heavy 1911 - anyway to shave weight?

[Hogleg Hunter]

I bought an e-series S&W sw1911ta with the accessory rail a while back. I would like to use it a backup pistol but the specs list it at 41.5 oz. I assume this is without a magazine? I haven't had access to a scale to weigh it yet. Does anyone use this pistol and if so what did you do to make the weight limit?

[Boggus Deal]

If it has a guide rod, replace it with GI type parts. Lighter stocks. Aluminum or polymer main spring housing.

[Wild Bodie Tom]

Maybe try a grip change and a plastic mainspring housing off a new Colt or Kimber.
Might get ya down there with that.
Just sayin.

[Wild Bodie Tom]

Don't you do anything slow Boggus..... LOL

Ditto on your reply.

[Boggus Deal]

WBT, some folks are fast and some folks are halfast.........

[Wild Bodie Tom]

True. LOL

[Garrison Joe]

Swap out extended safety with standard one.  Save a fraction of an ounce.   

Grind positioning button off the grip safety.  Save another fraction of an ounce.   

[DUSTY BODDAMS]

that is WITH a magazine.

[Two Dot]

I'd find a scale before I started grinding or swapping parts.
Harbor Freight sells a diet/ postal scale that works well.

[Allie Mo]

Hi Hogleg,

If you plan on shooting Modern with the pistol. The following applies.
"Unloaded pistol weight may not exceed 42 ounces with an empty magazine inserted."

Regards,

Allie

[Wild Bodie Tom]

Ya could just walk into the post office and have em weigh it.....
Just kidding.

As Dot said, a gram/ounce scale works well.
Even Wally World has em. Bout 20 bucks.....
If its close however, a way to verify the scale is a good idea.
I have certified weights for the one I use. It gets used a bunch.....no comment...LOL

[Hogleg Hunter]

Hi Hogleg,

If you plan on shooting Modern with the pistol. The following applies.
"Unloaded pistol weight may not exceed 42 ounces with an empty magazine inserted."

Regards,

Allie

This is what had me worried. S&W website has gun at 41.5oz. -too close to depend on a cheap scale.  Someone above said that weight was with a magazine which would bring it in under the weight limit.

[Wild Bodie Tom]

The cost of the scale is not the issue.
Its if its correct that counts.
Not sure where you reside, but would think somebody has a scale.
No worries until ya get to State or above matches.
Leastways round here.
Understand wanting to be correct however.
Good luck with a holster as well..... Just sayin.

[Hogleg Hunter]

I have 2 big matches coming up. There should be a scale at at least one of them.

The trick is determining if a scale is accurate. Certified weights can cost more than the scale to be calibrated.

I was going to have the holster custom made for it anyway.

[Garrison Joe]

The trick is determining if a scale is accurate. Certified weights can cost more than the scale to be calibrated.

So, you make your self your own darn check weight!   Stop by a junk yard, pick up a chunk of heavy steel that you can cut down to ABOUT 40 ounces.  Perhaps a heavy angle iron or even a short length of i-beam.    Just using a bath scale, lop off pieces until you get between 2.5 and 4 pounds.   When you go to a big match with a calibrated scale, have them weight your check weight.  Write the weight on a label on the chunk.   

Then, if you get a cheap kitchen scale to do your own weighing, start by weighing your chunk and calibrate scale to read out that weight, and to read 0 when the scale is empty.   You  will be almost perfectly calibrated to weigh a 1911 then.