Resjudicata

I've had one of the hammer hooks break on the Springfield spur hammer on one of mine. Otherwise, I just changed parts to what I wanted rather than what I thought would break. If this Champion is for carry then personally I would get rid of the ILS mainspring housing, slide stop and the hammer/sear. Replace with EGW parts. Just my opinion. I know it would set my mind at ease while carrying a cocked and locked 1911 for those parts to be machined. Otherwise, I would only change a part if it showed unusual wear during break-in or if I just preferred a different part. But, I won't go so far as to say you have to change out anything. Chris

I'd never heard of this. However, I believe I've seen that gunsmiths like Jim Anglin have built Caspian based wide body 6" guns. I've never heard of a problem with them. Chris

Do your best to stay at the match hotel. Or, at least come there each evening. The NRA has a get together of some sort each night. All the big dogs are great people and very approachable. There are also a ton of great people and great shooters that you don't always hear about on TV or in the magazines. They are also very approachable and helpful. The NRA seems to go the extra yard trying to keep the atmosphere at this match more than just a competition. It is a 4 day get together for firearms enthusiasts as well. You will love it. Chris

Didnt notice .5" sticking out of the end of the slide. Sorry, I meant the true sight gun. That's what I assume he was talking about. As far as I know the sight tracker setup is legal. Right? Or, has there been a rules issue lately not allowing the sight tracker barrels on some guns? Chris

All three of the Elites are USPSA legal. The basic configurations and parts are all legal. Chris I guess that would depend on whether Smuckatelly Bob shows up with one, or super duper sponsored guy does. Evidently that has something to do with whether the complete gun or components rule is applied. Just look at the sight tracker/ 6" Para double standard. I'm not sure what you are talking about but it sounds like you have a USPSA rules issue. There is a forum for that. Maybe you can post a question there about the legality of 6" limited guns. I assume that you have had your gun ruled illegal at a match? Personally, I have yet to hear about any 6" limited guns with a 6" barrel and 6" slide being ruled illegal at a USPSA match. Robbie, Todd and a host of others have been shooting 6" limited guns for several years. All with their own special slide lightening cuts, some bull barrel and some bushing. BTW, the sight tracker (I mean Truesight) is a totally different gun. It's a 4.5" slide and 5" barrel with a barrel weight. Since that is a different configuration they had to make enough of the components/guns to make it legal. Chris

Yes I think you are right about capacity, but why not a hybrid system of bolen internals and the grams 11mm base? Isn't that more volume inside the mag? Or is the Bolen 7mm bigger internally? I wasn't commenting on the basepad used. If you don't have a length restriction then just use the longest basepad available and then use Bolen spring and follower for the max capacity. Chris

Dan Wesson has not produced a gun like these Elites. I've owned DW 1911's for at least 6 years and kept up with the models available during that time. Again, the word is that these new guns are hand made by one gunsmith. Not produced on an assembly line. Chris

All three of the Elites are USPSA legal. The basic configurations and parts are all legal. Chris

Bolen springs and followers will give you the most capacity for a given volume of mag tube and basepad. However, I think you will be changing springs more often. So, that's just up to you. I believe I get an extra round with the Bolen guts vs the Grams. But, the Grams last longer. Chris

I'm not sure where you can get full custom guns with the same parts for much cheaper than these DW's but these are not "cheap" guns. These are on par with the very best customs out there. That comes at a price. These are not assembly line guns but hand built customs by a very good gunsmith with the best parts made. You can't even get a base factory STI Edge for $1400 and that doesn't come with any of the high end parts. The only way to get a new Limited Division race gun at that price range you would have to go to the Armscor folks. Not that there is anything wrong with that but it would definitely not be close to the same level as these DW Elites. I would like to get a full custom for less too, but since I can't that's why I learned how to work on my guns myself. My guns ain't pretty but they work and I didn't have to spend a bundle to get the stuff that I wanted. Chris

With SVI 170mm tube, Bolen 13 coil spring and follower and Bolen or SNL basepad you should get 27+1 without doing anything to the tube. My tubes have been modified. I checked them. They are 28+1 with new brass and reloadable with 27 rounds. One mag body is harder to lock in than the other with 28. I measured them and the one that is harder to lock in is a bit narrower. This is with the Bolen basepad. With my SNL basepads they are 27 reloadable but I can't quite get the 28th round in. Also, I noticed that my Bolen springs are already getting a bit worn out. I hadn't shot these mags much last spring/summer so that isn't much of a useful life for mag springs. I'm sure it's because of cramming the 28th round in them so many times. If I had only used them with 27 rounds and very rarely used 28 rounds the springs might last longer. I checked what all I did to the mag tubes to get the 28th round. I had spread the indentation at the top of the mag where the double stacked rounds start to become single stack prior to feeding. Basically making the indentation begin where the mag body begins narrowing rather than lower as it comes from the factory. Also, the mag catch notch had to be lowered just a tiny bit to get the mags to click in on my STI. Chris

I'm just bringing this thread to the top to try and get the 40 Open guys to post about their 170mm mags again. I have had a couple guys PM me about my mags. They are SVI 170mm tubes, Bolen 13 coil springs, Bolen follower and either Dawson SNL or Bolen basepad. I had to file the back of the feedlips just a bit to get them to fit the mag gauge. I haven't used these mags since last year when I finally got them tuned. I'm going to check them again this weekend for capacity and function. I believe I had them up to 28 rounds with a tweek on the mag tube. But, I will check to make sure. What are others able to get now? What parts combination or tube tweeks are you guys using? Chris

I'd stick with the 686 for competition. It may take more abuse than the 19. Do you have one of those vertical handgun racks in your nightstand drawer? How long does it take to pick which gun you want to use when you hear that bump in the night? Chris

No, it's not normal for the pull to vary that much. There is something wrong that will need to be fixed. I suggest installing the Brazos kit as it comes without messing with it. Then see how the trigger functions. Chris

I'd suggest the Glock open gun like shown above. One our local guys built one and I thought it shot great. You'd probably like it since you already shoot a Glock. Maybe just turn your existing Glock Production gun into an open with mag extensions for your existing mags. Chris ETA: I can get 28+1 rounds or 27 reloadable in my SV 170 mags in 40. Reliable as well.

I wasn't poo pooing the idea of a pivoting trigger. But, the one posted by EERW just doesn't look like it would give you the benefit of the pivoting trigger. I've seen another one that was a pivoting trigger that I think gave you the benefit of the lever to give a lighter trigger pull but with longer travel. I think it either activated the trigger bar differently than the one EERW posted or used a different trigger bar connection. I'd like to try one made correctly. I know if have a lighter and very safe trigger in a CZ SAO because of this very property. Any way you can post photos of your friend's parts? Preferably both installed and out of the gun? Chris

That's strange. They are using a pivoting trigger to move the straight trigger bow without getting the benefit of a pivoting trigger. There is no lever action in that system. I definitely would not get that kit as you don't get any of the benefit. Chris

I'd have to agree, except I'd bite the bullet and go for the 170+mm Mag. In an SOB presentation it's the perfect backup to the venerable 38+P five shot. 20 to 30 rounds of .40 will make up for whatever 5 rounds of 38 can't. Of course it would never make box/gauge so it you'd be disqualified on the spot. Now that you mention it, I do have a couple 170mm 40 mags that hold 28 rounds. 28 plus 1 would keep me from needing a backup mag. That's perfect for carry. Chris

I've never heard of that article before. But, the talking beaver made me laugh. Chris

I don't know who makes a pivoting trigger kit for the 1911. However, one benefit of pivoting triggers I've seen is that the leverage allows for a lighter trigger pull, but the trade off is more trigger movement. Chris

I disagree. There are times when my 642 can do what an auto can't. I carry my 642 in the front pocket of my overcoat in cold weather. I can fire that gun from inside the pocket (repeatedly if necessary). You would not likely be able to do that with an auto. I like the 38+p in a 642 for a carry option in certain circumstances. But, no gun is right for all circumstances especially since we have to conceal them. If I could carry in the open then I would have a 5" limited gun with 20 round mags on most of the time. Chris

+1 They should loan me one for a couple months to work the bugs out for them. I wouldn't even charge them much to do it. Chris

The one thing that sounds like a potential problem to me is the above. You had one hammer hook contacting the sear more than the other so you stoned the sear off square to compensate? If this is the case it is probably the hammer hooks that should have been stoned to match the sear. I don't know for sure if this is your problem but it might be a possibility. Chris

My understanding is that production of the Elites are beginning but will be in batches. As in 10 or so of each at a time rotating. So, getting an order in soon would be a good idea. Chris

I had heard that Dawson was going to make the ICE magwell for the Caspian widebody guns. Here is a link for the magwell: http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000E5B-1293038130 BTW, I'm not affiliated with Dawson, Caspian or anyone else. I just wanted to put the info up here that I found out about in order to help in case anyone was looking for a magwell for Caspian frames. Chris