I'm really pondering picking up 1911s

I don't know shit about what I should get one it in terms of accesories. I notice Dan Wessons are really stripped down no-bullshit 1911s where upper end Springfields seem to have every known 1911 upgrade known to man. I plan on carrying mine

How do you guys feel about...

-Magwells?
-Front cocking serrations?
-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?
-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style?

-Magwells?
unneccesary
-Front cocking serrations?
Aesthetics, unless you are planning on shooting while you're hands are covered in oil or vaseline
-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?
Why?
-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style?
Personal preference, but again unnecessary

^^^what he said

I would get one with a beaver tail safety and no full length guide rod.

-Magwells?
Maybe for competition.
-Front cocking serrations?
Naw.
-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?
Why not? How well can you operate a handgun with the left hand?
-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style?
Skaters tape.

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

:D

-Magwells?
Are you planning on OC or CC? They make reloads easier/faster, but make the grip longer and harder to conceal. Also, I have large hands and like the extra length on the grip.

-Front cocking serrations?
I use them to check the chamber. I get by fine with guns that don't have them

-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?
It gives me someplace to put my thumb when shooting lefty, but don't like them on a CC piece

-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style?
Checkered does make a difference, especially with sweaty hands. I'd rather have front strap and MSH checkered with smooth grips than vice versa. That stainless colt I posted the other day will be getting front checkering as soon as I find my checkering file. :homer:

I've got several versions of the 1911. If its for carry use, I would keep all the controls (slide release, thumb safety, mag release) stock so they dont hang up on anything. Everyone of my 1911's has a beaver tail for a higher hand hold and not really for bite. combat sights fixed and dehorned. If your getting a budget frame then feed ramp polishing for sure. get a good ejector too. lastly buy some quality magazines. Ive always used Wilson combat 8 rounders.

I would set mine up with a magwell, every serration possible on the grip (or a strip of griptape down the front of the grip) skip the front serrations, and beavertail.

I like ambi safeties, but I'm a lefty.

I like a beaver tail since I use a really high grip. Hammer bite on my sistima was a bitch.

Ambi safeties have no value to me. My left shoulder is screwed up and does not go to full extension. I would only shoot lefty if there is a bullet hole in my right arm. They can also be bumped off on furniture and stuff.

An extended thumb safety is better to rest the thumb on but not one of those huge fat kind that can snag on stuff. My friend has one that has to be almost 1/2 an inch wide and more than an inch long. No bueno.

Mag wells on a comp gun, maybe. I prefer to file out the exisiting one and learn to do mag changes till they are second nature.

Same with slide stop extensions. Learn to use the pistol and you don't need it.

Extended mag releases came with my Dan Wessons and I have grown to like them. There are some retardedly long ones out there though. They interfere with my supporting (left) hand grip.

Night sights for sure on a carry gun.

I like front grip serrations on a carry gun. They are really helpful if you carry inside the waistband.

I do not use front serrations on the slide. Too close to the muzzle if there is a unplanned discharge. They can also mess with your holster draw and reinsertion. Tends to abrade the insode of the holster as well.

You can save a bunch of money if you are patient and scour the 1911 boards for the parts you want. Alot are sold used but not abused, cheap.

Since this is for carry:

-Magwells?no
-Front cocking serrations?I like them
-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?no
-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style?pers preference I don't like them

If it were me:


-Magwells? No. Just bevel the existing magwell as much as you can.
-Front cocking serrations? Only because everyone has them, I'd say no. This is purely aesthetic (to me) though.
-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed? Heard too many stories of them falling off. Seems like it could be a problem for concealed carry. No.
-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style? Yes. It'll give a better grip if your hands are sweaty, which they're liable to be if you need to use the weapon.

hella old bump :D


messing with my GI, and i have done a (to me :D) nice smoothing of the beavertail/rear frame/ambi saftey bits to make them feel sweet in my hand.


but i want more grippier feeling..... so i was going to grip tape the front for now to see how it felt for now before attempting to mung up the frame with a bridgeport or some other ways of stupid :)


wilson makes these (shaddup ben i know your rolling your eyes right now :flipoff2:) clip on front strap grips for 10 bucks. some reviews say awesome, some say suck. i say cheap experiment? anyone used/seen these?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/721408/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered-blue?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Gunsmithing+-+Gun+Parts+1911+(Not+Grips%2c+Magazines)-_-PriceCompListing-_-721408


in any case, what about the for the rear strap? anyone have a good more serrated style? i know my kimber could stand for one, (plus to ditch the plastic)........

i was looking for some decent grips for it as well. may take it to the machine shop and groove away at the slide or something just to be dumb, IDK.....


another thing- its an agentinian colt 1911 with a parked style finish to it. would bead blasting take this shit off acceptable like? since i have ground/shaped/hacked/smoothed on the frame, i need to recoat it. i was thinking with alumahyde or something.....

-Magwells? Not for me.

-Front cocking serrations? - Bufugly and unnecessary IMO.:barf: I will probably never buy a 1911 or any other gun that has them.

-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?- One of the "upgrades" that came with my RIA Tactical I could really do without. Not really a strong plus or minus for me.

-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style? - I like vertical grooves a lot. Haven't actually tried checkering.

hella old bump :D


messing with my GI, and i have done a (to me :D) nice smoothing of the beavertail/rear frame/ambi saftey bits to make them feel sweet in my hand.


but i want more grippier feeling..... so i was going to grip tape the front for now to see how it felt for now before attempting to mung up the frame with a bridgeport or some other ways of stupid :)


wilson makes these (shaddup ben i know your rolling your eyes right now :flipoff2:) clip on front strap grips for 10 bucks. some reviews say awesome, some say suck. i say cheap experiment? anyone used/seen these?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/721408/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered-blue?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Gunsmithing+-+Gun+Parts+1911+(Not+Grips%2c+Magazines)-_-PriceCompListing-_-721408


in any case, what about the for the rear strap? anyone have a good more serrated style? i know my kimber could stand for one, (plus to ditch the plastic)........

i was looking for some decent grips for it as well. may take it to the machine shop and groove away at the slide or something just to be dumb, IDK.....


another thing- its an agentinian colt 1911 with a parked style finish to it. would bead blasting take this shit off acceptable like? since i have ground/shaped/hacked/smoothed on the frame, i need to recoat it. i was thinking with alumahyde or something.....


I've never used the clip on checkering, but I've used a bunch of wrap around grips like pachmayr etc. I like some real checkering, 30lpi. Grips are endless, any material, color, texture.... Lately I've been carrying a set of VZ operators, I like them.

I've had good luck with Cerakote, I do it over a rough blasted finish. Its been holding up perfectly. This is Cerakote sniper gray on my Colt after checkering.

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m601/CC-LLC/IMG_0247.jpg?t=1320741286

hella old bump :D


messing with my GI, and i have done a (to me :D) nice smoothing of the beavertail/rear frame/ambi saftey bits to make them feel sweet in my hand.


but i want more grippier feeling..... so i was going to grip tape the front for now to see how it felt for now before attempting to mung up the frame with a bridgeport or some other ways of stupid :)


wilson makes these (shaddup ben i know your rolling your eyes right now :flipoff2:) clip on front strap grips for 10 bucks. some reviews say awesome, some say suck. i say cheap experiment? anyone used/seen these?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/721408/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered-blue?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Gunsmithing+-+Gun+Parts+1911+(Not+Grips%2c+Magazines)-_-PriceCompListing-_-721408


in any case, what about the for the rear strap? anyone have a good more serrated style? i know my kimber could stand for one, (plus to ditch the plastic)........

i was looking for some decent grips for it as well. may take it to the machine shop and groove away at the slide or something just to be dumb, IDK.....


another thing- its an agentinian colt 1911 with a parked style finish to it. would bead blasting take this shit off acceptable like? since i have ground/shaped/hacked/smoothed on the frame, i need to recoat it. i was thinking with alumahyde or something.....

Try skater tape first. A lot cheaper. I have my RIA wrapped in some and love it.

wilson makes these (shaddup ben i know your rolling your eyes right now :flipoff2:) clip on front strap grips for 10 bucks. some reviews say awesome, some say suck. i say cheap experiment? anyone used/seen these?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/721408/wilson-combat-frontstrap-1911-government-commander-checkered-blue?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Gunsmithing+-+Gun+Parts+1911+(Not+Grips%2c+Magazines)-_-PriceCompListing-_-721408

Actually, I might have one of those laying around somewhere. I probably threw it away, though.

ill get some grip tape. i need some for other projects anywhoo.

-Magwells? Not for me.

-Front cocking serrations? - Bufugly and unnecessary IMO.:barf: I will probably never buy a 1911 or any other gun that has them.

-Ambi safeties if you aren't left handed?- One of the "upgrades" that came with my RIA Tactical I could really do without. Not really a strong plus or minus for me.

-Front strap checking as opposed to the orginal smooth style? - I like vertical grooves a lot. Haven't actually tried checkering.

Would it be better to buy an RIA gi and upgrade....or better to go straight to RIA tactical?

Lot's of folks in this thread that slowly punch scattered holes in paper. All of these are a requirement on all of my 1911s. Even a small mag well makes a large difference in reloadability. I almost exclusively use the front of the slide for charging as it offers a better view of the chamber and I am less likely to shroud the ejection port with fingers. I could do without rear cocking serrations. If you plan to shoot weak handed, an ambi safety is a must so that you can transfer a safe weapon from hand to hand.