Build or Buy Racegun?1911

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xopher

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Calgary
I am looking to build or buy a 1911 platform race gun for ipsc style shooting. In reality, ill probably just use it for rapid firing at a range...

One of the members on here recently linked me to this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icsaeOiHN7A

and im really tempted to get something similar.

What is the ideal route to get a race gun?

Collect a series of parts and get a gunsmith to assemble it for me?

or purchase something premade (Sti, CZ.. etc)

After talking to a few ipsc shooters, ive decided to have it chambered in 9mm due to the high volume of ammo ill be shooting (and less recoil of course)
 
I say build it! That's what I'm thinking of doing next. We could do it together! Wanna be gun buddies??

Apparently Brownell's has a catalog of exclusively 1911 parts for just such a purpose. It makes sense to me to get exactly what you want, plus I kinda like tinkering. Only problem is I'll have to get someone outside of my house to hold on to my Dremel, as I don't think I can be trusted to have it around.
 
@acm where do you live? lets build one haha

I have no idea where to start on this build.

I just did a bit of research and people were talking about the advantages and disadvantages of having the sight mounted on the slide or the frame.

What do you guys recommend.

I believe guys were saying frame mounts are more secure and reliable but they add lots of weight to the pistol.

This actually seems very troublesome.. any other problems i might encounter?
 
I'm in Calgary most of the time, you? (Currently in the middle of nowhere, BC, on my phone, so I can't see locations..)

I know there's quite a few books on the subject, and I think Brownell's even has an online guide. It'll be kinda like the blind leading the blind. We could post progress reports so that CGN can collectively laugh at us! ("Today acm let a firing pin spring riccochet across the room and into a bowl of pudding. Xopher was letting his dog Rex help, and to thank him, he ate his barrel bushing. New parts inbound.")

With regard to the sight, it's my understanding that 1911s rely on barrel-slide lockup for accuracy, so wouldn't it make more sense to put the sight on the slide? I mean, who really cares what the frame is doing as long as the barrel-slide relationship is consistent?
 
the thread i briefly read earlier talked about mounting location affects how effective the slide cycles. Im guessing extra weight on the slide will influence the amount of gas needed to cycle it.

On a side note...i know most modern race guns tend to use the "reflex sight" style red dots where as the older ones used a tubular red dot. My understanding is the older style will cause tunnel vision and slow down target aquisition,however, it does seem like the tubular chunk of metal will weigh down the pistol a bit more and soak up more recoil. What do you open class ipsc guys usually use?

Honestly, my 1911 already feels VERY VERY balanced, i can't imagine putting more weight on it.

I was recently checking out one of the ex-Cgn sponsor websites and there just so happens to be a used tuned and match ready 9mm race gun with one of the tubular red dots for about 1500 (i think..). This sight is mounted onto the frame of the pistol. Does the price seem about right? If my job interview goes well on monday.. i might just jump on this and use it as a training/starter pistol.

Oh and lastly, where can i find one of those "fast" style ipsc holsters for 1911? I did some googling but i keep finding cheap chinese airsoft copies
 
The thing with building a 1911 is that the parts that you buy will usually go together and appear fine until you run the gun, then reliability problems are likely to surface. You may luck after mixing and matching parts from different manufacturers and get a pistol that is accurate and reliable, but I doubt it. I have seen many try before and they usually end up sending them out to a good smith to fix it, restoring the gun to factory parts or selling it/parting it out. The problem is building a 1911 that is reliable and I don't have fun unless I am runing a reliable gun. I believe that this is why 1911's have gotten a bad rap: bad gunsmithing.

I would encourage you to get out to some IPSC practices with whatever 1911 you have now, even if it's an old single stack with 7 rounders. You may not be competitive with it, but you won't be competitive with anything else until you get some experience under your belt either. If you find a good practice in your area you can meet people that are experienced and will help you with your decision in buying a new pistol. Running in open is fine, but there is more to learn about optics, calibre selection, etc. etc. etc.

CGN is fine for what it is, but I don't believe it is a good substitute from learning from experienced IPSC people in your area.

Also if you buy a used open gun you will not know if it is accurate and reliable unless you know the seller very well and have a lot of confidence in him/her. Buy new and you will pay very dearly for something that is accurate and reliable in open.

I know you want an open gun now and that's fine, I am just encouraging you to do a lot more homework so you don't end up with buyers remorse and a pistol that is hard to resell.
 
still looking for someone to answer my questions!

also.. would it be ideal to buy a 1911 get a smith to mount an optic for me? Im assuming a frame mount won't affect how the pistol cycles
 
If you go the route of building yourself and want the frame mouted optic, then just spec out that type of slide and buy direct from someone like Caspian in the states. Their new catalogue is amazing with all the options you can choose from to build your custom gun. I'm going this route but I'm not building an open gun, just a legacy 1911 in 10mm/.40. Going to have someone hard chrome and polish her up real nice. Gearing up to be "the" project for next year if I can convince the wife why I need to spend $1,500 on a custom gun instead of buying something off the shelf for less.
 
Save yourself a metric ton of grief and buy yourself an STI Trubor, after you have shot it for awhile you will have a better idea of how an open gun works, trying to figure it out as you are building one will cost you lots of $ and in the end you'll have a very nice paperweight. Otherwise find yourself a gunsmith that knows raceguns and have him put one together for you.
 
I know freedom venture can get them. Just hoping someone else in the community can bring them in at a better price haha.

At this moment, i may just consider throwing on a compensator and do a trigger job on the 1911.... So much to consider...
 
xopher said:
I know freedom venture can get them. Just hoping someone else in the community can bring them in at a better price haha.

At this moment, i may just consider throwing on a compensator and do a trigger job on the 1911.... So much to consider...
Click to expand...

Building one is kinda like trying to build a new car by buying all the parts and putting it together, it will cost you more money and a whole bunch of time.
You can't just put a comp on a 9mm 1911 and call it good, way more to it than just that.

The used one you speak of for $1499 is a good deal, well built and he will warranty it for you. The fact it is a single stack open gun won't matter for you as you said you don't shoot IPSC.

Most people use frame mounts and if weight is an issue have the slide lightened, but that's a whole other can of worms.

The list can go on and on with open stuff.
 
IMO: if your not savy on race guns.. buying one ready to go is a good start. Trubor,steelmaster or even an Eric gold custom. be prepared to shell out some cash though. Between $3000 and $4500.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to build one either but shoot one first.

Another really good option is buy an Edge or Executive and start from there.
Theres a ton of things you can do to a pistol just by polishing and fitting certian areas and it will run smooth and be reliable.

I built mine from a Limited custom base gun and so far no hicups. be aware that "race guns" do require more attention and knowledge. So many factors at play at one time it can become frustterating. I was once told if you do not feel comfortable to completely strip your pistol at the range and change/tweak ??? item and re-assemble it and test...then building is definatly not for you.

My suggestion--Buy a good but non bank breaking pistol and learn it inside and out forward/backward etc... Start by doing some simple fitting and polishing of things not directly related to function. ie: fit a magwell,blend and polish the flare of magwell and inside of frame. Its a simple start and you will notice a real improvement in mag performance(feeding and droping free).
Play with different springs,make small steps and soon you will see that your new gained knowledge and hard work pays off.

There are also a tonne of really good guys at the ranges go get to know some of them, most are more than willing to chat shop.
Also check out Action shooting forum on here,some extremelly good guys and info in there.
 
xopher said:
hm? whats wrong with having it single stack?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with a single stack open gun, especially at $1500 for the one you are looking at.

My opinion is based on open division and IPSC only. It all depends where you expect to go with your shooting in the future.
You asked about holsters and belts also, and depending on the brand you want i can think of three forum sponsors off the top of my head.
Double tap
Brant Shooting
Freedom Ventures
 
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