Cleaned my 1911 for the first time

[jahwarrior]

i haven't noticed any difference between traditional style guide rods and full length guide rods, in terms of recoil, accuracy, or field stripping. practice, practice, PRACTICE makes the difference.

 

[SSN Vet]

... 9 years ago, I did my Internet research and bought ... a 1911. The Dan Wesson PM7-S ... and only recently, after 9 years, shot my only 1911 for the first time.

Dude... that's just so wrong on multiple levels.... you need to box that puppy up and send her to someone (like me) who will properly service her on a more regular basis Not to fear, however, BHO is changing the tax code to ensure you aren't able to make such a gratuitus mistake again.

FLGR = imho

Overcomplicating a beautifully simple system that works well as designed is not my idea of good engineering.

If anyone wants to make the business end of their 1911 heavier to tame muzzle flip, I have some lead tape I'd be happy to sell them

As for the tight bushing.... why sand it down to loosen it up, when most people send them to a smith to have one fitted extra tight?

Your DW should have come with a blue plastic bushing wrench.

 

[VJ]

valnar - Changing from a full length guide rod to a GI rod and plug is a great way to simplify the process of stripping your 1911. IMHO, the fewer tools you need to disassemble the 1911, the better. That also means switching out the torx or hex grip screws for flat head GI screws fat enough to use the rim of a .45 casing. It's also easy to do and the process of swapping out those parts will likely whet your appetite for upgrading your 1911 piece by piece.

For starters, this link is good resource for 1911 disassembly: 1911 Disassebly. Remember to only go as far as 1:55 if you're just doing a field strip.

You already got the recoil spring plug from Ed Brown... you can get the GI guide rod there, too. 10-8 Performance sells nice GI grip screws. 10-8 also sells a nice slide stop with geometry to help eliminate the "idiot scratch"

.... and I could probably go on and on about little components which you can swap out for better components... so welcome to the wonderful world of the 1911! Once you pop... you know the rest, or you will in the next few weeks.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

EAJ, thanks for the pictures. They convey how classic the 1911 really is-a fine handgun. It's probably my favorite handgun-my sidearm in the US Army.
As I said before, I love my Springfield Champion .45-very rugged, dependable, very accurate. These handguns can take the environment-weather, rain, snow does not phase them.
The 1911 has turned 100 years and is still going strong a testament of its strength and design.

 

[harmon rabb]

Seriously meow. They're not as simple as Glock or whatever, but I don't see the big deal.

It's certainly IMO not worth buying a GI-style plunger & spring setup to replace the FLGR.

Like somebody else said, find a good video, watch closely, try it yourself and take your time.

BTW you don't need a bushing wrench.....I use the baseplate of the magazine to depress the guide rod spring.

ever field stripped a DW? the issue isn't the FLGR. the issue is how stupidly tight the barrel bushings are.

 

[Nushif]

It is always interesting to me that this many knowledgeable 1911 cultis- fans can get together and *none* of them know the right procedure to take down a FLGR 1911 without tools. Seriously, maybe it is because those are the only ones I have owned, but it is almost as simple as a Glock FFS!

 

[harmon rabb]

It is always interesting to me that this many knowledgeable 1911 cultis- fans can get together and *none* of them know the right procedure to take down a FLGR 1911 without tools. Seriously, maybe it is because those are the only ones I have owned, but it is almost as simple as a Glock FFS!

uh, the DW guide rods are two piece, and you need an allen wrench to remove the first half. in addition, the DW bushings are so tight that you absolutely need a bushing wrench. no way are you moving those by hand.

(hell, mine is so tight, it chews up the plastic bushing wrenches!)

 

[pekosROB]

When I first field stripped my Kimber Eclipse Target II I thought I was going to kill someone. The slide stop WOULD NOT come out. I even got an idiot scratch/mark because of it. But now it pops out regularly and I don't mind the idiot scratch, I've gotten over it.

But don't give up on that Wesson just yet, if you shoot it quite often you will learn how much you didn't realize how awesome it is to shoot and how much fun you have with it. Besides, how could you turn something so pretty down?

 

[valnar]

Even though I've had this gun for years and am now getting "into" it, I realize now how nice a 1911 I bought. It certainly is tight....which is a good thing.

Nevertheless, I ordered a GI rod and a different plug so that things would be easier to disassemble in the future.

 

[Nushif]

I am at work right now, but I am sure someone can post the way to takedown the FLGR models without the tool. If not, I will during lunch. 8)

 

[EAJ]

EAJ, thanks for the pictures.

My pleasure. Have a few SA 1911's too. Excellent company.

SA Loaded LTWT Champion Operator

 

[Lubricant]

V.J's got it.I like to be able to fieldstrip/detail strip my 11's using as few tools as possible.F.L.G.R.is the first thing to go,Then the hex head grip panel screws.And as for torx head grip screws,Why?

 

[Nushif]

Alright, lemme walk you through the process of taking apart a dreaded FLGR 1911 without tools.

Clear it.
Pull back the slide until you can pull out the slide lock pin. Do that.
Pull off the slide.
Now, pull the dreaded FLGR out and remove the spring.
Remove the bushing in front and pull the barrel out the front as well ...
Tadaa! Victory.

Let's put it back together.

Insert the barrel in the slide.
Insert the bushing.
Slap the spring on the dreaded FLGR, insert that in the bushing ....
slide the slide onto the frame, insert slidelock pin and ...
Tadaa! More victory.

And I swear I used no tools.

[edit]
To test the instructions I just had the wife who hates 1911s and doesn't even look at them at a gun show take the gun apart and put it back together again.
She skipped the step where I said to look at my instructions.

Can we please put this myth of the tool requirement to rest now?
[/edit]

 

[Magoo]

I don't own a DW, and don't how tight they are, but I'd wager you couldn't budge the bushing on my Les Baer without a wrench. My plastic one has some scars from "fighting" it.