Arguably one of the finest combat sidearms to ever take the field, the venerable 1911 is an iconic part of the American experience. Nearly every firearm enthusiast has had the chance to use one, whether it was during their time in the military, or simply at the local shooting range.
Today it’s beginning to show its age when compared to other polymer pistols and other “wonder nines,” but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a capable and reliable firearm. That’s, in part, thanks to its easy to work on nature, meaning you can take this classic design and bring it up to modern performance specs. Here at RailScales, we offer premium 1911 grips to help you get greater control over your pistol, but we also have some experience in tinkering with this venerated handgun. Here are some simple ways you can enhance your 1911.
Simple Ways To Upgrade Your 1911
In this blog we will be going over simple ways to upgrade your recently bought or older model 1911. Simple ways include anything that won't require a gun smithing degree to accomplish. Triggers, sights, grips, guild rods, and safeties all can be modified or changed out with relative ease and some YouTube skills.
Update Your Magazines
This same advice can be applied to nearly every handgun out there but is particularly relevant for the 1911. The original design of the GI-style 1911 magazine required that the .45 ACP cartridge do an awful lot of work to actually seat itself into the barrel. This process is challenging enough, but poor quality feed-ramps, damaged mag lips, and overly stiff or weak springs can cause jams and misfeeds.
Treating yourself to some quality magazines is one of the first and most affordable ways to improve the performance of your 1911. We’re fans of brands like Wilson Combat, Tripps Research, and Chip McCormick. All of these manufacturers offer magazines of varying capacity for the 1911, and at multiple price points. This makes them a great buy for the money. If you’re looking to save some money, don’t trash your factory mags. Instead, simply replace the followers and springs and you’ve got a perfectly serviceable, and infinitely more reliable magazine.
Take a Look at the Hammer
In John Browning’s original design, the 1911 and 1911-A1 featured pronounced spur type hammers. These were ideal for the combat conditions that the handgun was designed for, but in the more than 100 years since it first rolled off assembly lines, hammer design has advanced significantly.
The spur hammer can bite some shooters' hands, and it can also snag on clothing when being drawn from a holster. For these reasons and more, some shooters “bob” their hammers by cutting away a portion of the hammer and then filing it down. Some go as far as to make it sit flush against the back of the slide, but this makes it difficult to access the hammer if you have a light strike and need to bring the weapon back into battery.
Another very popular option is to simply get a drop-in replacement. A skeletonized hammer is a functional choice for many reasons. First, it’s lighter than traditional spur hammers, cutting down weight. It’s not so light, however, as to cause light strikes. The rounded spur on the hammer ensures that it doesn’t snag when drawn from a holster. It also still offers you leverage should you need to bring the pistol back into battery.
Seek Out Solid Sights
Upgrading your sights is something we recommend for practically every firearm. Yes, the standard sights that came on your pistol from the manufacturer are perfectly serviceable, but that doesn’t mean that they’re good. Especially in the case of classic GI-style sights that make use of a simple textured ramp front sight, these sights are nearly useless in low-light conditions and are difficult to see as your eyesight worsens over time.
Improved sights are vital if you plan on using your 1911 as a defensive weapon, or if you want to run it in competitions. Night sights, like those tritium inserts, paired with a larger rear sight ensures that you can quickly acquire your target even in poor lighting conditions. New sights can be installed on your own, but they may require some fitting to sit securely in your frame. If this isn’t something you feel confident doing on your own, a quick trip to your local gunsmith can get you the results you’re looking for.
Drop in a Full-Length Guide Rod
One of the liveliest debates in the 1911 community is the value of a full-length guide rod. Some swear by them, while others are more suspicious. The common line of thought is that the added weight of the guide rod helps to keep the muzzle down, reducing muzzle flip and dampening recoil at the same time. Others argue that it helps to keep the spring from binding during rapid-fire exercises, or extended sessions at the range. For those using commander or concealed carry sized 1911s, you might notice these things more than someone shooting a full-sized government model 1911.
Installing a full-length guide rod is straightforward and inexpensive. Simply replace your existing guide rod and you’re good to go. Examples can be found for about $25, making it an expensive way to try out a new part on your 1911.
Single or Ambidextrous Safeties
One of the hallmarks of the 1911 is its multiple safeties. The most obvious is the grip safety integrated into the mainspring housing of the grip. But the one you think about and use just as often is the thumb or slide safety.
The original design of the thumb safety was a mere nub on the left side of the slide and frame. While this may have been adequate for the needs of GIs, competition shooters or those using this pistol for concealed carry will want a safety that is easier to engage and disengage and also offers an ergonomic place to rest their thumb while shooting.
You can go one of two routes when it comes to replacing your thumb safety. You can simply replace the extant safety with one that is longer and wider, or you can replace it with an ambidextrous safety. The ambi safety allows you to use the pistol effectively with both hands, which may prove necessary in some high-stakes self-defense scenarios. In either case, a new safety allows you to engage and disengage the safety without breaking your grip on the firearm, ensuring you’re always maintaining a proper shooting form.
Trigger Time
One of the standout features on the 1911, and one of the reasons it has endured for more than a century is the remarkably crisp trigger pull. Even on cheap models, you’ll find that the trigger is an absolute joy to pull, thanks to the single-action design of the pistol.
That said, the actual trigger itself, as well as the springs that engage it, can be upgraded fairly easily. You’ll want to keep two factors in mind when you upgrade your trigger: length and weight. The length of your trigger should match the size of your hands. Your trigger weight, or pull, is up to you and your needs. If you’re shooting in competitions, a lighter pull is the way to go, but if it’s a self-defense weapon, a heavier pull is recommended.
You can put a new trigger, plus springs, sear, and hammer into your 1911 for about $100, making it one of the best returns on investments you can make in terms of pistol parts. That said, you might need to take these parts to a gunsmith to ensure they sit properly into the frame.
Get a Grip
New 1911 grips can fill a variety of purposes. For some, grips may be a more aesthetic than functional choice, while others will sacrifice looks in pursuit of performance. Fortunately, changing the grips on a 1911 is a pain-free process, as the panels can be easily swapped out with the quick spin of a screwdriver.
Today, you’ll find 1911 grips made from nearly every material imaginable, including exotic materials like meteorites. You’ll also find them with integrated laser modules and an endless variety of textures and surfaces to hold onto.
When it comes to grips for your 1911, you’re really only limited by your imagination and your budget. You can spend $20 and get a pair of GI-style grips, or drop $200 or more on custom cocobolo grips that have been engraved with your initials and your family tree. However, there are some basic things to keep in mind. Self-defense and concealed carry guns should make use of grips that have some texture on them but are still smooth. This aids in making your draw smooth and snag-free. For range or service pistols, the grips should be highly textured and aggressive, ensuring that you maintain a firm grasp on the weapon round after round.
RailScales Offers Premium 1911 Grips
You can enhance your 1911 today simply by swapping out your cheap factory grips with the high-end options offered by RailScales. Our Ascend 1911 Scales can be fitted to your 1911 easily, and are available for pistols with both single and ambi safeties. Made from quality machined G10 and finished in your choice of Honeycomb or MiniDot textures, our 1911 grips seamlessly blend into your pistol’s frame, offering you a better handle on your weapon. The Ascend line is in use by NightHawk Customs for all their Agent model 1911, and Executive line. These grips bring a new way to machine 1911 grips to market and enhance the ergonomics of a pistol that hasn't had a real innovative update in a long while. If you are going to upgrade your pistol, the least you can do is change the grips and the Ascend G10 grips should be number 1 on your list.
Get the best 1911 grips out there and order the RailScales Ascend series today.
Disclaimer:
This blog content was generated by a human and with the aid of artificial intelligence. It may contain errors or inaccuracies and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. This content is for SEO/entertainment purposes only and the views expressed in this content does not necessarily reflect the views of RailScales LLC. For more information, please refer to bullet point #13 on our FAQ.