I took my SR1911 to the range yesterday. It has been perfect since out of the box but not so this time. I was on the second magazine and it just stopped. I dropped the magazine out and was able to get the spent case out. Then the slide locked up. Nothing I did at the range helped so I put it away until I got home. Here I verifyed that it was empty but still sothing I did could get the slide freed up. It will slide back about 3/16" and hits a solid stop. I removed the bushing, plunger and recoil spring and still it was a no-go. On doing so I saw something drop to the carpet. It was a piece of the recoil spring about 3/8" long. Any advise as to what happened or how to get the slide free? If I can't get it I'll be contacting Ruger tomorrow.
SR1911 Problem
- Thread starter Racinbob
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Well folks, I may have just answered my own question. It's a trip to Prescott. I was searching and found an old thread (2005) about this problem. There was a reference to firing behind a stuck bullet....didn't happen. Most agreeded that something broke, maybe a lug. In any case this is a job for Ruger in my opinion. Feel free to add your opinions. Thanks.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
A picture of the broken part and the barrel would help.
I've never heard tell of a piece of a recoil spring breaking.
I've never heard tell of a piece of a recoil spring breaking.
I've never heard of a recoil spring breaking either but there's no doubt that's what it was. As I mentioned, it's about 3/8" long and it snapped off from the end of the spring. I didn't think to take pictures because there was really nothing to look at other than that little piece. I couldn't get inside the pistol to see the damage. I called Ruger yesterday morning and, as I've heard about their customer service, within minutes had a shipping label emailed to me and it's already making the trip to Prescott. I should get it back in about 2weeks. The lady on the phone was great and her only concern was if I was certain it didn't have a live round in the chamber. Whenever a problem occurs the first thing I do is remove the magazine. That was fortunate because it likely would have chambered a fresh round when I ejected the spent round out of it. That was the last time I was able to rack the slide. Of course I verified that it was empty with a wood dowel measuring to the breech face, then a mirror and the loaded chamber inspection hole. As soon as I get it back I'll post the findings.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Try it again while maintaining firm thumb pressure on top of the barrel hood. You may have to push forward/pull back a few times to get the slide to move past the solid stop.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
If they tell you?
They will Have to Kill You before you can post it I betcha!
I've already lost two friends that way.
I think???
rc
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
rc...My money is on a broken link...and the 3/16ths inch of slide travel is actually 4/16ths...er...a quarter-inch.
If the barrel can't link down, the upper lugs remain vertically engaged in the slide. When the rear face of the lower barrel lug hits the vertical impact surface...the slide is stopped solidly. Manually pushing down on the barrel disengages the upper lugs and lets the slide pass over the top.
If the barrel can't link down, the upper lugs remain vertically engaged in the slide. When the rear face of the lower barrel lug hits the vertical impact surface...the slide is stopped solidly. Manually pushing down on the barrel disengages the upper lugs and lets the slide pass over the top.
I don't know if this tells you anything but at one point when I had decided to give up the slide was locked tight in the rearward position, OK maybe 1/4" (I didn't have my old eyes glasses on). I decided to put the recoil spring back in but the barrel was pinned in the downward position not allowing the bushing to go back in. Only after some more fiddling and 
was I able to get the slide fully closed and reinstall the bushing. At that point I lost the ability to move the slide at all. Finally back together I packed it up for the trip to Prescott.
RC, now you've got me scared. As I type this I've got my sunglasses and stick on mustache on.
In all fairness to Ruger, I understand that it's a mechanical device and things happen. There's no way I'd say anything negative about them or the pistol because of the way they have handled this so far. Simply outstanding customer service. Now....don't ask me about my experience with Kahr
was I able to get the slide fully closed and reinstall the bushing. At that point I lost the ability to move the slide at all. Finally back together I packed it up for the trip to Prescott.RC, now you've got me scared. As I type this I've got my sunglasses and stick on mustache on.
In all fairness to Ruger, I understand that it's a mechanical device and things happen. There's no way I'd say anything negative about them or the pistol because of the way they have handled this so far. Simply outstanding customer service. Now....don't ask me about my experience with Kahr
Well, that didn't take long. I received an email yesterday afternoon from Ruger. It was the tracking number and I'll have it back tomorrow (Wednesday)by 5:00. Needless to say, I'm anxious to get it back and see what they did......if they tell me.
WoodchuckAssassin
Member
Is the barrel link on the SR1911 a MIM part? If so, that might be the problem. I know that MIM parts are more likely to break, but I forget which parts are made that way.
I own and love the SR1911, so I'm very curious what the problem is. With 1000 rounds down range, I haven't had a problem yet.
I own and love the SR1911, so I'm very curious what the problem is. With 1000 rounds down range, I haven't had a problem yet.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
No. I've seen a couple on the old Thompson Auto Ordnance pistols that appeared to be castings, but that's been a good many years ago.
OilyPablo
Member
Blaming the MIM without data? THR should be well above that.
Jolly Rogers
Member
There is no economic advantage to use MIM to make a 1911 barrel link. The investment in the mold is expensive and only pays off with a large production run of a difficult to machine part. Flat stock with 2 holes doesn't qualify. Also MIM is not at its best in tension. Works well in compression.
Joe
Joe
Well folks, the turn around time was great. 9 days. All the paperwork said was that they replaced the barrel and plunger spring then test fired 20 rounds. It also stated 1 time complimentary repair?? I field stripped it only to find yet another piece of the recoil spring sticking to the slide. It was just a little smaller than the piece I've already mentioned. There's some marks on the back edge of the dust shield and on the guide rod that definitely look like it was banging on the broken pieces for a few rounds prior to locking up. The barrel to bushing fit seems rather loose now as well but if the accuracy remains I won't worry about that. I can't say I'm 100% happy with the repair job at this time.
Some of the Ruger 1911s are leaving the factory with poorly fitted barrels. I am not sure if yours was one of them or not. I examined two at a local gunshop with a lot of vertical movement at lockup. Here is a video of one :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxD-3vdd7uw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxD-3vdd7uw
I'm not sure how to categorize that. I don't know that you could call that barrel movement.
as he pushes down on the hood the barrel isn't moving independent of the slide. Both the barrel and slide are moving together in the direction that they were designed to travel in.
OK folks. Here's some pictures. I just laid the piece of spring where I found it. The piece that fell out before I sent it back was about 50% longer. I sent that back with the gun. Combined they probably equal 3/4 of a coil. I believe that it was clearly from the recoil spring. You can see the marks on the guide rod and back of the dust shield. I'm sure some marks are normal but it looks obvious to me that the spring piece was beat there a few times.
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Blue68f100
Member
I think it time to change to a good spring. Springs breaking like that is not normal if it's changes as recommended. I have only had on RS break (not 1911) and I went 1500 rounds past recommendations. I stopped shooting when the recoil was odd. When I tore it down it was intact but just by a thread. It actually broke in the middle.
Keep those pieces next time Ruger doesn't want to warrant there gun. It will change there minds. All most like they got a batch of springs out of spec, not heat treated right.
Keep those pieces next time Ruger doesn't want to warrant there gun. It will change there minds. All most like they got a batch of springs out of spec, not heat treated right.
The bigger piece was sent back to Ruger with the gun. I'll definitely keep this piece in a labeled envelope. I do plan on a couple top shelf replacement springs but hopefully this was an isolated case. I don't see an issue with the dings on the dust shield or guide rod other than it bugs me. I think I should clean up the inside edge on the dust shield because it is a bit rough now. I haven't put it back together yet because I was waiting on input from better 1911 mechanics than me. My fairly recent Ruger purchases include this SR1911, a SR9, SR22, LCP and LC9 and I'm wanting a SR45. I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the repair job from them. Hopefully a range test will show it to be back 100%.
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