full size LW 45 ACP 1911

[Magnumite]

Econo-build in progress, all focused toward carry and defense. Aluminum frame (80% serialized), bobtail mainspring housing, concealment hammer and grip safety. Info and parts used as follows.

So…about a 65% aluminum frame. Vision:

- carry/defensive setup;
- concealed carry machined cc grip safety;
- concealment hammer, accompanying sear, and disconnector;
- bobtail housing…had to try it;
- actually hoping it would rival my LW CCO builds.

Some notes.
1.). The aluminum used was a good alloy, much harder than I expected.
2.) deck, rails, barrel bed, hammer sear pin holes, feed ramp, grip screw bushing holes need(-ed) machining.
3.) The bore at the barrel lug cut out was machined too small. Soooo….the rear centering diameter of the recoil spring guide had to be fitted;
4.) The frame deck was uneven on its surface and varied .002” from side to side.

Onto the pistol. 45 ACP full size pistol bobtail pistol. Specifics of parts used….

• WC concealment hammer, disco, sear;
• Remington R1 trigger;
• Ed Brown machined concealment beavertail;
• Tisas slide, new…one of the ones on sale;
• Colt Mk IV barrel bought from a member several years ago;
• EGW, IIRC, carry bevel stainless bushing;
• Ed Brown chain link carbon machined mainspring housing;
• takeoff Safariland ambi safety. This has been one of the most enduring tongue and groove retention thumb safeties I used. It was removed from one of my pistols I converted to single side safety
• EGW practical extractor;
• EGW ejector;
• TMC machined plunger tube;
• Ed Brown rebuild pin kit;
• TWC firing pin stop;
• Ruger, I think so anyway, takeoff titanium firing pin;
• a couple mim parts for gasps and giggles…this pistol isn’t going anywhere. S&W slide stop, mag catch, and thumb safety.

Takeoffs include the mag catch, firing pin, thumb safety, barrel, and recoil guide rod and plug.. All other parts are new.

————-

Why the bobtail? I never had much of an itch for a 1911 so equipped. After shooting my CCO’s with round butts…well it got me to thinking. An aluminum full size frame…it made sense.

 

[Crosseye Dominant]

What grips are you going with? I'm tempted to put thin ones on my bobtail.

 

[Rockzilla]

Mag, very impressive, nice build layout. Looks awesome, like the strategy / purpose
Think you'll like the bobtail overall.
Who's frame if you don't mind me asking?
See EGW parts, gotta stay away from there.

What did you do "hit up the parts bin(s)"
Gonna call it "The Magnumite Touch"
Blend-o-matic ()

Great work as always.

-Rock

 

[Magnumite]

Hey, Rock. Thank you for the kind words. Yeah, I hit up the parts bin!

I acquired the frame from Spector Supply a couple years ago, but can’t put a finger on who the manufacturer may be. And Spector is held to a nondisclosure agreement. The alloy must be the 7075 or whatever the firearms grade 7000 series aluminum alloy is. It is defintely harder than the two other frames I finished. My files and abrasive cloth say so.

I had some parts and sat on the frame until I knew which direction I want to go with it. I considered it as a foundation for a decicated 22 LR. But I have a dedicated steel framed 22 and the heavier weight of the steel frame and the light slide make for a very soft and fast shooting pistol. So the project took form when I considered a lightweight full sized carry pistol. I actually prefer the full size pistol so this was a logical next step in that exploration.

The frame was precut for the .250” radius beavertail. Problem is a seamless fit at the frame/grip safety radius can’t be achieved without an undersized radius, which this grip safety doesn’t offer. Not an issue here as it is a practical pistol. What was a pleasant surprise is the Ed Brown grip safety matched the contour of the frame. Minimal blending was needed!

The Wilson Combat hammer and sear needed work..especially the hammer. They required work to get to standard and a good pull.

All totalled, considering takeoff parts prices...this will be about $625 in parts when it is all said and done. Least expensive by about half what the other complete builds cost.

Hope it shoots and behaves well.

 

[Magnumite]

What grips are you going with? I'm tempted to put thin ones on my bobtail.

I have some thin VZ’s G10 laminant I considered using. I am leaning toward a standard checkered cocobolo set. I like wood grips most. Either way, I’ll have to bobtail the grips.

 

[Magnumite]

Feeling slick, I held the pistol in my strong hand and applied force at the top of the slide with my support hand….it wanted to twist in my strong hand. This upgrade made a difference.

 

[Bisleyfan44]

Nice work on that MSH!

 

[outrider58]

I love your builds Magnumite. Another one to follow ...

 

[Magnumite]

Thank you’s extended. Stepped out of my box on this one. .

 

[Magnumite]

Little more done. Drilled and tapped the holes for the grip screw bushings.

These grips were bought used. There were diamonds knocked down on them. They are made of cocobolo. They were cut for a standard full size pistol with ambi safety and magwell. Here they are retro fitted and ready for final recheckering, reconditioning, and finish.

 

[Magnumite]

Ejector, extractor fitted. Both left side vertical surfaces needed to be relieved on the EGW ejector.

Tuning of the EGW extractot.

 

[Magnumite]

Forward canted bevel on firing oin stop to mitigate recoil. Part is Thunder Mountain Custom 1911.

Normally the hammer strikes higher on the stop. Putting the bevel on the firing pin stop lowers the impact point on the hammer, reducing its leverage. More of the recoil energy is absorbed by the frame and mainspring..thus reducing slide velocity and felt recoil.

 

[Magnumite]

Little bit more…just need to point and clean up the serrations. Chose serrating the front strap to maintain continuity. The bottom half of the mainspring housing and most other textured surfaces are serrated. Additionally, gripping the pistol in my right hand and using the left hand to try moving pistol around in my grasp revealed the pistol wants to twist.

 

[Magnumite]

Cleaned up the serrations and points.
Aluminum blacked the frame. That finish is soft…more about that later.
Serrated the bobtail section of the grips.

 

[Magnumite]

Assembled rough draft ready for test firing. Magwell opening is partially done. Still a good bit to do after test firing…

 

[Magnumite]

Well, I shot the puppy. Ran 100% using CCI Blazer Brass 240 grain ball ammunition.

Handling manners…as much as it felt good in the hand the pistol likes to twist to the right. But judging from the targets a snugger grip helps. Recoil wasn’t significant.

Targets labeled and shot as I usually do. Ballpark point of impact over point of aim listed for each distance.
6 shots at 12 yards, POI +1 1/4”;

Two groups of three at 17 yards, POI +2 inches (2nd started low so I just stayed with sight picture I saw);

5 shots at 25 yards, POI +2 3/4”.

 

[Magnumite]

Prepping the thumb safety

 

[Magnumite]

Refinished the frame. All worked out to and okay level only. By the time I got to the front strap it was contaminated with Aluminum Black from the gloves. So I hit it again next week. This finish is soft.

Cold blued the slide. That is a Tisas item from the Tisas parts list on the website. It is hard. Lotsa strips of sandpaper.

Texture was 220 grit except for slide top which is 180 grit.

Recheckered and Tru-Oiled the grips. Final textured all other parts and used Oxpho Blue on them. Anyway, pics..including the need to be redone front strap.

 

[SkiPatrolDude]

Sweet! Wish I had those skills.

 

[Rockzilla]

Mag,
As always great work, like your thinking, thoughts, and the end results.

-Rock