Building a 1911 from a Build Kit? These Are the Best 1911 Upgrades to Make Along the Way

If you build a 1911 from a build kit, conventional wisdom will tell you that half the purpose of the build kit is that it will have everything you need.

This is true and we can’t argue with it. We even sell some complete 1911 build kits that actually have everything you need to complete a firearm with the sole exception of the 1911 frame, which needs an FFL transfer anyway.

But just because these bundled, all-in-one kits have everything you need doesn’t mean all the parts are worth using.

That is, there’s a lot to love about a standard 1911 pistol. The trigger that only moves in one dimension. The solid frame and durability of the platform. The slim profile that’s easy to conceal.

These are all great things, but can you make a 1911 better with some select upgrades?

You bet. Try some of these out.

Grips (Special Mention: Crimson Trace Laser Grips)

There’s nothing wrong with the wood grips (or synthetic grips, for that matter) that are part and parcel of most 1911 build kits.

But the design of the handgun, which is over 100 years old, does have a glaring deficiency. There are no mounting points for accessories.

Accessories like lasers, to be specific. Now, since there’s no rail, your only option is to have one mounted on the slide by a gunsmith, or go with a trigger guard-mounted option.

Or, you can get a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips that will utterly transform your 1911 and are compatible with a wide variety of Colt, Kimber, Para, Wilson Combat, and Springfield 1911 pistols.

The upgrade is easy to make, doesn’t require a trip to a gunsmith, and won’t change the fundamental handling of the pistol.

A Better 1911 Magazine

Here at SARCO, we have the market cornered on 1911 magazines, because we designed and developed the best one in the industry.

Yes, most 1911 build kits will come with a mag, but these 7-round single-stack 1911 mags are better.

They’re made from durable steel processed in a hot bath of sodium hydroxide, nitrites and nitrates, which converts the surface layer to extremely hard, corrosion-resistant magnetite, and the tube is case-hardened and nitrided.

The mags are produced on a computer-controlled high-speed link press that incurs fewer radical bends in the body and follower tooling. They also feature parallel feed lips, rounded followers, improved mag catch overrides for smoother mag charges, and high-strength springs tested to over 20,000 cycles.

All this and you just can’t beat the price, which is substantially lower than other 1911 mags on the market. Don’t just get one - fill up the range bag!

A Barrel with a Compensator

Another thing about 1911 build kits is that they’re only rarely if ever outfitted with threaded barrels.

This makes it effectively impossible to add muzzle devices like suppressors or compensators.

And in the latter case, there are plenty of good reasons to add one. A compensator can substantially reduce felt recoil, in some cases by as much as 50%, and without affecting shot power at all.

This can help you shoot more confidently, more accurately, and even keep your sights trained on target by corralling muzzle flip, enabling faster, more accurate follow-up shots.

The point here is that since most 1911 barrels are not threaded, you’re going to have to get one that is threaded or get a barrel with an integral compensator - which we offer here.

An Extended Mag Release

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with the stock 1911 mag release, but if you want to enjoy smoother mag drops and faster reloads, it’s an investment worth making.

This is all the more true since these are small, cheap parts that are easy to replace and are usually a dime a dozen - so if you don’t like the ergs or handling of what comes with your build kit, make this easy switch.

A Full-Length Guide Rod

A full-length guide rod will accomplish two things for a 1911 pistol.

For one, it will add weight near the muzzle, which will help the handgun point more naturally and also absorb some recoil, fighting muzzle flip. This makes this a great upgrade to make with a compensator.

The other thing is that a full-length guide rod will also help prevent the recoil spring from kinking, which will improve cycling and can also help extend the life of the spring.

Night Sights (or a Slide with Them)

You know the old saying, “what you can’t see can kill you?” It’s a bit dour, but it is true.

So you add a WML to your 1911. There’s just one problem. Actually, there are two.

There are no mounting points on most 1911-style pistols, and even if there are, a WML will give away your position.

Night sights will not, and they can vastly improve your accuracy in low-light conditions and in near darkness.

On some 1911 pistols replacing the sights may not be particularly easy, so it might make sense to get a whole new slide that has night sights mounted on it already.

1911 Build Kits and More

Getting ready to build a 1911 from a kit? Get it here at SARCO, or get a basic parts kit and improvise where you want to make customizations. We have plenty of gun parts kits that include basically everything you need, giving you a good starting point.

Have questions before you get started? Get in touch with us at 610-250-3960 and we will help you out in any way we can.