1911 hood slop between breechface guide rails

[FullEffect1911]

Just as the title sounds i have some slop between the breechface guide rails and the hood of my barrel (SS SA mil-spec). if i butt one side of the hood against the side of the guide rails there is a total of .031 inches space between the other side of the hood and the other rail.

This seems like a whole lot more then what i've been reading is desired. Will this damage the barrel or will it just make it less accurate? The rest of the lock up looks decent.

Is a new barrel in order? Possibly an Old Fuff like phone call to springfield


please help the helpless...
FE1911

 

[HSMITH]

How does it shoot?

.031" is a lot, but I've seen more on guns that are dead solid reliable and nicely accurate.

 

[Old Fuff]

It may be that the rails in the breechface are too far apart, or of course it's more likely the hood is too narrow. I would say that one of the two is out of tolerance, but they might say it "was within specification." The gap isn't bad enough to endanger you, but it is just plain sloppy.

If you happen to be somewhere where another person (friend, dealer, whatever) has another .45, field strip both pistols and put the other barrel in your gun and see if the gap goes away.

In any case I would send it back for correction. You paid up front for a good gun, why should you now pay for a replacement barrel or slide?

 

[FullEffect1911]

true enough fuff, i'll see if i can just send the barrel to them and get it replaced... they are willing to do it with mags, why not barrels.

I haven't shot the gun yet because i like to check them out prior to doing so, so it could be a great shooter, i'm just not done with my checkout yet.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Old Fuff]

I would send the gun in an off chance that the slide's breechface is wrong, and not the barrel hood. This is not likely, but possible. That's why I suggested that you try another barrel and check the hood for fit.

They may send you a barrel, but I doubt it. Unlike magazines, barrels sometimes require fitting. They would also want to be sure that the barrel was indeed defective (from their point of view). Last but not least, barrels are much more expensive then magazines.

While the gap is (in my view) excessive, some might consider it to be acceptable in a low-end mil-spec pistol. So far as the gap is concerned, it doesn't compromise the safety of the pistol, so I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it. If the accuracy is unacceptable you have another point to your claim. If you are satisfied with the groups it produces you may change your mind about sending it back or demanding a replacement barrel.

There is (or should be) an equal concern about reliability. If you shoot it and it doesn't function I would certainly return it to the maker.

 

[FullEffect1911]

Fuff,

I agree completely, i'll shoot it and make a decision. I still have to get rid of some stem bind on this guy, and suprise suprise the extractor seems like junk... :banghead:.

Also on a semi unrelated matter, there is a slight edge of a part sticking out inside the magazine well, which sometimes prevents the mags from nicely sliding in there. Whatever it is its just the edge of something... weird. I'll have to check it out at some point. I love new production guns, don't you?

Ah, well. I'll get all the kinks worked out.

 

[Old Fuff]

I hope your pistol is an exception to the rule, but somehow I doubt it ...

Remove the magazine catch and then see if the magazine goes in and out of the well as it should. If not, detail strip the frame assembly and remove the sear/disconector spring and test with the magazine again. Your problem may be caused by the little tab on the bottom of the spring. If you're still not getting anywhere remove the grip screws on at a time and see if a long one is rubbing on the side of the magazine. Also carefully look at the magazine for tell-tale rub marks.

Once upon a time, in a world long gone, companies hired what were called "final inspectors." Their job was to see that people like you didn't have to do what you're doing now ...

 

[FullEffect1911]

spotted the snag

Well Mr. Fuff, it seems as though it is the disconnector protruding in the mag well... And it only seems to catch when there are rounds loaded in the mag. Also i can sort of tilt the mag forward to avoid the snag, however it shouldn't be there in the first place.

What are possible solutions for this if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Jammer Six]

What?

The disconnector protrudes into the magazine well?

 

[FullEffect1911]

well then my mistake, i thought that might be what is is , jumped the gun i guess, sorry. Alright as i'm not entirly sure what part it is i'll explain as best i can. When looking at the top of the frame at the disconnect and pushing it in by hand, and while pusing in looking into where the mag goes, the part will protrude slightly . Infact the problem only seems to happen when the hammer is back and only when rounds are loaded. I thought it was the disconnect.

It is a part right above the visible spring inside where the magazine goes, maybe 3/4 up.

Sorry for the lack of knowledge about the internals of the frame, i'm learning as i go.

P.S. can anyone recommend a good aftermarket stainless spur hammer? They seem much less common then the commander styles

 

[Lonestar.45]

Not to be a smart aleck, but, before sending it back, proclaiming the extractor junk, diagnosing problems, etc. etc., I'd seriously suggest shooting it (and if new, breaking it in) and going from there. That will tell you more about what may or may not be wrong with your gun than anyone here can.

 

[FullEffect1911]

No offense taken, I did shoot it yesterday to see if i would get hammer bite from the spur hammer and grip saftey, i didn't. However i did get a light stem bind which i can clear up on my own. The mags get caught, and the barrel hood is most definetly out of spec and looks like it was butchered btw. The extractor is a stock springfield one and i'm just gonna replace it before it even has the chance to break down. the tension was set wrong from the factory, no big deal really, but springfields small parts just aren't up to par. I do like the slide and frame though.

I bought the gun to make it to my own designs. And i didn't plan on replaceing the barrel, so if thats out of spec i am already a few steps behind the game.

I've yet to do internals work on a 1911, and as such i apoligized for my ignorance. I couldn't recognize the part from just looking in the mag well.

 

[FullEffect1911]

I hereby retract the apology for the ignorance... (still was a poor explanation though on my part)

Taken from A Brownells Article

"You will see the leading edge of the disconnector hangs slightly into the magazine well opening at the rear of the frame. When a loaded magazine is inserted into the frame, the edge of the top cartridge can come in contact with that bottom edge of the disconnector. This problem is more common with the large diameter rim on the .45 ACP cartridge. As we lighten the trigger pull and reduce trigger and sear movement, this contact between the cartridge rim and the disconnector can cause the hammer to fall and the pistol to fire. Remove material from the disconnector as shown in figure #1 to keep this from happening."