SR1911-10 barrel lower lug is cracked

[sparkyv]

Was cleaning my SR1911-10 after a range session and discovered that the barrel lower lug is cracked. I can see daylight clean through it. Sent a note to Ruger, and I await their response. I'm sure glad it didn't come apart as I was shooting it. Have you ever heard of this happening?

 

[CharliesHammer]

Dang, glad it did not let go. Wish I could be of help but mI've never owned one in 10mm..

 

[Electricmo]

That’s why we disassemble Guns. Glad you found that before it came apart.

 

[Pofficer]

Sorry to hear that.

There is an 8 page thread on RugerForum.com with at least two others who have experienced the same failure you describe. Thread title is “SR1911 10mm Failure...And the Final Update”

Good pictures and possibly useful information as you deal with Ruger.

Good luck.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Ruger CS will 100% without question fix that firearm for you. I'm very glad you weren't hurt and you found it during disassembly and not on the firing line.

 

[243winxb]

sparkyv, Blue Dot is my go-to for 10mm accuracy. 10.4gr to a little above 11 gr works great for 180 grainers

Glad you didnt get hurt.

 

[edwardware]

Hot dang! I want to know how many rounds!

That crack makes it look like the barrel was mis-fit; the vertical rear lug face is not supposed to impact the frame. The underside of the barrel is supposed to sit down into the frame bed and stop vertical movement.

I would also wonder if it was undersprung; how violent was ejection?

 

[sparkyv]

Thanks, Pofficer. Obviously, this failure is nothing new. I'll be reading the rest of this tonight.

Sorry to hear that.

There is an 8 page thread on RugerForum.com with at least two others who have experienced the same failure you describe. Thread title is “SR1911 10mm Failure...And the Final Update”

Good pictures and possibly useful information as you deal with Ruger.

Good luck.

Approximately 1150 rounds, edwardware. Most were on the spicy side. Case ejection was never violent, but they do end up in the next county...typical for 10mm.

Hot dang! I want to know how many rounds!

That crack makes it look like the barrel was mis-fit; the vertical rear lug face is not supposed to impact the frame. The underside of the barrel is supposed to sit down into the frame bed and stop vertical movement.

I would also wonder if it was undersprung; how violent was ejection?

 

[barnetmill]

I once had a cheap barrel from Sarco in a 1911 loose a large part of the chamber area. The .45 loads were not hot. Just defective metallurgy and I suspect that is what is going on in this case.

 

[Got_Lead?]

Colt was making 1911's in the 80's chambered for the 10mm. The cartridge was popular for a while, then they just disappeared. The round was a wee bit stout for the 1911 platform, and things broke. I'm surprised Ruger is offering this chambering in 1911's. At any rate, Ruger will fix the pistol with no out of pocket expenses.

 

[TonyAngel]

Yeah, looks like it may have been a misfitted barrel. I don't think you'll have a problem getting that taken care of. Ruger is a good outfit.

 

[Spats McGee]

I have no responses, but am glad that nobody was hurt. Looking forward to hearing how Ruger responds.

 

[edwardware]

Approximately 1150 rounds, edwardware. Most were on the spicy side. Case ejection was never violent, but they do end up in the next county...typical for 10mm.

10mm has historically been considered a bit hot for 1911 (see Colt Delta Elite). I would absolutely install a squared off pin retainer to reduce opening velocity, and maybe be playing with Wolff extra power springs.

Springs are a balance because you don't want it slamming back onto battery to hard either. The squared pin retainer has no such counter-consequence.

 

[drband]

I would absolutely install a squared off pin retainer to reduce opening velocity, and maybe be playing with Wolff extra power springs.

Great advice ^^^^
The flat-bottom firing pin retainer should do the job!

 

[Rule3]

CALL Ruger rather than writing, much better service. They will be all over it!

 

[JFrank]

Thanks, Pofficer. Obviously, this failure is nothing new. I'll be reading the rest of this tonight.

Hot loads and next county ejection, sounds like too much power and light spring

Approximately 1150 rounds, edwardware. Most were on the spicy side. Case ejection was never violent, but they do end up in the next county...typical for 10mm.

 

[JFrank]

^^^
Why would anyone do that??

 

[tarosean]

Yikes.. Id bet that its metallurgical + the link is too long

 

[ATLDave]

10mm will find out if a gun was made correctly! Incorrectly fit barrels or links, or metallurgical defects... they're gonna get exposed. My personal opinion is that there's not much "margin" in the 1911 for 10mm... it has to be just right to be reasonably durable.

 

[<*(((><]

Like @ATLDave I think the margins are small on the 1911 platform for the 10mm, manufacturers better be on their A game when designing and implementing.

I wonder if where the crack started if it was radiused or just a 90* angle. I would think any stress corners should be radiused to spread the load away from a single point.

Looks like it was very close to totally giving away, looks like an internal fracture started at the arrow:

 

[sparkyv]

CALL Ruger rather than writing, much better service. They will be all over it!

You are probably right, Rule3, no email response today.

 

[Mike J]

I would call. Several years ago I found a freckling of rust under the grips on my SR 1911. I called & they E-mailed me a shipping label & instructions for shipping very quickly. I hope they get you taken care of quickly.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Hot dang! I want to know how many rounds!

That crack makes it look like the barrel was mis-fit; the vertical rear lug face is not supposed to impact the frame. The underside of the barrel is supposed to sit down into the frame bed and stop vertical movement.

I would also wonder if it was undersprung; how violent was ejection?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here. In the M1911 the vertical rear lug face IS supposed to impact the frame (that's why recoil buffers are so popular) -- that's how the barrel is supposed to stop. If the link is too short, the barrel will "stop on the link" and this will eventually crack the lug or pull it loose from the barrel. You can see that this lug has been under tension.

You definitely need a new barrel, but I would get an assortment of links and try them when the barrel is returned and try the gun with longer links. I would go with the longest link that allows reliable functioning.

 

[Demi-human]

That is a very strange crack.
Was there a gouge from the boring tool there before it broke? The edges look cut along the crack.

I think if it broke during firing the action would remain closed, as the link could not pull it down to unlock it, but I don't know for sure.

Has anyone fired one without a link?

One thing is for certain.
That sucks.

 

[TonyAngel]

I was thinking that the link was too short. If it was too long, I'd think that the pistol would have had trouble going into battery. Eh, I'm no pro at fitting barrels. I know just enough to get myself into trouble.

But...the 10mm is a hot round considering the low pressure round that the .45 is which the 1911 was built around.

I remember with my first Delta. I was young and wanted toys. I bought a scope mount meant for a 1911. In hindsight, it was obviously meant for a .45. First range session, shot 100 round of 10mm, came out and said the gun was acting funny. Went to break it down and it turned out that the pin going through the barrel link, which was the main thing holding the scope mount on was mangled.