Help me build my 1911

[Norton]

I've got an opportunity to have a custom built 1911 made for me and have some questions and want some opinions

The builder is getting some Caspian frames.....$400 for carbon steel and $435 for stainless.

Around $250 for labor and then whatever parts I want the gun built on.

Apparently the builder is a well-known military 'smith.

Question1: How do those base prices sound?
Question 2: Stainless or carbon steel?
Question 3: Define military match service pistol/ball gun. Does this mean it is best used with ball type ammo, ie no defensive ammo?

Now the fun part. Help me choose some components. We already have a Mil-Spec Springfield that is the wife's. She needs to leave it Mil-Spec ( ie no beavertail, fancy grips, etc,)

I wouldn't mind taking advantage of this opportunity but have little 1911 experience.

Some things to think about. I'm huge, so grip size is consideration. I'd like something that was a little on the "tactical" side. Ambi safety, etc, etc.

Let your imaginations run wild.....after all it's not your money

 

[Bill Z]

Is he going to sell you all the parts?

www.caspianarms.com

 

[Norton]

Haven't made a contact yet.....it was a blanket offer to get the frame and slide and do the work.

Guess I'm just looking for some suggestions as to what I should consider in picking out parts.

 

[stans]

Well....Caspian lists their frames at $185 for carbon and $195 for stainless. Figure shipping at around $50 and an FFL transfer fee of about $40 and you are up to $275 for carbon and $285 for stainless. And this is assuming that you are buying only one frame. I expect shipping per frame would be less if an FFL were buying several frames at one time.

Do you realize you can buy a whole Springfield GI WW II Milspec for a hair over $400?

 

[Norton]

Guess I should have been clearer....prices on Caspian components were for slide and frame.

stans,

We have the "step up" Mil-Spec which must remain in its current configuration so that wife can compete in military matches. What I'd like to find out is how a custom deal like this one stacks up to buying, say, another of the same gun and then building it up.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Depending on the use, the other issue you have with having a built gun is that you're still going to drop a fair chunk of change on a barrel if you're just buying a frame and slide.

As for parts, I'd talk to the smith doing the work. There are good suppliers out there (Kings, EGW, Ed Brown, Wilson, etc.) and a Brownells catalog is your friend, but as the smith is the one doing the cutting and fitting, I'd want his input as much as anyone elses.

 

[stans]

Gunsnrovers is right, many smiths have a preference for parts manufacturers. As far as building a pistol, what is it's intended use? If it will just be for plinking and informal range use, I would buy an off the self pistol. If it is for IDPA or IPSC limited divisions, the line gets blurry. If it is going to be a dedicated race gun or N.R.A. Bullseye gun, then building ends up being cheaper.

 

[Norton]

stans and others,

I sat down with the Brownells catalog this evening and, as I suspected, the build will cost more than what the new SA Loaded would as a complete gun.

I think I'll buy a shelf gun for the 1911 which would still leave me close to enough for the PTR91

 

[stans]

Like I said, it depends upon the purpose of the gun. A dedicated, precision target pistol, especially something like IPSC open class, you are better off building. If it is for less formal target shooting, then off the self is hard to beat. I have a Kimber Gold Match in 45 ACP that is capable of X-ring accuracy, right out of the box.

 

[Norton]

My wife is the precision target shooter in the family.....she's starting to get into free pistol, if that's any indication. I just like to shoot wit the best accuracy that my feeble little brain allows, though I may try some IDPA type stuff down the road.