Shooter 1911

[Echo_Four]

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.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[raevan]

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.

[Echo_Four]

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.

[Bud White]

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

[rocky]

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.

[Echo_Four]

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.

[Bud White]

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

[QKShooter]

Call Brownell's in Iowa & request their catalog.

[Bud White]

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

[Echo_Four]

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.

[Bud White]

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