SIGARMS GSR Gets Semi-Custom Treatment

[Pistol Meister]

I’ll start by saying that I’m no pistol expert, but I do know my way around a handgun – and this isn’t my first 1911 rodeo. Some handgun manufactures in my collection include SIGARMS, Beretta, Kahr, Ruger, Springfield, Smith & Wesson and Caspian. My 1911s include a semi-custom Springfield, a ground-up custom built 1911 on a Caspian receiver/slide, and now this new SIG GSR.

When I got the SIG, I was generally pleased with the look, fit and finish of the gun. When I field-stripped the gun, I discovered several flaws that were somewhat troubling. These included: 1) loose plunger tube; 2) improperly installed thumb safety; 3) bad hammer strut; 4) poorly aligned slide stop & plunger; 5) hammer “hooks” not cut at 90˚; 6); barrel bushing too tight.

I took the new SIG to a local range and ran 250 rounds of FMJ 230gr ball ammo through the gun. The gun functioned well and there were no failures of any kind. Accuracy was better than I expected and shoots point-of-aim. I was, however, disappointed in the trigger. Now I admit that I’m very fussy about the feel of a trigger – especially on a 1911. The trigger on the SIG was between 6 and 7 pounds and did not have a nice crisp break.

I decided NOT to send the gun back to SIG to correct the, ah, issues. Instead, I send the pistol to Teddy Jacobson of “Actions By T” in Sugar Land, Texas. I have known Teddy for several years and I have found his work to be superb. A while back, Teddy built a custom 1911 for me on a Caspian receiver/slide, so I knew what to expect from Actions by T. Teddy took the SIG and worked his magic on this 1911 bad-boy. When the gun came back 2 weeks later, I was astounded at the finished product. Teddy’s work included:

1. Complete action/trigger job
2. Polished breech face, chamber and ramp
3. New Ed Brown tactical thumb safety
4. New hammer strut
5. Corrected the hammer hooks to a perfect 90˚
6. Trigger nice & crisp break at 4 pounds
7. New plunger tube
8. Corrected slide-stop and plunger engagement
9. New AlumaGrips
10. Wolff Springs
11. Corrected bade barrel link
12. Polished all critical engagements
13. Jeweled hammer, bushing, front of dust cover, trigger, etc.

The SIG GSR has been transformed into a semi-custom 1911 that can go head-to-head with just about any 1911 out there. The gun is now outstanding. Teddy, as usual, worked his magic and turned an average 1911 into something special.
;f

[Critter]

Teddy does wonderful work, probably the best action jobs in the business, but don't call his work majic. He doesn't believe in majic or mojo, or whatever you want to call it, he's quit being friends with people over that terminology.

I will agree, he's taken a great pistol and made it better for you, I have no doubt it can stand toe to toe with anyone's.

[Siren]

Pictures ! ;G

please

[stglock]

Pistol,

I seem to remember that you bought a gun made by Teddy, who undoubtedly is an excellent gun smith. How does the Sig compare to Teddy's ??

Many thanks..

[Pistol Meister]

Originally posted by stglock
Pistol,

I seem to remember that you bought a gun made by Teddy, who undoubtedly is an excellent gun smith. How does the Sig compare to Teddy's ??

Many thanks..
---------------------------------
Teddy built for me a ground-up custom 1911 on a Caspian frame/slide. We hand picked all the components and then Teddy assembled everything. The gun was hand fit and tuned. It is beautiful - a real work of art. The 1911 junkies that have seen it are all amazed (and more than a little jealous). Good thing I went with a stainless steel gun - with all that drool.

The SIG is also very nice, but its not a fair comparison. The SIG is a production gun that has been tweaked and is now "semi" custom. The Caspian is 100% custom - designed, spec'd and built just for me.

Both guns function 100%. Both guns are super accurate (more accurate that the shooter). Both guns have wonderful triggers. I think that the Teddy Custom is much better looking and has, by far, the best fit & finish. The SIG will become my "everyday range gun". The Teddy Custom is my "safe queen". When I think about passing a gun on to my posterity, I look at the Teddy Custom as the family heirloom piece.

[stepper]

Originally posted by Pistol Meister
I’ll start by saying that I’m no pistol expert, but I do know my way around a handgun – and this isn’t my first 1911 rodeo. Some handgun manufactures in my collection include SIGARMS, Beretta, Kahr, Ruger, Springfield, Smith & Wesson and Caspian. My 1911s include a semi-custom Springfield, a ground-up custom built 1911 on a Caspian receiver/slide, and now this new SIG GSR.

When I got the SIG, I was generally pleased with the look, fit and finish of the gun. When I field-stripped the gun, I discovered several flaws that were somewhat troubling. These included: 1) loose plunger tube; 2) improperly installed thumb safety; 3) bad hammer strut; 4) poorly aligned slide stop & plunger; 5) hammer “hooks” not cut at 90˚; 6); barrel bushing too tight.

I took the new SIG to a local range and ran 250 rounds of FMJ 230gr ball ammo through the gun. The gun functioned well and there were no failures of any kind. Accuracy was better than I expected and shoots point-of-aim. I was, however, disappointed in the trigger. Now I admit that I’m very fussy about the feel of a trigger – especially on a 1911. The trigger on the SIG was between 6 and 7 pounds and did not have a nice crisp break.

I decided NOT to send the gun back to SIG to correct the, ah, issues. Instead, I send the pistol to Teddy Jacobson of “Actions By T” in Sugar Land, Texas. I have known Teddy for several years and I have found his work to be superb. A while back, Teddy built a custom 1911 for me on a Caspian receiver/slide, so I knew what to expect from Actions by T. Teddy took the SIG and worked his magic on this 1911 bad-boy. When the gun came back 2 weeks later, I was astounded at the finished product. Teddy’s work included:

1. Complete action/trigger job
2. Polished breech face, chamber and ramp
3. New Ed Brown tactical thumb safety
4. New hammer strut
5. Corrected the hammer hooks to a perfect 90˚
6. Trigger nice & crisp break at 4 pounds
7. New plunger tube
8. Corrected slide-stop and plunger engagement
9. New AlumaGrips
10. Wolff Springs
11. Corrected bade barrel link
12. Polished all critical engagements
13. Jeweled hammer, bushing, front of dust cover, trigger, etc.

The SIG GSR has been transformed into a semi-custom 1911 that can go head-to-head with just about any 1911 out there. The gun is now outstanding. Teddy, as usual, worked his magic and turned an average 1911 into something special.
;f

If you don't mind me asking, how much did all of that cost you?

[Pistol Meister]

Stepper:

Total cost of Pistolsmith services was approx. $400 (and worth every penny)

[Pistol Meister]

Stepper:

Total cost of Pistolsmith services was approx. $400 (and worth every penny).

[stepper]

Thank-you. Sounds like you got alot for the money. I hope to have my GSR out of layaway in sept., so hopefully, I'll get a good one. I will probably have somebody give it a good trigger job, I'll probably sent it down to Teddy also.

[Pistol Meister]

Side View

Note the jeweling on the hammer, trigger and mag-release.

[Pistol Meister]

Detail

[Siren]

Very nice!

[NetNinja]

What a shame that you pay almost a grand if not more for a 1911 and still have to get someone to turn it into something that it should have been when it left the factory.

I am sure Teddy's work is flawless.

[Glocks&Ducs]

Originally posted by NetNinja
What a shame that you pay almost a grand if not more for a 1911 and still have to get someone to turn it into something that it should have been when it left the factory.


I was just thinking the same thing. I guess no GSR for me. I think I will buy me another GI MIL-SPEC get $400 worth of treatment and be just as well off. For more than $600 less.

[Pistol Meister]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by NetNinja
What a shame that you pay almost a grand if not more for a 1911 and still have to get someone to turn it into something that it should have been when it left the factory.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well...you are right. It is a shame that a quality firearms manufacturer like SIGArms doesn't produce an out-of-the-box 1911 that acts like a SIG.

But, to be quite truthful, I fully expected that I would have to do some "tweaking" to the GSR. I'm picky about the trigger-pull and trigger-break on all my handguns, so they all usually end up at Teddy's for a trigger job.

The disappointment for me is that the SIGArms reputation usually stands for out-of-the-box quality, fit, feel, function, accuracy and reliability. I have all that now, but it was an extra $400. It is my opinion that SIGArms didn't REALLY understand how much "smithing" work goes into a quality 1911. The quality of the gun reflects the quality of the individual pistolsmith. I would be willing to bet that a typical "P" Series SIG has nowhere near the same "smithing" hours that the GSR requires.

Does this destroy my opinion of SIGArms? No. I still own more SIGs that Mrs. Pistol Meister cares to think about.

[NetNinja]

I agree nothing wrong with SIG.

I will agree that when I took my P229 out of the box I would have to honestly say that, that has to be the finest mass produced pistol I have ever taken out of the box.