If you’re a 1911 devotee, then you already know that Gunsite is the 1911 Mecca of the world. Established in 1976 by retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Cooper, Gunsite is our nation’s oldest and largest private shooting academy devoted to training responsibly armed citizens. Cooper’s enthusiastic promotion of Ol’ Slabsides for defensive use is largely responsible for the gun’s popularity. Now there is a modern reboot of the 1911, being produced on Gunsite’s campus by Fink’s Custom Guns (FCG).
The Fink’s Custom Guns Gunsite Performance 1911
Designed by Dave Fink and distributed through Gunsite’s Pro Shop, the new Gunsite Performance Pistol-Double Stack offers some modern upgrades while retaining all of the 1911’s most salient features.
The Gunsite Performance Pistol-Double Stack (GPPDS) is chambered in 9mm and uses a hybrid frame. It consists of a carbon steel frame for the slide to ride on and a polymer grip designed to take a 9mm double-stack magazine with a 17 + 1 capacity. Three magazines accompany the pistol, as does the Holosun HS507 optic, installed and sighted. This all arrives in a carry case with a cleaning kit.
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One 1911 feature that keeps the 1911 relevant over 100 years since its initial production is its crisp single-action trigger. The GPPDS is no different. Fink told me they tune their Performance line of pistols to 3.75 pounds. However, customers can spec out a lighter trigger.
My test sample’s trigger broke at a very crisp 2.75 pounds with a firm reset. It is consistent, and throughout my testing, the hammer never followed the slide. It is this trigger that allowed me to shoot the gun with precision and incredible speed.
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FCG uses tool-steel sears, disconnectors, and you’ll note the gun’s hammer has been cut with Gunsite’s distinctive Raven logo!
Recoil Management the Fink’s Way
Another unique feature of the GPPDS is its porting system. Rather than add length to the gun by attaching a compensator at the end of the barrel, the GPPDS uses a .30” port cut into the slide and barrel an inch back from the muzzle. Dave Fink calls it the FCG Mega Port.
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“Everyone has been doing porting lately. But we haven’t been super impressed with the ghengis-style ports like the Staccato and Prodigy use. They work great for recoil dissipation. But when you’re shooting groups at distance, we found that the elongated baffle actually destabilizes the bullet, and you’ll see groups shift or open up dramatically.
“Our Mega Port concept relocates the port, and it doesn’t affect the timing of the gun or external ballistics of the bullet. Accuracy remains the same as your match gun, but you get felt recoil reduction.”
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The GPPDS uses a Three-Quarter Guide Rod of Fink’s own design. Unlike a full-length guide rod, which requires a tool or paper clip for disassembly, the Three-Quarter Guide Rod requires no tools. Simply drop the mag and clear the chamber, and then push out the slide stop. Then, the slide/barrel/recoil spring assembly can slide forward off the frame.
The Gunsite Performance Pistol Double-Stack in Hand
Fink’s Gunsite Performance Pistol is conceptualized as a working gun designed for carry and self-defense. Every feature of the gun is fine-tuned for that role. The gun has ambi thumb safeties that are extended but not too wide for concealed carry. Its beavertail grip safety has its tang shortened and also possesses a memory pad. So, it disengages reliably, even with a thumb-high grip.
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FCG bevels the bottom of the slide and removes all other sharp edges for comfortable concealed carry. The polymer grip frame is undercut where the trigger guard meets the front strap for a high hold. Correspondingly, it is textured for a secure firing grip even with wet hands.
Shooting the Fink’s Custom Guns GPPDS
FCG cuts the GPPDS slide for a Holosun HS507 Comp red dot mounted on a plate that possesses an integral rear sight. The front sight is suppressor height and Patridge in style.
Testing the GPPDS for accuracy, I fired all of my groups at 25 yards from a seated rest. I utilized a Ransom Rest Multi Cal Steady Rest to support the gun’s dust cover. Then, I added pressure to the gun’s trigger to break the shot.
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I fired three groups with each ammunition, and the best group is recorded in the accuracy chart (below). The combination of the HS507’s sharp dot and the pistol’s crisp and light trigger made shooting small groups easy!
My best 5-shot group was recorded with Doubletap’s 124-grain FMJ-RN Match rounds. This is one of my favorite range loads because of its mild recoil and superior accuracy. In this case, it clustered five shots into a tight group measuring just 1.17 inches!
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As for defense ammunition, Black Hills’ 115-grain generated the most energy with 391 foot-pounds of energy and printed a very respectable 1.20-inch group.
Feeding the Double-Stack 1911
A relative newcomer in the ammunition field is House of Pain Munitions, or HOP for short. They supplied me with a soft-shooting range load consisting of a 115-grain Polycoated RN bullet. It functioned with complete reliability and produced better than average accuracy!
In addition to range ammo, HOP manufactures a large variety of defense ammunition.
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The seven different loads I used in the GPPDS, which included four different defense and three different range rounds, cycled flawlessly, and there were no stoppages of any sort. The FCG Mega Port works exactly as advertised, reducing muzzle lift and dramatically shortening the time between shots.
Throughout my testing, I looked at this feature with a jaundiced eye. I am happy to report that if there is a downside to this new style of port, I have yet to find it. It is a feature that I will most likely include on my next custom-build 1911.
Plans for a Future Fink’s Custom Guns Option?
I spoke with Dave Fink about the possibility of building a similar gun to the GPPDS. However, it should have a shortened Commander-length slide and barrel, and use an aluminum frame for weight savings. His enthusiastic response told me that this offering may not be too far away! For me, this would be the ultimate carry gun!
$3200 might sound like a lot of money. However, in the world of custom hand-built 1911s, the GPPDS is an extraordinary bargain. It is purpose-built for concealment use, shoots like a laser, and has very little felt recoil.
Fink’s Gunsite Performance Pistol Double Stack possesses an insanely crisp trigger, great capacity, and offers shooters all the advantages of a red dot optic. In a world dominated by polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols, the GPPDS serves as a reminder that the 1911 remains relevant.
Fink’s Custom Guns Gunsite Performance Pistol Double Stack Specs
| Caliber/Capacity | 9mm, 17 + 1 |
| Overall Length | 8.5” |
| Height | 5.5” |
| Weight | 2 Pounds 6 Ounces Unloaded 2 Pounds 14.5 Ounces Loaded with 18 Rounds |
| Barrel | Stainless-Steel, 5” Match Grade, Bushingless and Supported with FCG Mega Port |
| Trigger | FCG Long Hybrid |
| Safeties | Extended Ambi Thumb Safeties, Beavertail Grip Safety |
| Optic | Holosun HS507 Comp (included, mounted and sighted) |
| Accessories | Carry Case, 3 Mags, Clean Kit |
| MSRP | $3199.99 |
Performance
| Black Hills 115-grain JHP | |
| Velocity | 1238 |
| Energy | 391 |
| Group | 1.20” |
| Black Hills 125-grain Honey Badger | |
| Velocity | 965 |
| Energy | 258 |
| Group | 1.32” |
| Doubletap 124-grain FMJ-RN Match | |
| Velocity | 1067 |
| Energy | 313 |
| Group | 1.17” |
| Federal 150-grain Syntech Action Pistol | |
| Velocity | 871 |
| Energy | 252 |
| Group | 1.42” |
| HOP Munitions 115-grain Polycoated RN | |
| Velocity | 1117 |
| Energy | 318 |
| Group | 1.28” |
| Hornady 115-grain FTX Critical Defense | |
| Velocity | 1146 |
| Energy | 335 |
| Group | 1.30” |
| Nosler ASP Suppressor Ready 147-grain JHP | |
| Velocity | 869 |
| Energy | 246 |
| Group | 1.35” |
| Average Group | 1.29” |
