1911 reassembly question

[The Freeholder]

Forgive a newbie pistol owner...I come from a long gun background, and pistols are not my strong point.

I have a Springfield M1911 Loaded, purchased new. Very nice pistol, very crappy owner's manual. I went to the range yesterday, and fired 21 rounds (3 7 round magazines) with absolutely no problems.

I got home, pulled out Mr. Manual, reread the field-stripping procedure, and stripped the gun with very little problem. Cleaned it up, started the reassembly. Pretty much the sum total of the instructions were "Assembly is the reverse of the disassembly procedure". They do note that you must get the slide lock pin through the barrel link.

Much swearing, experimenting and a scratch on the slide later (Yes, I'm PO'd about that--$1000 list pistol and a $1 manual. Are pictures so expensive? At least it's not deep, and I *think* it can be buffed out.) I've got the gun back together. It passes the standard function tests.

The question finally is, how are you sure that you really got the slide lock pin through the barrel link? I dread the idea of a major malfunction the next time I get a chance to shoot.

Thanks.

 

[BlackJack]

If you don't get the pin through the barrel link hole the pistol won't pass the function check. So if it works properly when manually operated its in the right way.

One thing that might help with those two piece guide rods is to assemble the gun entirely without the front end of the guide rod, then simply screw the front of the guide rod into the back half with the pistol fully assembled.

Just take your time and take it down and reassemble a few times. In short order you'll be able to do it quickly and without a manual.

Good luck and enjoy your SA. Great pistol.