New Member With Questions

Howdy doody,

It is good to be here and I look forward to learning!

Quick background:

I have been shooting all my life and have competed in Cowboy Action and Wildbunch shooting.  However, I no longer compete due to my location  

Now for the questions..

I would like to build a pistol for 50 yard shooting (bullseye) with a 1911.  The only competition I will be doing is against myself.

For starters, I would like to get a rail mounted to the top of one of my 1911's or a new slide and start off using the open sights.  Later on, I would love to mount either a red dot or scope to the top.

Here are my options:

First option:

I have the following 1911's that I might be willing to fit a new slide with rail to
- Colt Gold Cup National Match series 80 (45)
- Colt 1991 Gov't converted to series 70 (45)
- SA Trophy Match (45)
- SA A1 (9mm
- Remington R1 (45) I don't think the R1 would be a good platform to start with but I figured I would throw it out there.

Second Option:

- Purchase a new slide and frame and send the slide out to have the rail mounted.

Would you guys recommend starting with a new slide and frame or using one of the frames from one of the above listed 1911's?

As far as gun smithing goes, I can do all of my own with the exception of mounting the top rail.

Lastly, who would you guys recommend for a good "Bullseye" gunsmith to mount the rail?  I am located in south Texas but don't mind if I have to send stuff to another state.

Advice would be most appreciated!

Shawn

http://kcskustomcreations.com

Just have your Springfield Trophy Match drilled for a rail:
http://www.marvelcustomguns.com/1911_slide_mount_scope_bases.htm

Your stock springfield is accurate enough to bring you to high expert/master with no problem.

19lb ISMI mainspring from Brownells, and a 16lb recoil spring should be about right--as long as you don't use a really heavy optic.

That would be a very similar setup to what I am shooting.

What Rob says is spot on. I shoot a Springfield Trophy Match that Springfields custom shop put a RRA rail on. I sent it on a monday and had it back that friday! I made Expert with that gun THEN sent it off to Dave Salyer who did a fantastic job on it.

Sending the Trophy Match off to have a rail attached actually sounds like a great idea and its much cheaper than building a new 1911

The RRA rail looks like it would fit the bill nicely since it has the sights built in and thats exactly what I am looking for.

I'll give SA a call tomorrow and see how backlogged they are.

I have no idea why I did not consider using the Trophy Match from the start

Thank you all for the information: you saved me a ton of money

Rob Kovach wrote:Just have your Springfield Trophy Match drilled for a rail:
marvelcustomguns.com/1911_slide_mount_scope_bases

Your stock springfield is accurate enough to bring you to high expert/master with no problem.

19lb ISMI mainspring from Brownells, and a 16lb recoil spring should be about right--as long as you don't use a really heavy optic.

That would be a very similar setup to what I am shooting.

I have an 18# and 20# mainspring coming in from a brownells order placed the other day.  Would one of those springs work or should I go ahead and pick up a 19#?  At any rate, I'll experiment and see what I can come up with.

Thanks,

Shawn

You'll find that this forum is an outstanding resource.

sawacs wrote:

I have an 18# and 20# mainspring coming in from a brownells order placed the other day.  Would one of those springs work or should I go ahead and pick up a 19#?  At any rate, I'll experiment and see what I can come up with.

Thanks,

Shawn

Try the 20 pound spring and see if that runs.  The extra weight might reduce the effective recoil a tad but should work fine.

Another nod to KC, he has my Trophy Match in his queue.

The Colt's would be nice too, but would definitely go .45 to start.

Not sure why you would need to go shopping just yet with such a decent set of pistols on hand.  

willnewton wrote:Another nod to KC, he has my Trophy Match in his queue.

The Colt's would be nice too, but would definitely go .45 to start.

Not sure why you would need to go shopping just yet with such a decent set of pistols on hand.  

I have been in touch with KC and I pretty much settled on a rail that will leave my stock sights in place.  This way, I can leave the rail off until I get my method dialed in with the fixed sights.  In the mean time, this will provide an opportunity to decide on a particular red dot or scope.

There is one serious problem...  My two brain cells are having a terrible time committing to drilling four holes in the top of a perfectly good Trophy Match   There is another solution.. I have a second brand new Colt 1991 Gov't I could use rather than the Trophy Match.  Maybe I could fit a quality match grade barrel and bushing and bring it up to the bullseye playing field.  Then, of course, I am back to the old do I drill four holes in the top of a perfectly good Colt!   Darned decisions...lol

Thanks again fellas!

Shawn

Can't make a good wad gun without drilling some holes! I'd rather have a good 50 yard wad gun than a plain old 1911 any day

I just found out today that the SA Trophy Match is no longer made   If this is indeed the case, there is no way I will be drilling holes in the slide and plopping a rail on top

Cheers!

Caspian slides are a shade over $200.. Good stuff

Shawn,

Where in South Texas do you live?  I shoot at Austin Rifle Club which may be close enough for you to join in some.  They hold matches on the 2nd Sunday of each month.  If you are on Facebook, look up Texas Precision Pistol Network group.  You can stay in touch with whats happening in our state through it.  I hope to see you on the line sometime!

Steve

Lightfoot wrote:Shawn,

Where in South Texas do you live?  I shoot at Austin Rifle Club which may be close enough for you to join in some.  They hold matches on the 2nd Sunday of each month.  If you are on Facebook, look up Texas Precision Pistol Network group.  You can stay in touch with whats happening in our state through it.  I hope to see you on the line sometime!

Steve

Steve,

I am down here in Corpus Christi and man I sure do miss the Oklahoma City gun club

Thanks for the information,

Shawn

After talking with KC for a bit, we decided a Springfield Range Officer would be a good base platform to mount a bullseye rail so.  I'll either go with the Stainless RO or a stainless Loaded model.  Both will be hard chromed when complete..

Cheers!

Hard chrome has high lubricity and will help offset the galling problems that stainless can sometimes present.  But if you are already determined to hard chrome it, why use stainless??

I suppose my reasoning would be to start with a better base gun with a finish that is already a little more resistant to rusting.  The other reasoning is I would be able to change the finish easier such as polishing the slide flats etc before sending it off for the hard chrome treatment.

Stainless isn't your friend! You can still polish carbon slide before plating.
Jon

I take it you guys would recommend going the carbon vs stainless route eh?

Carbon vs stainless is meh!  Pick one.   Galling is a non-issue unless you mix brands of parts.  I am presuming that each manufacturer has selected their stainless alloys so the mating parts won't fall.  Even hard chrome can gall against hard chrome.  

As for easily changing the finish, it ain't that easy with chrome plate unless you chemically strip.  When plated it also plates on in little nodules so it never truly covers the whole surface unless thick.  There's a max thickness here too if you want it to adhere.