What needs to be done to build a 1911?

[camoman33935]

Lately, I've become real interested in building a 1911.

If I build it, do I have to pay the $200 tax to the ATF for manufacturing a firearm, or does it not apply since the reciever is gonna be registered and im just puttin parts together?

Also, if I build it in .45 ACP, can I convert it to a 9MM when I want to use it for some plinking? What parts need to be switched out if it is converted to a 9MM?

 

[exflatlander]

You'll buy the frame just as you would buy a complete gun. You aren't manufacturing anything you are assembling it.

I am not sure about changing calibers, I would think you would need a whole seperate slide assembly.

 

[BlindJustice]

Yeah, you'd need a complete upper i.e. Barrel and slide for
a conversion gun.

You'll need a solid starting platform like a Colt 70 Series
Re-Intro and then.... which parts - nearly everything

EGW is a top source for forged parts

besides parts and putting em together, they need to
be fitted which is a learned talent.

R-

 

[daddywasapistol]

I've done a couple, and, "It ain't as easy as it looks."

I'm no pro, but a very capable DIY guy. The problems seem to arise from improper tolerances in receiver construction, and maybe some parts as well.

Bought two brand new receivers, one Essex, the other Rock Island. They were cheap, and both looked good, until I started to put parts on them.

Had some trouble fitting the magazine release, slide stop, thumb safety, and ejector, which required some careful work with the Dremel, emery paper, and files.

Got past that, but then more problems arose when I tried to test fire them. The Rock Island would not feed from the magazine properly, and the Essex actually would not fire - the grip safety did not activate correctly. Still working the bugs out.

By contrast, I have had three Colt receivers, two G.I., one commercial, and I could freely interchange any parts with NO problems.

 

[Sapper771]

I think Brownells has a help section that discusses all of the stuff that is done to build a 1911. It looks like a long and tedious business, but I would still like to do it, there is just a lot of tools that are needed to do it correctly.

 

[Oro]

+1 to Sapper771. Go view all the video instruction chapter's at Brownell's and you will get an idea of the steps and time involved.

I have done two, and one caliber conversion. It does take time, skill, tools, and is not for the impatient or if you don't have some experience working carefully with steel.

As to a caliber conversion, .45acp will use one slide, and 9mm/.38Super/.40/10mm will use another. The difference is the breech face and the ejector channel. A 10mm can be converted to 9mm by just changing barrels (and maybe the ejector). .45acp to anything else requires a different slide as a whole. Besides the slide/barrel assembly, you need to change the ejector on the frame (thus it needs to be floating and not pinned), as well as the magazines, of course.

As to components, it's like what daddywasapistol said - you get what you pay for and it shows up in assembly ease and reliability. I have used Caspian and found them to be very, very well built with excellent dimensions and tolerances. Amateurs can build good guns on Caspian components; professionals can build amazing ones.

 

[1814rob]

I just finished one

I just finished building a Colt slide and barrel and an Essex receiver (frame). I had to fit every part to some extent, which is expected. Ordered the receiver through my local FFL and it's treated like a complete gun.

The Essex receiver was of very good quality except for a lousy installation of the plunger tube. It came off during the first assembly. Bought a bar stock one with longer legs and beveled the inside for a good crimp.

I have a very good functioning gun now but it took lot's of work to get there. There is lots of measuring, fitting and re-measuring to get everything to work properly. Anyone that tells you building a 1911 with drop-in parts is easy is not being truthful. Parts may fit but fitting and fitting properly are two different things.

Buy the manuals and read everything you can before starting so you know exactly how everything is supposed to fit, and their relationships with the other parts.

I am very happy with mine and it has become my carry gun as it's functions are flawless. I also have a bunch of special 1911 tools now. Bear in mind you are saving no money by building your own, you do however get the satisfaction of having built your own. I enjoyed the process, but I'm a tinkerer. Rob

 

[BlindJustice]

a 1911 in .45 ACP can be changed to .400 Cor Bon with a barrel swap
as long as the barrel is fitted. Might need a couple
Lbs heavier recoil spring though.

Randall

 

[oneounceload]

you might also check out Caspian Arms for frames - they tend to make the ones that are used by custom smiths a lot

 

[jerryrigger]

If you really wanted to do this, and it is your first time, I would recommend doing it with some serious help. There is a course that is offered (I think pretty much it is yearly, and I want to say it's by Vickers, but don't quote me on that) that allows you to go to wherever it is and build your own 1911 with the guy's help and in his shop from Caspian parts (also, don't quote me on that, but I think I remember that too).

I would love to do this, and I did consider it, but in the end the course filled up before my wallet was filled up enough to handle it, so I put it in the future considerations bin. Building a 1911 is a very tough and time consuming process from what I understand, and is a skill more learned by trail and error and by doing it multiple times. I think for a first time build, you would be at a great advantage if you did it with the help of a class like this where you had an experienced guy walking you through it and helping you, and having a full service shop at your disposal would make the build that much easier.

 

[bannockburn]

camoman33935

All very good advice here; especially when they say if you want a quality build, start with quality parts. Try to avoid surplus parts kits or parts from an unknown supplier. Maybe get yourself a good book with a lot of step-by-step photos in it (I used Ken Hallock's .45 Auto Handbook), so you can keep going back and refer to it when necessary. I also purchased a set of Swiss files; they were invaluable in fitting the frame and all of the internal parts.
As for the multi-caliber set-up; I remember an old magazine article where the author made up a 5 in 1 pistol, using a Colt Super .38 Series 70 Goverment Model as the basis for all of the conversions. Easiest one was the 9mm. as all that was required was a 9mm. barrel, magazine, and a slightly lighter recoil spring. Next was the .45 conversion, which actually turned out to be possible using a complete Colt Commander slide unit on the Super .38 Government frame. This also allowed then the use of a .38/45 wildcat cartridge conversion kit. Finally, they fitted a Colt .22LR Ace conversion unit for the final caliber addition.

 

[dmazur]

Fusion firearms is an option -

Fusion Firearms

I understand these guys offer excellent tech support and guarantee fit, if you buy their parts. By the way, their parts are supposed to be high quality.

It is one way to "build" a 1911 without the investment in time and money for assembling one from parts from different manufacturers and learning how to fit the parts. You won't become a gunsmith, but you'll at least learn how to put one back together after detail stripping it.

If you check their prices for completed guns, the savings is considerable.

Lots of different choices in frame size, etc.