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Identify interesting aftermarket work that can be performed on a 1911 firearm.

Identify interesting aftermarket work that can be performed on a 1911 firearm.

Turning the 1911 into what is sometimes called a race gun is one of the most detailed examples of after-market work you can do to this platform. It breaks down into categories such as optics and mounting, flared magazine wells for faster reloads, muzzle breaks and forward mounted weights to manage recoil. Some even add charging handles to the slide and checkered grips for faster operation and better control.


Provide your fellow students with an image or explanation of the work, detail what this work is intended to accomplish, and detail the proper method of performing this work.

The one I chose here was from a google search of the words 1911 Race Gun. I am not in favor of this one over any other, but it had one of the best-looking examples that included a number of after-market parts installed. Most people who own one of these like competition shooting and want a firearm they can manipulate fast and accurately. The addition of the flared magazine well can usually be done with the right part and an Allen key. Adding the charging handle to the slide can be done with a CNC cut and the right part but I have even seen ones that replace the rear iron sight. Depending on the manufacture of the side mounted optics plate, mounting procedures vary but always screw to the frame, so the optic does not recoil with the slide after the shot. The muzzle break that is available to the 1911 platform may push gas up or out but not usually down. The purpose of this is to disperse the gas in a direction that keeps the muzzle flip relatively flat during operation for faster follow-on shots. Some people like Checkering the frames grips and changing the grip panels to make for a more aggressive texture while others add metal rail thumb rest so they can loosen up their grip and still maintain a safe and accurate grip.


Outline any cons that may be associated with this work if it is not performed properly.

One of the biggest cons is that the more changes you make to the original design, the more likely you are to have issues and trying to break down exactly what could be going wrong with its operation could end up being the fault of the after-market stuff you added. Additionally, these are usually so fine tuned that something like changing the ammunition type could cause malfunction as well.


Resources

“Accuracy x R1 Open Race Gun 2011.” TK Custom Store, tkcustom.com/products/accuracy-x-r1-open-racegun-2011. Accessed 31 May 2023.

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