I'm looking for information on building a 1911 style pistol. I'm not all that farmiliar with all the 1911, but that will change as I do more research. I carry Glocks in .40s&w, and also reload my ammo. I was wanting to stick with the .40 as I'm not setup in .45. I'm wanting to do this from an 80% frame. I'm setup with a mill to do the rails. I do need to know if anyone sells an upper end for these in .40. Also, what internals in the frame are different between the two calibers? Do you think I would be better off to learn the basics about these by building a stock .45ACP and later down the road do one in .40?
Brownells carries barrels and slides in .40 for the 1911. Though I've never built in .40, it makes sense that aside from the upper, the rest of the parts should be the same.
My first build using only a dremel was posted here awhile back so you'll have to do some searching to see the photos. I didn't go fully custom on that build because it was my first one, plus I needed to get comfortable with building a 1911 and I'm glad I did that. Fortunately, my project turned out better than I anticipated but I have heard many stories where the outcome was negative. I'm still learning a lot every day and am at the point where I'm now customizing every little part instead of sticking with "drop-in" parts.
If you have little knowledge about the complete workings of the 1911, I do suggest you start stock and work your way up. You can always upgrade the stock one if it turns out the way you wanted and add custom parts a little at a time, or build another one after that in .40. At least by that time you should be confident in your building skills if not already.
The firing pin, ejector, and extractor are different. I have never built a single stack but I have been told that reliable magazines are hard to find.
Another thing to consider is that you may wish to use a ramped barrel with a fully supported chamber. The .40 S&W is a high pressure round, and can benefit from the extra support. Building up a 1911 with a ramped barrel will require some additional machine operations.
The difference is in the top end, aside from the ejector. witch is on the lower. all parts will corrispond to the .40 S&W cal. top end. I would have to suggest you cut the fram for a rammped barrel, to both support the case, and ensure reliable feeding. It is not esential, however to do so, but the flat nose .40 is notorious for feeding problem w/out some serious "tuning" when you are talking single-stack, non-rammped .40. don't let this detour you -it can be done & has been done.
You'll end-up tweaking those mags a bit & throating /polishing the feeding area + a bit of trial & error
Do not under any curcimstances build a 9mm 1911, a bigger pig of a gun you will never find, as much felt recoil as a .40, less power, and its a 9mm YUK, if you want a 9mm cal go .38 super or 9x23, mags are everywhere and they work. I have fired dozens of .40 1911 and find them very reliable, but go the supported barrel, Colt Delta Elite 10mm mags should feed for you, once you used a .40 in a 1911 you wont much enjoy shooting you Glock. I know that for a fact.
I've EXTENSIVELY fired and own the 1911 in every caliber available and I have to tell you that the 38 Super, 9MM, .45ACP, 10mm, 40S&W all feel the same to me now. Wether it's a compact or full length Government Model makes no difference.
A friend just had his 9MM Springfield modified for a 40S&W swap. In a matter of a minute he can convert the same pistol from 9MM. to 40&W with a simple barrel and magazine change. The pistol is only SLIGHTLY more accurate with the 9MM. and it did not cost a whole lot of pecos...
I'm not worried about the cost of shooting. Money wise it's still cheaper for me to reload .40 than to buy commercial 9mm. I reload mainly for the pleasure of it.
It looks like a .40 1911 is possible for me, but I think I'll start out on a .45. Parts are easier to come by, and tuning help will be plentiful.
Now, all I need are the parts. Anybody order an 80% frame from NOC lately? Are they shipping yet, or how about 60% (or is it 40%)? I'll want a couple of them just in case I screw one up. Also, whats everyones thoughts on the metal? Aluminum, SS, Chrome Moly...?
Another option you may consider is the .400 corbon.
You get the ease of .45 parts, and can still use those .40 cal bullets & reload. I love this cal. and can even toss you some load data if you are int.
But you will be sweeping-up brass & all of that - & have to score a new set of dies, but that's not much.
Anyway - don't be discouraged a .40 S&W is not too much to take on & even if you do build a .45 first - it won't be the same until you build the one you really want!
That's what this is about - right? building the one YOU WANT yourself! Anyone can buy off the shelf guns, ammo, acc. Go find some other MM forum for that stuff.
My take on your .40 is why not build it? You're not set up to reload .45 and while the parts may be slightly different, the fitting and machining steps are all the same. As the others have said, do go with the ramped bbl., it's only one extra machining step.
I can tell you from experience, you won't be happy no matter what you build until you build what you want.