I'm looking for a project to do, and instead of tinkering around with my husband's GI, I want to go ahead and put some work into a project of my own. I've been wanting a Commander, the real 4.25" barrel. And while brainstorming over options, the light clicked to do it in a 9mm instead of a .45acp. For all the Pro reasons of a 9mm. Don't even give me the "If it doesn't start with a .4" soapbox preachin', I don't want to hear it.
This isn't going to be an on-a-whim kind of thing, but I'm sure I might hear, "You'll spend more money trying to build one than you will just buying a new one". Which, in a .45, true. But in a 9mm, I think I can come in under a new cost, or at least break even. The satisfaction is in the project.
I'm picking up Kuhnhausen's Vol 1. A Colt .45, something I've been needing to do since getting the GI several months ago. I'm also looking at AGI's "The Ultimate 1911" video set. This is all dependent on available funds of course, how many I can get. But for now, Kuhnhausen's book is my priority.
Since getting ahold of commander receiver and slide can be a task, I figured I'll get them both from the same place and see if they'll fit them for me. It makes life easier. But if not, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at fitting a set. My biggest obstacle is in the the hardware, or lack there of. I don't have any presses and table tools, only a drill, Dremel and hand tools. Fitting a set of sights on a slide is something I don't think I could do. Milling the slide for sights is something I'd take to a 'smith to do for me. Why get the rest of the gun working right if the thing doesn't aim straight?
Well I gotta get the details worked out. From my understanding, a 9mm barrel comes ramped, right? Therefore the frame must be cut out to fit the barrel ramp. Is cutting the frame something the supplier can do for me if I specify when I order?
I'm not sure the parts I'm going to use, but I know this won't be the super top of the line stuff. I need parts that will work on a budget. Especially for first project like this, I'd hate to really mess up an expensive part. And when ordering all the frame parts, everything must be specified for a commander, correct? Do I have to specify it a 9mm?
I'm also not fully understanding the magazine thing. Will a 9mm magazine fit into a commander frame? I'm guessing that is dependent on the caliber specified when ordering frame...??
Anyhow, any insight will be helpful from those of yall that have tackled a project like this. I've been reading an researching a lot on project builds. Much of it has been about caliber conversions which doesn't mean too much to me other than general info and differences between the working parts. I'm building this frome scratch. Any tips on where to buy parts I'd appreciate.
This isn't going to be an on-a-whim kind of thing, but I'm sure I might hear, "You'll spend more money trying to build one than you will just buying a new one". Which, in a .45, true. But in a 9mm, I think I can come in under a new cost, or at least break even. The satisfaction is in the project.
I'm picking up Kuhnhausen's Vol 1. A Colt .45, something I've been needing to do since getting the GI several months ago. I'm also looking at AGI's "The Ultimate 1911" video set. This is all dependent on available funds of course, how many I can get. But for now, Kuhnhausen's book is my priority.
Since getting ahold of commander receiver and slide can be a task, I figured I'll get them both from the same place and see if they'll fit them for me. It makes life easier. But if not, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at fitting a set. My biggest obstacle is in the the hardware, or lack there of. I don't have any presses and table tools, only a drill, Dremel and hand tools. Fitting a set of sights on a slide is something I don't think I could do. Milling the slide for sights is something I'd take to a 'smith to do for me. Why get the rest of the gun working right if the thing doesn't aim straight?
Well I gotta get the details worked out. From my understanding, a 9mm barrel comes ramped, right? Therefore the frame must be cut out to fit the barrel ramp. Is cutting the frame something the supplier can do for me if I specify when I order?
I'm not sure the parts I'm going to use, but I know this won't be the super top of the line stuff. I need parts that will work on a budget. Especially for first project like this, I'd hate to really mess up an expensive part. And when ordering all the frame parts, everything must be specified for a commander, correct? Do I have to specify it a 9mm?
I'm also not fully understanding the magazine thing. Will a 9mm magazine fit into a commander frame? I'm guessing that is dependent on the caliber specified when ordering frame...??
Anyhow, any insight will be helpful from those of yall that have tackled a project like this. I've been reading an researching a lot on project builds. Much of it has been about caliber conversions which doesn't mean too much to me other than general info and differences between the working parts. I'm building this frome scratch. Any tips on where to buy parts I'd appreciate.