1911 experts I need some advice

[redshooter]

I posted this inquiry in Gunsmithing and didn't get any response other than clean it, and make sure it's assembled properly.

I recently purchased a 1911A1. I was quite pleased to see it was unfired, it's since had about 50 rounds down the pipe. The last time I returned from the range I cleaned and inspected it and noticed a small amount of movement front to rear. Upon closer inspection the slide moves forward a tiny amount with light pressure. If the hammer is cocked the slide sits as it should, all the way down, forward a slight amount. This can be seen by the lower frame rails protruding a very small amount from the slide.

I'm assuming it's not prudent to fire at the moment. Anyone experienced this, and was it easy to fix assuming it's necessary.

 

[T&G]

Positioning of the slide in battery is determined by the lower lugs of the barrel resting 'up locked' on the slide stop/release pin. If the slide moves forward with pressure it suggests that the barrel is not properly fitted or the lugs are damaged. Suggest you have either a gunsmith or experienced shooter look at it.

Dr Jim

 

[BCRider]

Or that for some reason the upper bands are not fitting smoothly into the slots in the slide. The link lugs wedge against the slide stop shaft and push the upper barrel locking ribs into slots in the slide. If the slide isn't going all the way home and into battery then that's not good and indicates that there is something not right. Especially if this slight hanging up is matched with being able to look at the front face of the slide where the cartridge heads seat and see a gap between the rear of the barrel and the slide face which closes when you push the slide forward.

Next question..... When there is a little more travel to go and you leave it can you pull the trigger and the hammer drops? If you can that's also bad. It should only take a very slight amount of rearward travel and about a business card gap between back edge of the barrel and slide face to let the disconnector stop the hammer from falling.

 

[BCRider]

OK, something else to try. Noting that it sits back a hair only when not cocked try pulling the trigger and let the hammer just drop. See if it makes the slide jump back a touch. Next try lowering the hammer gently with your thumb. If it then moves the slide back a hair #### the hammer and see if it moves the slide forward just by cocking the hammer without pushing on the slide.

What I'm thinking, and this is a bit of a stretch, is that the finger on the three finger spring that pushes on the disconnector might be way too tight. And that is pushing up on the disconnector and wedging the slide back a touch. The finger of the disconnector that sticks up out of the frame rides in a "V" groove of the slide rail when in battery. And a strong finger might be pushing it up against the slope of the "V" firmly enough to slightly spring the slide back under the right circumstances.

If this seems to be the case and you don't mind tinkering with it yourself there is a really good article on tuning the three finger spring in the tech area at the Brownell's web site..... As well as a good number of YT videos of course.

 

[Ganderite]

I posted this inquiry in Gunsmithing and didn't get any response other than clean it, and make sure it's assembled properly.

I recently purchased a 1911A1. I was quite pleased to see it was unfired, it's since had about 50 rounds down the pipe. The last time I returned from the range I cleaned and inspected it and noticed a small amount of movement front to rear. Upon closer inspection the slide moves forward a tiny amount with light pressure. If the hammer is cocked the slide sits as it should, all the way down, forward a slight amount. This can be seen by the lower frame rails protruding a very small amount from the slide.

I'm assuming it's not prudent to fire at the moment. Anyone experienced this, and was it easy to fix assuming it's necessary.

Can you take it to Roger Kotanko in Simco? (Dark International). He is a 1911 expert.

 

[redshooter]

Thanks Gents!

I stripped it again last night. First I misspoke, it moves back slightly, not forward. Just fitting the barrel in the slide by itself it locks up nice and tight. It appears that the whole assembly moves together. Two observations, the rear face of the guide rod has been marked by the barrel link, and the hole the slide stop goes through on the barrel link looks a little generous.

I'll look at what you suggested BCRider later today if time allows.

I purchased it from an auction, down side they say guns are "as is", up side I know the guy who graded it as 9/10, so I'm pretty sure he'll fix me up if it needs any attention. If they show me the middle finger I'll get a hold of Roger.