My limited experience with the 1911...

[mcdonl]

Ok, so I wanted a 1911 for sometime. Actually, I needed a reason to reload of .45acp and chose the 1911 platform to satisfy that need.

First thing I did was looked for the most affordable gun I could find. Looks were not important as I do not care, and they all look the same for the most part.

I did my research on accuracy and reliable (Using THR) and came to the conclusion that they all suck, and are unreliable (Or that they are all awesome, tack driving go bang every time guns....) so it brought me back to price... my #1 consideration anyway.

I chose the ATI (SAM) FX45 Military Model. This gun was $369 Brand New, with a 2 year warranty.

The gun feels great. I guess that is the 1911 feeling that some people get when they hold one. I love the way it feels. The sights are what I knew they would be... low profile, GI style sights. I am not expert on fit and finish but it had no scratches and when I shoot it nothing rattled. Is that fit and finish?

I brought the gun to the range with a couple boxes of WWB (I needed brass) and the gun ate it up with no issues at all. I was very happy with the lack of felt recoil. It was better shooting than my .40 actually.

When I got home, it was time to take it apart and see what it was made of. OH MY GOODNESS! I had no idea how difficult it would be getting the slide lock pin back in. I struggled, I forced, I used rubber mallets I bent the pin.

(Flame away... what can I say... I am hard on stuff and not exactly a gunsmith ....)

So, I got it back together and it just did not feel right.... I oiled the crap out of it, racked the slide a million times until it worked right and got it to the point where the only thing that was not right is that I cannot thumb the slide lock release lever, I need to actually move the slide rearward a tad to release it.

At this point, I feel like a complete loser and I called ATI down in Rochester and told them my story... they laughed, put me on hold (Magnum PI Theme song) and then got me on the phone with a smith... I told him my story and he agreed I may have bent the slide lock, although he doubted it. None-the-less he sent me a new one, no questions asked. These guys were awesome.

So, I felt better about it and had loaded up 200 rounds of 230RN and wanted to go see how bad it performed. Well, went through all 200 rounds... no failures at all.

I went home... looked at the thing across the room with that "are you for real" look at loaded another 200 rounds, this time I bumped up the W231 a little.... couple of days later... back to the range... 200 more rounds with no issues at all.

My new pin has not arrived yet, but I typically do not clean my guns until they malfunction or I know over 1000 rounds have been through it so no worries there, and when I get the pin I will take it down again and hope for the same results.

So, I guess the moral of my story is that this platform not only seems to be reliable and flat shooting but it also is truly idiot proof.

Leroy

 

[Olympus]

When I got home, it was time to take it apart and see what it was made of. OH MY GOODNESS! I had no idea how difficult it would be getting the slide lock pin back in. I struggled, I forced, I used rubber mallets I bent the pin.

I'm not going to flame away. I just don't understand how people have so much trouble with putting that piece back in. If you didn't need a rubber mallet to get it out, chances are that you're not going to need one to put it back in either. At the rate you're going, you'll be lucky if you don't put a big idiot mark (slang not directed at you) in the finish too.

Take your time putting it back in. Make sure your slide is in the right place and the barrel link is lined up properly with the hole. Don't force anything! A good way to test the tolerances of the holes are to put the pin through the slide when it's off the gun. The pin should travel smoothly through the slide. Then do the same thing with the pin through the barrel link. If it slides through both smoothly, then the problem is not having everything lined up when you're putting the gun back together. If the holes are tight, then you might want to wipe a little grease on your pin before you put it back through everything.

 

[harmon rabb]

What Olympus said. I can't believe people take a mallet to guns like that. I'm willing to bet he had the slide at the right place, but the barrel link isn't lined up.

It's not hard.

 

[mcdonl]

I agree with everything you said Olympus... and now I know. I am just happy that I was able to find a gun that will put up with me. Thanks on the tip for the fit testing....

 

[Olympus]

Slide stops are easily replaced. Idiot marks are a little harder to fix, especially on blued or parked guns. I cringe every time I pick up a used 1911 at a shop or gun show that has an idiot mark.

It does sound like your barrel link wasn't completely lined up when you went to put in your pin. That tends to happen on new guns where everything is tight and fresh and crisp. A little trick would be to start your pin through one side of the frame just enough where it starts going through the other side. Then lightly shake your gun forward and backward. The barrel link will pivot and swing too. As you're doing that, put a little pressure on your slide stop pin and you'll be able to feel when the barrel link gets in the right spot. Then just push her on through!

 

[earlthegoat2]

where the only thing that was not right is that I cannot thumb the slide lock release lever, I need to actually move the slide rearward a tad to release it.

This is pretty typical in 1911s and I think it is at least somewhat designed into them on certain brands of 1911s or the actual lever itself.

It is a non issue with me since I slingshot the slide upon reloading anyway.

It is also possible your magazine spring is just strong enough to keep you from thumbing it down as well.

 

[mcdonl]

This is pretty typical in 1911s and I think it is at least somewhat designed into them on certain brands of 1911s or the actual lever itself.

It is a non issue with me since I slingshot the slide upon reloading anyway.

It worked before, and it is not an issue with me right now but my goal is to shoot the 1911 class in IDPA and I am not sure if this will be an issue with some of the reloads.

It is also possible your magazine spring is just strong enough to keep you from thumbing it down as well.

Is this the pin that rides in a "cylinder" horizontally across the top of the left grip? It is very stiff...

 

[nearmiss]

The first time I reassembled my first 1911 I fought with it some, now it is just like tieing my shoes and looking back I'm not sure what the problem was. I have had similar experiences with other new guns too (non 1911), probably just newly machined sharp edges that wear after a little use and make the gun easier to work with. This is the kind of attention to detail that $400 wont buy, spend another $1000 or so and I bet the gun goes together much more smoothly.

The 1911 does seem to get a love it or hate it reaction. I have guns of all sorts, revolvers, semi auto in metal, plastic, single action, sa/da, and double only, and while they all have their place and following, for me the 1911 is not just the easiest to shoot but the easiest to shoot accurately. I have 1911s from RIA, Kimber, and Colt, and have had no malfunction/reliability issues with any of them.

 

[earlthegoat2]

No,

what I mean by the magazine spring being strong is that the actual spring in the magazine (where you load your ammo) is probably still new and somewhat stiff. Since the slide release lever is engaged by the magazine follower to lock the slide back when the pistol is empty it stands to reason that the spring pressure that is being exerted on the magazine follower by the magazine spring is a little harder than normal since the gun is new.

Plus a little more break in wont hurt either. A few more rounds down the pipe and a little fiddling with the release lever will probably smooth things out.

 

[fgr39]

the horizontal pin your are talking about is the plunger. it is spring loaded and you may have bent or mangaled it to the point of causing your problems releasing the slide stop with your thumb.

 

[mcdonl]

This is the kind of attention to detail that $400 wont buy, spend another $1000 or so and I bet the gun goes together much more smoothly.

Thanks, but if all a thousand more gets me is easier assembly then I think I will pass

the horizontal pin your are talking about is the plunger. it is spring loaded and you may have bent or mangaled it to the point of causing your problems releasing the slide stop with your thumb.

Ugh... I hope not

The gun shoots flawlessly and once the smith talked me throught he assembly on the phone it went together nice, and shoots with no issues so I am hoping that is not the case.

(where you load your ammo)

My first 1911, not my first gun

Earl, I will try it without the magazine and let you know...

Leroy

 

[fgr39]

if it is a plunger issue I doubt that the tube is bent, just the plunger inside. easy replacement. check the end of your slide stop lever and the tip of the plunger. may just need some cleaning up after the mallet attack

 

[mcdonl]

may just need some cleaning up after the mallet attack

Look Ma, I have a legacy

 

[LCPor9mm]

?????

It is a non issue with me since I slingshot the slide upon reloading anyway

1911 newbe here. Is this something I should know?

 

[Olympus]

I know some of the springs in the plunger are intentionally bent to keep them from shooting out when you remove the slide stop or the thumb safety.

As for being able to release the slide with your thumb, that's pretty common with new guns and springs being tight. I bought a Ruger SR9c a few months ago and the slide lock/release was so tight you could barely push it down to release the slide with two hands! But it has loosened up since and I haven't put 1000 rounds through it. I would say you should be able to start dropping the slide with your thumb after the next couple trips to the range. You just need to break in your springs. I wouldn't sweat it right now.

 

[tydephan]

1911 newbe here. Is this something I should know?

Slingshotting is a method of chambering a round. Instead of using your finger to release the slide stop (assuming slide is locked back and a new mag is inserted,) you grab the back of the slide and pull backwards until you reach full rearward travel, and then let go.

It's a technique that's not unique to the 1911.

Here's a video explaining it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqxYOjap86E

 

[ForumSurfer]

I'm about to start reloading 45 (finally). I find myself wanting to buy another 1911, only full sized and complete with a spur hammer like what you have. I haven't paid much attention to the ATI's, but I like what I'm reading. I was just about to start cruising the local shops for Rock Island's, but $369 OTD is awesome. How about the flat side of the slide? Does it have ATI's marking all over (I hate that about rock island) or is it just flat? I really, really wish all 1911 makers would stop messing up the flats with their silly little names.

 

[LCPor9mm]

Slingshot

Slingshotting is a method of chambering a round. Instead of using your finger to release the slide stop (assuming slide is locked back and a new mag is inserted,) you grab the back of the slide and pull backwards until you reach full rearward travel, and then let go.

Thanks for the info tydephan: I do that. It came naturally since the slide was difficult to release. As an added bonus, I learned just how sharp the front edges of my rear sight are on my new R1.

 

[tydephan]

It came naturally since the slide was difficult to release

Yep. That seems to be the same problem the OP is having as well. As someone else mentioned, that is very common with new guns. My M&P slide lock was almost impossible to depress when I first got it.

Just be careful not to ride the slide forward. When the slide reaches full rearward travel, let go and let Isaac Newton and the recoil spring do its work. Riding the slide forward can sometimes cause failures to feed.

How do you like that R1?

 

[mstrat]

At this point, I feel like a complete loser and I called ATI down in Rochester and told them my story... they laughed, put me on hold (Magnum PI Theme song) and then got me on the phone with a smith... I told him my story and he agreed I may have bent the slide lock, although he doubted it. None-the-less he sent me a new one, no questions asked. These guys were awesome.

I bought a .22lr 1911 ATI (GSG import)... and am extremely pleased with their customer service.

I'd read reports of a few people having the cheap pot metal barrel bushing break, so I called them and they sent me a steel one at zero cost, no questions, no hassle.

The pistol was also supposed to come with 2 extra sets of sights. Again I called them and (whether the store I bought it at lost them, or whether they didn't ship from ATI made no difference) ... they sent me the sights for free, no hassle, no questions.

Top notch customer service in my experience.

 

[BlindJustice]

Uh, mcdonl / OP

what other handguns specifically semi-auto pistols have
you owned/operated/field striped/reassembled?

FYI - it's considered bad practice to release a 1911 slide which has
been locked back with not a cartridge in the magazine - it will fly
forward with no t'load' and slam into battery - moreso than if it were
stripping a round out of the magazine and chambering said round.

You may have figured this out by now, but the way the slide release/lock
operates is different in terms of magazine in the 1911, as well as
if the magazine has loaded rounds or if the magazine is empty.

With use my 1911 slide release/lock operation got easier. I made the
mistake imho of replacing my SW1911's slide release/lock with a Wilson
Combat extended slide release/lock. At the range it backed out and locked
up the slide. I figured it out eventually, had my gun dealer/smith
look at it, and the Wilson COmbat slide release/lock is smaller in diameter
tthan the stock part - so I put the stocker back in and now it's fine
I just hope the loose fit of trhe WC didn't cause sloppy fit with the
slide /. barrel lugs.

Ysliderelease/lockMV

Randall

 

[mcdonl]

what other handguns specifically semi-auto pistols have you owned/operated/field striped/reassembled?

Including but not limited to:

SW6509, SW469, Norinco L213... all of which are very similar to the 1911.... but different.... The L213 has the most similar except for the way the slide lock pin is released.

I was aware that the way the slide lock/function works is different in different magazine conditions:

Mag Present and Loaded, slide automatically goes forward and puts round in chamber.
Mag Present empty, slide locks.
No mag present, Slide goes into battery.

I was not aware that different magazines act differently... if thats what you mean.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I will try it without the magazine and let you know...

I think this is what some folks are referring to.

You should not try to release the slide, using the slide stop, when there is an empty magazine inserted into the gun...that isn't how they are designed to function. That doesn't mean it won't function that way, but that might be why some folks thought you were new to handling semi-auto pistols...well, that and the mallet thing

 

[mcdonl]

You should not try to release the slide, using the slide stop, when there is an empty magazine inserted into the gun...

I don't... I should have been clearer... when the gun is empty (With mag inserted) I drop the magazine to reload. After dropping the magazine I wanted to release the slide lock, and put the gun in my holster. I have always done this, and all of my pistols have LRHO so this has been standard for me.

I have done worse with a hammer.

 

[KodiakBeer]

There are about a hundred good YouTube vids on the subject of breaking down various guns. With 1911's it's usually the barrel bushing that gives newbies fits.