"Brand Name" Stuff breaks too!

[wally]

Complaints from S&W 1911 owners about cast/MIM parts breakage has been scarce. Lest one think they are immune, here's one:

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1123209#post1123209

--wally.

 

[brickboy240]

I have actually seen in person, a Kimber that had the same malady. A Kimber Custom II stainless, that is.

Since S&W machined parts for Kimber in the past...maybe there is a connection?

That said, I have a 2 year old Springfield Armory 1911 that has had tons of ammo run through it and I have not seen any parts breakage yet. Maybe SA has the MIM thingy down a little better than some others. I also know several people that own SA 1911s and have never had a MIM part break. The worst problem of the Sa 1911s I hear of are the improperly tensioned extractors and crappy factory mags. A quick call to Wilsons and 30 minutes of work and you've cured that for good, so I don't call that a true problem.

Still, unless you buy a 1500-2000 dollar pistol, theres a good chance you're going to get some MIM parts. Colt, Kimber, S&W, Springfield - they all use these parts today. Colt also has several plastic parts, like triggers and mainspring housings on pistols that run 700-800 dollars and more. Cheapo parts are in all ends of the spectrum.

The only way to totally aviod the MIM thingy is to buy an older 1911, like my Series 70 Combat Commander - no MIM there.

- Brickboy240

 

[45auto]

I don't think there's been enough S&W's out and shot enough to detemine whether they are any different than Kimber's...good or bad.

Time will tell how they hold up.

 

[f4t9r]

Springfield Armory has problems just like everybody else does once in awhile.
No matter who makes it somebody has had a problem. Not saying they are not good but dont think they are perfect.

Not suprised by anything I see in a 1911 anymore

 

[Shear_stress]

Lest one think they are immune, here's one

At the risk of sounding like a MIM apologist, one breakage does not a trend make.

 

[horge]

Originally posted by brickboy240
Still, unless you buy a 1500-2000 dollar pistol, theres a good chance you're going to get some MIM parts.

Not quite so
The Rock Island Armory and Armscor 1911's are MIM-free.... though they are made via investment casting, which has its own vulnerabilities. Not sure, but do the Dan Wesson 1911's or the new (Kahr) Auto Ordnance 1911's use MIM?

 

[fastbolt]

Last time I asked someone at S&W about it, the grip safety & safety lock weren't made by S&W. Might've changed recently, or may change in the future, though.

S&W originally invested significant money and research into their use of MIM production, BTW, and my experience with their MIM parts has been good.

 

[dsk]

I don't do MIM parts period. Sorry, but thats just me. I have a bunch of older 1911's and I hang onto them with my life.

 

[deputy tom]

Well in all fairness to S&W I had kimber MIM breakage before Smith introduced their 1911 's.tom.

 

[deputy tom]

Hmmm,double tap.You know what really irritates me?? If I wanted to post two in a row fast,I would get an error message saying "only one post within 30 seconds please".GRRRR.

 

[Hypnogator]

...and I'm having to replace the trigger spring in the red Glock training gun I use for simulator training for the second time in the 18 months I've owned it. Of course, it gets a lot more use than your average Glock.

Hmmm,double tap.You know what really irritates me?? If I wanted to post two in a row fast,I would get an error message saying "only one post within 30 seconds please".GRRRR.

Well, in some states you can't buy more than one gun in 30 days, either!

 

[1911Tuner]

Mim

I don't do MIM parts period. Sorry, but thats just me. I have a bunch of older 1911's and I hang onto them with my life.

+1...at least not on a carry gun. I have MIM sears and disconnects in two of my beaters, (OEM Colt stuff) and haven't had a problem so far...with those pistols. Carry guns are different animals. If a part fails at the range, no sweat. I pick up another gun and keep truckin'. (I normally take at least three on a trip.)I can fix it when I get home.

When the stakes are higher, I don't want MIM in the gun.

And no. No part is immune...cast, MIM, or machined steel. If the gun is used hard enough for long enough, something will probably break. It's just that I've seen much more breakage with cast and MIM parts than machined steel...
MUCH more.