Got a 1911 pistol or a clone? Good for you, so do 10 million other people. Probably more, actually.
The good news is that there are a million and one other people out there that have made upgrades to these pistols so this isn’t exactly a new issue.
At this point, here are some parts to replace on your 1911, from the mag to the barrel, to improve performance.
The Barrel
Get yourself a match grade barrel. It will be more accurate and it will likely last longer than a stock barrel, even if there’s really no concern of shoot out with a .45 anyway.
You should also replace it with a threaded barrel if you can find one. If you get a threaded barrel, then you can install suppressors and compensators.
The latter is a really good upgrade as it can substantially reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip without adversely affecting shot power.
If you don’t want to go that route, you can get an integrally compensated barrel, though that might be a little harder to find.
The Guide Rod and Recoil Spring
Get yourself a good, full-length guide rod with an updated recoil spring. The full-length guide rod will help prevent kinking which will preserve the life of your recoil spring.
But the thing about a heavier, full-length guide rod, like a tungsten guide rod, is that it will add weight near the muzzle.
This will help weigh the muzzle down which will help fight against muzzle flip, making the pistol more steady in the hand.
Make this change and install a compensator on your threaded barrel, and you’ll be giving recoil the old one-two combo to take it down a notch.
The Sights
Here’s the thing, you don’t need to replace your M1911’s iron sights, but if you do, replace them with a set of high-visibility fiber optic sights, or better, a set of night sights.
The reason we suggest this instead of a WML (despite the fact that what you can’t see can kill you) is that night sights let you stay hidden in the dark while still giving you a better overall sight picture.
Discretion is the better part of valor, remember.
The 1911 Mag
Not the part you expected, right? Still, this is a part worth replacing, and here’s the reason why.
Not that there’s anything wrong with most stock 1911 mags, but the new models developed by SARCO, Inc., are simply better.
Their 1911 mag is made on a computer-controlled, high speed link press that produces fewer radical bends in the body, reducing stresses.
These 1911 mags feature parallel feed lips, rounded followers, a dimple designed as a mag catch override for smoother charges, and high-strength springs tested to 20,000 cycles.
The mag itself is also made of iron (figuratively, it’s actually steel), and is case-hardened, nitrided for wear, scratch, and corrosion-resistance, and hot-bath-processed to convert the surface into magnetite.
They are durable, reliable, consistent, extremely tough, and perhaps most importantly, less than 10 dollars. Plus, they’re compatible with a wide range of 1911 pistols and aftermarket variants.
You can’t do better than that, even if this isn’t technically a 1911 “part.”
Where Can You Get These 1911 Parts?
Looking for a new 1911 mag or a barrel replacement? Get any of these online at SARCO, Inc. SARCO carries one of the world’s largest inventories of 1911 parts and is simply the place to get them. Check them out online or get in touch with them directly at 610-250-3960 if you need any help.
