Who likes homemade 1911’s

[JD42]

Some 80% lowers I have done. 9 mm 10 mm and .45ACP

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[Brandt]

Very nice! Which is your favorite to shoot?

 

[JD42]

It's a toss up the top left 9mm and bottom right 10mm. But they are all fun to shoot. And a to build. Next up I have the parts coming for a 9mm 6in long slide.

 

[Brandt]

Where did you find the slide on that 9mm that you like? I'm trying to find one in .40/10mm for a 2011 build that I'm working on.

I also have a couple of Para Ordnance Black Ops frames that I've been building. It's been slow going because the frame is a government grip with a commander-length dust cover. So with a government slide, there's a gap behind part of the recoil spring tunnel. Finding parts that fit has been hit or miss.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Very cool!
Lots of hand-fitting?

 

[trevi]

Some 80% lowers I have done. 9 mm 10 mm and .45ACP

View attachment 1320839

Something i wanted to do but no lathe. Where do you source your 80%ers?

 

[Brandt]

@trevi you can do most 80% 1911 lowers with a couple jigs. One for decking and drilling, the other for cutting your slide rail slots. Here's a tactical toolbox walkthrough https://tactical-toolbox.com/1911-builders-kit-part-3matrix-precision-rail-cutting-jig/

 

[JD42]

Try 1911 builders and matrix pression. For parts and jigs.

 

[Stomper]

You guys are worse than Google eavesdropping through my smart phone. I was just talking the other day about getting into building an all metal USGI 1911A1 from scratch!

 

[ron]

Very nice bountiful 1911's. I use to tinker with 1911's way back in the 1990s
when parts were cheap. Trigger jobs, grip safeties, barrels and bushings.
Saint John's Finest Accomplishment

 

[JD42]

1911 builders are a great place for 80% blanks. Both stanless steel and aluminum. Also patriot armory. Most off the slides I got off eBay. The monolithic slide on top left was from 1911 builders. They are not to hard to do. The matrix rail cutter makes it a lot easier. Most parts are just drop in.
You can get the lowers pre ramped for std government or Para Clark.

 

[MikeInOr]

I have thought of building one for quite a while but it never seems to work out on paper for me. It seems to cost more to build an 80% 1911 than it does to just buy one???

Now that we can't even buy one in Oregon it makes more sense to build one.

 

[JD42]

If you only want to do 1 it will not be cost effective. But fun. Also you will learn a lot. I stared with one. Now I am working on no. 10. Also back in the day when AK kits were cheap we had build parties. Every one would bring different tools. And we would share the cost. Get together with your friends and see if you can not share the cost of buying the jig?

 

[JD42]

The long and the short. Just finished my 6in 9mm build. Next to my 3.5 .45acp now to hit the range

 

[Yarome]

I have thought of building one for quite a while but it never seems to work out on paper for me. It seems to cost more to build an 80% 1911 than it does to just buy one???

Now that we can't even buy one in Oregon it makes more sense to build one.

Doing 80%'s isn't usually about saving money. Some types can be less expensive and it gives you the option to use less expensive 3rd party components, but by any large, they'll run about the same as an off the shelf, and typically even a bit more.

There is the fun element, there is the staying off big brothers registries element and just the general sense of satisfaction shooting something you''ve put together yourself.

The jigs... yeah... that adds to the cost, but remember too that jigs retain their value quite well. If you're only going to turn out 1 or 2, it's easy enough to flip the jig onto the next guy and recover your initial investment.

I think for many folks, that was the plan, but PMF's can be more addictive than you might think. Letting your jigs go after only 1 or 2 can be more difficult than many can muster following through with. Be prepared!

 

[Brandt]

To add on to what Yarome said, I view these jigs as a shop investment. They are precision tools with a dedicated purpose.
To recoup the expense, you might consider renting them to people that you trust, with a portion of the rental covering the cost of replacement bits.

 

[JD42]

Back from the range with some of my 80% 9mm 1911's. The officer I just finished as a Xmas present to myself.

 

[ma96782]

Your post reminded me of this video.....

Yeah....."made or built or assembled." Whatever......in all honesty (IMHO).....It's all good.

Aloha, Mark

PS.....for the laugh.

 

[JD42]

After about 20 AR15 80% lowers 8 AR10 lowers. 4 Pistol cal lowers kind of burnt out on AR's . Poly80' Sig's so trying some 1911's!

 

[BrandonOR]

I've never shot a 1911 but those silver & black ones are Tuxedo fancy. I really like em