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Colt 45 problem?

gnprtsgnprts Member Posts: 347 ✭✭
edited October 2010 in Ask the Experts
I changed a GI 45 to a Essex Frame and now it is hard to pull the slide back. It appears to to be the barrel is not dropping down out of the slide.
What is the remedy?

Thanks

Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Essex frame might be OUT OF SPEC. some are very good and some are very Bad. Slide stop pin location. Mag well location. Hammer and Sear pin hole location. YMMV

    EDIT II from the pictures I see I DON"T like how the slide is indexed to the frame front to back . Again you might have fixed ONE problem by installing a short link but I still believe you have more serious problems with that Frame. as it sets Now the disconnector hole in frame does not line up with the disconnector cut in the slide .it does have some lee way but as it sets now the hammer would Drop if trigger was pulled before the slide fully locks the barrel. or even have the cartridge fully chambered. . I have built a number of 1911 pistols You better be careful in shooting this one just my $.02 worth.

    EDIT hello beantown and DSC shooter as I read this post the slide and barrel are the say as original. Only the frame has changed.if the barrel worked in the slide before then why would it need to be fitted to the slide[?][?]now maybe it had a long link to work on the old frame or a short link but poster states it will not UNLOCK the barrelI REALLY SUSPECT THE FRAME SLIDE STOP PIN HOLE IS IN A SLIGHTLY WRONG PLACE it does not have to be off MUCH.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Clearly something isn't lining up right, and needs some fitting.

    For the real experts, doesn't a 1911 barrel have to be fitted to the slide for the gun to lock up correctly?


    Edit:Whoops. . .I didn't read that carefully enough!

    Yes, obviously, if you are swapping mated slides and barrels to a different receiver then slide/barrel fit can't be the issue.

    Glad to hear that the problem was so easy to fix. Now make sure the gun functions OK before you take it out for any "serious" purpose!
  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The barrel has to be fitted to the slide and slide stop pin for correct lock up.
  • gnprtsgnprts Member Posts: 347 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am using the barrel and slide that were OK on the original frame.
  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mil spec means materials, manufacturing processes and dimensions are all compliant with approved drawings and spec sheets. If parts don't fit they're not mil spec.
    Try the barrel plus barrel bushing in the slide. Will the barrel freely lock up with mating lugs in the slide without force and will it lift out of engagement by lifting on the barrel link? How about with an assembled cartridge in the chamber? I assume this will work since these parts came out of a functioning G.I. pistol.
    If so, assemble the pistol leaving out the slide spring, slide spring guide, plunger and the loaded cartridge.
    Will the slide move freely on the frame and go fully into battery without force?
    If not quite, and the previous test works out, the barrel link holes are too far apart, forcing the barrel too high in the slide and preventing the slide from closing or requiring force to close fully.
    If this is the case as expected, you will need another barrel link having closer holes.
  • hijumperrs2hijumperrs2 Member Posts: 70 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    after seeing the pictures, i am with perryshooter,slide stop hole is more then likely wrong,explains difficulty operating sldie,and slide not matching up at rear with frame.weld the lower lugs on the barrel and refit or rebarrel,cheaper route,replace frame,caspian or better. good luck.i would not shoot it in your current config.
  • gnprtsgnprts Member Posts: 347 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I followed instructions I received and after changing the link it fixed my problem. I discovered that the slide lacks 1/32" of covering the rails ... Picture makes it look like more. Thanks to all who responded I Appreciate the help...

    DSC00044.jpg
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