1911 Project Under Way

First topic message reminder :

I decided to try building a 1911 lower receiver when someone on here (jglenn21?) posted that Foster had them on sale.

First was to measure it a bit and find that the sides of the frame are basically parallel with the exception of a raised area on the right side where the roll mark and serial number were applied. The area was worked down using a fairly fine stone until flat.

The rails were then ground perfectly parallel to each other and to the centerline of the frame as well as centered on the frame. The slide I am planning on using now slides about a quarter of the way on without forcing it.

 

I worked on the setup until it was perfectly repeatable and only a few tenths deviation on the test indicator when sweeping the frame side for flatness. This way I can repeat the setup if I need to grind any further.

I had a little time left, so I went ahead a fit the trigger taking a thousandth at a time off of the upper surface until it just slit into the frame. 





That's it for the first Saturday afternoon.

Just ordered some parts from EGW to give me something to do next Saturday afternoon...

I wasn't going to post this project, but I got inspired to give this project a try after seeing someone else's post, so perhaps this might inspire someone else to give it a try!

If there is any interest, I'll keep posting updates.

The reamers I have. My issue is the O.D. of the chamber. It lets the barrel move into the slide just to the end of the link on the EZ Fit barrel, then stops. Chamber O.D. is making contact around the upper 1/2 of the chamber area of the gold cup slide. The chamber are is stainless matte. I guess I can remove enough surface area to slide the barrel into place, but would assume that I would need to bead blast the chamber area to get the finish back. I don't know if a lug iron would help, or if you have any ideas?
Thank you.

If you think that the barrel will not slide back into the slide due to a raised edge on the upper slide lugs, I'd try wrapping a piece of 600 grit paper around a piece of dowel rod and give it a couple gentle swipes longitudinally to see if a raised edge or high spot is revealed.

I turned a piece of aluminum round bar to the proper diameter and glued the 600 grit paper to it to do similar in checking for high spots.

You may simply have to lower the barrel bed a  bit to give clearance. Very common for me on a tight slide. I have seen folks clearance the lower sides of the barrel arpund the xhamber.to do.the same thing. 

To smooth our the barrel lug areas on a slide i use a 3/4" flex/ball  hone. I have quite a.supply of them from engine building days.

I'm not clear on if you are just fitting the barrel in the slide, or if you are trying to fit the barrel and slide to the receiver.

I was thinking that you were just fitting the barrel to the slide and the barrel was not sliding back smoothly to engage the upper lugs.

on second look I think you are right.. most of the time when the barrel will not simply slip into the slide I've found that the  angled area around the open slot to the recoil plug area is the offending issue. fixed buy filing that somewhat sharp angle  a bit. lower lug area on the barrel get caught in the slot..  also filing the lower lug side area on the barrel is a fix

You guys saved the day, and my wallet
It never occurred to me to work on the bottom of the matte-finished chamber ‍� staring me right in the face
Disaster averted, at least temporarily, dumb and blind that I am. Talk about tunnel vision.
Thanks!

Made a new side plate yesterday to correct the scope angle, as it was .5 degree off. Now everything is perfectly concentric with the dot when looking through the scope.



Now I'll shoot it for a while and then send it out for Ionbond DLC finish.

I may make a few changes to lower the scope a little, but it is already over 1/4" closer to the slide than a rail mounted scope.