question about upgrading 1911 and guns in general - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

prostate05 · 07-09-2007, 07:40 PM

I am new to the whole pistol thing because I just recently turned 21. I love my XD 40 and I also have a walther p22 for plinking.

My next gun will be some sort of 1911 because I like customizing stuff after I get it, just like I do with my computers. I heard the 1911 have great upgrades and such and I like working on things and am pretty decent with small parts and such.

My question is, how difficult is it to install new grips, sights, and whatever else i can customize myself. I build my own computers and am always tinkering with stuff so, Is it possible to install new sights, grips, triggers and that stuff?

wot_racing · 07-09-2007, 07:44 PM

Grips consist of 4 screws, thats it.. Sights need a sight pusher/and or stake tool... Beavertail requires some files and good patience.. Everything else just takes some stones, files, and patience.. Anyone can upgrade a 1911..

wot_racing · 07-09-2007, 07:44 PM

Forgot to add http://blindhogg.com/gunsmithing.html can tell you anything you want to know about 1911 smithing..

prostate05 · 07-09-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wot_racing

Grips consist of 4 screws, thats it.. Sights need a sight pusher/and or stake tool... Beavertail requires some files and good patience.. Everything else just takes some stones, files, and patience.. Anyone can upgrade a 1911..

Cool, so do you do upgrades yourself?

And are the sight pusher and stake tools expensive?

jtkratzer · 07-09-2007, 08:55 PM

I was originally thinking about doing one of two things - either build a 1911 piece by piece, part by part. After finding out how much is involved how necessary it is to have gunsmithing tools and a good working knowledge of the 1911 and how the parts interact, I decided I'd by an entry level 1911 style, take the Springfield GI .45, for example, and swap out the trigger, put a new barrel in it, change the hammer, add a beavertail, among other things to basically give me my own custom 1911 that's unique and mine alone.

I was pretty clueless. If you have the money and the time and the patience and the tools to do all that, by all means go for it.

The best advice I've been given is get a 1911 and shoot it for a while, then figure out what I want to change about it.

If you decide to start making serious changes to your 1911, read read read, and then read some more. Make friends with a gunsmith so that when you have questions, problems, whatever, you have someone experience who can help you out.

I personally have never owned a 1911, but I will, and I will do both of the above stated projects that I intended to do. I have no knowledge of how the parts interact internally and wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to fit parts. I just thought that if you pulled a part out, you should be able to replace it with another that was somehow better or superior in design or function.

Just make sure you don't jump in over your head and get frustrated and then never come around to finishing it. I was headed in that direction.

I know how you feel about tinkering with computers and anything electronic/mechanical/whatever. I do most of the my own work on my cars because it's fun, it's a great way to learn about them. But at the same time, you won't find me rebuilding an engine, transmission, or installing my own supercharger. I know my limits and my knowledge boundaries. There's a lot more to building/modifying a firearm than swapping out parts.

If you already knew all this, sorry for the long read. I just felt like I was in your shoes a few months ago and some people rescued me from dumping way too much money into something I didn't have a clue about and I appreciate their advice.

Myk9noseknows · 07-09-2007, 09:28 PM

I work on a few of my 1911's.

I invested in a sight pusher. They can range from $120-$500. I bought a cheap universal one and it works GREAT on the 1911. However, it doesn't work that well on an XD, (most pushers don't, XD's have STIFF sights).

Get a good brass/steel punch set and a gunsmith hammer, (get all sizes, very small ones are good). Get a set of screwdrivers, pics, files...and you'll pretty much be set. Have fun!

ichy_trigger · 07-10-2007, 03:53 AM

If you want a GOOD 1911 then every part on it will need to be hand fit to a certain level.

prostate05 · 07-10-2007, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

I was originally thinking about doing one of two things - either build a 1911 piece by piece, part by part. After finding out how much is involved how necessary it is to have gunsmithing tools and a good working knowledge of the 1911 and how the parts interact, I decided I'd by an entry level 1911 style, take the Springfield GI .45, for example, and swap out the trigger, put a new barrel in it, change the hammer, add a beavertail, among other things to basically give me my own custom 1911 that's unique and mine alone.

I was pretty clueless. If you have the money and the time and the patience and the tools to do all that, by all means go for it.

The best advice I've been given is get a 1911 and shoot it for a while, then figure out what I want to change about it.

If you decide to start making serious changes to your 1911, read read read, and then read some more. Make friends with a gunsmith so that when you have questions, problems, whatever, you have someone experience who can help you out.

I personally have never owned a 1911, but I will, and I will do both of the above stated projects that I intended to do. I have no knowledge of how the parts interact internally and wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to fit parts. I just thought that if you pulled a part out, you should be able to replace it with another that was somehow better or superior in design or function.

Just make sure you don't jump in over your head and get frustrated and then never come around to finishing it. I was headed in that direction.

I know how you feel about tinkering with computers and anything electronic/mechanical/whatever. I do most of the my own work on my cars because it's fun, it's a great way to learn about them. But at the same time, you won't find me rebuilding an engine, transmission, or installing my own supercharger. I know my limits and my knowledge boundaries. There's a lot more to building/modifying a firearm than swapping out parts.

If you already knew all this, sorry for the long read. I just felt like I was in your shoes a few months ago and some people rescued me from dumping way too much money into something I didn't have a clue about and I appreciate their advice.

No, thanks a lot for the input. I am saving up some money now and I think I will get a GI actually and see how it is. I'll probably upgrade the grips early but thats easy to do. Thanks, and I read a bunch last night and a lot of the stuff does seem pretty complicated. So i'll take my time.

wot_racing · 07-10-2007, 07:22 AM

I really dont think it is as hard as you think it is.. I just took

and turned it into

It has a .250 beavertail, fitted trigger, new sear/disconnector/hammer, new sear and main springs, dehorned.. Its just sprayed silver for now.. the whole thing will be getting a brushed hard chrome job with the controls polished..

It is honestly not hard, you just have to take your time..

prostate05 · 07-11-2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wot_racing

I really dont think it is as hard as you think it is.. I just took

and turned it into

It has a .250 beavertail, fitted trigger, new sear/disconnector/hammer, new sear and main springs, dehorned.. Its just sprayed silver for now.. the whole thing will be getting a brushed hard chrome job with the controls polished..

It is honestly not hard, you just have to take your time..

So far that looks great, keep us updated especially when you get the chrome job. I'm just gonna keep reading and saving money.

07-09-2007, 07:40 PM	#1
prostate05 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 146	question about upgrading 1911 and guns in general I am new to the whole pistol thing because I just recently turned 21. I love my XD 40 and I also have a walther p22 for plinking. My next gun will be some sort of 1911 because I like customizing stuff after I get it, just like I do with my computers. I heard the 1911 have great upgrades and such and I like working on things and am pretty decent with small parts and such. My question is, how difficult is it to install new grips, sights, and whatever else i can customize myself. I build my own computers and am always tinkering with stuff so, Is it possible to install new sights, grips, triggers and that stuff?

07-09-2007, 08:55 PM	#5
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,478	I was originally thinking about doing one of two things - either build a 1911 piece by piece, part by part. After finding out how much is involved how necessary it is to have gunsmithing tools and a good working knowledge of the 1911 and how the parts interact, I decided I'd by an entry level 1911 style, take the Springfield GI .45, for example, and swap out the trigger, put a new barrel in it, change the hammer, add a beavertail, among other things to basically give me my own custom 1911 that's unique and mine alone. I was pretty clueless. If you have the money and the time and the patience and the tools to do all that, by all means go for it. The best advice I've been given is get a 1911 and shoot it for a while, then figure out what I want to change about it. If you decide to start making serious changes to your 1911, read read read, and then read some more. Make friends with a gunsmith so that when you have questions, problems, whatever, you have someone experience who can help you out. I personally have never owned a 1911, but I will, and I will do both of the above stated projects that I intended to do. I have no knowledge of how the parts interact internally and wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to fit parts. I just thought that if you pulled a part out, you should be able to replace it with another that was somehow better or superior in design or function. Just make sure you don't jump in over your head and get frustrated and then never come around to finishing it. I was headed in that direction. I know how you feel about tinkering with computers and anything electronic/mechanical/whatever. I do most of the my own work on my cars because it's fun, it's a great way to learn about them. But at the same time, you won't find me rebuilding an engine, transmission, or installing my own supercharger. I know my limits and my knowledge boundaries. There's a lot more to building/modifying a firearm than swapping out parts. If you already knew all this, sorry for the long read. I just felt like I was in your shoes a few months ago and some people rescued me from dumping way too much money into something I didn't have a clue about and I appreciate their advice. __________________ "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson The Gun Lounge Pennyslvania Firearms Owners Association Hockey Forum

07-09-2007, 09:28 PM	#6
Myk9noseknows XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,887	I work on a few of my 1911's. I invested in a sight pusher. They can range from $120-$500. I bought a cheap universal one and it works GREAT on the 1911. However, it doesn't work that well on an XD, (most pushers don't, XD's have STIFF sights). Get a good brass/steel punch set and a gunsmith hammer, (get all sizes, very small ones are good). Get a set of screwdrivers, pics, files...and you'll pretty much be set. Have fun! __________________ "When people need help, they call the Police. When Police need help, they call K-9"

07-10-2007, 03:53 AM	#7
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,525	If you want a GOOD 1911 then every part on it will need to be hand fit to a certain level. __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

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07-09-2007, 07:44 PM	#2
wot_racing XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlan, KY Posts: 473	Grips consist of 4 screws, thats it.. Sights need a sight pusher/and or stake tool... Beavertail requires some files and good patience.. Everything else just takes some stones, files, and patience.. Anyone can upgrade a 1911..

07-10-2007, 07:22 AM	#9
wot_racing XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlan, KY Posts: 473	I really dont think it is as hard as you think it is.. I just took and turned it into It has a .250 beavertail, fitted trigger, new sear/disconnector/hammer, new sear and main springs, dehorned.. Its just sprayed silver for now.. the whole thing will be getting a brushed hard chrome job with the controls polished.. It is honestly not hard, you just have to take your time..