Cast/mim parts

[gamachinist]

Sorry jungle,
I mostly buy C & R stuff.
I haven't bought but a half dozen brand new guns,and the ones I did shoot were a huge disapointment to me.
I had two bad experiences with Auto Ord 45's,one my own and one of my brothers and that soured me on non GI and non Colts pretty much forever.

Every time I read about the horror stories here about this or that 45,I think I'm glad I never had all these problems,even with my series 70 and 80 Colts that are supposed to be such poor guns,and my series 80 Officers ACP that has never missed a beat.

The only advise I can offer is buy guns that you know work or have a return policy from the seller.
That won't help you with problems that crop up months later though.There is no defense against that except research and maybe Gun Tests magazine.I stopped subcribing to them because I wasn't buying anything they reviewed.

Good luck with your search.
Robert.

 

[1911Tuner]

Bang

So, after slagging my ideas on how to buy a new, high quality, well built and designed firearm that has been used by units around the world; perhaps some members of the forum have a better idea to share?

Which makers give a buyer the best bang for the buck in a new pistol?

Dunno about any of the others, but in a 1911-pattern pistol, the Springfield Standard Mil-Spec is a pretty good bet, with the GI Mil-Spec running a close second. Replace most of the small parts with real steel...replace the 2-piece barrel with a Kart...Easy-fit or hard-fit, as the specs of the gun allows...all for about 300 bucks if you can do the work. or...Leave as is and shoot it 'til somethin' breaks. Might be a long time. Might be a short time. Might be in the middle. The extractors are usually the first trouble spot. Save yourself a few headaches and buy a good extractor. if you can find a NOS or good used USGI contract extractor...bonus! If not, go with C&S or Bar-Sto.
Brown and Wilson are good, but those are a bit rigid and require a little modification to make'em springy enough to work correctly. Once done, they'll generally last the life of the gun or beyond.

 

[jungle]

gamachinist Concur. Got way more than I need, old and new.

So many complaints of quality on the various forums. It is hard to believe that some of the manufacturers can't build a worthy weapon. The idea that quality has vanished completely isn't born out by the vast majority of the better maker's production.

 

[jungle]

Tuner, Any ideas about pistols that don't need rebuilding prior to use?

 

[1911Tuner]

Needful things

Tuner, Any ideas about pistols that don't need rebuilding prior to use?

Well...None actually "need" rebuilding prior to use. At least not until they're put to hard use. That's what separates the weapons from the toys. The upgrades that I mentioned for the Springfields are more preventative than curative...except for that recurring problem that they have with their extractors...which seems to come and go. Upgrading as a means of
reliability insurance isn't rebuilding anyway. Kinda like puttin' top-grade Pirellis
and Girling brakes on a Corvette. Insurance. Reliability tuning isn't just about
making sure the gun will function. It's as much in doing everything humanly possible to see that nothing breaks at a critical moment as it is tweakin'
for function.

But...1911-pattern pistols that are pretty much good to go...with an occasional issue, which all are prone to, like any other mass-produced machine...I'd have to point a man toward a Norinco. Rough? Yep. Pretty? Nope. Isolated barrel fit issues, and an occasional badly-machined sear...but tough as pig iron and will pass the infamous Tuner 5,000 Round Torture Test without so much as a whimper. At least, all the ones that I own have, and the reports from nearly a hundred other owners are pretty much the same.

We can keep arguing the point...or we can shoot. Turbocoffee flows freely
here. Horses and rolling countryside are in plentiful supply, Peace and quiet abound, and you'll be treated to the attentions of 5 beautiful Collies.
Call it. Ah'm yuh Huckleberry.

 

[grendelbane]

They might be more shocked to find out that in 1939 Colt was experimenting with two-piece frames where the two sides were brazed together, and with die cast Brastil (81.5% copper. 14.5% zinc and 4% Silicon) frames and slides. A 1936 era prototype passed a 5000 round shooting test.

I am shocked! The two-piece frame is not so shocking, but a die cast frame and slide!

I have floating some where on my hard drive a picture of a Gov't model frame & slide that appear to be a bronze or brass alloy. I have always wondered how well this worked out. Bronze can be pretty tough, just ask Achilles!

Until we get Star Trek type replicator technology, we will have to live with alternative manufacture parts. I like the plastic mainspring housings for some applications, and have had good success with MIM sears and hammers. I really would like to find a long forgotten hoard of GI extractors, though.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well the Brastil die-cast prototypes stood up to 5000 rounds of hardball and were still O.K. Colt delivered at least one sample to Springfield Armory so the Army could examine it. But at the time they couldn't justify proceeding. They had no money, and plenty of leftover pistols from World War One. The start of the war in Europe was still three years down the road (1939) and we wouldn't enter the war until three weeks short of 1942. Then there would be no time to experiment, although some did go on during the war years.

Anyway, sometimes the history is interesting...

 

[1911Tuner]

GI parts

Grendlebane said:

>I really would like to find a long forgotten hoard of GI extractors, though.<
**************

I've got a few...but ya can't have'em! BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Got some disconnects too. Brand new ones (NOS) Hammers...Slidestops...OOH! OOH! Got a few thumb safeties and mag catches and one-piece milled triggers too! Short, checkered ones AND long smooth ones! MINE MINE MINE!!!!

Tuner<-----------slinks away to hide in Fuff's cave with his treasures and needful things.
Back Fuff! Back!

 

[1911Tuner]

MIM

Here's a couple shots of some improved, high-tech, new age small parts to ponder on...I'll find a few more if I can remember where I saw'em.

http://forums.1911forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7395&d=1053188334

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=73716&highlight=Broken+Grip+Safety

Here ya go! Added: http://forums.1911forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23521&d=1125345696

Real confidence-inspirin'...ain't it?

 

[RogersPrecision]

Yeppers, Colt slide stops are machined from forgings.
I've seen at least a dozen of these fail over the years. I've got a handful here in my junk drawer.
The internal tabs have broken off!
I've not seen this from any other manufacturer's slide stops, be they cast or MIM, that I can remember.

 

[charliemopic]

More (revo hammer) MIM

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172985

 

[1911Tuner]

Slidestops

Yeppers, Colt slide stops are machined from forgings.
I've seen at least a dozen of these fail over the years. I've got a handful here in my junk drawer.
The internal tabs have broken off!
I've not seen this from any other manufacturer's slide stops, be they cast or MIM, that I can remember.

Yeppers. Seen a few fail too...but it only affected the slidelock function and didn't put the gun out of commission. Most have been on the order of 50-60 years old.

Wish I'd saved all the busted cast/MIM parts I had so I could make pictures...but I tossed'em all out about 3 months ago.

 

[Old Fuff]

As Tuner knows, we have a “project in process" involving a disabled Viet Nam vet who made the unspeakable mistake of (1) buying a Springer Micro-Combat, and then, (2) bringing it to me when it (naturally) wouldn’t work. I of course would throw him and his accursed pistol to the wolves, but Tuner is more charitable.

Since he will work on these I don't know which is softer, his brain or his heart...

Anyway this past Sunday I darkened the doorway of a gun show seeking some parts. While poking around in this or that junk box I found:

Older Colt real-steel extractor (I think) = $16.00

USGI real-steel safety lock (manual safety) = $20.00 (The gun’s owner wants this style of safety rather then the stock one.)

A real-steel hammer strut (even Rockwell tested) = $3.50

So there is some gold in them thar hills – you just have to go mine it.

 

[1911Tuner]

Heart or Head

This'll be my third Springfield Micro in as many months. The first one was pretty easy. The second was...a bit more involved. This one is as yet unknown. Given that this IS my third...it's bound to be my head that's goin' soft.