Author Topic: Springfield 1911 mush mouth.  (Read 702 times)

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Offline crypto

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Springfield 1911 mush mouth.
« on: September 24, 2005, 04:38:51 AM »
I have a Springfield Armory 1911-A1 that I shoot occasionally; it has about five hundred rounds through it, all factory loads.  It has been a decent gun until a few months ago while cleaning I noticed the firing pin was difficult to remove.  I figured it must just be dirty so I cleaned it and never thought twice.  I just started loading my own loads for it and WOW what a difference in accuracy.  The problem is that these light loads kept jamming, and upon inspection I noticed the firing pin was extended and catching the rim of the brass, a dangerous situation if it where to somehow close.  Apparently these loads do not have the power of the factory loads to blow the firing pin back into the slide (why should they?).  I once again cleaned everything, but this time I noticed the metal around the hole where the firing pin contacts the primer (slide face) is deformed and crimping the firing pin in place.
Has anyone ever heard of this?  Could Springfield have not hardened it properly?  
It has been a week and Springfield has yet to answer my email, and I am growing unhappier every day.  I will never buy another Springfield armory again.      
 :evil:  :evil:

Offline Nuttinbutchunks

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Springfield 1911 mush mouth.
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2005, 04:37:18 PM »
I would call them and talk to someone in the shop. They always answer the phone the times I have called them. I believe SA makes a great gun. I have three of them now with my new adition.
Ohhhh, I hate when that happens :eek:

Offline Mikey

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Springfield 1911 mush mouth.
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2005, 02:03:28 AM »
Crypto - I have seen that problem before and it is an easy fix if you are any sort of a home gunsmith.  If not, take it to a gunsmith for repair.  

On occasion the firing pin hole will pick up some casting crud or not be perfectly round.  The result is the problems you are encountering, including having the pistol go full auto when the firing pin gets really stuck and the slide acts like a fixed firing pin bolt in a sub-gun.  Not really a pleasant surprise.

What the gunsmith will do is round out that hole for you.  This can be done with a drill bit and a swiss file if youwant to try it yourself.  Those firing pins utilize a captured spring to keep it retracted so the firing pin does not impact on the next round being chambered.  

Use caution if you intend to do this yourself - the firing pin hole must be just large enough to allow the firing pin to protrude when impacted but not so large as to allow dirt or crud into the firing pinhole.  If you open it up too much you could have other problems too.......

For the best advice you can drop on down to the Gunsmithing Forum and run this one past the moderator, gunnut69.  The man is excellent in his experience and advice.  HTH.  Mikey.

Offline 1911crazy

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Springfield 1911 mush mouth.
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2005, 07:20:02 AM »
I think you will end up changing your recoil spring to a lighter one so you can shoot the lighter loads so the gun won't stove pipe so the case rim can't hammer on the firing pin bore. I think its that simple its not the gun.

Offline crypto

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Springfield 1911 mush mouth.
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2005, 03:50:04 PM »
Mikey,  it is good to here that it has happened to others, I am not alone.  But is your fix permanent?  If it is just a burr, cool, but I can see a definite indent in the slide where the primer sits, slightly off center just like on the brass.  Is that normal?  Could the problem grow until you have a firing pin and spring sticking out of your eye…  
D, I am just going to assume you have been drinking