Building a 1911

**jakebrake** · September 29th, 2015, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by ianb1116

I had fantastic results with the PSA frame and slide combo. It is a bullseye gun at 30 feet any day, no questions asked. Granted, I used premium parts.

don't get me wrong. not trashing psa. but, you matched frame to slide. that's the biggest part of what I can gather.

also, it seems the Kuhnhausen books are the old and new testament, when attempting such an undertaking.

**gold cup abuser** · October 5th, 2015, 01:07 PM

Well I have decided to go Cruzan's on better.

Will see him one Sarco 1911 bulders kit with slide and barrel.

And raise with a Tactical Machining 80% frame with the rail.

This should be better than the Titanic

**jim-analog** · November 25th, 2015, 08:24 PM

Greetings,

OP, this is for sure where to start. I'd also suggest you take a look at:

"The M1911 Complete Assembly Guide" by Kuleck and Oldham.

IMO, for the $ you'd spend on fair quality parts and the tools you'd need + any machine time or pro assistance, you'd be better off buying if you just want a "service grade" 1911. At that end to the middle of the spectrum, it's likely you'd spend more to DIY than to purchase new. IF however, you want a really trick, highly specialized to your ideas gun, then it *might* be worth the effort and $ (adding in the pride and satisfaction of completion you'd get).

Either path is not without peril, and as others have mentioned there are many hand fit parts, drop in parts that don't, out of spec brand new parts, and so on. I'd started to get a parts order together a few years back, but after reading the above books and looking at the 1911s I have (couple Colts and a really nice S&W), I figured I couldn't beat the quality of those and would be better to put the time and money resources into something "lower speed". BTW, it would have been my first attempt at a semi-auto handgun. I don't consider all the ARs I've assembled or the many repairs to different firearms I've done to be in any way close to the challenge of a 1911 ground up build.

Best of luck which ever you decide to do!

Regards, Jim

Originally Posted by 762xIan

I also highly recommend Kuhnhausens book (shop manual) on the 1911, lots of pictures and instructions. Anyone who has more than one .45 and likes to tinker should have his book.

**Normlizer** · November 30th, 2015, 07:08 PM

Any updates did u decide to build a 1911? Here are a few pics of mine i built a few years back.
http://imgur.com/v6GJd8r
http://imgur.com/KKgew9P
http://imgur.com/BungFmw
http://imgur.com/8zQNZwp
http://imgur.com/kK95kNZ

**cruzans** · December 1st, 2015, 12:18 AM

Thanks all - honestly, I forgot about this thread. Yeah, too much aggravation for me - I don't have the patience !

**gold cup abuser** · December 1st, 2015, 01:08 PM

Well Cruzans, the Titanic will be setting sail for me shortly lol.

Got the armorer's kit from Brownell's for the 1911. I have begun cutting the slide rails on my Tactical Machining frame.

So far so good. Key word is so far

One TM frame in 45, on TM frame in 40 S&W and will get 2 alloy frames at Oaks. One alloy frame will be for my Advantage Arms 22 conversion, and one alloy frame for a 1911 upper in 9mm.

Well winter is coming....lol