1911 Idiosyncrasy

[Mr_Flintstone]

Be honest… How many of you have launched a 1911 recoil spring plug into orbit? After my first one bounced off the ceiling and hit me in the face, I learned to point the barrel in a safer location when disassembling. Somehow I forgot that lesson a couple days ago, and launched another one into the wall across the room.

 

[JJFitch]

The alternate method is to remove the slide first and then slip the (standard) recoil spring guide off. The recoil spring plug can then be removed without tension. Unless of course you loose control of the recoil spring guide. Then you'll be chasing it around the room!

Smiles,

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Lol. Oh ya, been there once or twice.

Thats a kiddie spring compared to one of these, though-

 

[tark]

Lol. Oh ya, been there once or twice.

Thats a kiddie spring compared to one of these, though-
View attachment 1006658

Amen to that! I once launched a 400s barrel bushing into a picture window in my friends living room. The window cracked. It cost me a ton of money to replace it.

 

[Jim Watson]

There are two recoil spring plugs in another dimension overlapping my old shop. They must have gone there because when I cleaned it out before the building was demolished, the plugs were nowhere to be found, although I turned up other interesting bits and pieces I had not seen in a while.

If you don't insist on a FLGR, a .45 ACP empty will serve as a plug. You just have to check that the bushing hasn't shifted.

 

[unclenunzie]

Nope, but I'm still looking for a plunger tube spring and pin LOL

 

[ontarget]

Launched it the first time I took apart my newest 1911. Not sure what I was thinking. Luckily my body stopped the flight after it careened off the wall so I didn't lose it.

Hey maybe we should start calling this an accidental discharge. LOL.

 

[Clipper67]

I have two ATI Commander .45's, lost the plug on both of them. Ordered replacements, but they are too large. Yep, a spent case works fine...

 

[Jim Watson]

Bought GM plugs for a Commander, most likely.

 

[TomJ]

I did it the first time I took apart a 1911 as well years ago. It flew across my family room and disappeared. How, I've never figured out as we had hardwood floors so there was no carpeting for it to get lost in. I never did find it, even after we moved 3 weeks ago and emptied the house. The best I can figure is that it bounced down a HVAC vent.

 

[cfullgraf]

I will not say I've never launched a spring plug across the room but I do know I've never lost one to another dimension.

I did have a bushing fail once and launch the spring plug down range. It took a while to find that one in the grass.

 

[FL-NC]

I have done it once or twice and seen it done dozens of times. GI plugs have a cut in them to spin the tip of the spring into to prevent this, but those are (were) usually damaged. Launching those things (and other weapons parts) was a safety consideration when I was a SF weapons instructor, since I could potentially have 20-30 students taking guns apart in a classroom at the same time- we had the students point "launchable" items at the wall or floor to prevent loss of parts and more importantly someone catching a gun part in the eye. I heard they are required to wear safety glasses now.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have done it once or twice and seen it done dozens of times. GI plugs have a cut in them to spin the tip of the spring into to prevent this, but those are (were) usually damaged. Launching those things (and other weapons parts) was a safety consideration when I was a SF weapons instructor, since I could potentially have 20-30 students taking guns apart in a classroom at the same time- we had the students point "launchable" items at the wall or floor to prevent loss of parts and more importantly someone catching a gun part in the eye. I heard they are required to wear safety glasses now.

Awww where is your sense of adventure. There is nothing like dodging weapons parts flying around the classroom. And yes I have been there before too. Them plugs can hurt when they hit you in the face and the student(s) get s sheepish look on your face when you give the the angry dad look.

 

[Jimster]

Not yet, but I did earn my “Idiot Scratch” badge.

 

[FL-NC]

Awww where is your sense of adventure. There is nothing like dodging weapons parts flying around the classroom. And yes I have been there before too. Them plugs can hurt when they hit you in the face and the student(s) get s sheepish look on your face when you give the the angry dad look.

I was actually more concerned some knucklehead was going to impale himself to the wall with a 50 caliber drive spring.

 

[12Bravo20]

Yeah Ma Deuce is nothing to play around with especially when disassembling them.

 

[JTQ]

Not yet, but I did earn my “Idiot Scratch” badge.

Yes, this is where I'm at in my 30 years of 1911 ownership.

 

[WrongHanded]

I suppose if you ever run out of ammo and are in a tight spot, you can always start disassembling your 1911 and see what you can hit them with.

 

[Hanshi]

I learned long, long ago to cup my left hand over the bushing & spring when dis/assembling the pistol. They have still gotten away from me a couple of times, but because my hand was in the way they never went went anywhere. Barring that holding it close to the body will help.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Heh!

I typically take the slide off first.

However, if I don't I cup my left hand over the muzzle while my right hand does the compression/rotation work.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Been there, done that. I also lost a barrel spring guide for 2-weeks. Never again.

 

[Tallball]

There is still a plug somewhere in this house... unless it flew into that other dimension.

 

[CapnMac]

A bushing wrench can be of assistance in this endeavor.

Or, it will just add to the clutter across the room right after the [Expletive!]

Mind, in teaching the "push the slide stop pin out" method, I've seen some entire slides launched semi-ballistically . . .

And, for everyone who has ever taught a neophyte the 1911, that nifty moment when the student has failed to get the stop pin through the link . . .

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

There is still a plug somewhere in this house... unless it flew into that other dimension.

According to the Many Worlds Hypothesis, there actually IS a dimension comprised of nothing but 1911 spring plugs.....

 

[JTQ]

A bushing wrench can be of assistance in this endeavor.

There is also the "Thumb Buddy", which could help, or if you're inclined to launch plugs, another thing that can be launched.

http://www.slip2000.com/slip2000_thumbbuddy.php