Springfield 1911 problem

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p3ordie

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Hello,
I purchased a PX9155L about 4 mo. ago. When I first got it I could not get one round to feed. I sent it back in to Springfield for repair, it took about 1 1/2 months. I took it to the range with every type of round I could get, hollow point, flat nose etc. It functioned great, no problems. The next trip to the range was with some targets and a pistol rest. The best group I could get was maybe 8~10 inches @ 25yds! I tried factory ammo, reloads they all got about the same. The gun has about 500 rds. thought it. Anybody have any suggestions? I just got it back from Springfield, I hate to have to send it back again! I would like to be able to use it at the next match. Any help would be appreciated!

p3ordie
 
Couple of stupid questions.. One, have you had someone else who is a good shot shoot it? Two, what sort of competition are you shooting?
 
Couple more stupid questions, what is a PX9155L? Can't find it on the SA website, cal/barrel length/sites would help. Have you done accuracy testing of a 1911 that came out good to great before (thinking technique here)?

What you probably know I will add to my dumb questions, if the barrel is fitted to the slide well a 1911 will shoot good to great. Slide to frame fit has very little to do with it. Sounds like a too short/too long link or a sloppy/too tight bushing, possibly even a poorly fitted slide stop. If the link is too long you will see the barrel hood and top scratched up quickly on a new gun, the bushing will scratch the barrel badly if too tight. If the link is too short you will be able to push the barrel down more than just a couple thousandths of an inch when in battery, and start to see that the lugs are cutting steps in the grooves of the slide within a couple hundred rounds. Enough for now, let us know more info, maybe we can save the gun a trip to IL.
 
Al, HSMITH
I am the only one who has shot it. I can get close to a 3in group with my P-89 @ 25yds, no pistol rest, My Beretta 96FS is close to that also. I'm using the Springfield for IPSC. The PX9155L is a full size custom loaded .40S&W, 5in barrel with Novak low mounted sights. I just emailed Springfield last week why it was no longer on there site, havent received a response yet. This is my first 1911, so I would be greatfull to any help or suggestions. I'm not sure what you mean by the barrel hood, Is it where the cal. is stamped in the barrel?

p3ordie
 
I would just keep trying it at the range before you make a verdict. When I switched from a CZ-75 PCR to a 1911, my accuracy was poor at first. It wasn't the gun's fault...
 
Yes the hood is the top part that is exposed when the slide is closed. Have someone that is used to a 1911 type give it a shot, and be sure you are not resting the slide on your rest. It is easy to let the rest touch the dust cover and the slide, it has to be on the dustcover only, or better yet only touching your hands. If you can shoot the others well this one should turn around for you pretty quickly or there is a problem.

A 1911 that won't shoot is either a poorly fitted barrel and/or bushing, a tough trigger, or some combination of all the above.

When the slide is locked forward can you push the barrel down into the slide at all? Is the barrel able to move in the bushing more than a couple thousandths? Will the barrel move back and forth in the slide when closed? Is the bushing loose in the slide?

You need to put at least 500 rounds through it too, manners do improve on a 1911 with some break-in. I have had some pretty sloppy 1911's shoot darn good, so don't give up. Shoot the crap out of it next time out, see what it will do.
 
HSMITH,
The hood on my does have scratches in it. I do not know if mine is typical for 500 rounds. I was going to take a pic but the camera needs charging. I did take a look at the barrel link. It is not a tight fit by any means. I used a caliper on it and took several measurments, there is approximatley .008 ~ .009" play in the link, is this typical? I could not feel any movement in the barrel when the slide was forward. I don't think there is any movement when trying to push the barrel toward the slide either. I wiil continue to shoot and hope that I and the pistol will get better. I appreceiate the help!

p3ordie
 
I am not sure how you checked the link. If you had the barrel in your hand then the link should have some play in it, yours is fine if that is the case. How did you check it exactly?
 
Difficult to explain. I used a dig. caliper. First I pulled on the link to take up all the slack in one direction then measured the length then pushed it in the opposite direction and took another measurement.

p3ordie
 
Hmmm.. First, your not hurting for accuracy at IPSC with those groups. Tighter is better, but if you shoot an 8 inch group. your bullet will be with-in 4 inches of POA, if your zero'ed correctly. Second, my limited experiance with .40 S&W "suggests" that ball ammo isn't quite right. My Glock 27 loved JHP ammo.

Sorry I can't be of more help.
 
Did you put a Shok-Buff in it?
image

One of my Springfield's hated them, and my groups sucked.
 
Your link is fine, the way you measured it tells you the slop in the pin basically if I follow what you wrote. You cannot move the barrel in lockup so that is a good sign.

I will probably get flamed for this but oh well: I have yet to see a 40 that will do better than 4" at 25 yards, most are in the 6-8" range. I don't know why this is, but I just have not been able to get my hands on an accurate 40.

I have had springfields over the years in 45, and all were good shooters. I would expect more than you are getting from a springfield for sure, but would not be all that surprised if it does not do any better. Keep plugging, try all the different ammo you can find. If it still does not shoot send it back, or take it to a smith.

The pic Jason put up is a rubber piece that goes inbetween the recoil spring and the recoil spring guide. The recoil shoulder on the slide hits this rubber piece at full slide travel instead of hitting the recoil spring guide that is up against the frame. The rubber cushions the blow, saving some wear and tear on the gun. There are guys that swear by them, there are guys that hate them. I run one in my alloy P14, and it has not missed a beat. I ran one in a colt and it would not feed at all with it in there. I use them where it will not compromise reliability, otherwise I keep them in the drawer.
 
HSMITH,
Thanks for your help, and the info on the Shok-Buff. I guess my reasons for getting the .40 for IPSC was more rounds per clip and little less recoil. I will stick with the .40 and give it a chance, if it does'nt get any better that may be a different story, Thanks.

p3ordie
 
Most Springfields I've ever owned simply needed a lot of shooting to break in. More so than any other manufacturer.

The last one I bought shot as you describe, out of the box. The patterns were more like those of a 12ga w/ OO buckshot. 5-6" at 25 FEET.

After 500 rounds it was tightening up noticeably and after a thousand rounds the thing is a tack driver.

The models with a bushing seem to break in more quickly than the bushingless bull bbl models.
 
It is possible they reamed out the chamber to improve feeding. If so, that could effect the accuracy. I wouldn't think the effect wouldn't be that much, but it could happen.
 
Old Fuff,
The work order say's they re-ramped BBL, reamed & polished BBL, re-set extractor, tested. No offense, but I hope you are wrong about reaming the barrel! not a good feeling.

p3ordie
 
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