45ACP doubling/follow down

William T. Watts · December 28, 2011, 12:14 PM

I inserted a loaded magazine pulled the slide back and release it, subsequently the pistol discharged. Other than the obvious shock and checking for damage in my shop I couldn't belive something like this could happen. I have the Kuhnhausen Shop Manual that I purchase while a student at TSJC that pointed to the problem, Apparently the sear spring had worn and was responsible for the discharge. I made the necessary adjustment to the sear spring and I could not duplicate the follow down after adjustment. Always point a pistol at the ground or down range when cycling a pistol! William

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 28, 2011, 01:13 PM

Yup, I always do. AND, when I am working up a load in semi auto pistols I make a dummy round to see if it feeds. No powder or promer. Then I just pull the bullet and reuse both components. Cheap insurance.

Sevens · December 28, 2011, 01:19 PM

Good advice, worth sharing. Wrong forum, though.

William T. Watts · December 28, 2011, 03:24 PM

While I've already had the discharge/follow down I can't change that, however in the future I will use a dummy round to check for function.. My intention in posting this is to make others aware the unexpected sometimes occurs, luckily the only thing damaged was my pride.. William

chris in va · December 28, 2011, 04:08 PM

I'm assuming this is a 1911 platform?

Big Yac · December 28, 2011, 05:00 PM

It just goes to show how that no matter if you've been shooting for 1 year or 100 years things can and do happen. Luckily you are one of the those who keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction otherwise this could have been pretty bad. Glad to hear you werent hurt.

William T. Watts · December 29, 2011, 12:16 AM

Chris it's a Springfield 1911 A1, I smithed it in 2000 and decided to keep it. I'm fond of the design of 1911, it also happens to fit my hand perfectly, with a minimum of smithing it can be turned into a very accurate handgun. William

December 28, 2011, 12:14 PM	#1
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	45ACP doubling/follow down I inserted a loaded magazine pulled the slide back and release it, subsequently the pistol discharged. Other than the obvious shock and checking for damage in my shop I couldn't belive something like this could happen. I have the Kuhnhausen Shop Manual that I purchase while a student at TSJC that pointed to the problem, Apparently the sear spring had worn and was responsible for the discharge. I made the necessary adjustment to the sear spring and I could not duplicate the follow down after adjustment. Always point a pistol at the ground or down range when cycling a pistol! William

December 28, 2011, 01:13 PM	#2
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	Yup, I always do. AND, when I am working up a load in semi auto pistols I make a dummy round to see if it feeds. No powder or promer. Then I just pull the bullet and reuse both components. Cheap insurance. __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 28, 2011, 01:19 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Good advice, worth sharing. Wrong forum, though. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

December 28, 2011, 05:00 PM	#6
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	It just goes to show how that no matter if you've been shooting for 1 year or 100 years things can and do happen. Luckily you are one of the those who keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction otherwise this could have been pretty bad. Glad to hear you werent hurt. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

December 28, 2011, 03:24 PM	#4
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	While I've already had the discharge/follow down I can't change that, however in the future I will use a dummy round to check for function.. My intention in posting this is to make others aware the unexpected sometimes occurs, luckily the only thing damaged was my pride.. William

December 28, 2011, 04:08 PM	#5
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I'm assuming this is a 1911 platform?

December 29, 2011, 12:16 AM	#7
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	Chris it's a Springfield 1911 A1, I smithed it in 2000 and decided to keep it. I'm fond of the design of 1911, it also happens to fit my hand perfectly, with a minimum of smithing it can be turned into a very accurate handgun. William