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1911 Slide Cracking
formerlywrong
Member Posts: 139 ✭✭✭
I'm new, and suppose it's not a new question, but.........
How common does one find a 1911 slide cracked, on the side(s), adjacent to the area where rearward movement of the slide is stopped by contact with the frame?
Years ago, my old 1911 developed cracks, both sides, which got worse with use, until the slide would no longer move freely.
Recently, I found some urethane bumpers to insert on the spring support thingy, which cushion the shock between slide and frame.
1) Is cracking common?
2) If impacting hard, stiffer spring would help, how to check for degree of impact?
3) Think the rubber bumpers are very effective?
4) Anyone ever repair a cracked slide?
Thanks for input! One of those imponderable things I've always wondered about, but could find no answer for.
How common does one find a 1911 slide cracked, on the side(s), adjacent to the area where rearward movement of the slide is stopped by contact with the frame?
Years ago, my old 1911 developed cracks, both sides, which got worse with use, until the slide would no longer move freely.
Recently, I found some urethane bumpers to insert on the spring support thingy, which cushion the shock between slide and frame.
1) Is cracking common?
2) If impacting hard, stiffer spring would help, how to check for degree of impact?
3) Think the rubber bumpers are very effective?
4) Anyone ever repair a cracked slide?
Thanks for input! One of those imponderable things I've always wondered about, but could find no answer for.
Comments
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
Slides crack from one reason The load is TOO HOT for the recoil spring. You need to tune your spring to the load . This can be done By getting a spring kit from Brownells . Pick the load you want to shoot and load one shell in the magazine shoot this shell and if the slide stays back "LOCKED OPEN" install one step heavier spring Repeat test, when the spring is heavier then needed for your load the slide will not lock back because the slide did not fully cycle in recoil .Now go back one step to the last spring that worked. You have just tuned your pistol to you shooting it with your load. Other shooters with your pistol and your load may need a different spring it will depend on how hard you hold the pistol when shooting. AVOID recoil BUFFERS they will come apart and jam up a gun and will cause feed problems because they don't allow the slide to fully cycle. "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN" your mileage may vary.
Good advice, I would say! But, as an aside, if my 1911 were strictly to be relied upon for self defense, I would rather it not be fine tuned so closely that the one possible chance out of thousands might result in failure to chamber, or even lock open. This could happen due to tolerance in many variables of the ammo.
Simple. Go back two steps. (Re. Perry Shooter's advice). Read into his posting....he's trying to show you how to avoid "slide-slamming". Big no-no. How do you think your first slide wound up cracked?
Your call. Joe
EDIT: to Karl..sorry, edited out (before you replied, by the way). I had you confused with someone else. Joe
My call: I would rather have my carry piece "slam" some than experience a fail to feed/eject the one time my life was on the line.
The frigging slide is not going to break in half suddenly, leaving me with no self-defense. Unless of course you can tell the future by guaranteeing about 10,000 rounds in succession successfully after finding the spring which prevents slide/frame contact.
Now, before this goes "out the window", I'm not interested in riling you, only pointing out my preference on the most important piece I have. If I'm wrong, which I was before, I'm not convincable on this issue.
I'm not usually this stubborn; when I believe, I believe.
Personally as I see it from where you sit you have 3 options
you can properly tune your weapon
you could try a "Machined Steel" slide
you can live with the cracks...which like I said I don't advise....
You give me the impression that you are a guy that is overly paranoid about being caught with a non-functioning weapon during a gunfight....
Well I hope to God I'm never in one ( a Gunfight), but if I am I hope to God I have a wheel gun on me and not one of my 1911's. Why, well I tell you why...I ain't going to be the participant that already has his weapon pulled ... So I have to pull mine and get off that all important 1st shot before he does ( a tie is alright if you want a grave marker that says "He got the guy that killed him" And especially important to us paranoid people is the fact if that first rd fails ...all we have to do pull the trigger again and at least we got our tie!!
Oh yea,,,, if I were you I'd consider changing my moniker to STILL WRONG!!!!
Just 'Head Butt' the SOB, he will surely be dead before he hits the ground.
With that said, buffers seem to be a bad deal. The 1911 wasn't designed for them, and shouldn't need them it's properly maintained.
Don't shoot a cracked slide. You could get an eyefull of steel.
Get a forged, not a cast or "made from bar stock" slide.
Use the proper slide spring rating for the loads you're using.
A buffer will shorten your slide stroke and may affect reliable feeding with weak magazine springs.
The idea is good but prove it out at the range before carrying it.
whenever a part is not within spec, its defective. defective parts need to be changed. new ones that are within spec will allow the gun to operate properly.
a lot of things must work in order for a gun to fire. there are 100's of little parts that all must work everytime. if youre going to worry about if all those 100 parts are going to work when you need them, youll worry yourself to death.
just replace the bad parts, shoot proper loads with proven parts fitted properly and have at it.
its that simple. im with perry on this one.
and btw...anyone who has shot at camp perry for over 35 years ranks as a 45 expert in my opinion. no, he's a high master. high master is higher than expert.[;)]
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
He earned the Distinguished Pistol Shooter Badge in 1983
He's forgotten more about 1911's then most if us "mere mortals" will ever know (bobski excluded).
You've earned "Distinguished" also, didn't you Bob?