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Hi guys,
I'm thinking of sending my Colt 1991A1 to YoBo for some custom work. I'd be the first of my shooting buddies to have a nice custom gun. Given that fact, it's hard for me to figure out what I want on the gun. Scalloped vs. serrated front strap, long or short trigger, etc. Any tips on how to figure things out?

One thing I really need help deciding on is whether to keep the original barrel or replace it. I don't know, it just seems wrong to spend +$1200 customizing a gun, but keep the original barrel. But on the other hand I bet the accuracy of the original barrel is just fine for me. The barrels only got 300 rounds through it.

This would be a range only gun, I'd also try out various competitions IDPA, IPSC, bullseye, etc. But I see myself most likely just getting into IDPA.

Thanks for the help,
Daniel

I was recently in your place so I might be able to add some perspective.
I guess that is a matter of personal taste/phyisology. For instance if you have short stubby fingers a long trigger may feel very uncomfortable in your hand. No matter how much you research you do (I did a ton before hand) chance are there will be something you wish you had done differently. If you chose to build another one somewhere down the line apply the lessons learned and hopefully you get it exactly right.


That is a very personal choice one often influenced dircetly by the cost of having a match barrel fit. The Barsto run $200 and the Kart's run $120 (give or take a couple dollars), then you have the labor of having the barrel properly fit. If $250-300 on top of the other work done isn't an issue go for it.

In my case money was a consideration but not the over riding one. My factory barrel was plenty accurate as it was. I just had a match bushing installed and the barrel recrowned and the gun clearly shoots better than I can. If it really bothers me down the road I guess I can always opt to have one installed. Another option is to have an accuracy job performed on your stock barrel. The cost of that ususally falls in between the two other options cost wise.
If you are interested in IDPA make sure that you get a barrel with a standard bushing. All other barrels (if they are longer than 4.2 inches) are illegal (ie Bull and Cone barrels). Also bare in mind that action work might make the gun illegal in bullseye shooting. IIRC there is a 4 pound minimum. I am sure someone here knows the exact rule.

Finally, listen to your smith's advice. They know what does and doesn't work well. If you are going to trust them enough to do $1500 of work hopefully you would trust them enough to give you good adivce. Also enjoy the process the wait can be painful but the reward is always worth it.

I'm waiting on my 3rd gun from Ted (Y-B did a Python and a Delta Elite for me before, and are doing a Caspian custom job for me now). Here is my take on it:

Best way to figure out features is to handle alot of guns and see what works best for you. Nothing wrong with saying, "I want a beavertail like a S&W1911, with a thumb safety like a Kimber and scallops like a STI Trojan," for instance. Play with alot of guns before having the work done.

If you want to use it as a game gun, make sure you check the rules of the games before getting the work done, alot of them have contradictory rules. In IDPA bull/cone barrels are a no-no in full sized guns for CDP, but are OK in USPSA Limited-10. Some bullseye competitions don't allow most external modifications. And so on.

The following basic configuration will be good for both IDPA CDP and USPSA Limited-10:

Bushing barrel (not bull or cone-type)
No porting or compensators
Standard dust cover (no add-on rails, extended dust cover, etc.)
Bo-Mar adjustable rear sight or Heinie fixed sight (no optics)
High visibility front sight (fiber optic, gold line, etc.)
Checkering, serrations, etc. on frontstrap & MSH
Beavertail & extended thumb safety
Magwell
Trigger job @ 3.5 lbs

Note that you don't need a "perfect" gun for these competitions, though. But since you are building a dedicated range/game gun, not a carry weapon, there is no reason not to make the gun specifically to fit the rules of the games (if doing so is within your budget).

As far as accuracy work goes... you could just let Y-B test fire it, and tell you want needs to be done to get the accuracy you want. If a re-crown and match bushing gets you to 1.5" @ 25 yards, a match barrel would be pretty silly. If the barrel is out-of-spec, a match barrel might be necessary to get decent performance. It really depends on the gun, and the accuracy level you need from the weapon.

_________________
Sean Smith
"Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I took something. I can see things no one else can see. Why are you dressed like that?" -Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China

Not to take anything away from these genuis gunsmith/artists, but I would shoot your gun a
lot, until you can outshoot your factory barrel....if you can. The only things I've found that
the new Colt's should have are a good trigger and a decent extractor. Granted, there are
many things you can have Yo-Bo do to make it 'your own' and more comfortable during
extended shoots, or carry, not to mention making it purty. As Sean said, handle as many already custom guns as you can, and decide what you like or dislike. For a starter package, it would be
awfully hard to beat the 1* package......

That's what my brain's telling me I should do. But then again I don't always listen to my brain

I have a Mil-Spec at YoBos (not a WWII model) and opted for the sharkskin stippling and even though I can't out shoot my factory barrel I said fit a Kart while its in the shop. What sucks for me is that I don't know anybody locally with customized guns to try out. The folks I know think custom is a factory Kimber that they slapped a mag well on. and don't get me started on the holsters and belts they carry them with.

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''ya can't argue logic with ignorance.''

Another one in the same boat. I had a couple of things I really wanted on my first custom (which is out for work now, along with several others). While many people don't like them, I wanted a light rail. The gun will be mostly a night stand gun and a car gun and I like the idea of the flashlight.

Then the basics: trigger, sights, reliability.

While I was at it: beavertail, dehorn and minor stuff...

And since it was going in I decided on the match barrel, though I bet I cannot out shoot the factory either.

(And I HAD front cocking serrations, but no more. I done been convinced otherwise)

Hi CF. If you're still open to suggestions here's my path:

I shot my 1911s in several action games. This gave me an idea of what I wanted done to my base gun. I also got to see and handle other folks' guns. I made a list of the options I want and the questions I have. Then I looked for a smithy.

(shameless plug) Don Williams answered all my questions over the phone. Via internet he showed me pictures of his work. Then I emailed him my wish list. He priced them. He also made a few suggestions. Finally I shipped Don the base gun.

I won't tell you how long ago that was

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If you can kick in the pants the person responsible for your problems, you won't be able to sit for a month.