Newbie from the lion's den
 

Hey everyone, I'm a fairly new 1911 owner (just got my first 1911 - a RIA Tactical in .45 - last fall). I've been on Calguns and 1911forum for awhile now and found this little gem of a site via Dave Wait's post on 1911forum about extractor and ejector diagrams. I've really become obsessed with/addicted to 1911s since I got my first one a few months ago... I've always been a tinkerer and love taking apart/working on things to better understand how they function.

So far the only thing I've done is increase the extractor tension a bit on my RIA and replaced the springs with Wolff springs, but next on my list is a "reliability job" as shown in Dave Wait's thread on this site, new FO front sight, EGW custom bushing, and possibly buying a new sear spring to tweak around. So far I've been very happy with my 1911... the only malfunctions I've had were magazine related (at first I oiled my mag and got a couple inertial feeds, then my RIA didn't like the 47D I got... but it runs like a champ with non-lubed factory ACT mags and CMC mags!). I went to the range with a buddy and was happy to see that my $500 1911 shot better groups than his $1000 Kimber!

Unfortunately I don't have a DW (yet) but I can tell this RIA will not be my last 1911. Next up I'm thinking of getting a Springfield GI (or some other GI model from a different manufacturer) and doing some of the upgrading myself (fitting the beavertail, etc). I also would like to do a build from the ground up, but it's a PAIN with the laws where I live (Sacramento, CA) and "80%" 1911 frames are kinda hard to come by. My goal in the next couple years is to build my own 1911 from scratch.

Anyways, I hope to learn a lot from you guys and maybe contribute a bit as well. Glad to be here!

Welcome to Our Own Little Forum,


Clyde

Welcome to the asylum.

Welcome Aboard!

Hope you like it here.

Boats

Welcome and shoot straight.

Welcome from mid-Missouri, Malc!

Welcome to our forum!

Welcome, glad you came over. Sounds like you are off to a good start.

Another Californian...woo hoo! :wave: Welcome to the insanity!

Welcome!!!

Welcome!
Jim

Howdy and welcome from Texas.:)

whoops, I forgot to post pics of my rock! Once I get a little amateur photo "studio" set up with a diffused light source I'll try to take some nice pictures, until then I'll just post the pics I've already taken:

First field strip (after cleaning with mineral spirits):
http://oi50.tinypic.com/dynls4.jpg

After lubing and oiling the finish:
http://oi50.tinypic.com/xx6yh.jpg

From either my first or second range trip, top group is at 10yds and bottom group is at 7yds (slow, aimed fire), both with factory 230gr FMJs:
http://oi46.tinypic.com/358o0le.jpg

I'm still shooting low and left, but I'm slowly overcoming that with dry fire practice. I haven't shot groups from a rest yet but I will do that before I buy an EGW custom bushing for the sake of comparison.

Those are the factory grips, which are quite thick (and one grip is significantly thicker than the other), so I bought some cheap Ergo XTR black hard rubber grips which are a little thinner and have a great texture. They made the pistol 1000X more comfortable to hold/shoot, so for $15 I'm very happy with them.

...I could stare at her for days and not get bored :) I love my 1911!

Welcome from the Northwest.

Welcome in:)

Welcome in.

Welcome

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome

Jim

Welcome to the forum Malc!!:)

I like your choice for your first 1911!!!!:D

Welcome aboard!

Welcome from another new guy. Folks seem nice here.
Just don't ask what a mimber lover is, it seem to be a question their tired of. And some poor horse will get punished.

Hello from SoCal. What part of the Republic do you hail from?

Sacramento... like I said, the lion's den :p

I get to give my thumb print and be treated like a criminal when I buy ammo and can't order it online! Aren't you all jealous of how much safer these laws make me??

Though I suppose Sac county is better than some counties in Socal in terms of CCW permits so I'll take what I can get. Are you in a county with a CCW-friendly Sheriff?

funny funny funny

Boats

Nope. Our Sheriff (LA County) believes that citizens should be completely disarmed. :mad: