itzjere Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) I currently have a 9mm 2011 that I would like to have a complete open top end built for (slide, barrel, comp, small parts, etc). I would like to be able to swap between my current top end, and this newly build one. I realize purchasing a complete used open gun such as a trubor would be faster, easier and cheaper.. however, being in CA, getting those pistols into the state is the hard part for me. I was lucky enough to be able to get my current frame into the state some time ago. Can you guys recommend me builders that would build me a complete top end? The few groups that I have reached out to seem more interesting in building me a complete gun, and not a top end. I realize I will need to have my frame drilled for the optic mount. Shipping my frame out to the builder to have the slide and barrel fitted to my frame is not an issue. Thanks! Edited June 9, 2016 by itzjere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) Dan Bedell He builds Max M. Guns that's a great endorsement in it self Priced same as rest of market and below some He just finished a upper for me super satisfied Edited June 9, 2016 by jcc7x7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRush Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Where in CA are you at? Even if you have a top end built by someone out of state you will still need to have the slide and barrel both fit to the frame by a smith. If the frame you have is not complete you will need to have all the fire control components fit and safeties blended, unless that is something you can do yourself. If you are just looking to have the machine work for the top end and fitting to frame done, and you are planning on building the rest out you would be looking for a "short block". Glenn at Lone Star Innovations just built a top end for a friend, and then my friend took the top end and frame to a local smith for fitting. It came out really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPostman Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) I'm interested in going into open, but being in CA, it is very hard for me to get a complete open gun. Luckily, I already have a 2011 frame and grip, so I can build a top end to put on it. Can you guys recommend me builders that would build me a top end? The few groups that I have reached out to seem more interesting in building me a complete gun, and not a top end. I realize I will need to have my frame drilled for the optic mount, but I can get that done locally. Thanks! Is the frame complete with hammer,safeties, sear, disconnector and ejector? If not then there is quite a bit more fitting involved. The last upper I did for a customer cost him $1000 for the parts and labor. Then he wanted to lighten it some later so another $200 labor for that. Not trying to discourage you but if you can get a complete used open gun you will probably come out cheaper and with basically no wait for the work to be completed. You can sell the frame and grip for about $500 to get things started. Edited June 9, 2016 by MrPostman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) Dan Bedell He builds Max M. Guns that's a great endorsement in it self Priced same as rest of market and below some He just finished a upper for me super satisfied Thanks, I'll look into him! Where in CA are you at? Even if you have a top end built by someone out of state you will still need to have the slide and barrel both fit to the frame by a smith. If the frame you have is not complete you will need to have all the fire control components fit and safeties blended, unless that is something you can do yourself. If you are just looking to have the machine work for the top end and fitting to frame done, and you are planning on building the rest out you would be looking for a "short block". Glenn at Lone Star Innovations just built a top end for a friend, and then my friend took the top end and frame to a local smith for fitting. It came out really nice. I'm in northern CA.. Sacramento area. My lower frame is complete. I currently have a running 9mm 2011 with all the items that I want in it (EGW fire controls, SVI trigger, metal grip).. I'm looking to be able to swap between my 9mm minor top end to an open top end. Shipping out my frame to a builder to have the top end fitted to my frame is not a problem for me. I'll look into Glenn @ Lone Star. Thanks! Edited June 9, 2016 by itzjere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 I'm interested in going into open, but being in CA, it is very hard for me to get a complete open gun. Luckily, I already have a 2011 frame and grip, so I can build a top end to put on it. Can you guys recommend me builders that would build me a top end? The few groups that I have reached out to seem more interesting in building me a complete gun, and not a top end. I realize I will need to have my frame drilled for the optic mount, but I can get that done locally. Thanks! Is the frame complete with safeties,sear, disconnector and ejector? If not then there is quite a bit more fitting involved. The last upper I did for a customer cost him $1000 for the parts and labor. Then he wanted to lighten it some later so another $200 labor for that. Not trying to discourage you but if you can get a complete used open gun you will probably come out cheaper and with basically no wait for the work to be completed. You can sell the frame and grip for about $500 to get things started. Yes, the frame is totally complete. It my current running 9mm. I understand that a complete used open gun such as a trubor will be cheaper and faster.. however I am in CA.. so getting a 2011 is not simple for me like those in free states. I've done all the hard work in getting the frame into the state and in my name already which I'm trying to avoid doing over again. Yay CA right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) Try Jojo. Jvdynamics.com I think he is in your neck of the woods Edited June 9, 2016 by echotango Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Fed law is you can send your gun to a ffl for work and they can send it directly back to you. I don't know if California has some other state legislation to get in the way of that. Call Dan he will know if he can send it directly back to you. Dan Bedell 1 716 868 1171 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadoFann Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Limcat Custom. Just a couple hours away from you in Reno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelix Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 (edited) I just got my open gun back from Jim at Innovative Custom Guns, they did great work. Very easy to get a hold of and return phone calls. And I shipped to him and shipped back to me. Edited June 9, 2016 by Steelix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 Try Jojo. Jvdynamics.com I think he is in your neck of the woods Thanks, I'll check them out. Fed law is you can send your gun to a ffl for work and they can send it directly back to you. I don't know if California has some other state legislation to get in the way of that. Call Dan he will know if he can send it directly back to you. Dan Bedell 1 716 868 1171 Yes, I can ship my gun/frame out and receive it back directly. I have done with already once. I'll talk to Dan. Thanks for his info! Limcat Custom. Just a couple hours away from you in Reno Oh right! Duh! I just got my open gun back from Jim at Innovative Custom Guns, they did great work. Very easy to get a hold of and return phone calls. And I shipped to him and shipped back to me. I'll check them out. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPostman Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Yay for CA lol. Ridiculous laws on the books for sure. I live in Alabama so I am envious of your weather if that makes you feel any better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 Also, I wanted to ask.. I've seen people build open top ends on limited guns.. Is there anything I should be aware of when going this path? My current lower is already setup for 9, so I'm not worried about my ejector.. but is there anything I should be concerned about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Tough to rack a gun from front serrations with any kind of thumb rest on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt1 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Tough to rack a gun from front serrations with any kind of thumb rest on it Doesn't seem to worry me with either of the 2 TS's in this pic, although I do now run grip tape over the stock serrations. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandbagger123 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 one of the things you need to think about is if you want to drill the frame or not for scope mount. a slide mounted optic would take care of that and you can swap back and forth between uppers without any mod to the frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Tough to rack a gun from front serrations with any kind of thumb rest on it I have tried a few of my friend's open guns and don't see to have this issue. The slide racker easily clears. one of the things you need to think about is if you want to drill the frame or not for scope mount. a slide mounted optic would take care of that and you can swap back and forth between uppers without any mod to the frame. Yes, I will have the frame drilled for an optic mount. No worry there. When not having the open top end on, I will put mount a thumb rest in it's place. I already have a Nitrofin, but having a GoGun instead would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Will there be any issue with fitting the comp with a full length dust cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b18prl Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Do the butler cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b18prl Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Dan Bedell He builds Max M. Guns that's a great endorsement in it self Priced same as rest of market and below some He just finished a upper for me super satisfied +1 on Dan Bedell, I sent him my slide, barrel and frame for him to fit. Fast and fair priced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tino2212 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 one of the things you need to think about is if you want to drill the frame or not for scope mount. a slide mounted optic would take care of that and you can swap back and forth between uppers without any mod to the frame. Yes, I will have the frame drilled for an optic mount. No worry there. When not having the open top end on, I will put mount a thumb rest in it's place. I already have a Nitrofin, but having a GoGun instead would be nice. I think he means the opposite if you want to swap between a Open and a Iron sight top end you can better make the open setup with a slide mounted optic . Than you don't have to take the mount for the optic of the frame everytime you swap . Because when you do this you also have to re zero when you put it back on , and in time your mounting holes will wear out . I have had this setup and noticed i did not swap the topends because of this , now i have my optic slide mounted and now this is a breeze . I now can swap between my Open 9 , Iron 9 and Open .22 topend in less than a minute . Without having to re zero . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzjere Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 I think he means the opposite if you want to swap between a Open and a Iron sight top end you can better make the open setup with a slide mounted optic .Than you don't have to take the mount for the optic of the frame everytime you swap .Because when you do this you also have to re zero when you put it back on , and in time your mounting holes will wear out . I have had this setup and noticed i did not swap the topends because of this , now i have my optic slide mounted and now this is a breeze . I now can swap between my Open 9 , Iron 9 and Open .22 topend in less than a minute . Without having to re zero . I don't mind removing the mount every time. The reality is I know I won't be swapping that often.. its more about knowing I can always switch it back if I want to.. I have also shot slide mounted optics, and it's not for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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