So if you were building a custom wad gun today.....

I'm having Jon build my first custom wad gun soon, I'm on his schedule. I'm curious what types of features you would put in the pistol. I know its all personal taste but I'm just curious what you guys like and don't like, I just don't wanna look back in 6 months and think "crap wish I would have had XYZ done to the pistol". 

One thing I'm considering is having him accentuate the trigger undercut to make it more comfortable and aid in the grip.

If the frame hasn't had it done to yet - have the front strap checkered. Or do what I do and use grip tape.

Yeah I'll definitely have front strap checkering.

Extended firing pin, EGW extractor, Sprinco 12lbs recoil spring, high catch mag release, medium roll trigger, rail milled into slide to accept optic mounts, flat trigger. Function over form

daflorc wrote:Extended firing pin, EGW extractor, Sprinco 12lbs recoil spring, high catch mag release, medium roll trigger, rail milled into slide to accept optic mounts, flat trigger. Function over form

is necessary a extended firing pin,EGW extractor??? is for my range officer,thx!

SW-52 wrote:

daflorc wrote:Extended firing pin, EGW extractor, Sprinco 12lbs recoil spring, high catch mag release, medium roll trigger, rail milled into slide to accept optic mounts, flat trigger. Function over form

is necessary a extended firing pin,EGW extractor??? is for my range officer,thx!

My Range Officer didn't need an EGW extractor, but my RRA and Les Baer both benefited from them. I found that the extractors in those guns fit a little long, and instead of grabbing the case rim, they caught the bevel, so I'd get some malfunctions sometimes. When I put in a lighter hammer on the range officer, I would sometimes get light strikes, and the extended firing pin is insurance against that.

Should probably let the gunsmiths determine best parts for the build.

Chris Miceli wrote:Should probably let the gunsmiths determine best parts for the build.

+1

If you are doing a slide mount optic you might want to talk to Jon about doing the KC cut with an Aimpoint micro, I think I read that Jon has done some before, or at least worked with KC to get one done.

- Dave

For me, I'm thinking a frontstrap cut higher, 30lpi checkered front strap, 30lpi checkered mainspring housing wrapping around on to the frame. Beavertail grip safety. Decent trigger pull. Bull barrel. Lightened slide. Frame-mounted scope mount. Lowered ejection port, extractor/ejector tuned to eject pretty flat for reliability.

Decide what checkering you like. 20,25,30,Clark tiger tooth, grip tape. Do you want frame or slide mount optics or irons, also pick the trigger length that works for you, blue or park finish?

Talk everything over with Jon .

Skid wrote:Talk everything over with Jon .

Yes, discuss your concerns with the builder That's what I'd do if I were having a BE Gunsmith build me a BE gun.

Believe me I'm talking to Jon plenty lol. I'm not asking what exact brand parts you would want etc. I'm talking more about different features that you would find useful. Jon and I are getting closer by the day on all the details but I may find something I gotta have. As much as custom pistols cost to build I need it to keep me happy for a LONG time.

As a personal preference, I like 25lpi on the front grip.  I have both that and a 30 and the 30 is just not aggressive enough for me.

I don't know if you have trigger and MSH housing styles that you like but I have gone back and forth over the years on those.  I had Rock River fit three trigger lengths and both flat and arched MSH to my guns.  That way I can switch them out with a pre-fitted part if I feel like a change.  

Good luck on your build.
John

There are literally dozens of things a great gunsmith will discuss with you. Hand size was important to me but other issues such as headspace, barrel, all need to be determined to optimize performance. 

I would not suggest a long roll if you have never shot one. It's great if you can shoot it but a long roll not great if you have no experience with shooting them. 

Sights are important and there are a number of great options Ultra Dot Match Dot, Aim Point and clones, all are good and have advantages and drawbacks.

One good suggestion I saw on another forum was a spare fit extractor and firing pin.
Those would help with long term ownership as would minimizing weight for your later years.

John Dervis wrote:As a personal preference, I like 25lpi on the front grip.  I have both that and a 30 and the 30 is just not aggressive enough for me.

I don't know if you have trigger and MSH housing styles that you like but I have gone back and forth over the years on those.  I had Rock River fit three trigger lengths and both flat and arched MSH to my guns.  That way I can switch them out with a pre-fitted part if I feel like a change.  

Good luck on your build.
John

Not a bad idea on having multiple triggers fit. I've been trying to decide on which type of trigger to use, my Les Baer wad gun currently has a short trigger with target shoe and my 22 conversion lower has a long trigger with no shoe. Perhaps I'll get both on the new pistols so I can have either!

Aprilian wrote:One good suggestion I saw on another forum was a spare fit extractor and firing pin.
Those would help with long term ownership as would minimizing weight for your later years.

I've already decided I want a fully fit spare of the firing pin stop, firing pin and extractor. I recently had my extractor break on the Les Baer and I had to do some learning on proper extractor tuning (ruining some parts in the process), not a bad thing to learn but would be nice to have properly fit parts in reserve.