1911 Oddities

[John Travis]

Here's one that's been showing up of late. First on a couple Springfields, and most recently on a Commander=-length Ruger. It's not a common thing, but it does happen.

This time, I'll show the problem and the cause. No brain wrackin' this time.

Just goes to show how much QC is in play these days.

 

[Catfish]

That's a trip back to the factory isn't it?

 

[John Travis]

That's a trip back to the factory isn't it?

I'd send it back. This is the sort of thing that's inexcusable. If they have to start remachining or replacing slides, they'll pay closer attention to the details.

 

[Catfish]

This was my Ruger SR1911 with about 150 rounds through it before it went back for a new slide:

 

[Beef15]

I see that on 45 brass all the time. Sometimes severe, was curious to the cause.

 

[Detritus]

Is it affecting function? or just making noticeable marks on the cases. If no effect on function why bother sending it back?

 

[GymB]

Is it affecting function? or just making noticeable marks on the cases. If no effect on function why bother sending it back?

Looks like it’d prevent the brass from sittin flat on the breechface. Not sure what the downstream problems would be.

 

[MacEntyre]

Brass like that can't last as long as brass that doesn't have the marks. That's one reason to fix it, even if it doesn't affect function otherwise.

 

[John Travis]

Is it affecting function? or just making noticeable marks on the cases. If no effect on function why bother sending it back?

It could, but the worst of it is that it loads one side of the slide when it slams back into the breechface in recoil, which can only have a detrimental effect on the life of the slide.

The question that looms in my mind is just this:

Is the high section determining headspace or the low section?

If the high part of the step is setting headspace, machining it away to match the low would not only result in excessive headspace, it would result in the type of excessive headspace that could lead to burst cases...so there are very good reasons to send it back.

 

[Charlie]

My Ruger Commander-size 1911 has that step. I suppose I need to contact Ruger.

 

[John Travis]

My Ruger Commander-size 1911 has that step. I suppose I need to contact Ruger.

I would, and don't let'em jerk ya around.

 

[Detritus]

It could, but the worst of it is that it loads one side of the slide when it slams back into the breechface in recoil, which can only have a detrimental effect on the life of the slide.

The question that looms in my mind is just this:

Is the high section determining headspace or the low section?

If the high part of the step is setting headspace, machining it away to match the low would not only result in excessive headspace, it would result in the type of excessive headspace that could lead to burst cases...so there are very good reasons to send it back.

Ok then, good points. neither of those issues was coming to mind when I posted.

 

[BASIL]

Here's one that's been showing up of late. First on a couple Springfields, and most recently on a Commander=-length Ruger. It's not a common thing, but it does happen.

This time, I'll show the problem and the cause. No brain wrackin' this time.

Just goes to show how much QC is in play these days.

Investment cast slide. If ya want $1000. quality, it's going to cost more than $450.

 

[John Travis]

Investment cast slide.

Nope. Ruger's frames are cast, but their slides are machined barstock, and Springfield's slides and frames are machined.

Assuming a good casting, the frame is neither here nor there. It's the slide that catches hell. The barrel and slide assembly is the gun. The frame is essentially the gun mount.

Rock Island relearned the hard lesson that Thompson AO learned in the early 80s...that investment cast slides don't live long. Not long after they went into production, they switched to machined barstock. Ruger/Pine Tree understood that particular pitfall and never even considered it.

 

[BASIL]

I got it. They spent more time on the finish than they did on the machining, the important part.

 

[MacEntyre]

...didn't think about head space. Doh!