Shooter 1911

It appears I have a problem. I have found myself to be the owner of a SA GI .45. I think it is pretty cool to look at, but that isn't why I own guns. I shoot them and don't really want to own anything I wouldn't feel comfortable carrying into a bad place. So, I need to do some work to bring this gun up to speed.

I've been looking, and I think I am going to head in the direction of the MEU(SOC) pistol, without sticking too much to any particular guidelines.
Basically, I am thinking I want to keep the parkarized finish, add a beaver tail, long trigger, commander hammer, ambi-safety, better sights (that I would prefer to fit without cutting) and get the needed barrel/bushing work done. (Maybe some pachmeyer grips, don't know yet)

If anyone has any advice on the parts needed to make this gun a shooter, let me know. And if you see anything I've missed your opinion is valued as well. Of course, if anything on this list isn't really needed I welcome that knowledge as well.

You haven't said if you tried shooting it yet. How do you know it isn't a shooter? I have old WW1 pistol that is still a shooter. If you haven't tried it, do so. But If you want all that fancy stuff go for it. although it isn't needed for protection.

The sights are not an option. The GI sights just aren't going to work for me. The gun seems uncomfortable, so I was thinking about the beavertail. The rest is stuff I've just been told that I need.

I'll take it to the range this weekend and see how it runs.

the rest is easy the sights you are pretty well stuck with with out having the slide milled

Perhaps buying a loaded SA, or similar might be a better way to go, unless you want build it yourself. Bud seems to know about building em.

This gun wasn't my purchase. It was a gift that I would like to keep, and I would like to be able to make it appear as a stock gun in the future, at lease as much as possible.

I've found a couple of options for sights, so it is just a matter of getting them and putting them on. The rest of the stuff is still a mystery to me. I guess I should head on over to the 1911 forums and ask there.

well you have to give us some more info

Short trigger long med solid or Swiss cheese

Install a hour or so

Beavertail you going to grind the frame or no ?

Rowell hammer i suggest replacing all the trigger control parts

cylinder and slide are as drop in as you can get

Ambi safety pick a model they all fit the same you have to file on lug to fit to the sear

If your going to fit the barrel yourself a Kart EZ fit is the way to go with their tool kit


you can also pm if you need to

Call Brownell's in Iowa & request their catalog.

Brownells and midway catalogs and check out there sites lot of reading

Bud, thanks for your help. You've given me something to at least think about. I would love to be more specific as to my wants/needs, but I am smart enough to know i don't know anything. I'm starting to think I may just drop it off at a 'smith and let them worry about the thing. The more I learn, the less I seem to know.

naw ya might want to learn none is really hard as long as you have a plan

Start with trigger work your way out any of us will help ya as much as we can