08-22-2007, 11:10 PM
TM Springfield Armory M1911A1
So I do have an obsession with 1911s. Currently I own 5 (4 full metal) and 3 2011s (with another on the way). I think that they are not only the best looking, but they also fit my hand much more comfortably than other designs. This time I thought I would go back and build another TM M1911, but this time I was going to try and build a cheaper version, beginning with the Guarder Springfield Armory kit.
The Guarder kit is much nicer than I thought it would be. Not too heavy, with clear, deep trades. This one also went together really easily; it still requires the filing of the blowback unit, but pretty much everything else dropped right in. With the metal kit installed the gun has good heft, and makes all the right noises. The finish is lighter than the PGC finish, actually closer to the stock body or closer to a real parkerized gun. The color is nice, but the finish itself is not as smooth as the PGC, it has a rougher feel to it, similar to a black Shooters Design slide. Not good, not bad, just different.
Internally I wanted to go a bit easier on it. I added my usual power package (Dyna Piston, Air Seal, PDI 6.01mm and Hi Flow) but the extras I cut down on a bit, well at first. I was going to leave most of the hammer mechanism and recoil system stock, but once I started building I couldn’t help myself. This time around I did try and stay true to the original look, no shiny bits this time. All upgrades had to conform to the classic look.
A few of the parts were a real surprise. The Tanio Koba barrel is great. True drop in fit, the BARSTO markings are trick, and the barrel is threaded on the inside. With an adapter (which I have) you can then suppress it, but with it removed you have the same stock appearance. I also got the chance to run the FireFly recoil spring guide, since I wasn’t going to use a full length guide rod. Always a good choice, since it has bearings, the FireFly unit did take some fitting. I had to remove the rubber bumper to allow the slide lock to continue to function. Not a bad thing when you have a metal body, but could pose problematical with the abs body.
Overall, I really like the way this came out. It shoots much better than I had thought it would. The look is exactly what I was aiming for, and the performance, well the performance is staggering.
Stock Avg: 304.40
Upgraded Avg: 330.03
So with these upgrades, averaged over 10 shots, with a cold fresh mag I managed to find 26fps. With a warm mag, the gun will shoot over 350fps (touches 360). That is higher than most Western Arms and will kill a WE. The downside to all this power is that the thing averages about 16 shots a mag now. I don’t care, but performance has its costs.
TM Colt M1911A1
Guarder Springfield Armory Metal Slide and Frame
Guarder Hi Flow Valve
Tanio Koba Outer Barrel
Carom Shot Stainless Sear
KM Stainless Hammer Strut
KM Stainless Hammer
FireFly Spring Guide w/ Bearings
King Arms Hammer Spring
Shooters Design Recoil Spring
PDI 6.01mm Tight Bore (112.5mm)
PDI Palsonite Barrel Bushing
PDI Palsonite Recoil Guide Bushing
Nine Ball Air Seal
Nine Ball Dyna Piston
VZ Canvas Micarta Diamond Back Grips – Desert Blonde
![[Image: tmsa4ht2.jpg]](http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3953/tmsa4ht2.jpg)
![[Image: tmsa5lv3.jpg]](http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1875/tmsa5lv3.jpg)
![[Image: tmsa6oj4.jpg]](http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6919/tmsa6oj4.jpg)
![[Image: tmsa7se8.jpg]](http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/2532/tmsa7se8.jpg)
![[Image: tmsashhhku8.jpg]](http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5249/tmsashhhku8.jpg)
So I do have an obsession with 1911s. Currently I own 5 (4 full metal) and 3 2011s (with another on the way). I think that they are not only the best looking, but they also fit my hand much more comfortably than other designs. This time I thought I would go back and build another TM M1911, but this time I was going to try and build a cheaper version, beginning with the Guarder Springfield Armory kit.
The Guarder kit is much nicer than I thought it would be. Not too heavy, with clear, deep trades. This one also went together really easily; it still requires the filing of the blowback unit, but pretty much everything else dropped right in. With the metal kit installed the gun has good heft, and makes all the right noises. The finish is lighter than the PGC finish, actually closer to the stock body or closer to a real parkerized gun. The color is nice, but the finish itself is not as smooth as the PGC, it has a rougher feel to it, similar to a black Shooters Design slide. Not good, not bad, just different.
Internally I wanted to go a bit easier on it. I added my usual power package (Dyna Piston, Air Seal, PDI 6.01mm and Hi Flow) but the extras I cut down on a bit, well at first. I was going to leave most of the hammer mechanism and recoil system stock, but once I started building I couldn’t help myself. This time around I did try and stay true to the original look, no shiny bits this time. All upgrades had to conform to the classic look.
A few of the parts were a real surprise. The Tanio Koba barrel is great. True drop in fit, the BARSTO markings are trick, and the barrel is threaded on the inside. With an adapter (which I have) you can then suppress it, but with it removed you have the same stock appearance. I also got the chance to run the FireFly recoil spring guide, since I wasn’t going to use a full length guide rod. Always a good choice, since it has bearings, the FireFly unit did take some fitting. I had to remove the rubber bumper to allow the slide lock to continue to function. Not a bad thing when you have a metal body, but could pose problematical with the abs body.
Overall, I really like the way this came out. It shoots much better than I had thought it would. The look is exactly what I was aiming for, and the performance, well the performance is staggering.
Stock Avg: 304.40
Upgraded Avg: 330.03
So with these upgrades, averaged over 10 shots, with a cold fresh mag I managed to find 26fps. With a warm mag, the gun will shoot over 350fps (touches 360). That is higher than most Western Arms and will kill a WE. The downside to all this power is that the thing averages about 16 shots a mag now. I don’t care, but performance has its costs.
TM Colt M1911A1
Guarder Springfield Armory Metal Slide and Frame
Guarder Hi Flow Valve
Tanio Koba Outer Barrel
Carom Shot Stainless Sear
KM Stainless Hammer Strut
KM Stainless Hammer
FireFly Spring Guide w/ Bearings
King Arms Hammer Spring
Shooters Design Recoil Spring
PDI 6.01mm Tight Bore (112.5mm)
PDI Palsonite Barrel Bushing
PDI Palsonite Recoil Guide Bushing
Nine Ball Air Seal
Nine Ball Dyna Piston
VZ Canvas Micarta Diamond Back Grips – Desert Blonde
