1911 gunsmithing

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Chuck99

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Hi all,

I'm looking for a very good 1911 gunsmith.
I don't know if my desire are possible, but with the handgun freeze, we need to have some imagination.

The 1911 is an old STI spartan 9mm (philipine made).
Thing to be done in order of importance for me:
First the slide/frame fit is wayyyyy too big. So I would like to make it tighter.
Second, if possible, fit an entire complete slide in 45. But, the frame need to stay as is to be able to switch back the 9mm slide.
Third, again if possible, modify the frame, to be able to fit a ramped barrel (originaly this is not ramped)

Am I dreaming? :)
Who can do that without messing the frame which is not replacable

Thanks!!
 
Not possible in my opinion. Certainly not practical. The 9mm magazine is also thinner than a .45 mag, the trigger bow wouldn't likely fit. The barrel link geometry will be different. Why is your slide sloppy? (Gawd I hope you didn't lap compound fit it when it was new?). The questions are endless. As endless as the expense of doing what you're proposing.
 
the 9mm and 45 magazine exterior dimension are the same.
Into the 9mm magasine there is a ''shim'' behind the ammo to push it forward, then there is 2 embossed line all along the magazine to maintained the ammo center.
I received the pistol with this poor fiting. I shot, I don't know, maibe 30k round into it.
The spartan was not hand fitted to keep the princing cheap...so they save some work where they can :D
 
From memory, the only viable way to make a reliable dual-caliber 9mm Luger/.45 ACP 1911 is to have the frame machined for ramped barrels. It's because of the frames' different feed-ramp geometries. Can't recall if it also requires two different slides, though that would simplify maintaining zero when swapping barrels.

Paul Barrette in the Montreal region built a superb 1911 for me years ago, and also installed a fresh barrel in my old pre- Gold Cup National Match. His work was top-notch. I understand he's mostly a film & television armorer now, but it'd be worth your while to ask him if he's still doing 1911 pistol work for actual shooters. His site is https://www.reddnobb.com/

This will be an expensive undertaking, as you probably realize, but I have no doubt he can execute it very, very well, if he's willing to do it.

EDIT: Of course you'll need two dedicated slides. The breechfaces are completely different.
 
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You can fit the 45 acp slide to the frame, it is standard. You must change the ejector as the ejectors for 9mm and 45acp are not compatible.
The slide fitting to the frame adjustment is also doable - you can find the tools at brownells, or a smith can easily do it.

Pay attention to one detail, if your gun doesn’t have the ramp cut for the actual barrel, I suggest you to keep it as is, otherwise you must but a new one on 9mm as well. You have two types of ramps, Wilson/Nowlin and Para/Clark, they are not compatible, be aware of this when buying a ramped barrel.
 
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