Springfield GI Assembly

[greenjeans]

Just bought my first 1911-A1 style, the Springfield GI Series. What is the secret of getting the takedown pin back in without using something to depress the small spring pin? The book only says reverse the procedure for disassembly for assembly. The pin comes out easily to take the slide off, but is a real pain to get back in. I have scratched the frame and slide slightly trying to get it in without depressing the pin. Help! :cry:

[Mikey]

greenjeans - I have had the same problem with some of my 1911s.  It is due to either a tough spring or a little bit of roughness in the plunger tube.  I resolved my problem by just smoothing out that end of the plunger tube with a small round Swiss file and it was fine after that.

My most prized 45 still carries those 'academy scars' from my earlier attempts to get that plunger to depress.  In the interim, you can use your thumbnail or some small flat object that doesn't have any sharp edges.  Once you have it worked out, use some cold blue to hide the scars.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Questor]

Some can be exceptionally toughsome makers install a longer-than-standard pin on some of their guns.  I have used a sharpened popsickle stick to depress it. Brownells also sells a plunger depressor tool that's pretty slick.

[greenjeans]

Thanks, fellows

I was afraid it was just me not doing something right. Can't wait to try it out. Haven't even held one of these since Vietnam. :grin:

[dclark]

The pin should be long enough to firmly contact the slide lock, but not to prevent the insertion of the lock.  You may need to shorten the pin to that specification.  It is sometimes caused by the hole in the tube containing the pin and spring from being drilled too deeply.  It is easier and cheaper to shorten the pin, than to replace the tube.

David