Posted: 9/6/2009 4:48:11 PM EDT
I noticed this after my last range trip yesterday. I now have 460 rounds through it. I see no problem with the barrel bushing, only the plug. I'm assuming this is an issue with the part being MIM. I'll pick up a plug at the fun show this coming weekend. I should be able to find a standard Colt GI issue one. Now, the real question is, is this indicative of a larger problem? |
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Are you 100% sure that plug didn't get damaged some other way? Dropped, banged on a concrete range table, etc? Or that it was damaged when you got the gun?
When you say you don't see a problem with the bushing, are you looking for a high spot that might be doing the damage? |
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I purchased the pistol new.
Never dropped, no concrete tables within miles of it. The plug looked absolutely pristine when I disassembled it after bringing it home on day of purchase. After the first range session (150 rounds) I noticed some of the parkerizing starting to wear on the outer rim of the flange on the plug. After the second range outing more was worn off, but no metal damage. Same for 3rd session. When I got it home after the last session (110 rounds) I noticed the wear in the metal itself. The only thing I see on the bushing fingers is a slight bit of the park being worn away in the contact area where it engages the plug. With the exception of 10 rounds of Remington Golden Saber and 10 rounds of Federal Hydra-Shok, both in 230 grain, I have fired 100 rounds of Winchester White Box 230 ball, 50 rounds of Magtech 230 ball, and the rest was S&B 230 ball. No +P rounds ever. I'm a bit stumped, as neither of the 2 1911s that I owned in the past showed this kind of wear. |
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Bingo on the loose bushing fit.
Definitely rocking in the slide. Only question is do I just fit a new bushing myself or let Springfield do it, and take weeks, and run the chance of it still not being right? I'm always fretful of any factory warranty work, on anything. |
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Bingo on the loose bushing fit. Definitely rocking in the slide. Only question is do I just fit a new bushing myself or let Springfield do it, and take weeks, and run the chance of it still not being right? I'm always fretful of any factory warranty work, on anything. Order a NM one thru Numrich. It'll probably work just fine for your SA the way it comes. Won't cost you much either. $14.50. The last one I ordered fit fine the way it came, you MIGHT have to do a little work on it but it will fix the problem. |
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Took your advice SGB, talked to Debbi at Springfield and it will ship tomorrow.
Going to have them look at a couple of other minor issues as well. I hate to have my pistol gone for a month, but, the price is right, and it will be a good test of the "legendary" Springfield service. We'll see. |
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I will say in Springfield's favor that she wanted to just send me a new barrel bushing at first, till I mentioned the loose left grip panel and the extractor that won't keep it's tension. Then she said that we need to see the pistol. So at least up front they tried to fix my problem in the most time critical way, sending me a new, easily replaced part.
Since shipping the pistol I have heard nothing. Like I said, we'll see. |
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I will say in Springfield's favor that she wanted to just send me a new barrel bushing at first, till I mentioned the loose left grip panel and the extractor that won't keep it's tension. Then she said that we need to see the pistol. So at least up front they tried to fix my problem in the most time critical way, sending me a new, easily replaced part. Since shipping the pistol I have heard nothing. Like I said, we'll see. I'd toss the SA extractor the second I recieved it back, I have never been impressed with that particular part from SA, this is one part that should NEVER be made from MIM. |
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I will say in Springfield's favor that she wanted to just send me a new barrel bushing at first, till I mentioned the loose left grip panel and the extractor that won't keep it's tension. Then she said that we need to see the pistol. So at least up front they tried to fix my problem in the most time critical way, sending me a new, easily replaced part. Since shipping the pistol I have heard nothing. Like I said, we'll see. I'd toss the SA extractor the second I recieved it back, I have never been impressed with that particular part from SA, this is one part that should NEVER be made from MIM. +1 on the extractor, replaced mine with an Ed Brown hardcore...... |
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the extractor that won't keep it's tension. Hmm, I've got a used Loaded I picked up off the EE that seems to have FTE problems every couple hundred rounds, then I bend the extractor a little, and they go away, but they always come back....... This is exactly why they suck so bad. Even if you do set them correctly, they don't hold their tension for very long. A quality one will hold it's tension for thousands of rounds. |
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UPDATE:
Got a call from Springfield this afternoon. They replaced the extractor, finish reamed the chamber, and polished the feed ramp to address my extraction troubles. They recommended that I have the port lowered and flared. (More on that further down) They also "tightened" the grip screws to address my loose left grip panel. Not quite sure what they mean by that. They said we can ship it back, or do you want to send it to custom for the port lowering? I asked, um, what about the loose barrel bushing and torn up recoil spring plug? Their reply was that the G.I. is "Government Model" and that's how they are, nothing we can do, it's normal. *SIGH* However I kept my composure, and made a quick appraisal of the situation. My pistol is already at their facility. If I have them do the work I feel is necessary to fix this pistol my warranty will remain intact. It will save me running around to one of two smiths around here (25 to 50 miles) to have the work done, which would void the warranty anyway. So I had her send it to the Custom shop to have a National Match bushing fitted, and I've done what I said I wouldn't do (it was really a matter of time I suppose...) I'm having them lower and flair the ejection port and fit the long ejector. Ah, 1911s are a slippery slope aren't they? 
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UPDATE: Got a call from Springfield this afternoon. They replaced the extractor, finish reamed the chamber, and polished the feed ramp to address my extraction troubles. They recommended that I have the port lowered and flared. (More on that further down) They also "tightened" the grip screws to address my loose left grip panel. Not quite sure what they mean by that. They said we can ship it back, or do you want to send it to custom for the port lowering? I asked, um, what about the loose barrel bushing and torn up recoil spring plug? Their reply was that the G.I. is "Government Model" and that's how they are, nothing we can do, it's normal. *SIGH* However I kept my composure, and made a quick appraisal of the situation. My pistol is already at their facility. If I have them do the work I feel is necessary to fix this pistol my warranty will remain intact. It will save me running around to one of two smiths around here (25 to 50 miles) to have the work done, which would void the warranty anyway. So I had her send it to the Custom shop to have a National Match bushing fitted, and I've done what I said I wouldn't do (it was really a matter of time I suppose...) I'm having them lower and flair the ejection port and fit the long ejector. Ah, 1911s are a slippery slope aren't they?
Slippery like a greased pig in the hot summer sun. 
And a bushing that rocks like that isn't even close to being correct, Milspec or not. Some play yes, enough to start to cut into the plug, no. You'll still want to replace the extractor [yes I saw you got one] anyways, SAs won't hold it's tension for very long, I'd just yank it and toss it in the parts bin as soon as it gets back and install and set the one you bought. |
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I'd let Springfield do it under warranty, you can always ask for a NM bushing upgrade.  Springfield's turn around will likely be less than two weeks, I was having a problem with my 1911 carry gun and it was gone a little over a week and when it came back it worked like it is supposed to. |
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OK, just back from the range...
100 flawless rounds through the G.I. Admittedly all ball. 50 230gr. S&B and 50 Aguila 230gr. ball. At first I thought that I wasted money on the Match bushing, but after examining the targets closer it became apparent that my overall groups were tighter, and no more odd "flyers" as well. I can only conclude it is doing what it is supposed to do. Kudos to Springfield service, and the Custom Shop for their very fast turnaround time and apparent fixes of my problems. As to the Aguila ammo, I don't think I'll bother with it again. Very dirty stuff. If functioned well, but I did notice some sparks flying, and like I said, it's really dirty. |