 |
|
 03-15-2010, 01:30 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,158 |  The 1911 trap
On my local GA forum today are 2 adds in the swap & sell section for basic 1911s with a bunch of stuff hung on them. No mention of what gunsmith did the parts fitting so I'll assume the work was done on the kitchen table (that's where I do mine). They are asking prices high enough to recoup their investment and it's doubtful they'll get anywhere close to what they have invested. Anyway, thought I'd post something I posted on my local forum which gives an insight in my 1911 adventures from the early days.
Quote:
Yup, anyone that knows me also knows I'm a serious 1911 fan. Once you've shot one, no other trigger feels as good anymore and nothing seems to point as naturally. Once you've decided to make the leap, you're now faced with a bewildering array of choices and prices, from $400 to over $3000. Many folks decide to just dip the old toe into the 1911 pool and start out with one of the budget GI models, which is where I started with a Springer GI - bought used for $379.
Next, some "buddy" gives you a copy of the Brownell's 1911 catalog - and now you're screwed for life. There's an endless array of stuff available for 1911s but the gadgets add up fast. Back to my Springer GI...
The tiny sights didn't work well for my old eyes so this was going to be my first upgrade, once my hand quit bleeding from the hammer bite. No, mine didn't have a beavertail either so that was going to be on the list as well. I also contemplated on buying a good shooting hat as the non flared & lowered ejection port tended to throw hot brass right at my face - yup needed to fix that as well. You see where I'm going I hope - to make my budget gun something I enjoyed shooting was going to cost $$$ and effort and at least 1 trip to the gunsmith to get the ejection port fixed and the dovetail cut for the more choices for a front sight.
About this time, one of my shooting buddies had a hankering for this Springer and I realized it would be cheaper and easier for me to buy a gun with the features I wanted - so I sold it and bought a Springer Loaded. I didn't fall into the trap as I could have easily spent a couple hundred bucks fixing the one I had which would have put me in the Loaded price range anyway - but at sale time all I would have had is a customized GI model. It's very difficult to get the cost of gunsmithing work and accessories back out of the gun at sale time - kind of like hanging all kinds of stuff on your basic Ford truck as it will always be a Ford truck.
Now many folks prefer the basic GI guns. I tend to prefer something a little bit more refined with a few more features. The nice thing is the 1911 platform allows us each to have what we want out of it. My one piece of real advice in all this rambling is: it's usually cheaper and easier to buy the 1911 with the features you want than to add them yourself. (Yeah, someday I may build one just for giggles but that's for later).
Anyway, this explains why I generally recommend a Rock Island Tactical as the best entry-level 1911 - they have all the bells & whistles I mentioned and are priced reasonably...
|
Now, if you're building one for yourself and have no intention of selling - have fun... | 
|  |
| 03-15-2010, 01:44 PM | #2 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 17,399 |
Tough to beat!
 __________________ .
 .. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
When life gives you lemons, squeeze the juice into your enemies open wounds. | |
| |
| 03-15-2010, 02:08 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,158 |
I'm actually throwing a few $$$ at the RIA I got last week - but I know it will still be just an RIA. The trigger had some slop so I tried all the different triggers I had in my parts box and none fixed the issue. I suspect the trigger "channels" in the frame are slightly oversized so I ordered a trigger with an adjustable bow. While I have it apart, I'm going to fit a Commander style hammer and reshape the factory grip safety for clearance.
It's fun to tinker but you have to realize that the value added is for yourself alone... | |
| |
| 10-13-2010, 04:13 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,158 |
Thought this old one deserved a bump... | |
| |
| 10-13-2010, 11:53 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 211 |
| |
| |
| 10-14-2010, 12:02 AM | #6 | Sic Semper Tyrannis Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: , The Mother Lode Posts: 18,437 |
Yup, that's the truth for sure. I've had the basic and I've had the better. The better is better. 
I know that my old Sistema will always be only a Sistema, but I knew that going in. So, no harm, no foul. However, it's my default handgun and it's tailored for me.
 __________________
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where those least capable of leadership are elected by those least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to succeed or provide for themselves are rewarded with goods and services paid for by wealth confiscated from a diminishing number of people who actually work and produce.
ΜΟΛ'ΩΝ ΛΑΒ'Ε | |
| |
| 10-14-2010, 12:09 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,158 |
The only point I was trying to make is that you CANNOT turn a Rock Island into a Nighthawk - no matter how much $$$ you invest. If you intend to keep it - great but don't ever expect to sell it for more than a new Rock Island Tactical.
And Sarge, I don't think your gun really fits the topic...  | |
| |
| 10-14-2010, 12:20 AM | #8 | Sic Semper Tyrannis Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: , The Mother Lode Posts: 18,437 |
I don't think a custom DW fits the criteria either.  __________________
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where those least capable of leadership are elected by those least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to succeed or provide for themselves are rewarded with goods and services paid for by wealth confiscated from a diminishing number of people who actually work and produce.
ΜΟΛ'ΩΝ ΛΑΒ'Ε | |
| |
| 10-14-2010, 12:26 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,158 |
I got these lime green grips from Scubie - I think I fell into the trap and landed on my head. They are really comfortable though... | |
| |
| 10-14-2010, 12:34 AM | #10 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 17,399 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by NGIB
And Sarge, I don't think your gun really fits the topic... |
Quote:
Originally Posted by CA357
I don't think a custom DW fits the criteria either. |
No but I think it would fit my hand just right Sarge!
There is no value to an heirloom, just ask me what I want for Dad's Ithaca M1911A1.
Canebrake Defender-----$1500
J.P. Sauer & Sohn 20ga side by side-------$10K
Ithaca 1943 M1911A1-------Priceless! __________________ .
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
When life gives you lemons, squeeze the juice into your enemies open wounds. | |
| |
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Similar Threads
|
| Thread |
Thread Starter |
Firearms Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
|
Never shot trap
|
jdnossaman |
General Shotgun Discussion |
14 |
02-09-2009 08:14 AM |
|
Women's Trap
|
cpttango30 |
The Club House |
1 |
08-11-2008 02:10 PM |
|
need trap/hunting gun
|
xj68w |
General Shotgun Discussion |
5 |
10-02-2007 03:32 AM |
|
Skeet/Trap Gun
|
notdku |
General Shotgun Discussion |
8 |
08-02-2007 12:53 PM |
|
|
|
