I’m wanting to build a race gun pistol. I was planning on buy all the parts and having a smith put it together. Does anybody have any pointers they can share to make this easier or cheaper?

Depending on how you plan to shoot it would determine how tight of tolerances I'd go with. I have seen some shooters who shoot PRS with a high end pistol laying prone in the dirt and have a major cycling issues with their pistol. Some of the higher end pistols, like the STI and one other brand I can't think of, I have seen have major feeding and cycling issues due to the very tight tolerances of the pistol. The dirt and dust often found on the range was causing a lot of reliability problems. They worked fine in a controlled environment, but the slide would get clogged up and start grinding when they would cycle it. I would think there would be a balance somewhere in the middle between the loose tolerances of a Glock or similar to a full on custom with tight tolerances.

I want that happy medium. My gun will get dirty.

Out of curiosity, are you married to the idea that the race gun has to be some sort of 1911 format?


I know very little of this style of shooting but seems like some Glock or sig or xd or m&p or something like with aftermarket parts seem like a lower price point. I guess I also imply here it would perform as well within reason.

Figure out what classification you want to shoot in. Buy a gun , take some lessons

I think you would use it even less than an airboat.

Sir...this is not a spoontail shooter thread. I would say get back to work but I know you find a way to charge time hunting forum viewing. It’s probably some kind of community outreach and training line item

check out the CZ offerings.

wrong forum

I bought a canik TP9sfx with the red dot on it a while back and really enjoy shooting it. 50 yards offhand are very easy. 100 yard on a rest is also very easy. I can make about 50% of the 100 yard shots off hand on a 2/3 silhouette. I think it was under 600 bucks and has a great trigger. I think most pistol shoot better than most shooters can shoot them.

best bargain, great gun

for a true "affordable" race gun, look at CZ
Then STI

Then full custom,

I knew a guy who competed a lot, wasn’t my favorite human but I’d give it to him he was the best pistol shooter I had been around.

I know he competed with just a TRP and did well

To give a semi correct answer, you need to give some more information. Are you looking at uspsa, idpa, or something else? What division are you wanting to shoot in? If you don't know the division, what do you want on the pistol, optics, comps, big mags, etc., that will decide the division and help answer you question? What kind of budget are you thinking of, it can make a big difference?

People that are just spouting off one gun or another without knowing the answers to some of my questions probably have little to no experience in what is generally considered a race pistol

I like it, I have no interest in competing, except against myself. Gun runs great and is supper accurate. I actually carry that gun appendix concealed fairly often. 21 rounds of 9mm. I also have the SF here is a pic of me flipping a 300 lb tire on my range. Gives me a great work out. I might not be real good, but I am having fun.

So basically no one has chipped in that has any experience with race guns. If you want the best you can get,look at atlas, limcat, and svi. Also get ready to drop $5k-$7k

You can buy parts for a plastic gun, and can definitely buy a complete 2011 for less than what I stated, but the best isn’t cheap

what TC said, you shooting the Steel Challenge??? Or local matches?

I might have done a little race gunning, but depending on what the op is wanting to do a race gun could be a lot of different things. He may want a 627 haha

If he wants a revolver he should go shoot SASS.

If you’re looking for a smith to build it, look at mclearn, akai, triangle shooting sports (Benny hill).. Or I can get you a guy’s number that I shoot with.

All those guys suck, i wouldn't let them work on a hipoint. The op should get a limcat razorcat or just stay at home

Benny worked over my Benelli M1 and it runs like a scalded @$$ ape so.....

But a limcat is a good choice.

Just go Glock and swap the sights and trigger throw a magwell on and be done with it.

I was just funning cause the op has never responded to if he wanted an open, limited, carry ops, single stack l, etc., gun. Everyone you listed makes some sweet shooters.

I recently got an STI DVC Limitted in 9 mm
Want to get back to doing more 3 gun.
Man, I love it..

I had been shooting a Wilson Combat Spec Ops 9, a great gun too.

I built a competition G34 a few years ago but shot my Gen 3 G19 carry gun that had trigger work and sight change better and sold ithe tricked out 34.

If I were goihg to build one it would Hayes Custom guns in Round Rock.
Aaron and Ben make amazing pistols, build the guns for Team Benelli and actively shoot competition.
They grew up working at Clark Custom in LA and Jerry Miculek is their uncle.

Also a good smith!!