bubbajojo

With optics you kind of get what you pay for. The lower cost ones tend not to hold up. If you can, spend the money for a nice one. As for EoTech's, I have had a few and the only thing I don't like is that they turn off by themselves.

IF you can afford on you should do it. You never know when something freak is going to happen any you main gun goes down and you can't fix it. I have a Colt 1911 for a back up to my Kimber for Single Stack. They are almost the same except for the mag well.

As a rule of thumb you should always get a belt one size above what you normally wear.

I feel you, just pulled my 28 year old bike out of the dust and started riding again.

Thats a good price and that gun is a good place to start. I use a Custom Target for single stack. I put a Dawson fiber optic front, ICE magwell and threw a Ed Brown big mag button mag release. It runs great. THere is tons of posts here about adding stuff to your SS. Enjoy the gun and have fun.

Thanks for the link I will check it out.

Thanks for the welcome to the forum and thanks for the advice. I know that the 1911 is in no way an easy build and that is why I am drawn to it. The worst that can happen is that I do a crappy job putting one together and have to spend more money than I wanted too. Live and learn right....thats how we get started with anything right?

The Brazos ThunderComp II in a Cone is an excellent comp, for minor or even major 9. You can take a standard bushing barrel thread it and then fit this comp to the slide. You also neec to cut a 1 degree angel on the end of the slide. The cone is .710 so you need to cut it down on a lathe to fit the end of the slide. Some will say the barrel is too short, well it won't reach quite all the way to the first port this is more cosmetic than anyting and the comp will actually preform a little better with this added gas expansion space. (I got that info from Dave Dawson). I have several of the Brazos comps and none of them needed to be align reamed. On the other hand my Bedel Ti had to be reamed 4 times to get it right. If you check the classifieds far enough back there is one still for sale. Great info, thanks

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Like I said this is all about fun. I'm looking to learn so if I buy a gun then I'm not learning anything. As for the LEGO thing. I totally know that 1911 are not drop in lego kits and that is the fun part about it. If you never try you will never know if you could do it.

I'm sure that there are great deals in the classifieds and thanks for the advice, but then I would not be building one. Thats no FUN. You can't learn how to build one if you buy one that is already built. I almost get more enjoyment in building stuff than in shooting.

Didn't even think about not running a comp, interesting. As I said I was trying to build this gun on the cheap thats why I wanted info on the Wilson comp. Being that is not the way to go what are the thoughts on this. Take a Kimber 9mm Pro Carry Stainless. Full size grip, 4.5" bbl (for that shorty feel). Since the slide is set up for a reverse spring plug I could switch out the barrel (kart, bar-sto, ect threaded) and run a cone comp or threaded comp, using a lighter recoil spring. Pop off the sights, put a slide racker on in the rear dovetail. Drop in a C&S trigger kit, install a C-More Serendipity, Dawson ICE magwell and be done with it. The whole idea is to have FUN and build something and have FUN.

Thanks for the feed back that is the exact info I was looking for. You guys have been very helpful. I appreciate the classified recommendation however I was really looking to do the build myself. As for fitting the barrel, I have the confidence that I can fit all the parts myself it is that I just have not done it before. As for using a Glock, XD or Smith, I have been there and done that. When it comes to working on Glock’s I can do it in my sleep. I have been shooting and working on them for years. I want to get into the 1911 arena. But again, thanks all for the info. Standard comp for me it is.

I could use a little help. I have done a lot of searching here on the forum and I have not really found the info I was looking for. Here’s the deal. I am looking to build a Single Stack Open gun for steel in 9mm. I’m looking to build up an existing 9mm 1911 (I don’t have one as of yet). I don’t shoot a whole lot of Steel Challenge, however any excuse to build a new gun you gotta jump on it. I am not trying to dump a ton of money. My question to all is, does anyone have any experience with the Wilson Multi-Comp Bushing Compensator? I know there is a lot of info here on this comp and that comp and what everyone likes, but I would like everyone’s take on the Wilson. I know it is not going to be as effective as a Bedell or a Brazo, but remember I’m looking to build this gun on the cheap. I don’t want to skimp on quality that’s not what I mean “on the cheap”. I’m looking to do all the work myself and I’m not really at the point that I am comfortable fitting a new barrel, barrel link and such. So if anyone has thoughts or experience with the bushing comps (the Wilson in particular) I would have all ears open.