Not your ordinary 1911 thread

[ReactiveLlama]

Greetings,

I have a question about the GBB 1911 and it's various off-spring variants. I had a real steel 1911 once long ago and want a airsoft one to go with my KSC G19. Now I'm not looking for the old colt 1911, I don't mind and quite like a lot of the 1911ish looking guns including the hicapa, combat commander, HRT, P14-45, ect.. BUT.. Here's my problem: Small hands!! My real steel 1911 had a nice single stack 7 rnd mag and a comfortable fit in my hand. My 92F was a great gun, but to big in the grip for me to handle well and a DE felt like I was holding a coke can!

So... What I want to know is which if the 1911ish variants out there in the airsoft world share the same slender grip as the original 1911? I know in the world of real steel there are double stacked .45's and I can only shudder to think how big those grips are. I'm way out of touch with the real steel world now and have no idea which of the guns would be double stacked and which would be single stack (in terms of replicated grip size).

Thanks!!

[Eddie]

you can just get any single stacker 1911 and change the grips to thinner ones, I belive real ones should fit without or very little mod

[lamlok]

Please check out the WA brand 1911 series. There is a bunch of single stack 1911 available. Components such as grip safety, handgrip, safety, triggers are all compatible to use real steel parts. Of course for WA brand, prepare something north of USD 200.
http://www.wa-gunnet.co.jp/english/

[Eddie]

We're in Canada so its in the upwards of $400

[Mysteryfish]

I owned the Western Arms Wilson Combat CQB. Unbeatably awesome pistol.

Realistic, weighty, shot like a dream, etc. And that was only Version 1 SCW.

Now they've released a whole new series of awesome guns that perform even better.

If you're looking for something that will just "feel right", western arms will make you smile. It'll damage your wallet like nothing else, but if you can drop the money... mmm.

[lamlok]

For WA guns, SCW system is great for blowback action and reality. However if you are aiming at power and modification, the old system performs far better than even SCW 2 system. My 6" hybrid using "top gas" already pierce through the bottom of coke can without changing hammer spring only :razz:

[RAS_Jackson]

Double stack GBB'S feel like a berreta grip. (thickness wise)
Also please keep in mind with the WA pistols the are not GREEN GAS or PROPANE friendly. I suggest running duster or HFC134 in them, I ve seen too many WA break due to Green or propane. WA are very well bulit but you have to run DUSTER for them to last long, anything else will weaking its life.

[Groombug]

For the most part airsoft GBBs of reputable manufacture will try and replicate the grip size to real steel dimensions.

If your hands fit 1911 single stacks, go for one of the many 1911 single-stack replicants out there... most of them are WA, mind you. If you don't mind the wait, you can join the collective bunch here holding their breaths indefinitely for the TM 1911, which should offer greater performance and aftermarket reliability than finicky (but ultimately more realistic) WAs.

As in real steel, grips are available for varying paw sizes. The plethora of aftermarket real steel grips caters to every size and deformation. Barring an aftermarket set, you can always thin your own grips yourself. Dremel, sandpaper, and some finish afterwards. Do it the homestyle way.

[ReactiveLlama]

I have noticed that airsoft guns come pretty close (if not 100% dead on) to real steel with regards to their sizes. What I don't know is which if the current real steel guns are single or double stacked (of the 1911 variants and the many cool guns that resemble 1911's) and thus don't know if their airsoft counterparts have been made with double stacked widths. The P14.45 IS double stacked in real steel, it was new just as I was getting out of real steel hand guns. But since then I don't know which is and which isn't.

I shoot indoors so I like guns that can be fed duster. My g19 runs beautifully on it but that's hardly a surprise, from what I've been reading the KSC G19 is a very well regarded gbb!

I think I'll take a good look at the WA lineup but I like the looks of the TM HiCapa, but again, don't know if the grip would to be to large for me.

The curse of small hands!!! Gahhh..

Oh well.. Thanks for all the input!!

[lamlok]

There are tons of replacement for WA guns, so running on green or propane will not be a problem once you mod to metal slide and reinforced internal components.
money can solve everything

[Lisa]

I find the S&W 945C to be very pleasing both in grip and in looks. It's one of the few 1911's that I like. It's made by KSC.

[Groombug]

Originally Posted by ReactiveLlama

What I don't know is which if the current real steel guns are single or double stacked (of the 1911 variants and the many cool guns that resemble 1911's) and thus don't know if their airsoft counterparts have been made with double stacked widths.

The Para-Ordnance P14.45 series from WA and subsequently copied by KJW are double stack. The mags are FAT. The same goes for all the WA .45 Hicap and SVI series guns which use the two-piece lower receiver (stand-alone grip). These guns are about as wide at the grip as the Paras, if not slightly fatter.

The KSC S&W that Lisa mentioned is, I believe, single stack. S&W does make fatter grips for their factory guns, however. I'd look into that before purchasing. KSC also has an STI line that is similar in grip size to the WA .45 Hicaps - same flavour, different packaging.

The TM Hicapa is a simplified copy of the WA .45 Hicap series. It is modeled after the real steel double-stack .45 design often preferred by competitive pistol shooters. You'll find the grip rather fat as well.

Other than that, you're left with generic 1911s and their direct spinoffs from WA and copied by KJW. In terms of fitting small hands, I find the stock grips perfect for my Asian hands. I also have a Pachmayr grip which fattens it but allows for greater frictive grip. I've also tried the Hogue grips which include finger grooves, and I found these about the same, if not minutely smaller, than the Pachmayr. You may also want to consider changing the mainspring housing backstrap to the flush one instead of the original Mark IV bump.

Is there a specific model or three that you're looking at? From there I think we can better tell you how it would fit in your hands compared to a plain-jane 1911A1.

[silhouette]

to Groombug: Im not big fan of WA. but, are you sure tha WA 1911 copied by KJW? and I dont think TM copied WA`s 1911 also.

(sorry about my bad Eng)

[Goldman]

jsut a heads up there is a Full metal KJW M1911A1 Gov't (singlestack) That grim Fandango is bringing in with his next order, IIRC.

[Groombug]

Originally Posted by silhouette

to Groombug: Im not big fan of WA. but, are you sure tha WA 1911 copied by KJW? and I dont think TM copied WA`s 1911 also.

(sorry about my bad Eng)

Magazine and internal parts are different, obviously. The gun is modeled, however, to look like real steel .45 double-stack guns.

KJW capitalized on the success of the Para-Ordnance series from WA. Not saying they ripped the design, but they certainly had a market sense in choosing to sell that line.

Never said TM copied WA. What I did say, however, is that like KJW, TM's marketing sense saw the appeal of the double-stack .45 design in airsoft and took initiative to make their own.