Storing M1911 with the slide locked.

Probably not. Springs wear from use, not from being compressed. That said, why do it? Storing the gun with the slide forward can help keep the dust bunnies at bay.

Closed and uncocked

Should be fine if the spring is of good quality. If the spring is too stiff this can help it relax a bit.

Anyone who says there is ZERO influence on a spring from storing it fully compressed and then advises people to fully load stiff magazines and leave them that way for a while to make it easier to load the last round... well...

It should be fine but if you are still worried just buy a spare spring to keep handy just in case. They are not expensive.

Outlaw75 said:

Any chance that compressing the recoil spring like for an extend period of time could cause problems?

Click to expand...

I assume you found one that had been stored that way; but if not, why would anyone do this?

But the absolute worst thing that could happen is that you have to replace a spring.

I wouldn’t have any problems storing a 1911 with a Flat Wire Recoil Spring open breach

1KPerDay said:

Anyone who says there is ZERO influence on a spring from storing it fully compressed and then advises people to fully load stiff magazines and leave them that way for a while to make it easier to load the last round... well...

Click to expand...

I know current opinion is compression doesnt weaken springs, its the cycling of compression to extension that does it. Maybe i live outside the world of physics but i left a mossberg 500 loaded for a decade and rarely shot it or replaced shells, the mag spring is now so weak it will barely poop out the last shell so yeah it will weaken when exposed to reality, on paper i guess it wont. Also i use 9 round mags for my glock 30, when new you got to almost stand on it to get the last round in, leave it like that 6 months and all 9 go in with just slight resistance to the final round..
I never store a gun cocked or out of battery, it would make no sense to do so. At least springs are cheap so really i doubt it matters.

Outlaw75 said:

Trying to figure out the best way to cable lock it. My 25 year old step son (who lives with us) is having emotional issues and my wife is insisting that I cable lock the pistols. He's made suicidal gestures before, so we're not taking any chances.

Click to expand...

And sir, I sympathize with your situation, been there, done that. I'd say simply do whatever you can to get that firearm away from your son. If it were me, I'd give it a friend to keep in his locked gun safe. God bless.

Outlaw75 said:

Trying to figure out the best way to cable lock it. My 25 year old step son (who lives with us) is having emotional issues and my wife is insisting that I cable lock the pistols. He's made suicidal gestures before, so we're not taking any chances.

Click to expand...

Remove firing pin , cables are easily cut and locks are easily picked. Im an amature lock picker and havent seen a cable lock i cant open in under 60 seconds with junk from the junk drawer.

THIS...remove the firing pin. Excellent.

Outlaw75 said:

Trying to figure out the best way to cable lock it. My 25 year old step son (who lives with us) is having emotional issues and my wife is insisting that I cable lock the pistols. He's made suicidal gestures before, so we're not taking any chances.

Click to expand...

You can cable lock it through the magwell and out through the breech and then close the slide almost all the way on the cable. Hope you start seeing improvement with your stepson. I know how that is.

Hang in there brother, if it were me, if he were of legal age, I'd kick him out of the house, legally evict him. My wife and I had to do this and we grieve over it, but we realized we were doing the boy no favors by providing him a roof over his head.

The only other idea I could see is take the entire slide off and keep it separate from the frame.

I agree... my dad once told me that 'locks only keep the honest people out.' Anyone who wants to breach a lock will do so. Those cable locks I have could be cut with a set of side cutters and a little strength... I don't trust them.

Good luck...

Keeping it canceled and in a good safe, plus making the gun inoperative by taking away a firing pin and storing that in a different locked box and demo in another locked box, is the most secure way of storage... outside of completely removing the firearms from the house.

Good luck with your dilemma, we feel for you.

Stay safe.

Outlaw75 said:

Trying to figure out the best way to cable lock it. My 25 year old step son (who lives with us) is having emotional issues and my wife is insisting that I cable lock the pistols. He's made suicidal gestures before, so we're not taking any chances.

Click to expand...

if no secure gun safe .....I'd remove the weapons from the home to a safer secure area or whatever I could. never take a chance with a young adult or kid who is unstable/disturbed, etc. cable lock isnt enough, imho. good luck and I feel for you, Sir. crappy situation.

zip ties are a quick way to run something through a barrel or mag well, easy to get off - but, a quick obstacle to put in the way.

Why do it?

FL-NC said:

Why do it?

Click to expand...

Did you read the thread?

@Outlaw75 sorry you’re going through that. That doesn’t sound like an easy situation, and I hope that love and patience will get your step son to a better life.

Obturation said:

I know current opinion is compression doesnt weaken springs, its the cycling of compression to extension that does it. Maybe i live outside the world of physics but i left a mossberg 500 loaded for a decade and rarely shot it or replaced shells, the mag spring is now so weak it will barely poop out the last shell so yeah it will weaken when exposed to reality, on paper i guess it wont. Also i use 9 round mags for my glock 30, when new you got to almost stand on it to get the last round in, leave it like that 6 months and all 9 go in with just slight resistance to the final round..
I never store a gun cocked or out of battery, it would make no sense to do so. At least springs are cheap so really i doubt it matters.

Click to expand...

The CMP sold out all of its Kimber M82 22lr target rifles. Those had been in storage since the 1980's and some dumb cluck had removed the bolt from the action, the mainspring was compressed all that time, and the mainspring lost so much compression strength that the demand was such that JP made replacement striker springs.

Figuring out how the disassemble the bolt was tricky



because the cocking cam screw was left hand thread. But not on all of them!



I know it is an article of faith, promoted ad nauseam by in print gunwriters, that springs never wear out, never loose their tension, and never compress, but I have replaced many a mainspring, many a recoil spring, and therefore I do not consider it good policy to leave a 1911 slide racked open for extended periods of time.

Run the cable lock through the barrel, then hold the slide, release the slide lock, and gently let the slide forward until it stops on the cable. Done. Safe, and not compressed much.