My new blaster......

[HSMITH]

Just got this into shooting shape recently, built it myself. Everything is hard fit and TIGHT. STI frame and slide, KKM bull barrel with Bedell Ti comp, EE fire control parts and all the other goodies. No finish on it yet, still in the white. It is chambered in 9mm, so far I have worked up 5 powders for major PF loads. Runs great, all the way from Blazer aluminum garbage to 177 PF and is terribly accurate. This might be the most accurate autoloading handgun I have ever owned, WAY under an inch at 25 yards but that is as far as I have been able to shoot it so far. Almost a month now since temps have been above freezing . I have a feeling this gun will never be 'done'. I am new to open and will probably try a couple configurations over the next year, see what I like best and then build another the way I like and leave this one as a test mule.

 

[Supermoto]

Nice looking blaster

 

[HSMITH]

Thanks man, it is my first build from scratch in quite a while. Between that and using a mill that is very ill suited to this type of work it took a bit longer than I was thinking it would, then waiting on parts and things like that.

I am kinda torn between 'finishing' it and keeping it as a test mule. It is not really representative of the work I can do, it is still kinda rough so I won't hesitate to take a mill or a file to it if I think I can make it work better for me. I don't like showing up with something I made that isn't made as well as I can do but not knowing open class I think the smart decision is to try a couple different configurations and see what works best.

One goal came through well, it is light for a full size gun. 37 ounces unloaded.

 

[frez]

Wow, How much is it worth right now?

 

[HSMITH]

Probably somewhere around $1800 for just the gun as it sits right now, but only because everything is new, fit right, shoots awesome and runs great. Finish the cosmetic details and have it chromed, the value goes up quite a bit. At $1800 I would make about 50 cents per hour for the labor , but that is probably all it would bring as-is. If I were to sell it I would finish all the cosmetics and at least blue it.

This gun also has a spare of everything but the sight, frame, slide and barrel/comp assy. EVERYTHING else has a fitted spare, ready to go. Add in 5 magazines, tuned and built with the right parts and the costs go up dramatically again. It isn't cheap, but it is incredibly fun!!

 

[OH25shooter]

As a stock factory novice competitive shooter, I must say that is a fine looking pistol. And you built it yourself. Very talented. Good luck in your class.

 

[HSMITH]

Thanks OH. It wasn't too long ago that I was a novice. Good luck to you as well.

 

[Ohioan]

That is a nice looking project.
I had thought about trying to build a 1911 myself, but decided I didn't have the experience. When the funds allow, I think I'll purchase a Rock Island and do some work on it.

 

[Rich in VA]

Sweet........... Is that one of Jim's or Tommy's grips or did you DIY?

Sure does sound strange, doesn't it" Running Blazer in an Open gun?

Good luck with it. It's fun to build and shoot your own..............

Rich

 

[Walkalong]

Really nice. I wish I had the know how to do a complete job like that. Good luck with it.

 

[HSMITH]

Thanks guys, it came out OK. I have some new cuts mapped out for the next one, will try barrel porting and things like that in this one at some point too. It shoots so good I am almost afraid to tinker any more, almost........

Rich, the grip is a DIY, it is the first one I reduced and stippled, with that in mind it looks OK but the one on the Limited gun I am building now looks a ton better. Getting temp ranges worked out, techniques and so on helps a lot. I didn't expect it to run Blazer, and especially not the Aluminum cased garbage but it does. WICKED sparks and fire up out of the comp, and softer than my Buckmark 22. I don't know what they load it with, but I think there is some coal, fertilizer, and powder in the mix Blazer is silly soft shooting in this gun. It is soft enough and accurate enough I am looking at picking up a case for steel matches.

Walkalong, it is tedious, but not that hard. I have more hours into this gun than I want to admit, but it is the first build in a few years and I REALLY wanted it to run well and shoot as good as possible. So far it is doing absolutely fantastic in both regards.

Look for the Limited gun soon, it is going to be DEAD sexy, fast, and should shoot really well too.