We have LIFTOFF!

[SilverTauron]

Two days ago I purchased a neat 1911. Noting that its interior and exterior were clogged with factory preservative, I took my cleaning gear with me to an outdoor range. The purpose was to buy the weapon, take it to the range and clean it on site before shooting.

On this day, the drama started before I even loaded the first magazine. I depress the recoil spring plug to slide off the bushing. Being a brand new 1911, the bushing is VERY tight to the barrel. In the process of struggling to turn the bushing over I hear a ssssssslink and see a small metal object fly by my face on course for low Earth orbit.

The muzzle of my 1911 now has a crooked bushing and an empty spot where there used to be a guide rod plug. Didn't even have the thing for 1 hour and I already have to order a new part, wait on shipping, mother &*)$$(#(@*@*.

Sigh.

I suppose I have to put all this awa-what was that ?

I walk over 3 feet to my right to see the recoil spring plug sitting in the dirt,none the worse for wear from re-entry into the atmosphere.

I hope NASA didn't scramble NORAD on my account.

[unusedusername]

Gallon sized ziplock bags.

[redcliff]

Pull the slide stop and remove the whole slide assembly intact with you hand cupped under and controlling the recoil spring and guide rod assembly

What kinda 1911 was it though?

[SilverTauron]

Pull the slide stop and remove the whole slide assembly intact with you hand cupped under and controlling the recoil spring and guide rod assembly

What kinda 1911 was it though?

Remington 1911 R1. The barrel bushing is tightly fitted on that gun, so even with the GI guidespring setup I still have to use a lot of pressure to keep the spring in place.

[redcliff]

Remington 1911 R1. The barrel bushing is tightly fitted on that gun, so even with the GI guidespring setup I still have to use a lot of pressure to keep the spring in place.

Nice on the R1

I almost always disassemble my 1911's by pulling the slide stop and removing the whole slide assembly complete, then remove the recoil spring guide rod from the rear. Once I bought my first Browning HP 30 years ago or so and field-stripped it I asked myself why I was rotating the bushing and removing the recoil spring assembly on my 1911's before removing the slide. Come to find out there are even advantages to using the BHP style take-down.

The reason is you really want to avoid turning a tightly fitted match bushing while the barrel is in it's final locked up position. In effect you want to simulate the slide being retracted by 3/8" of an inch or more in order that the bushing can spin more freely in the slide without pressure on either the barrel or bushing. By doing this you prevent whiping excess clearance into the bushing and get a longer life to your bushing fit between barrel and slide. Theres actually a small mismatch of angles between the barrel and the axis of rotation of the bushing.

When reassembling it can be difficult to pre-install the recoil spring and guide assembly first. I sometimes use a chamber flag or 9mm or .45 case inserted between the barrel and breachface to keep the slide retracted a little while i twist the bushing to capture the recoil spring plug after reinstalling the slide. But if you can pre-install your life is easier.

Alchemy Custom did a video on the takedown method I use, I'll see if I can find it. Edit: Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJhPari7dpc

[wjc]

Congrats on the 1911!

What's the reasoning behind cleaning it at the range?

I'd prefer to clean and disassemble at home to make sure everything stays in one room when the "sproinggg" hits.

[SilverTauron]

Congrats on the 1911!

What's the reasoning behind cleaning it at the range?

I'd prefer to clean and disassemble at home to make sure everything stays in one room when the "sproinggg" hits.

Because it takes longer to drive home from my local gun store than it does to go directly to the range from there.

[gef]

[QUOTE=SilverTauron;9197472] I hear a ssssssslink and see a small metal object fly by my face on course for low Earth orbit.

Priceless.

[rero360]

I took a bit of skin off my forehead doing that once, learned from it. luckily it didn't hit my eyes.

[Arkangel]

My plug has only taken off on me once...

Look at it this way, lessons learned the hard way often stick better.

[jyo]

ALWAYS wear safety glasses when working on firearms---your day could REALLY take a turn for the worse if this piece was sticking in your eye! That said, enjoy your new pistol!

[RedRiderF26]

You know, you can use an empty 45acp cartridge as a temporary guide rod/ recoil spring plug. FYI

[Loubot10]

When you completely break it down be ready when you remove the thumb safety. The tiny double headed spring that checks the slide release and thumb safety.... It wants to be free.

I lost it in my den for 3 days when I first started working on my 1911s.

[SgtDinosaur]

My plug flew off into the bamboo in my backyard one time. That was my first time ordering from Brownells.

[9mmepiphany]

Pull the slide stop and remove the whole slide assembly intact with you hand cupped under and controlling the recoil spring and guide rod assembly

That is the way I disassemble my 1911s too...it just makes life easier when the bushing is tightly fitted