Newbie from the lion's den

Malc · #1 02-05-2013, 08:45 PM

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!