot is fired, it pinches the web. If you're not getting it now.........you may never get it. Depends on the persons hand, everyone is built a bit different, so some don't get it, where others like me will get it most everytime.

The common mods are trigger jobs, as I explained above. Extended thumb safeties, better sights, beavertail grip safety, matched Commander hammers & sears, tighter barrel bushings, and slight extended mag. releases.
There are many others, but that's what I'm asked to do most often.
But everyone likes different things.
Just don't let anyone tell you that you NEED a certain mod, except where it will keep the gun from malfunctioning at the wrong time.

You're not offending anyone here, nor will you with questions like these. We all had to start somewhere, sometime.

I would keep shooting the gun as is, after time you'll know what you want, then do it.

[usajeep1]

Harry, Wichaka and Joni have great advice. They are both very well espected here and are far more knowledgeable than the "average bear". Their advice is top notch, and I only want to re-enforce their suggestions. If it is accurate and pleasing to you to shoot, leave it alone. If you want a trigger job, most will also change the trigger, hammer, and sear, so here are 3 mods all done in one shot. Dont change any of these as a seperate peice, do it all at once, as they are integral to the operation of the trigger. Have fun shooting your new found friend;)...jeep...

[Joni Lynn]

Wow.........all my life I waited to be respected by someone somewhere........Thanks Jeep. I'm writing this down in my book of memorable events. :):):):):):):):):):)

[jester_s1]

Basically, here is what the most common mods are for.

Beavertail Grip Safety: assists in recoil control/comfort by spreading out the impact over a larger area of the hand. Also protects the hand from hammer bite.

Extended Slide locks, mag releases, thumb safeties etc.: makes them easier to manipulate at high speed.

Trigger Job: Anything from smoothing up the feel to making it a "wish shoot" proposition, in general they are intended to improve accuracy by making the trigger easier and more consistent to pull.

Magwell or chamfering: makes reloads faster. The big wellls also help some people grip the gun better.

Accuracy enhancement: Fitted bushing, match barrel, and slide to frame fit all improve accuracy. If done poorly, they can cost you some reliability.

[dirty harry]

Thanks Guys tthis is great info. I love this site. it not stuffy like some sites out thier.

[Jim Clark]

Dear Dirty :)

A lot depends on what you're going to use the pistol for.
The beaver tail safety (if it's a good one, I like Ed Brown) will do two things for you. It will keep away the hammer biter. And it will lower the gun in your hand. And that helps put the bore more nearly in line with your forearm.
That lessens the affect of recoil on second shots.

A good ambi safety has uses both in competition and on a carry gun. I'm right handed & the right side part (for left hand shooting) annoys my first knuckle on my trigger finger. So I narrowed it to just 1/8 inch. Now it's there but doesn't bother.

Extended mag release, lowered ejection port, sights galore, flared mag well & then there is all the 'race gun stuff'.

There are a lot of preferences for you develope as you get into shooting John Brownings 'better pistol'.

Good luck.
jim

[John]

If I may add my 2 Eurocents on this thread, I have to agree with the above, with a couple of comments.

Better Sights: As far as I know (and I may very well be wrong) the Norks come with the old military-style sights, tiny and next to useless for my tired eyes. Again, a personal issue, but a better set of sights, like the Novak's Low Mounts, will do wonders for your shooting.

- Lowered and flared ejection ports: This is something that potentially can help proper ejection, but not all pistols benefit from that. If you have ejection problems, it's a step you can take to improve things.

As I said, nothing more than my 2 Eurocents, YMMV.

[dirty harry]

so far I have put a few hundred rounds though it. not a single misfire jamb or anything. I have had good luck with all ammo I have fired. american,pmc,blazzer brass,windchester,and fedral hydrashock. I have read guys complining about american ammo,mine eats it fine.

On sites yes they are gi sites but are three dot. verry small and hard to see. (I evan have great vision 20/15 better than 20/20) I checked with novak and am not going with them. I am going to sdm fabrication. they have a sight i realy like and its half the price of novak.

[Tom]

Wow.........all my life I waited to be respected by someone somewhere...

Nice goin', Jeep. Now we'll never get rid of her. ;)

[Jim Clark]

Hi folks
I finally got pictures posted at Photobucket. I was real proud of myself 'till both of my daughters said "Ya! I've got an album on Photobucket"

Any way There are pix of my new SA project. I'm putting SS beavertail & main spring mag well on a blued SA government model. It looks kinda' nice.

There are pix of my SA Ultra Compact that I did a lot of work on.
Ed Brown beaver tail, Extended mag release, Extended/Ambi safety, Competition extractor (with springs, it pivots at the FP retainer), Grips I made myself (they're as thin as I could make them), Novak night sights (dot front & bar rear), 'Poor mans trigger job' per 1911Tuner, polished the ramp & throated the Barrel a little, lowered the ejection port a little & I did a 'melt down' treatment on the whole gun.

There's a pic of my colt series 70 government model. I haven't done much to it, just the EB beaver tail, 'Poor mans trigger job' per 1911Tuner & polish stuff.

Then there's a pic of my 1991-A1 compact. It's in line for a remodel.

I'm just a hobby guy with some mechanical aptitude. I don't think this is beyond the average guy that's willing to take the time to read & understand the literature that's available. Much of it is here thanks to tuner & his friends.

I hope you can see the picks OK.

thanks
jim :)

http://photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/

[Tom]

I was real proud of myself 'till both of my daughters said "Ya! I've got an album on Photobucket"

LOL That is so true. Of course, I bet our parents felt the same way when we were the only ones who could program the VCR. :)

Nice pics, too, especially the Colt.

[CTDinMT]

Wichaka- Any particular reason for your Colt sear spring preference? Just curious, because I have seen others say they prefer it too. -Steve

[John]

I finally got pictures posted at Photobucket. I was real proud of myself 'till both of my daughters said "Ya! I've got an album on Photobucket"

LoL, yes, it happens! Unfortunatelly.

Now, that you have the pictures in Photobucket, all you have to do to show them to us, is copy the contents of the img field, below the picture you want to show us, and paste that here.

rgds

[Jim V]

Hammer bite: There are two injuries that get called hammer bite: The first us where the hammer spur whacks your hand. Now, there may be some debate over the causes, is the fleshy part of the hand overlapping the grip safety horn and getting whacked or is the hammer spur just passing the horn in its travel. The second injury is caused by the grip safety and the frame not being smoothly fitted when the safety is depressed. The first injury produces a "_" mark on the web of the hand while the second produces "l l" marks.

You are being returned to your normally scheduled thread.

Owning and shooting the dickens out of 3 Norincos, I have not had any problems with the factory springs in one of the pistols, I did change the recoil springs in the other two to 18.5# Wolff springs. The sear springs are a funny reddish color, not blue, but that is becasue some spring steels do not take blueing well.

The sights are better than military in that they are a bit taller and have white dots fore and aft, but they are small and may be hard to see. One 'Rinco wears a MMC rear with a Millitt Dual Crimp front, the other two still have the factory sights.

And I know, this thread is worthless without photos, get over it. :D

[Jim Clark]

As you might be able to tell - I aint one of those capooter geeks.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAproject.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAproject3.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAUltraRside.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAUltraLside.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/91A1.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAultrawidth.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/70gov.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a180/Jimclark3/SAultra1.jpg

thanks
jim :o

[Tom]

Wichaka- Any particular reason for your Colt sear spring preference?

He's got a brother-in-law at the factory. ;)

. . . one of those capooter geeks.

Hey! I resemble that remark. Dems fightin' words, pardner. Step outside. Now I'm gonna make you pay for that remark by puttin' seven rounds of .45AVP (Automatic Virus Pistol) into ya and reformat your hard drive. :D

[wichaka]

Wichaka- Any particular reason for your Colt sear spring preference? Just curious, because I have seen others say they prefer it too. -Steve

Been gone all this last week, so have got 7 pages of forum to catch up on.

The Colt sear springs are made just like the aftermarket types from Wolff, Brown, Nowlin, etc. They are made a bit more sturdy, and they cost less......

[chuckshoun]

I might suggest that you not get an extended slide stop release. The purpose of the notch is to stop the slide, and continued wear from using the slide stop to release the slide might wear the notch so it malfunctions (won't hold the slide to the rear). Best thing to do is pull the slide all the way to the rear and release it, letting it "slam home". However, don't to this with an empty chamber. That might bugger up the barrel.

[Gammon]

I would go with Novak. I have been using his high visbility sights for years. My recommendation (if you are using fixed sights) is to have an oversized (too tall) front sight installed. You can adjust the windage by moving the rear sight in its dovetail, and then adjust the elevation by removing metal from the front sight.

[Gammon]

PS Regarding the mods you mentioned; if you are astisfied with the way the gun shoots, don't touch anything in the trigger/hammer area as any change will affect the trigger pull. Just shoot the gun and save your money for a reloader (I recommend the Dillon RL 550B). The more you shoot, the more experience you will gain which will help you to decide what mods you really need. A good idea is to test fire guns with the mods you are interested in; try your local range or gun club. I could give you a long list of my preferences, the problem is that they are MY preferences. You really need to try this stuff out for yourself, before you buy, if possible.