upgrade 1911 GI sights

[rusty lee]

wanna upgrade my Springfield GI to 3 dot sights
any suggestions on sights
and any good gunsmiths near York to mill the slide? Thanks

[steviesterno]

you might not like this answer, but it's probably best to buy a different Slide or 1911 entirely. I wanted to upgrade the sights on my GI, and it would have been a little over $280 with milling, sights, and shipping. I sold the GI and added $150 cash and walked away with a kimber TLE with night sights. Plus it had a bunch of other nice features I eventually came to want, anyway.


you could also shop around for an upgraded slide and then just fit it. I have seen complete *(barrel, sights, slide, internals, bushing, etc) sell for under $225 on 1911forum.com all day. then just sell the parts you don't need, and it should be your cheapest bet.

steve

[edritchey]

Why mill the slide you can get 3 dot sights that will work with the tenon cut in the slide. EDR



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[Xringshooter]

Agree with ^^^^^^^^

Go to Fusion Firearms, they carry all kinds of sights for both dovetailed and tenon style sights. Putting a tenon style sight it isn't that hard and a gunsmithm can probably do it in a short amount of time. I'm pressed for time right now but later on I'll post pictures of the sights I put on a RIA (tenon style).

[rusty lee]

was my understanding that dovetail sights don't come loose like staked sights. I have found several online places that say $55. to mill. thought I could save on shipping and support local shop. any one recommend a good smith?

[edritchey]

I would try the 3 dot tenon sights they are cheap and won't come loose it installed correctly. But if your dead set on having the slide milled to install a dove tail style sight you might want to try Jim here is a link to his website - LINK -

.

[Xringshooter]

1911 sights have been staked since day one. All the Gov't 1911's were staked. If it is staked correctly, they will not come loose or fall out. That said, if you want to be able to swap out sights easily, then you would want both the front and rear sights dovetailed.

[Glockman]

If you are buying boots or jackets or any modern item the label "GI spec" is a very good thing. If you are shopping for a 45 semi-automatic pistol and see the term "GI spec" run away. It just means that you are buying 1911 or 1927 technology and none of good improvements that we developed since then. If you are trying to save money buy the Taurus 1911 which puts on all of the improvement for free.

[Xringshooter]

Here are some pics of a staked on replacement front sight. I've had no problems with it at all. This .45 started life as a stock GI model RIA (the least expensive model they make). It shoots great.

[Farbmeister]

1911 sights have been staked since day one. All the Gov't 1911's were staked. If it is staked correctly, they will not come loose or fall out. That said, if you want to be able to swap out sights easily, then you would want both the front and rear sights dovetailed.

This is half correct.

The front sight has always been the bain of 1911 owners. The staking on the front sight is weak and they are prone to fall out.

Ask an GI 1911 (not the A1) owner about the front sight and its common knowledge that its just a matter of time before the staking give out.

The rear sight is pretty reliable.