v1911

Read that Claydot was a knockoff of Clays. Haven't been able to chrono to varify.

It all comes down to your preferences and what loads you're shooting. Few things I did to tailor to my wants / needs: Long flat SV trigger Double undercut / stippled grip Brazos micro dot Dawson toolless guiderod Again, just personal tastes. Other than more mags, there was nothing I really NEEDED.

The 5" with full length rail is not legal.

If we all had to own SVs, I'd be ok with that. =D

Are you normally in situations where this scenario would come up? Test it with several SD rounds to see what performs best/reliably and get quality mags that work for your gun. Don't over think this.

They cost more - and the savings in powder is eaten up by the higher cost of the heavier bullets. Very true. But I don't have any difficulties finding bullets. Powder on the other hand....

I definitely use less powder (clays) when pushing 147gr (bayou) than when I was shooting 124gr (xtreme). There was a bit more snap with the lighter weight bullet. The 147gr felt like a softer push. Again, not much difference though and you may actually prefer a bit more snap. YMMV. Edit: call up Donnie at Bayou Bullets and get a sample pack. Small investment to see if you prefer them.

Freedom Gunworks or Lone Star Innovations.

Gary built my 2011, so I'm aquainted with short build times. As SV-COP already stated, most of the lead time is just waiting your turn in line. I can get a complete paint job done on my car in 1 day as well, but I'd rather not.

I don't know if I want a gun from a smith that claims 1 day service. =D

I don't think the cost of labor is as much of a factor as options wanted by the customer. In comparing several smiths before having my 2011 built, they were all about the same ballpark. The primary difference between them was timeline. The difference between a custom 2011 running $2.5k and $4k could be the difference between using mostly STI parts and WC bulletproof parts. Aesthetics such as FCS, serrated flat top, French border and finish just to name a few. Keep in mind, smiths doing full builds aren't getting rich. It's more profitable for them to spend an afternoon completing trigger jobs and flush cut barrel crowns and it is to spend a week+ on a single build.

As an update, I got to run two loads of Bayou Bullets 150gr LSWC using Clays and Ramshot Competition. 2.8gr Clays 1.116 OAL: 892fps avg. 134PF 3.4gr Competition 1.187 OAL: 890fps avg. 133PF I couldn't distinguish the difference in recoil between these 2 powder puffs. The 1.116 OAL was definitely easy to get to pass the case gauge and plunk test.

Reliability isn't an issue for a 2011 9mm unless you start fiddling with mag capacity. I've had zero issues with feed reliability from bone stock 126mm mags. If it weren't a full size, I wouldn't hesitate to carry it. As for my STI guardian, I use metform mags without issue. YMMV.

Isn't Alliant's Claydot the knockoff of Clays?

^^ This. The only reason I got a 2011 built in 9mm.

It was recommend to me by my builder to not clean the gun for the 1st 500 rounds. Just use plenty of lube in all the critical places. Let the powder residue and oil do its thing.

Yes, Gary at Gans Guns WAS the fastest. 7day turnaround on a complete build. Stupid fast build times. Never hiccuped as long as case gauged my reloads. He no longer does complete builds but does slide work.

Clearly I don't make the rules. When you go and customize your factory gun, I'm pretty sure you already have sights cut and rear cocking serrations. Most of us aren't having custom built 1911/2011 done. So those of us with factory 1911's may opt to have some slide work done. The rules state popular modifications that most may want to have done. That's just how I see it. FYI, high power cuts don't wrap around the slide. They go up the flats. http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=132387

I was picturing something else in my head. I can see what you're saying now.

In basketball, can move one foot freely, as long as the pivot foot stays put. So if I have my left foot forward, I can move my right foot - essentially taking a full step, before my left foot (the pivot) comes off the ground But in basketball you aren't concerned about a 180 rule. I don't see someone taking a full step pivoting off of their foot while reloading and not being unsafe.

After researching the rules this gun looks like a great option. What were the shooters at nationals unhappy about? That they didn't think to bring a gamer gun to a nationals game?

You don't see cocking serrations on 1911's wrapping around the slide. I've never shot or handled a limited gun, so I couldn't begin to go over the pros and cons of slide lightening. But I'd imagine in the hands of a skilled shooter, a lightened slide could give them a competitive advantage.

Agreed. I think the BOD concern about allowing it would provide a gateway for more slide work that would push the direction of what would appear to be a USPSA limited pistol.

While I don't think the slide would pass inspection at a national level, I can't see a local club getting bent out of shape over that. It looks unique, but I doubt it would make an EX into a MA.

Watching your hands and feet shouldn't be too hard of a task. While the SO is watching your gun handling (hands), the score keeper is watching for cover (feet).