My chinese norinco 1911a1

[1911crazy]

I completely disassembled my chinese norinco to inspect all the parts incase anything needs replacement.  I put it all back together after cleaning it and lubed it with moly on the sear.

But my quest for knowledge about the 1911 continues.  I have the Jerry K book on the 1911 its called the 1911/1911a1 shop manual.  Plus i picked up his armorers video that explains alot on the 1911 also.  But i'm also interested in learning more about the 1911 too.  I see that Wilson Combat offers a 4 dvd set on the 1911 also.  They cover from the standard 1911 to building a custom 1911.  What are your thoughts on buying more dvd's? I see that others offer more 1911 books too. I'm thinking about getting them too even if i learn one thing thats different than the rest of the books or video's it maybe worth it.  What are your thoughts?

I just ordered the extractor tuning tools yesterday.  Its just the beginning tool wise i'm sure.

[Mikey]

I think you  are well on your way to a better and deeper understanding of the 1911 system and  how to make it run right.  I would be interested to hear what you pick up that will keep the 1911 as reliable as a battlefield piece should be while giving it the hands on capability of 2-2.5" at 25m, and then what your recommendations are for those who have thought about all those cds and books.  Thanks.

[1911crazy]

When i focus on getting into something i leave no stone unturned.  I get into it full steam ahead.  I will post as i go but i think the combination of the three things i mentioned so far for info has to be tops, but others may have 1 extra piece of info that others miss.  So it may pay off to get the others too to have there views on the building of the 1911's also. I want to learn it all.

[williamlayton]

I admire a man/woman who gets into this---they are smarter than me----that is the reason i have need to help support one.
Keep us up to speed on your progress and any changes in you thinking that you notice.
Blessings
Bill

[1911crazy]

I took the norinco apart today and installed the new adjustable trigger.  This isn't your normal in and out job.  I did notice the new trigger wasn't a drop in nor did i expect it to be.  The only fproblem i ran into was the frame area were the trigger goes needed some filing to remove the burrs around the mag release area.  Then the trigger dropped into place, but before dropping it in place for good i added some moly on the side plates and the rear part of the trigger frame towards the grip safety end.  I put a tad of moly on the sear and the disconector too.  I reassembles it and adjusted the trigger.  The trigger feels much better and smoother with the moly on it too.  I'm moving slow on upgrading and its one part at a time now. I think the frame/slide tightening is next and that maybe it for the norc.                                                                                                                                              Bill

[Savage]

You mean they make a tool for tuning extractors? Wow! I've been tuning mine using the extractor channel for 40 yrs or so------ Guess I should have bought some DVDs myself! I too would be interested to learn if you think the Wilson DVDs are worth the money.
Savage

[1911crazy]

Most guys bend the extractor while having it half way out of the slide.  There are so many settings on it maybe we can't fail by doing it that way.  But i ordered the extractor bending fixture, the brass plates to attach the pull gage to so we can get an idea on how many ounces it takes to pull the brass plate(case rim) from the slide.  They say that 24oz to 28oz is the setting.  But on one video it says 40ozs.(for hard ball ammo)  I'm a little confused now about where to set it. The extractor should be snug enough to hold a live round tight in the full battery position, when its held by the extractor when the slide is off the frame and its turned around in any position the round should not fall out.  If it does fall out the extractor needs to be tightened or tuned as they call it.  My SA 1911 that has had extractor problems in the past is set at 28oz so we can have a starting point when we test it.  I can post results on that too.  I just want it reliable and dependable. I figured with my troubled SA the tools would be the way to go since it never worked right.  You could use the brass pull plate with the rcbs trigger pull gage and still bend it by hand till its right.  I think the extractor bending tool was only around $30 or so.

I bent my extractor without the tool and found out it was too tight when the tool arrived.  We can also have the extractor too tight too and it won't extract correctly.   

The wilson combat 4 set dvd's are worth the money but they show/teach everything but the frame work.  If your going to purchase 1 dvd i would get the 1st one.  You can always add the rest if you want too.

The Jerry K  1911/45acp armorers video shows most things and very little frame work but he does peen the frame rails a little. (great starting point)  The book is great for info and back up for the video's)

As i been told both the AGI I and II video's show frame rail work in more detail i believe.  I have it on order right now but i'll post about it was soon a i get it and view it.

Besides this i'm getting into the Patrick Sweeny 1911 books and i'm looking at other 1911 books for building the ultimate 1911/combat pistol. (example on what they offer)
I started with the Jerry K 1911/1911a1 shop manual book and the jerry K armorers video.  I think its a great place to start.  I think that most can get by with these two. (Jerry K 1911 shop manual/armorers video) But for more knowledge in tweeking and tuning the others will offer more tips.

By the time i'm done with books, video's, 1911 tools and fixtures i'll be up to $1,000 maybe. To set up the shop thats cheap. I haven't got to the lathe or milling machine yet but i also need that for other stuff too besides gun work.  I just want to do tuning my 1911's to the best they can be.   CZY

[1911crazy]

If you search for" 1911 extractor tuning "  info will come up.  Remember to book mark it and print out a hard copy too. I'm trying to stock pile all the info on guns that i can for future reference. (incase the world changes and the lights go out)

[Savage]

Good information. I have had good success in tuning 1911 extractors using the "Seat of the Pants" method you mentioned. While the books and DVDs would be interesting, I doubt I'd ever spend money on them, especially as I doubt I'll build any more 1911s and the ones I have built run fine. Being old and lazy, I'll do what it takes to keep mine running, and little beyond that!  
Savage

[1911crazy]

I just turned 60yo, but i'm pissed at how many bad brand new 1911's that i wasted my $$ on.  Now i'm going to turn my madness around in a very positive way and learn everything i can about how to work on the 1911's to tweek them in,  to tune them, to build them and to repair them.  I want to purchase, collect and test new 1911's so i better beable to repair them too.  I should of done this 30years ago but there was no internet.  I'm hoping my sons will follow in my foot steps. 

If the lights go out before 2012 or after i'll have the knowledge if we survive in this crazy mixed up world.  They did say how to survive a nuke on the net the other day.  I wonder what brought that on?  All we need is a 1911/ammo, toilet paper and water to survive.                                     

[SHOOTALL]

Good job 1911C

[Savage]

1911c
Nothing you learn in this life is a waste of time! I'm 10yrs older than you and twice retired. I'm in decent physical shape, and would go back to work tomorrow if I found the right job.
(Don't tell my wife I said that) Not much demand for a 70yr old in my chosen line of work, so guess I'll have to be content to play with the guns I have. I have guns that I haven't shot in over 3yrs, maybe more, so I guess I have enough! Although there are many things I could do around my AO, loading ammo and shooting action pistol games make me the happiest. I understand that you enjoy working on guns, so naturally you want to learn all you can about it as well as acquire all the latest tools and fixtures to do it with. I wish you great success and satisfaction in your endeavor. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Savage

[1911crazy]

I just picked out $500 of 1911 tools and fixtures to work on them.  I think i will have most of the tools by the end of next month.  I know at this point of our lives its costly to get into this but if i use them which i plan on doing it will be worth it.  Once i got the knowledge of all of it and do it at least once, i will take my sons and have them do it too.  I want them to know it all too.  Even my wife is watching me and getting into this too.  Once i tighten up the slide to frame fit on my norc it will be time to shoot her to see how good she will print on paper.  I did do some tweeking/tuning on it so i'm thinking the end results will be good.  I'm not touching my other 1911's there all orginal and stock except for the full length guide rod w/18# recoil springs.  But i want to do a complete build soon too.  With a new frame and slide.                                                                                           CZY

[SHOOTALL]

I have been doing this with AR rifles . Lots to learn the hard way of course. 

[1911crazy]

I don't trust anyone working on my stuff anymore.  I been screwed so many times before.  Its worth it to me to purchase all the 1911 educational video's and books to learn it all.   Bill

[jimster]

I don't trust anyone working on my stuff anymore.  I been screwed so many times before.  Its worth it to me to purchase all the 1911 educational video's and books to learn it all.   Bill

I can relate to that. Long time ago took a 1911 to a "custom" smith in the area, wound up paying cash to pick it up a couple weeks later with same old problem, should have been an easy fix for them, but I read what I had to read, bought my own parts and fitted them myself, threw out the part he "ground down"....never going back there with a 1911. While I was there this other guy behind the counter had some new fangled guide rod assembly with a spring in it to supposedly help push the barrel up into the lugs. I told him there is already a part in the 1911 to do that no sense in adding anything that don't belong. Should have known right then I was in the wrong place. I know there are really good smiths out there, but UPS charges big bucks to ship, and nobody close by around here I trust. Course I'm not good enough to do anything complicated, but the small stuff I have managed to do by reading a lot, pics, and some trial and error of course.

Your way better than I am with 1911's Bill, you have skills,  your probably better off doing all of it at home, after it's done at least you know what's in it and what you did.

Jim