jwalker3181
Aspiring Zombie Hunter
I'm thinking of building a 1911 from a bare frame and I needed to know if any of the parts need to go through a FFL. Thanks
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Building a 1911
- Thread starter jwalker3181
- Start date
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hairba111
XGMG2
If you purchase a frame, it has to be numbered and handled legally as a firearm. The rest are add-ons.
jwalker3181
Aspiring Zombie Hunter
Thanks, I wasn't sure if the slide had to go to
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Indiana Jones
Wolverine
Are 1911 frames like AR lowers, where they only ship to an FFL?
safecracker
Unrepentant Sinner
- Feb 26, 2009
- 2,405
Yes. The frame (receiver) is considered a firearm.
kalister1
R.I.P.
Yes, exactly the same.
CrabbyMcNab
Ultimate Member
- Feb 1, 2009
- 2,474
Will an HBAR upper work? Won't be regulated!
What frame? Remember, the frame has to be on MD's approved list otherwise it can't be transferred to you. Off the top of my head Caspian and Fusion frames are approved. Chip McCormick frames are also approved but I have heard that they are no longer made.
Fusion sells kits in different levels of machining. Of course, the price reflects that as well. I think you can also arrange with Fusion for them to do the finish for you.
Fusion sells kits in different levels of machining. Of course, the price reflects that as well. I think you can also arrange with Fusion for them to do the finish for you.
sailskidrive
Legalize the Constitution
I thought Essex makes frames; a friend of mine built a .22lr 1911 on an Essex frame so they must be on the list.
Magnumite
Ultimate Member
Also Foster, Baer, SA, Kimber, Para Ordnance, STI. Go to the handgun roster. The approved frsmes are listed with the handguns
smores
Creepy-Ass Cracker
Go with Caspian if you can, they're the best base frames I've had experience with. The WC ones look good (especially since you can get a slide/frame set pre-fit) but they're not on the roster.
VWTurbo
Ultimate Member
I just looked at the Ares Armament 80% frame that they are selling preorders for 99 plus 99 when they ship. How hard would it be to match a slide to a frame from another brand? Worth the effort? Seems like it might be a good project though
http://www.aresarmor.com/install/ecom-prodshow/AA-1911-F.html
http://www.aresarmor.com/install/ecom-prodshow/AA-1911-F.html
smores
Creepy-Ass Cracker
You're gonna need $400-500 in tooling to properly fit the slide to the frame. And that doesn't include a mill to machine your slide rails and other things to make it a 100% lower. You will also need a lathe to properly fit the barrel and bushing, unless you get a "drop-in" set and even then most of those require just a little bit of machining.
A 1911 build is NOT like an AR-15 build at all. Sometimes you can slap together something that works. You can build a relatively nice AR-15 with an armorer's wrench, bench blocks and a set of punches, but 1911s are MUCH MUCH more involved. IMHO unless you're an experienced gunsmith, leave this one to the pro's. I've built a few from the ground up and even for someone who works on guns practically every day, I know how much time and effort goes into making these right.
I can't ever say I've had "fun" building a 1911, but the rewarding feeling when you build one just right is amazing. If you're really good with small hand tools and have hours upon hours of free time each week, it might be worth trying.
Mt Airy
Ultimate Member
VERY WELL SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!
VWTurbo
Ultimate Member
Thanks. That is the kind of insight I was looking for in order to make an informed decision. I think I will just save for one
Vjornaxx
Twelve
Hey VW - I think you're the one I lent my Ruger MkIII to at Freestate. I got a 1911 that's not exactly expensive but not exactly that cheap either. If you want to put some rounds through it and hear what I have to say about it, just let me know
