Why's my 1911 doing this?

Kayser · March 20, 2005, 04:56 PM

When collecting brass at the range today, I noticed that a small % of my spent primers had a hard to identify extra ding in them. I thought it might be related to my reloads, but they were present on brand new WWB.

The gun could have been doing this since the dawn of time - only recently have I started critically eyeing the brass. What causes something like this? They're really weird because the striker mark is nice and precise - there's just that extra ding on it. I know 1911's are supposed to be mean to brass, but what the heck?

Thanks!

HankL · March 20, 2005, 05:07 PM

It looks like your pistol is beginning to unlock before the firing pin gets out of the way. A new firing pin spring would probably take care of this.
HTH

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2005, 05:11 PM

It's called firing pin wipe.

A lot of guns do this, and it's perfectly normal.

My EAA Witness in 10mm looks like the primers have been stamped with a piece of barstock.

Kayser · March 20, 2005, 05:19 PM

Gotcha. That would make sense - the gun's coming up on 5 years old with many many rounds and no major spring replacements (besides the recoil spring).

March 20, 2005, 04:56 PM	#1
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	Why's my 1911 doing this? When collecting brass at the range today, I noticed that a small % of my spent primers had a hard to identify extra ding in them. I thought it might be related to my reloads, but they were present on brand new WWB. The gun could have been doing this since the dawn of time - only recently have I started critically eyeing the brass. What causes something like this? They're really weird because the striker mark is nice and precise - there's just that extra ding on it. I know 1911's are supposed to be mean to brass, but what the heck? Thanks!

March 20, 2005, 05:07 PM	#2
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Timing It looks like your pistol is beginning to unlock before the firing pin gets out of the way. A new firing pin spring would probably take care of this. HTH

March 20, 2005, 05:11 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	It's called firing pin wipe. A lot of guns do this, and it's perfectly normal. My EAA Witness in 10mm looks like the primers have been stamped with a piece of barstock. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2005, 05:19 PM	#4
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	Gotcha. That would make sense - the gun's coming up on 5 years old with many many rounds and no major spring replacements (besides the recoil spring).