Questions about CCO-style frames/slides

[BAC]

I've got a hankering for a CCO style pistol, and I wanted to pick a few specific parts to provide someone to ultimately build up for me if I can't find a separate frame/slide to build myself. In the process, I'm trying to figure out what is non-standard that I need to account for. Are there any parts specifically on a CCO-style 1911 that differ from standard 1911s? Is it as simple as parts from the slide up are commander parts, from the frame down are officer parts (meaning, I'd look for guide rods for commander frames, and mag catches for officers frames, etc.)?

Thanks in advance,


-B

[Hawkmoon]

If you are referring to a Colt CCO, it's a Commander slide and barrel on an Officers ACP frame. All frame parts are standard except the shorter MSH and internals (and grips, of course). The magazine catch is not different from any other 1911.

The slide, barrel, barrel bushing, recoil spring, recoil spring guide and recoil spring plug would be for a Commander.

[BAC]

Ah, thanks, and yes, the CCO I was referring to is the commander slide/officer frame type 1911. Would the disconnector, sear, trigger also be different? I had a wild hair and wanted to pick up an EGW solid trigger (among other EGW parts), which would need thinning anyway to fit in non-Colt-Gold-Cup 1911s, but I'm not sure just how different the internals of an officer and non-officer frame 1911 are.

I imagine all of the pins would be the same, since those are more a function of overall width than anything else.

Do I have my bases covered with this?


-B

[Frank]

The only thing different, affecting parts, with an Officer size frame is the height of the grip frame. So it takes a different MSH, mainspring, sear spring, hammer strut and magazine. Everything else, including the disconnector, sear, trigger, hammer, safety, magazine catch, plunger tube (with internals) and slide stop are the same.

DVC

[Frank]

Correction:

It appears that the hammer strut and sear spring are the same for both the full size and officer size frames.

DVC

[BAC]

So it's just the mainspring, MSH, and I assume beavertail/grip safety (Only mentioned because I see several makers offering both compact/officer and full-size/government beavertails)?

That's great news. Thanks very much, Hawkmoon and Frank!


-B

[Hawkmoon]

No, the grip safety for an Officers ACP is interchangeable with the grip safety for a Government/Commander frame. You will need to be concerned about what radius to get if you plan to use a fitted beavertail, but the Commander drop-in beavertails fit equally well (or equally poorly, depending on your perspective and expectations) in Officers ACP frames.

[BAC]

Understood, and I stand corrected then.


-B

[Hawkmoon]

Keep in mind that the Officers MSH is completely different. The hole is larger, the main spring is larger in diameter and shorter, and both the bottom retainer and the top main spring cap are shorter and fatter than the corresponding parts for a Government/Commander.