Ruin Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I picked this up in the store today for $8.55USD and am very pleased with this little book of information. It gives you a run down of a bunch of different makes (Kimber, Colt, S&W, Para etc), and gives you their review on each. It also gives some brief history and even a little gun-smithing advice. I thought it was worth the money, very informative and I've been enjoying reading it for a while now. I figured I'd point it out to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasyCo Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Good stuff! Thanks Ruin, I was just asking someone about the 1911s. This would probably be a great read for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 I love it because I'm a complete beginner on this. It's very easy to read, not too much Techie Jargon and is very well written. I hope it can help you out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suicide Commando Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Love that Kimber on the cover. My best friend has a Custom Stainless and it shoots like a dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 What you'll find in there is basically a compilation of past GnA articles and resold for more money. I don't have much faith in the gun rags anymore, better to stick to the forums (1911forums.com or m1911.org) for info and advice. The latter site has some very nice info independent of the forum, such as detail stripping and indepth articles. One thing you will find interesting in some of those mag articles though are any tidbits on the gun's use and history. It isn't exactly the best for reviews and the like though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisper_44 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I have found some very good info from Here a nice list of articles on maintenance, light rail resource and chosing a build gun, granted as one mans opinion, but I found it helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connie lingus Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 I must disagree with the characterization of Guns and Ammo being just a "rag". GnA is where for years Col. Jeff Cooper has had his column, a leading expert on the Government Model and that had ran tests for the military on this pistol. I had a link here somewhere in this forum where you can read an archive of his writings, but I haven't found it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA sear Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 1911 forums are good for a laugh and it is pretty informative, but there is also some bad info on that site. As far as G&A being a rag, for the most part it is true, but of course as it is with most publications, there is some good stuff in there. The mags are pretty much like the internet, you have to filter through the bad stuff to get to the good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisper_44 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The mags are pretty much like the internet, you have to filter through the bad stuff to get to the good. +1 In my mind the 1911 is an affficiando's pistol, that needs to be cared for properly, it's a great package, but it's not for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 I'm just trying to find a good place to get started, and I'm just having a hard time with it. You know what they say about opinions... they all stink. I just can't seem to get an answer to satisfy my question (it's a feeling like this that made me write tutorials for GR, lol - So if Ruin can ever get going on idiot gunsmithing...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connie lingus Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Start here: http://harris.dvc.org.uk/jeff/ You'll out find things about the Model 1911 that even Samuel Colt didn't know of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 One man's column (that is really nothing more than a page of comments) doesn't exactly dictate the whole content of a magazine. When it comes to reviews, magazines will always be biased due to perks for the staff and they want the company to continue sending them guns to test... especially the new stuff. Reviews are best left to those who own the firearms or have experiences with them. Torture tests are informative though. The only magazines I find worth their price these days is Handloader and Rifle, mainly because they focus on information and not new toys being reviewed or sold. Ruin, what gunsmithing are you wanting to do? Detailed disassembly is beyond easy with a 1911 if you want to swap parts. Equally easy to put back together. If all your wanting is a trigger job, it basically involes using hard stones to polish the sear angles. You can even do this without permanently altering your Sistema by buying a new hammer/sear and saving the old ones (you can probably even get by not doing any polishing at all if you choose the right combo, just drop them in). Likewise you can install a 'drop in' beavertail for more comfort or looks, even though they're not as nice as the high swept models, they won't involve cutting the frame tang. I also hear Kuhnhausen's books on the 1911 are some must haves. Here's another jewel: http://www.blindhogg.com/ That shows some detaild techniques for various popular modifications. If you do ever want something like Novak or Bomars installed, just let a smith do it. That way you can get it done right and don't have to buy some expensive equipment. Want a diy frame treatment? Try stippling. It can be done with nothing more than a sharpened punch and hammer... or in this guys case, a hammer and sharpened nails (seriously!): http://webpages.charter.net/usmcsilver/refinish IMO, do non-permanent mods to the Sistema. If you want to play with cutting tools, get yourself a cheap, but good 1911: RIA, Springer GI, etc. That way you won't care as much if it gets hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 (edited) Ruin, what gunsmithing are you wanting to do? See, that's the problem... I don't know enough right now to say what I want to do. I need a place to start. I need a way to learn and understand the parts, their functions, how altering them effects things (like how changing angles effects trigger pull) etc. I found a Gun Smith today only a few miles away from my school. He's got some, in my mind, great prices. $65 for a 4lb trigger job, $75 for a parkerized finish, and a whole bunch of things I don't understand. It's making my head-spin (or maybe my suitemates Mary-J?). There's so much information out there and so much of it to absorb, I'm just having a hard time finding an "Idiot Friendly" guide of where to start. Perhaps I'm expecting this to be too much like cars. I don't know. I figured it would be easier, because the parts are less volatile, there are a lot less parts and they're generally cheaper... not to mention a gun is no where near as complex as a car is. I figure that if a guy like me can do a 3 stage paintjob on a truck, surely I can learn some basic gun-smithing. I don't need top of the line, just the ability to tinker, swap in parts and do some "at home" kind of jobs. Edited January 17, 2006 by Ruin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 When it comes to learning what sear angles/hammer hooks do and how they work, you have to see how they interact. The angles themselves are made to contact evenly and with as little friction as possible. The edges should be sharp though to provide a crisp feeling. Check out how the parts interact in these articles/diagrams/animations: http://www.m1911.org/full_1911desc.htm It should give you a better idea. There is also disassembly articles there, you can do it in the matter of minutes with a punch or similar small objects to push pins. When you get the grip safety, msh, and sear spring removed, play with and watch the internals and see how they interact and what does what. Most things I've learned about firearm internals is doing just that: watching the parts interact. At this point, I'd just advise you to stick to parts swaping and progress as you learn/see fit. No use in getting ahead of yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connie lingus Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Some sage advice there! When it comes to tinkering with the operation of the mechanisms themselves, I am clueless. I had a buddy who was able to make his .45 a full auto by monkeying with the parts. What a useful skill to have! He used to carry around a reciept for a new part on order, just in case he was questioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Making a .45 fullauto by tinkering with parts is nothing. Just file the top of the disconnector. Just don't complain when it light strikes or blows up because the gun fires out of lockup. It works by letting the hammer follow the slide home, not perfect but it works... and it's also highly dangerous to you and the firearm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA sear Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Some sage advice there! When it comes to tinkering with the operation of the mechanisms themselves, I am clueless. I had a buddy who was able to make his .45 a full auto by monkeying with the parts. What a useful skill to have! He used to carry around a reciept for a new part on order, just in case he was questioned. ← A reciept for a new part wouldn't help your friend. He'd still be in a deep load there. According to the ATF, if you fire a gun knowing that it can lite off more than one round with a pull of a trigger, you are commiting an offense that can land you in jail for ten years. Don't question it, don't try to argue it. Just don't do it. Don't even step in a grey area, as there are numerous cases where the ATF have jailed people for lesser offenses. Having owned a number of NFA toys, I can tell you all of the crazy restrictions that the ATF will put on you. There are many guns that can slam fire or be converted into "full auto", but ten years in jail ain't worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I think the $10k fine and 10 years in the pokie is enough to persuade anyone not to do it.... which seems to be the same punishment for all federal firearm offenses. The worst part is it's a felony if convicted and you can't own firearms anymore period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 Rook, Thanks for that link. It's really helpful and is making things start to make sense. That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Hawkmoon over at M1911.org suggest I look into a Sparco Auto Builders Kit, which seems like a very reasonable place to start. It sets me back less than the price of a pistol, it gives me a place to practice for cheap and I can do it myself. This is more my kind of thing. The kits are just below the listings for the barrels on this page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA sear Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Springfield, Wilson, and some of the other 1911 sites used to offer halfway decent video tutorials too. Can't remember which ones, but considering the simplicity of the gun, a video tutorial may be all you need just to start you off. Once you know exactly how to assemble/disassemble then you can work on how to machine the parts. Just a suggestion, as it may be the cheapest first step that you can take before moving onto the more complex aspect of machining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RooK Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 That could work Ruin depending on what gunsmithing techniques you're wanting to play with. Just remember, it comes without the frame (if you get the full kit), which will set you back $100 and require an FFL dealer to obtain/purchase. Chances are you'll have to work with a local dealer to obtain it because very few will have them in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 Thanks Rook. I didn't know only an FFL could get a frame. Perhaps talking to my gunsmith, he'd accept the order for me? I'll look into hunting down those videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisper_44 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I don't know if accepting the order is enough, wouldn't someone of legal handgun age need to be the registered owner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowFella Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Ok...I don't own a handgun and the no of different handguns that I've fieldstripped over the years can be counted on my 2 hands so I can't say I know much. What I do know is though that the last thing I'd do is what have been suggested above, honing the triggerpull yourself when you don't really know what you are doing! Get the angle wrong and you just might end up with something that will go "Bang" when the neighbours dog farts So don't tinker with the trigger mech yourself...let someone who acctually knows what he/she is doing do it for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruin Posted January 18, 2006 Author Share Posted January 18, 2006 Can someone please explain to me how a trigger job on my Sistema could be dangerous? I'm curious, because someone at M1911.org told me the same darn thing, and it's just not making any sense to me. He cited "weak" parts that could potentially snap, but to my knowledge a Sistema is a Colt made in Buenos Ares, so how can you get away with it on a Colt and not on a Sistema? The reason I want a trigger job is because my trigger pull now is rediculous. I'm tempted to try and guage it, because it has to be mroe than 5lbs. It feels more like 8lbs... to the point where pulling it makes my hands shake. Also, the 1911 I fired that first made me fall in love with the gun had a 3.5lb trigger job and shot like a dream. IT was crisp, smooth, and very easy to handle. I'm thinking (currently) that a trigger job will be the way to go for the Sistema... leave it as is, and then this summer look into doing a kit build up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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