1911 re-assembly question

[Solidsnake87]

Hey all,

I just picked up my Springfield GI today and put 200 rounds through it. I finished cleaning it according to the manual and put it back together. The manual mentions that the slide lock pin must pass through the barrel link. How can one check to make sure the pin has passed through the hole? I have fully re-assembled my pistol and little tugs on the barrel produce no movement. If missed, I'm assuming the barrel would have pulled out do to my tugs right?

Thanks! I just want to be sure my pistol was assembled safely!

[wilshire1412]

You will know if you don't get it correct immediately, the slide will act as though it is stuck/jammed if the slide stop pin is not through the barrel link.

[Knauga]

I usually put it most of the way through and make sure the slide doesn't come off of the front of the gun and then put it the rest of the way in. If the slide stop doesn't stop your slide, it isn't in right

[Solidsnake87]

So ur saying that the barrel link is the only thing locking the slide to the gun? If its been assembled incorrectly the slide will then just pull off?

[Mute]

So ur saying that the barrel link is the only thing locking the slide to the gun? If its been assembled incorrectly the slide will then just pull off?

That's right. It will slide off the forward of the frame. One trick I've learned to make sure the slide stop goes through the link is to tilt the gun vertically (muzzle up) while you pinch the slide back to line up the link and the hole. This will make sure the link is in the proper position.

[Knauga]

If you put it in wrong it will look very wrong. If you manage to miss that aspect of it, the slide won't move in any direction if you put it in wrong in direction and the slide won't stay on (won't even look in place) if it is in the wrong way the other direction. If the slide cycles normally it is in right.

[jeffrice6]

Youtube has a great 1911 re-assembly video

[dfletcher]

When you're reassembling just make certain the barrel link is tilted forward. Just leave the recoil guide far forward inside the dust cover, it doesn't need to be to the rear during assembly. And there's no reason you can't look through the hole in the frame and see if the hole in the link pin is lined up.

Aside from reading a book, doing it a few times will help.

[Knauga]

The hardest part of all of that is to avoid the "idiot scratch" when you push the slide stop into place. There really isn't much that is all too difficult when it comes to the 1911.

[OutlawDon]

The hardest part of all of that is to avoid the "idiot scratch" when you push the slide stop into place. There really isn't much that is all too difficult when it comes to the 1911.

Even that part is not hard. Simply push down the slide stop about halfway to the frame before it touches, push upwards to drop in, and push all the way down. It'll never even touch the frame. It helps to use two hands to have a firmer hold on the slide stop.

[Knauga]

Like I said, nothing is really difficult, that is the one that will chap your hide the most if you do it though

[RAD-CDPII]

I agree with the above posts, but if you are still uncertin, get some snap-caps in .45, put two or three in the magazine and cycle them through. If they cycle through OK, it's together properly. When I got my first .45, that's what I did, but now I don't even bother. .45's are simple, once you get to know them, but at first, they can seem a bit confusing with all those parts.

[Army]

Nice thing about the 1911 is, if you don't assemble it right, it won't work.

[Jon]

I think this is one of things that AFTER you've done it once, it's easy enough. Though I did leave a small mark on my first time.

Even that part is not hard. Simply push down the slide stop about halfway to the frame before it touches, push upwards to drop in, and push all the way down. It'll never even touch the frame. It helps to use two hands to have a firmer hold on the slide stop.

[dfletcher]

I think this is one of things that AFTER you've done it once, it's easy enough. Though I did leave a small mark on my first time.

Me too - and on the 3" bbl 1911s with captive springs & such it's easier to make the mistake. On most 1911s that part of the frame is a matte blue finish and a light touch of cold blue usually covers it up very well.