Posted: 9/21/2013 4:27:01 PM EDT
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Ran into a problem I haven't seen before on a 1911. A friend I work with recently came into a Springfield Champion SS through a trade. It appears new, definitely very low round count. The previous owner installed Crimson Trace laser grips that look great. I found out though he didn't chamfer or size the screw holes properly so now the grips will not come off without serious effort. I didn't want to be responsible for busting $300 in grips so I didn't take those off.
She brought it to me because when she went out shooting with it for the first time, it wouldn't function. She stated it had feed problems. In reality, I later found it had serious extraction problems. I'm no gunsmith, but I am very mechanically inclined and know the 1911 and Glock platforms very well. I racked the slide and noticed it was more difficult than the Champion that I had owned. Which coincidentally I had worked on a little and was 100% reliable over 3000 rds and smooth as butter. Anyway, I disassembled the pistol and found the barrel ramp with extensive tooling marks and a very tight chamber throat. Taking her at her word, I cleaned this up nicely and throated the chamber just a bit. The gun was also very dry, with absolutely no lube on it. While inspecting the slide and frame rails, I noticed the frame rails had some minor galling evident with corresponding galling on the slide. I worked this out and matched the frame and slide together. It still didn't "feel" quite right though. I reassembled and test fired the gun. Turns out, the disconnector had so much tension on the disconnector spring it was binding as the slide moved across. I was getting short cycling of the slide with failures to eject the spent casing. It was not even stovepiping, it was just leaving the case on the breech face and the slide stuck before the case even hit the ejector. I felt dejected and went back in the shop. I checked extractor tension and found it acceptable, then removed the sear spring and adjusted tension on the disconnector/trigger bow. I reassembled it and wow what a difference. The gun was as smooth as my old Champion LW. It ate everything I fed it through multiple magazines with consistent ejection every time. I think she will be pleased. |
