Thread: 1911 upgrades for a Plain Jane 1991A1

I just picked up a Colt 1991A1 Model 80 from a neighbor who's leaving the country. It's in nice shape and it shoots great. I'm thinking about doing a few mods but don't want to sink big bucks into something that's not going to have a lot of value (Found this out with Guitars).

So what would be best bang for the buck to improve this 45?

Would prefer things that don't need a gunsmith (I'm good with tools, just not machining)

Have you shot the gun yet? if not, I would really recommend you put a few hundred rounds thru it to see what it may need, or what you think you would like.

There are so many mods/parts that are available for the old work horse, that its hard to point anyone in one direction unless they know what they are wanting/expecting.

Have shot this gun before. Also put over 100 rounds thru it on Sunday. It chunked thru my 200 Gn LSWCsreloads, Factory UMC and even some old 1943 WWII surplus (Stuff has a different smell) without a single complaint.

I have a Para 14-45 limited that scary accurate and eats anything you put down the pipe. So for the 1991a1 was thinking along the lines of Trigger, Skeleton hammer and drop in beavertail, I've done this kinda stuff on 10/22s and my 22/45, just never on 1911s.

I agree with wichaka with one exception, I would put the sights I wanted on it, of course assuming it did not already have them.

I would not do a drop-in beaver tail. IMO they all suck. A beaver tail should be properly fitted.

What is the intended use for this 1911? I've done a dozen or more custom 1911's over the past forty years. I always come back to a basically stock gold cup.

I put a stainless steel full length guide rod in mine. I did this because the Recoil Spring Plug (soft, thin-walled & stamped part) was getting bent out of shape which made it difficult to reassemble the pistol.

Another easy mod is to put a hogue grip on the gun, if you prefer rubber grips.

Originally Posted by Aero Denezol

I put a stainless steel full length guide rod in mine. I did this because the Recoil Spring Plug (soft, thin-walled & stamped part) was getting bent out of shape which made it difficult to reassemble the pistol.

Another easy mod is to put a hogue grip on the gun, if you prefer rubber grips.

Keep that crap off my 1911.

My 2 cents: The only-non gunsmith thing that I think would add value are good sights and a nice pair of grips, at least in terms of resale, and probably not what you paid for them at that. I am always leary of an amatuer's (no offence) 'trigger job'. If you want add value for your own use, add what you want. Most of the 'drop in' parts should really be fitted by an expert if want to see them actually perform better than the stock stuff.

The sky is the limit.....
Before and after a transformation of My Colt 1911
Most of the upgrades On mine where mostly to make it look good to my eyes. The up grades that actually improved accuracy where a new fitted bushing and a new barrel link and pin and of course the sights


Andy

Wichaka is my favorite guy for 1911 knowledge.

Before you buy anything, send him a PM for advice.

He also paid me $5 bucks to say this....

There are so many things you can do to a 1911 it will make your head spin. If I had a gun and felt like "tweakin" on it I would do a good set of sights. If it was to be a defense gun, those sights would be Trijicons. If I didn't like the grips, I'd bolt on a set to my liking.
Knowing you have a Colt Series 80, I would want the firing pin safety removed. That's a personal preference, but that is what I would do if your gun were mine and it was not to be a range only gun.
Other than that, I'd be very happy with it as is. Less is more.

I just sold my 1991A1/1911 at the show this weekend.I was telling the local pistolsmith and he said "good choice" ,as he took mine apart to have a look.

If I was going to keep it,I would have put in a steel or aluminum trigger,maybe and not spend very much at all on it.
You can spend a ton on upgrades and unless you change the slide to one that doesn't say "1991" you still have just a "1991" with not a lot of resale value.As compared to most other Colts.

So I would shoot it as it is and buy a better "1911" later

Starting to think I should just sell it as is and go buy a nice single stack Kimber. Was looking at m9 - home (Rob Shepherd's site) and was thinking by the time I do a trigger, beavertail, firing pin, hammer grips and sight, the dollars just don't add up.

Well,I was thinking of trading mine last week.A guy came in before me with a "commander" size 1991.They made a deal,THEN the shop guy looked up the gun and said "dagnabit,not worth what I thought" It was worth $400 trade in.

Now I asked $600 and got $575 for mine at the show.It will sell,then you're half way to that Kimber or Springfield

Originally Posted by mikeli

Starting to think I should just sell it as is and go buy a nice single stack Kimber. Was looking at m9 - home (Rob Shepherd's site) and was thinking by the time I do a trigger, beavertail, firing pin, hammer grips and sight, the dollars just don't add up.

A gun custom built to how you like and budget don't belong in the same sentence. You have to decide what your gonna do with the gun. If your just looking at it from a profit standpoint then yeah, sell it. You want a reliable shooter that feels great in your hand and shoots even better? Then build it.

I did the exact same thing years ago. Took plain Jane 1911 and built it to how I wanted it. About $400 later it was done. I still have that 1911 today and everytime i pick it up
and shoot it, it feels like it was made for my hand. That is what you pay the extra money for. Granted, I won't get out of it what I got into it but I don't plan on selling. More like passing it down through the family.

Oh, and a Kimber? Seriousally? There is much better guns out there for cheaper.

Originally Posted by mikeli

Starting to think I should just sell it as is and go buy a nice single stack Kimber.

I’d rather have your Colt than a Kimber

Originally Posted by mjbskwim

Now I asked $600 and got $575 for mine at the show.It will sell,then you're half way to that Kimber or Springfield

I’d rather have a Springfield than a Kimber too.

Originally Posted by 22many

A gun custom built to how you like and budget don't belong in the same sentence.

Fact

I don't get the Kimber hating.Mine have been very accurate and absolutely no flaws or jams. Great guns all in all.

Oh, and a Kimber? Seriousally? There is much better guns out there for cheaper.

Oh this is such BS.Give me a break.Maybe "as good" but not "much better". You obviously have never owned a Kimber.
Must be one of those,"they're too popular so I need to hate on them " things?

Originally Posted by mjbskwim

Oh this is such BS.Give me a break.Maybe "as good" but not "much better". You obviously have never owned a Kimber.
Must be one of those,"they're too popular so I need to hate on them " things?

Take it how you want it. I'm not gonna argue with you. Don't like my opinion? I don't care.

Originally Posted by titsonritz

Keep that crap off my 1911.

Originally Posted by skydiver

Wichaka is my favorite guy for 1911 knowledge.

Before you buy anything, send him a PM for advice.

He also paid me $5 bucks to say this....

Thanks for the kind words, and the vote of confidence...I don't take those lightly.


$5 bucks??? What did you do with the other 20 I gave you?