Looking at customizing my 1911

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bristow84

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I am wondering if there are any stores that actually sell 1911 parts. I'm looking at getting a beavertail, a different hammer, ambi safety and potentially an extended slide release. Now would I absolutely have to order parts online or is there stores that stock them?

If I do have to order online, what would be the best site? I get the feeling that Wilson Combat is probably the most recommended for parts.

Also are all 1911 magazines universal? I was looking at getting a couple Sig Sauer 1911 magazines but I don't want to spend the money and they won't work. Or should I just go with those ACT magazines? Or more Wilson combat stuff?
 
I've had a hard time finding 1911 parts in Canada. Occasionally the Shooting Edge in Calgary will have some parts that I'm looking for, but most often I order from Brownells (good service and low shipping cost).

As long as you don't have a funky magwell, which you probably don't, mags are interchangeable amongst all government and commander models. Officer's models (short grip) take different mags.

I think the most popular mags are Wilson 47D, Chip McCormick Power Mag (my fave), and Tripp mags. They tend to work well in a wide variety of 1911s. I hear good things about the Dlask mags, too, but they don't have the same kind of following (yet). There is no shortcut around trying different types of mags in your pistol to see what works well. Ask advice from people with the same pistol, borrow if you can, but even if you have to buy them and they don't work, there is a good resale market for them here on CGN and you won't lose much cash (if any).
 
Check with local gunsmiths and shops that have a smith on staff. They typically have the parts and will sell them if you want to do the work yourself.

Keep in mind that any of the internal action parts can likely be tuned with some stone work and a few jigs if you're looking at fixing up the trigger. 1911's are "old world" in that the design relies on some hand fitting to avoid stacking up tolerances when you start working on the internals. For example a trigger job on a 1911 can cause the thumb safety to become nonfunctional. It requires a new safety then be fitted with some delicate work to the cam in order to get the safety back to working like it's supposed to work.

Fitting external parts should NOT be a big issue other than the beavertail you mentioned. Some fitting of the activator arm on the grip safety/beavertail may be needed to ensure that the grip safety works correctly.
 
alpining said:
most often I order from Brownells (good service and low shipping cost)..
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I order everything from there. :) Great place and a gigantic inventory of parts. They carry a lot of Wilson Combat 1911 parts and you can order those Chip McCormick 10 round magazines if you want more firepower.
 
Looks like Brownells is my only choice. I checked the main places that might have had anything and they don't.

Question though: as Brownells is a US site, will I have to deal with any hassles shipping to Canada? I was told that so long as it is not over $100 the item could be shipped directly to me but if it's over, it would have to go through a Canadian Importer. Is this true? If so does a single item have to be over $100 or would an entire order over $100 do this as well?
 
bristow84 said:
I am wondering if there are any stores that actually sell 1911 parts. I'm looking at getting a beavertail, a different hammer, ambi safety and potentially an extended slide release. Now would I absolutely have to order parts online or is there stores that stock them?

If I do have to order online, what would be the best site? I get the feeling that Wilson Combat is probably the most recommended for parts.

Also are all 1911 magazines universal? I was looking at getting a couple Sig Sauer 1911 magazines but I don't want to spend the money and they won't work. Or should I just go with those ACT magazines? Or more Wilson combat stuff?
Click to expand...

I have a Sig-Sauer 1911 and the magazines that come with them are crap. The gun fails to lock open on empty with the original magazines. I bought two ACT mags. (under the Knighthawk Custom name) They are better. The best so far are the Wilson Combat magazines. I just don't see them very often. I wouldn't buy the Sig-Sauer magazines if they sold for $10.00 each.

KeltecFan
 
bristow84 said:
Looks like Brownells is my only choice. I checked the main places that might have had anything and they don't.

Question though: as Brownells is a US site, will I have to deal with any hassles shipping to Canada? I was told that so long as it is not over $100 the item could be shipped directly to me but if it's over, it would have to go through a Canadian Importer. Is this true? If so does a single item have to be over $100 or would an entire order over $100 do this as well?
Click to expand...

Do a search for a thread dedicated to ordering from Brownells. Lots of info available. Short version:

Total value of gun parts in any one order must total less than $100 (accessories are not controlled). Thus you cannot order a single part that costs over $100 (FYI, Numrich will ship up to $200 in gun parts). Some (many) manufacturers choose not to allow Brownells to ship their product to Canada (list on the website somewhere). Call in your order to be sure. Choose 'priority' as shipping option: $5.75, usually 1-2 weeks.
 
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