Been fooling around with 1911s since my first issue back in the early 1970s and love em!
I have tried the various fads that the 1911s have gone through, such as the big beavertail safeties, wide thumb safeties, full length guide rods and most of the rest.
The full length guide rods doesn't do much for me...maybe if I had tried a tungsten guide rod I might have felt a bit more forward weight, but the standard steel models, I just couldn't feel much, if anything.
The Series 80 firing pin safety as others have noted, have come a long way with regard to its feel. The first Series 80 models seemed to interfere with a good trigger but lately, not so much.
Main spring housings: There was and is a lot of howling about that item, and they come in flat, arched, wedged, v-shaped, and probably a few I haven't seen yet. If you have a tendency to shoot low, the arched MSH might help you with that issue.
Colt came out with a nylon MSH and there is a lot of opinion on it. I don't mind them a bit. They don't have any bluing to rub off shiny-maybe except for the stainless models which might be painted, but I like blued pistols so its not an issue. It wont rust, seems to be durable.
Grip safety: Lots of different designs on that one too. After trying some of the fancy ones, I find that I like the basic style best. Some like the upswept style and a few, like my lady, like the duckbill that Colt put out for a few years.
Thumb safety: Some like the big paddle types because it gives them a better purchase on it. I prefer the teardrop style as the basic Colt comes with these days. Big enough for me to swipe on or off easily, but it doesn't dig into my flesh or holster like some other designs do. The GI issue was a bit on the small side but not bad.
Forward Slide Serrations: I'd rather not. I know they are supposed to assist in press checking for a live round in the chamber, but I don't like my hands anywhere close to the muzzle, and I don't personally like the looks.
My favorite and daily carry is a Series 80 Colt basic model I received for Fathers Day/Birthday last year. Close but not tight fit to the slide/frame/barrel bushing. Wood grips. Nothing fancy. It shoots well for me and I have over 3K of semi wadcutters and jacketed hollowpoints through it with no malfunctions at all.
I replaced the wood grips with Pachmyer wraparounds because I like the purchase they give me.
Spent about 15 minutes with a Les Baer sear jig and a very fine ceramic stone I bought from Brownells to smooth up the sear and hammer. It didn't change the pull weight but the break is cleaner as the stock trigger pull had just a bit of creep in it. I would have had a smith smooth it up but I have other 1911s so it was cheaper for me to buy the tools to do it right.
I put on an arched mainspring housing because I like the feel, the flat was okay and no complaints about it.
I fitted a flat firing pin stop because the extractor was a touch loose-not badly so, but I like the way the flat stop works and can tell the difference in recoil. Some can, some cannot. Took about 20 minutes with a file. The empties don't fly quite as far and seem to land in more of a pile than scattered all about. Because I reload, this is a benefit for me.
I am about to replace the long trigger with a short one because I find that I cannot put a gloved hand safely inside of the trigger guard. With that done, I am very happy and will shoot the bejabbers out it!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/dnanncarr/GovernmentModel.jpg
I have tried the various fads that the 1911s have gone through, such as the big beavertail safeties, wide thumb safeties, full length guide rods and most of the rest.
The full length guide rods doesn't do much for me...maybe if I had tried a tungsten guide rod I might have felt a bit more forward weight, but the standard steel models, I just couldn't feel much, if anything.
The Series 80 firing pin safety as others have noted, have come a long way with regard to its feel. The first Series 80 models seemed to interfere with a good trigger but lately, not so much.
Main spring housings: There was and is a lot of howling about that item, and they come in flat, arched, wedged, v-shaped, and probably a few I haven't seen yet. If you have a tendency to shoot low, the arched MSH might help you with that issue.
Colt came out with a nylon MSH and there is a lot of opinion on it. I don't mind them a bit. They don't have any bluing to rub off shiny-maybe except for the stainless models which might be painted, but I like blued pistols so its not an issue. It wont rust, seems to be durable.
Grip safety: Lots of different designs on that one too. After trying some of the fancy ones, I find that I like the basic style best. Some like the upswept style and a few, like my lady, like the duckbill that Colt put out for a few years.
Thumb safety: Some like the big paddle types because it gives them a better purchase on it. I prefer the teardrop style as the basic Colt comes with these days. Big enough for me to swipe on or off easily, but it doesn't dig into my flesh or holster like some other designs do. The GI issue was a bit on the small side but not bad.
Forward Slide Serrations: I'd rather not. I know they are supposed to assist in press checking for a live round in the chamber, but I don't like my hands anywhere close to the muzzle, and I don't personally like the looks.
My favorite and daily carry is a Series 80 Colt basic model I received for Fathers Day/Birthday last year. Close but not tight fit to the slide/frame/barrel bushing. Wood grips. Nothing fancy. It shoots well for me and I have over 3K of semi wadcutters and jacketed hollowpoints through it with no malfunctions at all.
I replaced the wood grips with Pachmyer wraparounds because I like the purchase they give me.
Spent about 15 minutes with a Les Baer sear jig and a very fine ceramic stone I bought from Brownells to smooth up the sear and hammer. It didn't change the pull weight but the break is cleaner as the stock trigger pull had just a bit of creep in it. I would have had a smith smooth it up but I have other 1911s so it was cheaper for me to buy the tools to do it right.
I put on an arched mainspring housing because I like the feel, the flat was okay and no complaints about it.
I fitted a flat firing pin stop because the extractor was a touch loose-not badly so, but I like the way the flat stop works and can tell the difference in recoil. Some can, some cannot. Took about 20 minutes with a file. The empties don't fly quite as far and seem to land in more of a pile than scattered all about. Because I reload, this is a benefit for me.
I am about to replace the long trigger with a short one because I find that I cannot put a gloved hand safely inside of the trigger guard. With that done, I am very happy and will shoot the bejabbers out it!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/dnanncarr/GovernmentModel.jpg
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