Originally Posted by L8models

I have one question. Would it be a waste of money to upgrade to a Wilson Combat stainless steel barrel bushing and internal springs? The gun shoots damn good, don't get me wrong. I think that a stainless steel bushing would look good with that polished trigger. Then again, I almost hate to touch something that's already so good. Maybe a recoil buffer? I just want to waste money on this damn gun...lol Give me some ideas on what to do with this gun. Yes, I thought about wasting it on ammo too.

I would leave it like it is. If you like the stainless steel bushing then do it. I change my recoil barrel spring after 5000 rounds. Again I love the looks of your 1911 and I think that will be my next one. I've always wanted a Springfield.

Originally Posted by milquetoast

IMO, yes, it would be a waste of money to buy a stainless bbl bushing and springs. There is a chance that the bushing won't fit exactly right -- like a thousandth of an inch -- and you'll turn a reliable gun into an unreliable gun. Don't risk function for looks, or at your funeral, people will say, "But on the bright side, his gun looked good!"

Ditto springs. If your springs don't work, replace them. If they do work, for God's sake, don't replace them!

Recoil buffers are malfunction-inducers. Avoid them.

If your gun is the "GI" version with the teeny sights, there's where you can spend your money. Replace them with something decent, like Novak or Heinie. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, get tritium inserts. On the other hand, if your gun is the "Mil-Spec," it already has decent sights, plain black. They are fine sights that do not need to be replaced.

A trigger job is going to run you around a hundred bucks. Borrow a trigger scale from somebody. The trigger pull should be not less than 4 pounds, and not more than 5. If your gun has a 7 or 8 pound trigger pull (not uncommon in factory guns), then that's where you should spend your money.

A fighting pistol needs good sights and a good trigger. It needs to be reliable. Spending money on anything else is flushing money down the toilet. If the sights are already OK, save your money. If the trigger is already OK, save your money. If the gun is already 100% reliable, don't spend money trying to make it "more" reliable than 100% - that ain't gonna happen.

Looks? You're going to carry it concealed! Who cares how it looks?

I agree with you 100% ......My trigger pull is around 4 lbs. Very smooth and crisp. It came with factory night sights...I guess I will find me pretty looking grips.

Originally Posted by milquetoast

IMO, If your springs don't work, replace them. If they do work, for God's sake, don't replace them!

Recoil buffers are malfunction-inducers. Avoid them.

The trigger pull should be not less than 4 pounds, and not more than 5, then that's where you should spend your money.

A fighting pistol needs good sights and a good trigger. It needs to be reliable. If the gun is already 100% reliable, don't spend money trying to make it "more" reliable than 100% - that ain't gonna happen.

well put ...

L8,leave the damn thing alone as you have a very good 1911.Invest in ammo,more Wilson mags,good leather,and range time. I got the low end Springfield mil-spec it goes bang when I pull the trigger but I'm the one that needs to put the $$$$ into this gun,sights trigger,beaver tail safety ect..... I want you to put 2000-5000 rds thru this thing and then think of what you want to do to improve it. You have 1 damn nice looking 1911 enjoy it for a while before you drop $$$$ into it,who knows you may not have to.Give us a 200rd range report! J.R.

P.S. if you don't have a CCW permit for N.C. invest your money that way!

Originally Posted by J.R.

L8,leave the damn thing alone as you have a very good 1911.Invest in ammo,more Wilson mags,good leather,and range time. I got the low end Springfield mil-spec it goes bang when I pull the trigger but I'm the one that needs to put the $$$$ into this gun,sights trigger,beaver tail safety ect..... I want you to put 2000-5000 rds thru this thing and then think of what you want to do to improve it. You have 1 damn nice looking 1911 enjoy it for a while before you drop $$$$ into it,who knows you may not have to.Give us a 200rd range report! J.R.

P.S. if you don't have a CCW permit for N.C. invest your money that way!

Yeah, I've had my NC Concealed Carry Permit for about a year now. I went to Personal Defense and Handgun Safety, in Garner today to look around. I ended up buying a Wilson Combat Bushing wrench and some ammo. I figured if I bought any different grips, they would be pearl, but they didn't have any. I think the grips on it now are beautiful, so I will probably leave them on till they get scratched up and dented.

Originally Posted by L8models

Yeah, I've had my NC Concealed Carry Permit for about a year now. I went to Personal Defense and Handgun Safety, in Garner today to look around. I ended up buying a Wilson Combat Bushing wrench and some ammo. I figured if I bought any different grips, they would be pearl, but they didn't have any. I think the grips on it now are beautiful, so I will probably leave them on till they get scratched up and dented.

Glad you got that CCW permit ,now find a good holster(I like inside waist myself,just make sure you can reholster it with 1 hand) PEARL GRIPS ,remember what George Patton had to say about them!They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol. J.R.