Aircooled6racer Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hello: Since my search for a Springfield 1911 in 40 is going no where fast, I decided to build a new top end for my 9mm. The parts are a Caspian 5" steel slide, Schuemann 5" W/N ramp bushing barrel, Dawson firing pin, Caspian extractor, Ed Brown firing pin stop, ISMI firing pin spring, EGW guide rod. EGW barrel bushing, EGW link, Dawson fiber front sight, Dawson rear Bo-Mar type sight. I still have to decide on what serrations I am going to do and how light I want to make the slide. I have the slide and frame fitted already. Going to change out all the other parts on the frame as well. The parts came from Shooters Connection and Dawson Precision. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armydad Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Great project. Can't wait to see the transformation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertg5322 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 I did that to a Kimber last year. Turned out nice (ugly until I get the slide coated, it has a bad parkerizing job on it for now). I used a STI slide and Kart EZ fit barrel and bushing. Biggest hurdle was getting it to feed reliably, EGW higher mag catch was huge in fixing the erratic feeding. I shoot 1.120" OAL, same as my Caspian limited gun and it's as reliable as any 1911 I have. It's softer shooting than my Les Baer .45 and as accurate. I left the lower stock, it had about 15K rounds through it and has a nice trigger. I did have to have the frame cut for the Wilson/Nolin ramp and disable the firing pin block deactivator, easy enough with a file. A very fun project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gino_aki Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) I don't know how extended your ejector is but that might be an area that pops up...are you going to load long for the .45 mags you said you use for .40 in another thread? I put a Delta Elite slide and Schuemann barrel on a frame that was from a .38 Super Open gun (single stack, yes a pretty old Open gun) and had to cut the ejector back to even with the back of the magwell in the frame when the extended tip got bent from a too vigorous slide-lock mag change. Edited November 13, 2015 by gino_aki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Hello: I saw toothed the top of the slide and cut the front and rear sight cuts in so far. I think I am going to tri-top the slide next. If I get the weight down I may be able to use a tungsten guide rod and steel mainspring housing. Still trying to decide on which serrations I am going to do, Trophy Match style or Loaded angle style. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrodder Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Eric, I did a 40 top end on a Caspian SS race frame recently. STI carbon slide with CP ramped Infinity barrel. I had to tri top the slide and fit a Caspian aluminum grip safety to get 42.8 oz. with a steel guide rod. I will probably do black Cerakote on the slide when finished. Good luck with your build. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSh00ter Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I'm looking forward to watching this progress. I am a little interested in doing something similar. Good luck and have fun! Don't forget to check the rules for whatever division you shoot in. For example, slide lightening is not allowed in USPSA Single Stack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hello: You can tri-top the slide but no holes or crazy super lighten cuts. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Got my slide to 10.3 ozs bare. Angled the tri top more than usual. Tungsten gr and make wgt. By an ounce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hello: That is great hear you can get enough out of the slide to use a tungsten guide rod. I did not think I would like the tungsten guide rods because of the added weight. I added one to my Limited gun I just built and really like it. The light slide it has and the full dust cover makes it shoot very well with no problems with transitions for me. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Hello: I finished the serrations today. The new top end is all machined now. The gun weights in at 41.27054 ozs with a Metalform Elite 45 mag and Dawson aluminum base pad. Going to try a tungsten guide rod, steel mainspring housing and some lighter grips. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilBunniFuFu Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 What grips do you have. If they are G10 material then you can always relieve the interior of them and save a bunch of weight there. Also there are more ways of shaving weight off of the slide without putting go fast holes in it. I've seen a few smiths turn out SS legal sub 10 oz slides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Hello: Here is the pic of the slide setup so far. I also have some light wood grips to make the weight if needed. Thanks, Eric Edited December 24, 2015 by Aircooled6racer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MoreChains Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Looking good Eric. I had a 9mm built last summer. STI slide and frame, and had the slide tri-topped with a french border milled in right at the lower angle of the tri-top (just because). Mine weighs in at 42.5 oz with a Tripp mag even with the steel MSH from S&A. Originally I tried to order their aluminum MSH but they were out of stock. But seeing as I make weight with the the current setup, I'll probably stay with the steel MSH. I've been shooting 9mm in SS for most of the fall and I kind of like it. I also have my 1911 in .40 and one in .45 when I want to shoot major PF, but at the local level I'm finding the extra 2 rnds is nice to have and the recoil is stupid soft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I had a .40 top built for my 9mm Trojan and it seemed to always work fine using the original ejector and slide stop that came with the 9mm gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonJeong Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Looking good! Merry Christmas bud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesterno Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 nice! I really like those serrations and tri top. I did had my range officer compact tri topped and the barrel cut down to save weight carrying it. I like it in a game gun, the slide seems to cycle much faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Hi there, I am actually thinking the same but I have a springfield loade 1911 in 9mm (full gun). When you had a 40 upper (slide and barrel), does the 40 barrel fit the frame as a drop in? What I am after is a swappable upper so I can have it as a 9mm or a 40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hello: The Springfield Loaded 9mm uses a Wilson/Nowlin ramped barrel. The barrel and slide will have to be fitted without touching the frame. Mine is a direct swap. Take the 9mm setup off and install the 40 setup. The only thing I had to change on the frame was the ejector but use it for both top ends. I am using a EGW ejector that I tuned for both the 9mm and 40. Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twister Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Eric, nice looking work on your slide. Is this something you'd be willing to do for others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Hello: The Springfield Loaded 9mm uses a Wilson/Nowlin ramped barrel. The barrel and slide will have to be fitted without touching the frame. Mine is a direct swap. Take the 9mm setup off and install the 40 setup. The only thing I had to change on the frame was the ejector but use it for both top ends. I am using a EGW ejector that I tuned for both the 9mm and 40. Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric awesome - thanks; so is the 9mm ramp narrower? so you had to narrow down 40 barrel ramp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteDingo Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Hello: The Springfield Loaded 9mm uses a Wilson/Nowlin ramped barrel. The barrel and slide will have to be fitted without touching the frame. Mine is a direct swap. Take the 9mm setup off and install the 40 setup. The only thing I had to change on the frame was the ejector but use it for both top ends. I am using a EGW ejector that I tuned for both the 9mm and 40. Hope this helps. Thanks, Ericawesome - thanks; so is the 9mm ramp narrower? so you had to narrow down 40 barrel ramp? The ramp cut in the frame is standard and will work for both calibers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 Hello: The Springfield Loaded 9mm uses a Wilson/Nowlin ramp so I bought a Schuemann barrel with the same ramp in 40. Looks like I will be tri topping my 9mm slide as well to get the slide speed up and reduce weight. I will also be playing around with weight of different components to see what works for me the best. Lots of cool things to try out with a 1911. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posvar Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 those that has an SA Loaded 9mm 1911, have you noticed the main spring cap (which connects with the strut), appears to be larger than normal? I compared it with my 2011 pistols and it is longer....I could not fit an ISMI mainspring a a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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