Gunsmith question

srothstein · Post by **srothstein** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:37 pm

I am now looking for a decent gunsmith in the Austin-San Marcos area. I need to make some changes to my new pistol.

I went out today and qualified with my Glock and my new Taurus PT1911. Let me tell you, I was really impressed with the Taurus. It has to be one of the best out of the box 1911's I have ever fired. The only problem I had was that the magazines seem a little stiff when i try to load them, getting resistance from the spring after only 5 rounds.

But, now that I am satisfied, I want to make three little modifications to the weapon. It comes with white dot sights and I want to replace them with some tritium night sights.

It also has an ambidextrous safety and I need to get this switched back to a single sided safety. As an alternative, I could get the extended part bobbed and then have it re-blued, if that is cheaper for the smith to do (I expect a single sided safety). This is required for the third mod.

I am going to get a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips for it. Obviously, I don't need the smith for this task though.

Well, I know how to do the sights but don't really have the tools and the safety is beyond my knowledge, so I am looking for a decent smith. None of these jobs require outstanding abilities, but they do have to know 1911's.

Any recommendations?

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:22 pm

I'm glad you're pleased with the Taurus.

I've bought three, so far. I liked the first one so much, I bought #2.
My buddy bugged me for a month to trade it to him, so I finally gave in. Then I bought #3, so I'm back to a pair.

The sight replacement won't be a simple swap. The PT1911 has proprietary dovetails and currently there are no sights available that will fit the factory cuts. I believe Heinie mentioned a few months ago that he might be offering night sites to fit it. Heinie doesn't make the factory sights that bear his name. Instead, they are made under contract by Taurus.

So if you wish to install different sights, the dovetails will have to be re-cut. Decide on your sights and then see if the existing dovetails can be re-cut to fit them.

The Straight Eights really do grow on you, though.

The safety changeout should be straight forward. One of mine was the dickens to separate the halves, but it finally gave way.

Before I gave up the ambi safety, I would verify that it is not compatible with the Laser Grips. I haven't really looked at one of the Homeland Defender PT1911's, but it comes with laser grips. The only requirement is a very shallow recess for the right side safety lever to move behind the grip.

Good luck,

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:07 pm

Upon further checking, the Crimson Trace site offers a bobbed Wilson Combat ambi safety that could be fitted.

Also, assuming that Taurus did not alter the factory Laser Grips, then Taurus must be offering a proper ambi safety with the right side bobbed for the guns equipped with the laser. So you might try contacting Taurus and inquiring about that.

Of course, if you prefer the non-ambi, there are many that can be fitted. It is a standard 1911 part.

Also, better order a spare set of grip screws. The factory Taurus grip screws have a slightly larger head diameter than others. The larger head will not fit into the recess of most grips.

If you do have a smith work on your 1911, I would suggest having him stake the grip bushings. The first time mine came out with the screws, I used blue Loctite when I reinstalled them. When they came out a second time, I used red Loctite. I'm betting they don't come out again. But the best solution would be to have them staked.

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:44 pm

McBride's should be able to handle it, if you're in the Austin area.

http://www.mcbridesguns.com/

srothstein · Post by **srothstein** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:19 pm

Thanks for the info. I was not aware that they were using a proprietary dovetail. I hate when companies do that. Now I have to really look around to find a set of night sights.

I was unaware of anyone already making a bobbed safety and have never seen one on a pistol yet. I was going by the crimson trace web site which advises that the ambi safety will interfere.

I will be checking McBrides soon for the bobbed safety and laser grips.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:31 pm

I saw one of the Taurus'es at the last gunshow...The prices are still great, and I see them moving real well...

I agree, somehow someone thought these "Heinie" sights were a good thing, and marketed the pistol with this proprietary system, that would be a cost to the buyer to fix and or install another system...This has been about the only bad thing I can see, or have heard, about this pistol...

Maybe you could get used to it...

But this would probably be the only thing I would change about it...

I was going to buy one of these pistols...But I got bit by the rifle bug again...I may still get one, and return the .45 I stole (rescued) from my Dad sometime in the future...But this is not a drama I'm not willing to turn the heat back up on just yet...

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:01 am

http://www.crimsontrace.com/default.asp?id=315

* If pistol has ambidextrous safety, right-hand lever must be shortened to clear laser. Pre-shortened Wilson Combat safeties are available from CTC, but must be fitted by a gunsmith. These replacement safeties are currently not compatible with Kimber 1911 pistols, but we are working on a solution.

BTW, I sent inquiries to Trijicon, Heinie, and Novak. I'll report their responses.

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:55 am

edited for mis-information.

My bad

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:20 pm

Heinie now has night sights for the PT1911.

http://tinyurl.com/2zct52

Response from Novak:

We are in the process at this time and hope to have them ready in a couple of months.
Novak's
http://www.novaksights.com
(304) 428-2676 (phone & fax)
PO Box 4045 Parkersburg, WV 26104
1206 30th St. Parkersburg, WV 26101

srothstein · Post by **srothstein** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:05 pm

Thanks Mike. Now I can get it set up as the exact pistol I wanted.

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:22 pm

I overlooked the Straight Eight night sights, also available.

http://tinyurl.com/35eg8m

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:02 pm

Mike1951 wrote:Heinie now has night sights for the PT1911.

Thank you! I knew I'd seen that somewhere, but didn't want to post it without a link, and I ran into a dead end at the Taurus page.

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:22 pm

They were just added to his catalog on March 28th.

If not for Stephan's post, I would not have sent Heinie the email.

If you follow the Taurus link from his home page, you won't find them, so I might have continued to overlook them.

I like the standard Straight Eights on my PT's and I have another 5" with Lasergrips, so I'm not really itchin' to change anything.

That's what my Gander Mountain Sistema is for.

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:37 am

KBCraig wrote:
Mike1951 wrote:Heinie now has night sights for the PT1911.
Thank you! I knew I'd seen that somewhere, but didn't want to post it without a link, and I ran into a dead end at the Taurus page.

Yup,

Thats why I edited my previous post. Found info that Taurus can install them...and then conflicting info that suggested the sight was not yet available.

Apparently it is now.

srothstein · Post by **srothstein** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:49 pm

OK, now you all have me wondering. Which one do you think is the better sight, the straight eight or the three dot tritium sights?

I have never used the straight eight before this pistol at all, and my Glock has the three dot sights. I will be doing night shooting (at least in training) so I need one of these two on there.

How hard was it for you to get used to the straight eight if you use it? My concern is primarily taking the time and practice to get used to the new sighting system, and which is actually easier to align at night.