Questions about build

Hi all, I've been shooting service rifle the past few years and am looking to get into service pistol. I've shot bullseye .22 in the past but I would really like to leg out with a 45.
I have an older milspec SA 1911, has a NM numbered frame which I have read tends to be a little more desirable.
Would you recommend sending that out to a Smith and having sights, barrel, trigger done? The other option I was considering would be to buy a new Range Officer and either shoot that as is or just with a trigger job.
I'm still chasing 4 points in rifle, so this is just something I'd like to play around with over the winter, but would like to get something decent set up for use in the future.

Pistol will always help your trigger control. Even the 22 for Winter League can help. 

I have two ball guns, sort of. The first was inherited and has made at least two Distinguished Pistol Shots (my goal is to make it three). The second is a Range Officer. The purpose built (unknown builder, Series 70 with a welded up barrel, is tighter with a better trigger). For a while I shot the Range Officer because of the better sights. Now the Range officer has a replacement mainspring, sear spring and housing and carries a conversion upper). The original ball gun had the sights opened a little. 

If I were starting from scratch I would start with the Range Officer, test it for groups and get the trigger set to a legal but clean weight. The only additions you might want are grip tape on the front strap, and a new bushing or Kart barrel and bushing. Regardless I think you are money ahead with the Range officer vs the milspec. 

On the other hand the milspec can make a good wad gun, if you want to shoot with a dot since the rail can be fitted as cheaply or cheaper than new adjustable irons. See what KC and Jon E. have to say. I would go with their recommendations any day as long as I could afford it.

Buying a new RO will not guarantee getting a good shooting match grade pistol. Many RO's have come out of the box shooting good groups but some don't. I doubt if any are great shooters but that is also possible. Your faced with a crap shoot when buying a new RO. You most likely have to take it to a Smith to bring it to match grade accuracy. Taking your pistol to a Smith familiar with making competition mach grade guns will be your best bet. He also can look at what you have and advise you as to if it can be made into a match grade gun.

Shooting mid 90's timed and rapid, and mid 80's will get you over 270 and will leg in most matches. You don't need a 2" fifty yard gun for that. You just need to master the short line.

Used guns are a good option if a good one comes up for sale.

Looks like I'll stick with what I have and send it out to get it accurized a bit. I'm up in the northeast, where can I find some info about local smiths to give the pistol a once over?
Also what can I expect to pay for a mild build? I'm just thinking Trigger sights and possibly a barrel/bushing at this point. Anything else I should consider?
I just ordered some of the zero 185 jhp to try. 
After looking on here seems 4-4.5gr of Bullsye would work well.
Thanks for the help so far!

That's also an idea, Chris. I'll keep my eyes peeled for one of those in the meantime.

oreotsi wrote:Looks like I'll stick with what I have and send it out to get it accurized a bit. I'm up in the northeast, where can I find some info about local smiths to give the pistol a once over?
Also what can I expect to pay for a mild build? I'm just thinking Trigger sights and possibly a barrel/bushing at this point. Anything else I should consider?
I just ordered some of the zero 185 jhp to try. 
After looking on here seems 4-4.5gr of Bullsye would work well.
Thanks for the help so far!

Who you send it to depends on how fast you want it back and quality of work. More than anything i say find a Bullseye gun smith...they know how to build guns for this sport. KC makes a drop in roll trigger kit or you can send it off for work if you like crisp triggers vs roll. I would start by ditching the springfield ILS mainspring housing.  Get a checkered one to your liking(20lpi for me) and put new parts in with a 19lb spring...you can reuse some of the parts but i can't remember which. Get some skateboard grip tape or home depot no slip flooring strips for the front strap. 

The bushing will make it feels like it helps, but more important how to lugs are fit is very important(some gunsmith guru will correct me)

slide to frame fit will be somewhere in the 125-200 range
rebarrel 450-650 including barrel, link, pin, bushing.
sights are gonna be 225-300 with or without refinish. 
trigger job is gonna be 75+ pending if they need to replace parts(most will want to)

That zero 185jhp is good factory ammo and accurate as well...bit snappy but no where as bad as factory 230. With the rule changes you can get away with a softer load at 25 which will help in rapid fire recovery. 

I like n310 cause bullseye is dirty and i don't have any.  I am now going to Titegroup cause i won 8lbs @ perry.  so 4.5 of that for 50yard and ill work something up for 25...I like them to fart out at 25.

I have heard about this guy in MA:

http://www.santurriltd.com/

there is also Greg Derr in MA:

http://www.derrprecision.com/

oreotsi wrote: I'm up in the northeast, where can I find some info about local smiths to give the pistol a once over?

  I am one of many satisfied customers of David Santurri in North Attleboro.  Best to call him at 401-726-1310, a cell number.  Web is http://santurriltd.com/

When did SA start putting the ILS on its pistols? I have an older one and it doesn't have the hole in the mainspring housing.
I did buy it used so maybe someone changed it already.

I'm shooting a RO and doing ok with it. It's gotten me 18 point in a year(6 of which aren't official yet...). I did install a drop in roll trigger from KC recently but other than that it's stock.

Quite truthfully most people don't shoot EIC matches very well. Worst case a RO will hold 8 ring at 50 yds. That's an 80. It'll hold 10 ring at 25 yds. That's 2 clean targets for a 200; tf & rf.
So you shot a 280 with a stock pistol. You could definately get Distinguished with a stock RO.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Quite truthfully most people don't shoot EIC matches very well. Worst case a RO will hold 8 ring at 50 yds. That's an 80. It'll hold 10 ring at 25 yds. That's 2 clean targets for a 200; tf & rf.
So you shot a 280 with a stock pistol. You could definately get Distinguished with a stock RO.
Jon

So your saying the problem with getting distinguished is the loose nut behind the triggger!

So your saying the problem with getting distinguished is the loose nut behind the triggger!

:l)
Yes sir.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:

So your saying the problem with getting distinguished is the loose nut behind the triggger!

:l)
Yes sir.
Jon

The 50 yard line is important hard to win when shooting a 60-70 followed by 94+ rapid/timed..