1911 Preventive Maintenance

[Glock_17]

Originally Posted by James K

"Spring do not lose temper from being compressed."
"But they do lose temper from repeated flexing."

Good springs will do neither; bad springs will do both.

I have often stated that good magazines springs will not lose tension from being compressed, even for decades. But not all springs are good, and some of those now being sold are pretty bad. I once removed the long-loaded magazine from a 1911A1 "bureau drawer defense gun". I turned the magazine upside down and shook it - six rounds fell on the floor, the follower stayed down. The spring came out as a compact mass with no tension at all. The owner was not ignorant, he fired in competition, but never checked his HD gun. The magazines were gun show "bargains", sold as GI surplus; they weren't.

Jim

I think there was some wisdom in what my grandfather used to say
"Boy, im to poor to buy cheap"

[JJ45]

Thanks for the replies, good education always.

The 1911 is a big PITA or a labor of love depending how you look at it. I think it's worth it and although I shoot other handguns, I keep coming back to it for it's well known characteristics. I shoot it and the Makarov better than any other pistol.

A few weeks ago I bought a new Colt .45 LW Commander. I described my experience with it so far in the thread below- "Colt Commander slide fit" so it bears not repeating here.

Besides cleaning and lubing it, I am not going to touch it one iota. I intend to shoot it till the cows come home in practice and competition. I'll scrutinize the magazines it likes but other than that it will remain exactly as it came from the box.

[Slopemeno]

I'd hate to say how many rounds have gone down the pipe in my ex-comp gun on the existing recoil spring. It has to be at least 10,000 or more. Still functions well on good ammo. No signs of damage either.

[hdwhit]

Ibmikey wrote:
I thought I would do more than just oil them occasionally like changing recoil springs every World War or so...

;-)

Since we're a little overdue for a global bloodletting, you may have to refine your schedule.

[hdwhit]

James K wrote:
The magazines were gun show "bargains", sold as GI surplus; they weren't.

Well, you never know. G.I. just means "Government Issue". They guy at the gun show might have been telling the truth - sort of - just omitting that the government that surplussed them wasn't the United States government.

[HisSoldier]

More 1911s have been ruined by people trying to "improve" them than by any three other causes.

Agreed, but there is the option of learning how to do it correctly, modify the extractor for instance, easy if done by the instructions shown by 1911 smith's, replace the mags with Checkmate Hybrid welded base mags too, that's easy.

[JJ45]

HisSoldier, I have discovered that the three 1911s I have (2 Colts and 1 SA) are more reliable with those Checkmates you mentioned than anything else.

[osbornk]

I find I don't have any issues with my 1911 as long as I do three things. I shoot, clean and lube. I then repeat and repeat and repeat, etc.