Hello,
I bought a drop in wilson beavertail that would'nt drop in to the frame. The frame tangs would not allow it to move onece the pin was in. I ended up having to file the beavertail to make it fit the frame. I believe I have a 60s era colt frame. I made sure to get the government model beavertail. This can't be normal can it?

Anyone have any ideas about what is the problem?

Thanks

Yes, the problem is that in most cases, drop-in parts are not that drop-in. In most cases, some minor fitting is required.

Don't worry about it, welcome to the club of the home gunsmiths (or gun destroyers). LoL

Rgds

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

i had a kings bt that dropped in...but it had so much space between the bt and the tang that it looked ugly. if i did it over again i would get the wilson and wouldn't mind a little filing cause overall it would look better.

-kotonk

If you took all the "drop-in" parts available and assembled a 1911a1 without any fitting, you would have:
1. A gun that will not operate correctly, or
2. A gun that will not operate at all, or
3. A gun that could be out shot by any inexpensive already finished 1911.

Although there are specs for the 1911a1, no two guns are alike. Variations may not be noticable to the naked eye, but no two are alike.

When working with a 1911a1, remember, patience. And as I was told, there are no secrets with the 1911a1, only mysteries.

my gut tells me this isn't 100% correct. (no offense!) if you're lucky enough to get all your drop in parts from a quality part producer like say, wilson, to drop in(some do, some don't). you'll probably have a better pistol that what you started out with....you won't get a better gun than a custom fitted pistol, but chances are it would be better than most mass produced 1911s.

-kotonk

I think what he's getting at is, if the drop in parts don't work when you drop them in, then a box stock gun would be better because it would work and work more consistantly.

Very few parts are actually drop in, some will need a touch of a file or such, where others will require more fitting. Drop-in hammer/sear kits still need the relief cut on the sear or at least adjusted, and in some cases the sear stoned & polished.

The thing with drop in parts is that they were made so that there would be alot less 'smithing involved.