1911 Idiosyncrasy

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Relative to captive springs going flying, had it happened on occasion. They always manage to end up in the most obscure location. Was taking down a 380 inspired copy of a 1911. I had a door slightly open about by an inch and at the end of the cupboard was a work boot and I found it in the boot. On a the recoil guide to a P14, I lost my grip and the plug ended up going to a bookshelf where there was a box holding reprints. I found it in that box two years later. Prior to taking such things apart these days I go to the bathroom and put plugs in all drains, drop the toilet seat-cover and put the gun in the tub with the shower curtain drawn. This way I can find the part. I have seen people lose such things at shooting ranges.
 
For you youngsters...if you take to the 1911 as literally thousands have over the past century, you WILL launch a recoil spring plug...just remember, a spent .45 acp case will serve the same function till you can get a replacement. And BTW, spend and equal amount of time with a Garand, and you WILL get at least one "Garand Thumb". Best regards...Rod
 
It can happen to the best of us;

I was with a guy that worked for a top, somewhat unknown 1911 mechanic at the Tulsa gun show. He asked to take apart a 1911 that I was thinking of buying.

That plug and spring went flying 25 feet down the isle, somehow managed to miss people, hit the floor and slide under a curtained table.

Luckily for him, I saw the flight path and was able to recover the parts which saved him further embarrassment and the cost of having to buy the pistol.
 
CapnMac said:
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 . . .
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Oh so true.

And as much time I have with the 1911 both in the Army and as a civilian, I still occasionally have things happen. Yes I still launch the spring or bushing if I get into a hurry after all these years. Part of my problem is that I also have too many pistols that are similar to the 1911 but not the same. I have several Star pistols and Sigs.

You are correct that not getting the pin through the link can be very frustrating especially to someone new to the 1911.
 
Nature Boy said:
I just resign myself that I will be chasing the spring across the room. I’m a happier person now.
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LoL.
Hard part is convincing the dog not to chew on it [:)]

This thread gave me a rememory of back before Glocks had generations, and the recoil springs were not captive--those lil' buggers would fly . . . enough to red shift while sailing away.
 
I've never had that particular case happen, but I've launched a ton of various other gun springs and parts into an alternate dimension never to be found again.

What I've started doing a lot when doing a gun assembly these days is to go into a hallway, shut all the doors, and then assemble there. If a spring flies it's in a small area and should be the only thing on the floor.
 
While launching the recoil spring or the bushing on the 1911 happens, it is easy to control and prevent. And I have launched springs on other types of guns too in the past. The first time I took down my S&W 22A, the whole recoil spring assembly took off on me. I called S&W and they said no problem and sent me a new one out along with a handful of extra buffers.

And as mentioned, you don't let a trainee disassemble the M2 "Ma Deuce" 50 cal machine gun without close supervision, those can seriously harm you.

And when assembling a stripped AR lower, it is almost guaranteed that you will launch the front detent spring at lest once or twice until you figure out the little tricks on installing the front take down pin.
 
In 1964 I was taught the proper disassembly procedure of the 1911A1 at MCRD Parris Island SC. Thus I did not and do not suffer flying object syndrome :neener:.
 
After the first couple times, I bought a tool to help disassemble. I got used to the process and don't use the tool any longer.

Regards,
Josh
 
Haven’t had a 1911 disassembly mishap yet, but I will say that taking down a Ruger 22/45 (a 1996 made version) is akin to assembling a NASA certified rocket. To this day I will not attempt it without a manual and at least an hours worth of uninterrupted time.

Oh my goodness. Or maybe it’s just me?
 
Sounds like you folks need to get a proper USGI Recoil Spring Plug.

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The tab should keep the spring attached to the plug, and the reduced coil diameter of the last coil of the spring should keep the spring attached to the Recoil Spring Guide.
 
md7 said:
Haven’t had a 1911 disassembly mishap yet, but I will say that taking down a Ruger 22/45 (a 1996 made version) is akin to assembling a NASA certified rocket. To this day I will not attempt it without a manual and at least an hours worth of uninterrupted time.

Oh my goodness. Or maybe it’s just me?
Click to expand...
Oh yeah. Reassembly is terrible. Reinsert the magazine, turn the gun 3/4 upside down, bite your lower lip, close your left eye, pull the trigger, remove the magazine, insert the bolt, reinsert the magazine, point 3/4 downward, pull the trigger, point back into the air, pull the trigger, say a prayer, close the mainspring housing, and release the trigger. Repeat as necessary until it works.
 
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