Shooting Sistemas.............

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lastditch

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I have a chance to pick up a couple of nice Sistemas at a good price from an old friend of mine who is thinning out his collection. Here’s my problem. I’m a shooter. Period. I know the guns are of fine fit and finish with minty bores, but are spare parts readily available in case I need them later on down the road?
Any advance is welcome and much appreciated in advance.
Lastditch
 
They're basically pre-war Colts. I have three, two of which I've done some parts replacement on. All the standard aftermarket parts fit just the way they would on a Colt.

I installed new sights and a bunch of Wilson parts in this Sistema. Turned it into a nice, accurate gun.

Be sure the serial numbers on the frame, slide and barrel all match. On the gun below, the S/N on the barrel was wrong and it wouldn't group on an SUV at 50 feet.

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I Shoot the crap out of both of mine. One is from the 60's and I have added a new flat MSH, beavertail, commander hammer and a lightweight trigger that breaks at about four pounds. Finish is nonexistent, but it just allows me to shoot the crap out of it with no remorse.

The other is a 50's with an original finish, in 99% condition. it's my safe queen.

Just remember the (dismal) sights are set to a 6 o'clock hold at about 20 yards. aim accordingly.
 
Systema's are reportedly made from Bofors steel which should make them one of the most durable 1911 platform ever made. The parts interchangability would be the same as with any other 1911 the better parts need to be hand fit for best function. Drop in parts are usually a little looser on the tollerances.
 
Systema's are reportedly made from Bofors steel which should make them one of the most durable 1911 platform ever made.
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If you're referring to the legend that the guns were made out of armor plate salvaged from the German pocket battelship "Graf Spey", it's just not true.

Gordon Liddy used to love telling the story, (he even used it in his book, "The Monkey Handlers") except he used the Ballester Molina pistol. Either way, it didn't happen.
 
Sistemas aren't really collectors items. Shoot them. They are Colts built under license.
 
Sistema's are simply Colt 1911's built under contract, they use 1911 parts which are plentiful.

Lot's of people customize their Sistema's but I plan to leave my all matching one stock.

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No I was refering to the FACT that Sistema's were made with the finest steels available at the time, Sweedish, Finnish and British. Krupp steel was never mentioned. Bofors is Sweedish not German.
 
Mine was a basket case that looked like it was used as a pistol throwing trainer.
I bought it as a "Gunsmith Special" back around 1990 and used it for just that, testing Millett sight installation and using it for finish checks and parts fitting.
I put it back together as an actual shooting pistol about a year ago and have fired around 500 rounds without issue.
I used some USGI parts I had laying around and everything assembled fine.
Magazines are tight in the well and will not drop free because the Brazilians apparently used broach cutters until they wore out and the receiver magazine well is undersized.
The slide lock is an extended commercial replacement part that fit and functioned best of three I tried.
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