1911 slide work or more...

[jackospades]

Evening all,
I have a Springfield 1911 mil spec, all stock except for grips, as a sort of project gun. I know my limitations, so no major work. But I wanted to install Bomar sights and of course a refinish. Anyone recommend a good gunsmith or shop able to do that? I'm in Eastern NC if that helps, but I'm willing to send my baby out if necessary. If you can point me in the right direction, that would be awesome. Thank you for any input.

[CJB]

BoMar takes a bit of fiddling to get right. Not major work, but you have to do it right.

REAL BoMar's are not available. Everything out there is a copy, and the quality varies, as they're all made in China.

Personally, I've given up on the real, smooth, repeatable, BoMar as I enjoyed in the 1970's. Unless you find a real one....that is.

[gb6491]

CJB, Any experience with Kensight or Dawson Precision BoMar style sight?
http://stores.kensight.com/rear/
https://dawsonprecision.com/gun-sights/bomar-lpa-novak-heinie/

jackospades,
Any particular reason to go with BoMar style sights over the LPA style that Springfield Armory uses on their Range Officer?
You'll need a new front sight with either. I'd advise having a front dovetail cut for the new front sight vice staking on a larger sight to work with the big adjustable rear sight.
Springfield's Custom Shop can do the work you want done on your Milspec.

Back to the Range Officer, they can be had at a decent price and are a lot of gun for the money. I think that might be worth considering against the cost of sights, installation, refinish, and shipping.
http://i56.tinypic.com/14j3fi0.jpg

One last thing: any thought of going with fixed (drift adjustable) sights like Novak (they also have screw adjustable versions) or Heinie offer?

Regards,
Greg

[jeepster09]

Good shop that can do ALL for you. Sight installs, Duracoating, cut for dovetail etc.

www.ahlmans.com (http://www.ahlmans.com)

[getsome]

Gunslinger Customs in Alpharetta Ga can do anything you need done on a 1911 but think about sending your slide to Novaks and get a real nice set of fixed night sights installed that will work well for you on a carry pistol...

[jackospades]

Afternoon, thanks to all for the insight, it is incredibly useful.
I hate to say, but I wanted the Bo-Mar, or LPA sights a really for aesthetic purposes. I thought they looked cool over the stock iron sights, maybe they would even improve my shooting. Its not a carry gun BTW. Also, I have considered getting a range officer, but my means are a little limited, and thought I'd save a few bucks just doing the sights. My Carry gun is still my CM9 (although I'm looking to upgrade to an MK9 ��.

BTW, what's the difference between Bo-Mar and LPA, I thought they would be the same?
Also, I figured they'd be great if I decided to start competition for a hobby.
CJB, don't I have to mill the slide to do it properly for the sight?

[CJB]

CJB, Any experience with Kensight or Dawson Precision BoMar style sight?
http://stores.kensight.com/rear/


Not the Dawson, but there is a Kensight on my Tactical Solutions .22 upper for 1911, which I have on a dedicated Caspian frame.

In short - and this going on a sight that they sold 5 years ago - it sucks. The BoMar was smooth, each click crisp and clean. It was THE sight for bullseye competition and any other competition for the Colt .45 Auto. You could dial it up, dial it back. Adjust the windage as needed for various conditions. There was the "up five clicks" for 50 yards, then back again for 25 yards. It was a pleasure, a joy even.... when you used it.

The Kensight does in fact have screws that make things move. That's about all I can say for it, as the clicks are terrible, the fit of the sight screw for windage goes stiff and loose as the whole thing is wobbly in its hole, etc.

The BoMar was made individually, with extreme precision and care. If it didn't work, it was rebuilt before it left BoMar, as they had a small family outfit that was prideful in what they did, what they made and sold. You could get parts for BoMar easily and inexpensively.

Its just not the same.

How many Camp Perry victories were won with ANYTHING other than a real BoMar? Zero.

If you want a sight that you can set then forget, I suppose the Kensight will do. Like the Smith & Wesson, or Ruger sights, you can fiddle 'em to get very close to point of impact matching the point of aim. But, those sights are pretty much made to do that, and little more. You fiddle with 'em once in a while and call it good.

The BoMar was made to be absolutely resettable. There was no slop or slip or anything else but precision in its movement. It was made for the guy who practiced two or three nights a week at various distances and changed his settings while doing so, then shot competition once every month or so and counted on those X ring hits to make or break his trophy.

Maybe I'm just spoiled.

[gb6491]

CJB,
Thanks for the feedback on the Kensight.
I've an old BoMar "Rollo" style sight on one of my 1911's. It's been a good sight, but I had to replace the elevation screw. That was easier said than done with BoMar out of business...finally found three old Wichita sights on an auction site and was able to cannibalize one of them.
http://i31.tinypic.com/2vct7cl.jpg


...
BTW, what's the difference between Bo-Mar and LPA, I thought they would be the same?
..
Probably the most noticeable difference is the dovetail location: http://1911enthusiast.com/showthread.php/366-BoMar-vs-LPA-sight-cut

Regards,
Greg

[CJB]

On the Kensight web site, it says something about "we're better than the original, because we don't have the sight blade silver soldered on".... and goes on to say how they've seen the sight blades fall off, fly into your face, etc etc... on the original BoMar

I've been in and around the Bullseye shooting circles, never once heard of it, but I suppose it can happen. Anything can break. But what KS doesn't say anything about is that wonderful smooth and consistent operation the BoMar originals have.

IOW, you can make a sight fit the BoMar spec dovtail cut, and make it look like a BoMar, but... that doesn't make it a BoMar