GunBugBit

I think you probably took out too much pretravel. You say you took out MOST of it and that can't be good.

I won't be changing out the extractor, just the firing pin stop. The loose fit allows pretty severe clocking, and something (the extractor) probably WILL break. It's a MIM part and these are known to break, with clocking being the catalyst. I think I've just gotten lucky so far. Only about 1,200 through this gun.

I live near Ben Avery where they run USPSA-type matches and I'm looking for feedback on what to do to my SA Loaded, which I'll use as my entry level gun for single stack. I'm not going overboard, just want a decent setup to get started. The gun already has a Quicksilver hammer and mated Brazos sear, tuned to a crisp 4 lbs. I won't be going lighter than that. Overtravel is carefully adjusted to minimize it while ensuring the half-cock hooks don't drag on the sear nose. For sights, I'm using a tritium night sight on the front and the Springfield adjustable rear sight. This should be fine. I know a lot of guys like fiber optic front sights; am I missing something big by not having them? I'll be putting on an EGW mainspring housing with bolt-on mag well, and a Wilson or Brown extended mag release. My carry guns have single-side thumb safeties, and I want to compete with the same setup. Is there any big disadvantage to that? I konw there are sometimes stages with weak-hand shooting, but don't you have the opportunity to draw with the strong hand and disengage the thumb safety before switching to the weak hand? I've noted that some people use single-side thumb safeties on their competition guns, and haven't seen passionate arguments saying you MUST compete with an ambi thumb safety. I'll be fitting an oversize firing pin stop because my extractor clocks a little. There haven't been any feeding problems, but I want to head this problem off. This is not a tight fit 1911, just a meat and potatoes example that has been 100% reliable and should get me through my first matches. I should state that I'm not a gamer/hypercompetitive type of guy, just want to greatly improve my shooting on the move and pistol manipulation skills, and enjoy the experience of these local matches, meet some nice folks, etc. Thoughts?

Way to be a good dad AND a good RO. Doing the right thing is what men do.

I'll be setting up the Loaded (bottom) as my entry-level competition gun. The TRP is my main carry, and the Mil Spec is the knockaround/backup.

The brain signal having a longer distance to travel is not a measurable factor. Mechanics of moving a longer limb a given distance is, though Note that a gifted taller person can move very, very fast. Examples: NBA athletes, men just around 6.5 to pushing 7 feet tall, some of whom who are LIGHTNING quick. The world's fastest sprinter, Usain Bolt, is 6'5".

Hi everyone, nice forum running here. I've been shooting 1911s for a couple of years and only very recently started thinking about participating in "Cactus Combat" matches at nearby Ben Avery in north Phoenix, Arizona. I understand the Thursday night evets are considered practice matches and are run according to USPSA rules, about which I know only a tiny bit. Based on posted results, there doesn't appear to be much participation in single stack but that's where I want to compete. I love everything about the 1911 -- the design, the mechanics, the history, and of course shooting the pistol. I was in the Army in the 1980s and left around the time M1911(A1)s stopped being issued as the sidearm for officers, senior NCOs and MPs. I have no dreams of being a top shooter, just want to participate, improve, meet other shooters, and enjoy the whole experience. That's enough for now. I'll have questions when I start competing. My wife and I are into health and fitness so I'll chime in on discussions about diet and exercise, in addition to those where the 1911 enthusiasts appear to gather. And who knows what else? Looks like a crowd with very diverse interests here. Happy shooting to all.