A slew of 1911 q's

[overkill556x45]

I have a Springfield Armory 1911A1 GI model (looks....looked like GI Issue). I want to replace the sights and have a few q's-

1)- Is the SA GI 1911 a narrow or wide tenon?

2) What do I need (tool wise) to take off the old stake-on sight and put on a Mepro or Truglo set (the stake ons, I don't want to slot the front sight unless I have to)

3.) is it possible to do a sight-ectomy without a lot of tools. I only have basic stuff (punches, brass hammer, screwdrivers, etc.)?




And part 2 (aka "The Plot Thickens")


I love my 1911, but it has had spells where it acts up. I had six fail-to-feed stoppages in six days at the range, then I went probably five months without a failure. Yesterday I had a stovepipe out of only 35 rounds! And the gun was clean! I use either BlazerBrass, or Rem UMC 230gr solids and JHP. My recoil spring is a Wilson Combat 18.5lb, gun was lubed with Wilson Ultima grease (I switch to lighter stuff in winter.) My mags are all SA factory 7rd mags. I clean my guns religiously- first with a solvent, wipe dry, then lube for use or storage. I just don't get it. Gremlins? An old Indian curse?

Thanks for your help!

[Don P]

Try here,the members are some of the best out there. They have a good search engine, I would use the search function and post questions if you are unable to find the answers you need. Here's the site
http://www.1911forum.com/

[Harry Bonar]

Sir:
I'd dovetail the front and cut the rear for a Novak lo-mount.
Novak, and ther companies (Millett) make a rear that will use the rear stock cut. I'd definately dovetail the front though.
Harry B.

[Unclenick]

Springfield likes to use a wierd in-between size tenon. I had to mill down a wide tenon to get a fit, the last time I put a stake-on sight in mine. If you take Harry's suggestion, you will find a wider variety of sights available to you.

Removal of an old staked-on sight can usually be accomplished with a pair of pliers. In order to be staked, the steel cannot be hard. Grabbing with pliers and twisting back and forth will fatigue the tenon until it lets go. A more official method, less likely to mar the slide finish, is to use a small round dental burr on a Dremel tool or the like to cut most of the expanded portion of the old tenon away from the inside of the slide, then pulling the sight straight out with the pliers. I know of no way to remove a staked sight that will let you reuse it.

There are three ftf's. Failure to Feed, Fire, and Function. The last of these covers all possible jam-ups, and is the most general term. Stovepipes are different than feed failures, being failures to extract and/or eject a fired case properly. As a result of one, feeding does not occur, of course, but feed failures generally are clip stripping failures or jam-ups on the feed ramp; the bullet is still in the case, but the cartridge is not properly chambered. Which of these is mainly happening to you?

Usually, altering the ejector nose shape or installing a Commander ejector will stop stovepipes. Also, have the extractor checked for tension and have the bottom (feeding) edges of the extractor hook radiused and polished.

Nick