Some thoughts on some new 1911 parts
Posted: January 6th, 2011, 1:55 pm
I recently swapped out a few parts on my primary carry and thought I'd share.
I first swapped the full length guide rod for an Ed Brown GI rod and plug. The Brown parts were dimensionally perfect and were finished very nicely.
My gun came with Novak sights of the 3-dot variety. I'm not a fan of the 3 dot system. In fact, I find it distracting and a nuisance when trying to acquire a good sight picture. I'm also not too fond of the Novak rear. It has a little recessed shelf that holds the square notch and I think it's too busy. I replaced it with a 10-8 u-notch rear and couldn't be happier. The face of this sight is flat black with horizontal serrations, and the notch is u-shaped as opposed to the usual square. Sight picture is crisp and clear and is very quickly acquired. The sight itself is profiled to have a shoulder which is said is for one handed slide operation. It fit the dovetail tighter than the OEM part. I highly recommend it.
I also replaced my stock trigger, which wobbled in the track both vertically and horizontally. I think the stock one was a 3-hole Greider, but I'm not positive. Anyway, I used a Harrison Extreme Service trigger, in medium length, as a replacement. What I like most about this trigger is the smooth face. I never gave too much thought about it, but it's smooth face really is much more comfortable to me. The medium length is perfect for my hands, which aren't small, but aren't giant. I had to file the shoe to fit as it came intentionally oversized, so now it fits perfectly with no wobble. The overtravel screw is set permanently in the back of the shoe and requires filing to set. It's such a great trigger, if I get another 1911, it will wear one of these, too.
Finally, I swapped out my grip safety for one with a bump as I shoot with my thumb on top of the thumb safety. The previous GS would sometimes not disengage if I didn't have a death grip on the gun. Both are Smith and Alexander, but the replacement part is of higher quality in both machining and appearance than the original.
Anyway, had a free moment and thought I'd share. See ya around!
df
I first swapped the full length guide rod for an Ed Brown GI rod and plug. The Brown parts were dimensionally perfect and were finished very nicely.
My gun came with Novak sights of the 3-dot variety. I'm not a fan of the 3 dot system. In fact, I find it distracting and a nuisance when trying to acquire a good sight picture. I'm also not too fond of the Novak rear. It has a little recessed shelf that holds the square notch and I think it's too busy. I replaced it with a 10-8 u-notch rear and couldn't be happier. The face of this sight is flat black with horizontal serrations, and the notch is u-shaped as opposed to the usual square. Sight picture is crisp and clear and is very quickly acquired. The sight itself is profiled to have a shoulder which is said is for one handed slide operation. It fit the dovetail tighter than the OEM part. I highly recommend it.
I also replaced my stock trigger, which wobbled in the track both vertically and horizontally. I think the stock one was a 3-hole Greider, but I'm not positive. Anyway, I used a Harrison Extreme Service trigger, in medium length, as a replacement. What I like most about this trigger is the smooth face. I never gave too much thought about it, but it's smooth face really is much more comfortable to me. The medium length is perfect for my hands, which aren't small, but aren't giant. I had to file the shoe to fit as it came intentionally oversized, so now it fits perfectly with no wobble. The overtravel screw is set permanently in the back of the shoe and requires filing to set. It's such a great trigger, if I get another 1911, it will wear one of these, too.
Finally, I swapped out my grip safety for one with a bump as I shoot with my thumb on top of the thumb safety. The previous GS would sometimes not disengage if I didn't have a death grip on the gun. Both are Smith and Alexander, but the replacement part is of higher quality in both machining and appearance than the original.
Anyway, had a free moment and thought I'd share. See ya around!
df
