1911 not firing.

[ulflyer]

One way to see if the firing pin is working, drop a pencil or wood dowel down the barrel, pull trigger, if it pops out the pin is working.

 

[mjsdwash]

AO uses the most overpowered firing pin spring I have ever seen. Mine was somewhere in the range of 50lb. Every other 1911 seemed to be in the 2-3lb range. I would recommend replacing that spring if you plan to keep the safety installed. I believe its supposed to be a drop safety, but it makes cleaning the channel a nightmare. My strongest advise to you and any other AO owner is to replace the ejector as soon as possible. Its a cast part, and not strong enough for the job. A forged ejector costs about $20, and takes minimal skill, and about 1/2 hour to install. Fixing after it broke cost me $120 to have the stud drilled out. Love the pistol though.

 

[JTQ]

AO uses the most overpowered firing pin spring I have ever seen. Mine was somewhere in the range of 50lb. Every other 1911 seemed to be in the 2-3lb range. ...I believe its supposed to be a drop safety, but it makes cleaning the channel a nightmare.

Certainly possible, but the Auto Ordnance has a firing pin safety so it would seem unlikely that is the reason.

 

[halfmoonclip]

mjs', does your pistol indeed have a firing pin safety?
BTW, your point is taken entirely, but you are talking about the extractor ; getting a broken one out of the slide would be a real PITA.
Moon

 

[JJFitch]

Do you mean it's off the rails in a good way, JJFitch? Or is this a joke about the slide rails that I don't understand?

"Off the rails" means it's going now where and needs to be put back on the rails. Re-read my post and #18!

Smiles,

 

[mjsdwash]

Certainly possible, but the Auto Ordnance has a firing pin safety so it would seem unlikely that is the reason.

its either that or they thought a 50# firing pin spring thats so tight it needs a jig to install, and limited to federal primers to light was reasonable. maybe mine was just a bad spring? Its easily as strong as any hammer spring I have seen, and I cant think of any other reason beyond a second insurance against failure or removal of the series 80 setup. It was not a hammer spring someone accidentally put it, it looked like a normal firing pin spring. Given the fact I don't see this in complaints, I can believe that maybe mine was bad.