shearing with new 1911

[yallknowho]

I took my new colt series 80 to the range today, fired around 100 rounds, and noticed some little strips of metal in the pistol's grease. Is this type of shearing normal for a new 1911?

[sammy]

Sounds odd. Do you have a pict and can you tell where excessive wear is taking place?

[yallknowho]

i dont know if its excessive wear yet, it was happening when I was dry firing before just from racking the slide I guess. they are just tiny little pieces of metal. I'll go take a pic.

[yallknowho]

those little specks are metal.



the stuff in there are those aforementioned specks of metal.

[LAK Supply]

That's not right..... take it back to the dealer and have them look at it. Some silvery tint to your lube is normal on break in with some guns, but not a slide that looks like it was sitting under a mill at a machine shop.

[Kruzr]

Hard to see if there is any damage or marking with all the grease. The area you've circled is where the Series 80 lever rides. Take a look at the lever and see if the slivers are from it. There should be some rounding of the front top edge of the lever but it shouldn't be missing pieces. If it just looks a little worn, then it's more than likely just fine and it's the new "sharp" edges wearing.

[yallknowho]

after wiping the pieces off, they turned golden in color, they look like copper. I just cleaned the grease off and didn't notice extraordinary wear.

[Saigon1965]

Brass shavings?

[ar15barrels]

Don't put so much grease on your rails.
10% of what you have there would be enough.

[JTROKS]

That is a lot of grease. Go light on oil or grease so you don't attract all those metal shavings from your brass. Were you using reloads or factory ammo? I was going to ask you if you frame was aluminum, but since it is brass in color.

[yallknowho]

Don't put so much grease on your rails.
10% of what you have there would be enough.

alright, i'll try that. I was experimenting with slide glide. Brian Enos said he slathers his guns with it, so I applied quite a bit.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Brass shavings?

+1 That was my first guess.

[yallknowho]

I think its coming off the rim of the casings. I checked my snap caps Ive been practicing with, and the rim edges are chewed up.

[Knauga]

The problem with grease on the slide rails and the bottom of the slide is that it collects crap like dirt and metal crud and then uses it like an abrasive on the innards of your gun. Kind of a "do it yourself" lapping compound.

I just use a little oil now and I notice no difference in performance, just less wear on the finish of the gun under the slide.