Author Topic: Recoil spring plug! (Read 2306 times)

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **on:** September 11, 2011, 04:04:07 PM »

Lost my recoil spring plug for my Kimber Custom ll 45acp. Its a full size with 5" barrel. Does mine have the short guide rod or the full size? and how do I tell the difference? I can't find any dimensions or specs on line nor in my manuel.

Savage · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2011, 06:16:28 AM »

Ooooooops!
Savage

williamlayton · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2011, 02:17:00 PM »

Call Kimber.
Blessings

KAYR1 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2011, 04:22:35 PM »

I called Kimber after I failed to capture the plug and it flew out, shattered my overhead lights, and bounced to parts unknown. My Target Eclipse two has a full-length rod, but I would contact Kimber. They were good to me.

williamlayton · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2011, 12:53:08 AM »

Dang plugs can really hide.
Blessings

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2011, 10:54:29 AM »

Called Kimber today. He said it was a full length rod. Kind of figured that since it was a 5" barrel, also ordered a spring tune up kit.

Is there any custom like parts that may make my gun better, or since its a high end (Kimber) is already pretty good?

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2011, 02:43:36 AM »

KAYR1: unless you are a custom gunsmith with a whole bunch of years experience tuning 1911s for competition it is very difficult to upgrade a Kimber. I don't know what loads you prefer to shoot but handloading might possibly be the only way to 'tweak' a Kimber.

Your Kimber is a excellent piece and I would leave it alone except for possible handloads. And try not to fire the recoil spring plug at the overhead lights again - I do that on occasion and the broken glass is a pain to clean up.......

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2011, 05:13:47 AM »

Quote from: Mikey on September 15, 2011, 02:43:36 AM

KAYR1: unless you are a custom gunsmith with a whole bunch of years experience tuning 1911s for competition it is very difficult to upgrade a Kimber. I don't know what loads you prefer to shoot but handloading might possibly be the only way to 'tweak' a Kimber.

Your Kimber is a excellent piece and I would leave it alone except for possible handloads. And try not to fire the recoil spring plug at the overhead lights again - I do that on occasion and the broken glass is a pain to clean up.......

Thanks Mikey, I really appreciate your reply. I had thought it was pretty good as is, and I'll try my best to follow your advice at popping the overhaed lights

williamlayton · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2011, 02:34:13 PM »

Can make the dog run, hide and yelp--takes awile for em to come back around when they see it in your hand.
Blessings

KAYR1 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2011, 04:00:22 AM »

I havent done a thing to my Kimber save clean and lubricate. I broke it in per manual, and it shootr rings around my custom Colt with handload with a 200gr. LSW over 4.5 or 5.0 gr. of Bullseye. The trigger has a bit of take-up, but breaks cleanly. They are very well built pistols and fit and finish are first-rate. I recomend any of their products.

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:54:04 AM »

Kayri..
What brand of bullet are you shooting or molded from what brand of mold?
I also shoot 200gr and also 230 gr home hard cast from Lyman molds, and have had great sucess with them, but I'm ashamed to admit I bought the gun 3 years ago and am just now shooting it again after letting lay for 2 years, so my shooting skills are somewhat shot

I also shoot Bullseye with a 4.6gr charge, but may start looking at other powders as I have noticed a lot of smoke and unburned powder residue. Can anyone suggest a cleaner powder that still shoots well?

tacklebury · « **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2011, 06:55:06 PM »

I have great luck with a 200 gr.RNFP sized .452 and loaded into WW brass with CCI Large Pistol and 6.5gr. Unique. This is the minimum I can go and cycle my slide. Not much blowback and quite accurate.

KAYR1 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 04:34:03 PM »

Jim- sorry for the late response. a friend turned me on to bulletsdirect.com. They offer a wide range of bullets, and their 200 LSW is cast fairly hard, which I like. The smoke may be from the bullet lube as well. I have shot HClays, and Titegroup, but nothing shoots better in my guns than Bullesye. Low charge weights and cheap bullets=lots of range time!

gray wolf · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2011, 04:06:33 PM »

Ya know I am the kind of guy that likes to stay calm.
But every time I here this talk about hard cast for a 45 ACP I just about loose it.
Why on earth have so many people bought into the lie that you need a hard bullet for a 45 ACP. The 45 is a low pressure round, so what is there to gain by using a hard bullet ? Obturation ? I think not.
Fit, fit, fit is the answer once and for all. If you don't slug your bore you will never know about proper fit. Run a soft lead slug through the barrel and measure it with a Mic. not a caliper, most 45's will be in the area of .451---
if so your bullets should be .452--.4525--- .453 that is .001---to-- .002
over bore diameter. With that in mind you should be able to shoot bullets
with a hardness of about 10---12--14 hardness. or 50/50 lead to WW
Hard cast bullets are sold by commercial casters so they don't get damaged in transit. Just like the hard lube that is on them.
45 ACP velocity of 675 FPS to700/775 FPS for target and hard ball loads of about 850 FPS just don't need a hard bullet to NOT lead a barrel and deliver very good accuracy. Don't get caught up in the hard cast hype.
Many cast bullets in pistols & rifles have been shot with plain WW or 50/50 WW & PB
Naturally if you are hot roding your loads rifle or pistol you may have to adjust your hardness.
I do not wish to get into a pissing contest about this, I really don't care what you shoot but some people may find it of interest.

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2011, 05:59:11 AM »

if that makes you "just about lose it" then you need to take a walk. what is it to you if people shoot hardcast bullets in their guns? maybe, just maybe people want to use hardcast bullets so they do not deform on impact and penetrate more.
i make my bullets about 2/3 ww and 1/3 pure lead. whether or not folks consider that hard cast or not i care not. that is a ratio that works for me; they are accurate, i get less spring back when sizing, bullets hold together well when given the hammer test, and i get no leading in the barrel.
good on you for sharing what you know with folks, but dont let it ruin your day.

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:41:15 AM »

Quote from: williamlayton on September 14, 2011, 12:53:08 AM

Dang plugs can really hide.
Blessings

You are sure right about that. I cleaned my whole shop much like a woman would and never did find it. It would be nice if it came up as I would have a ready spare.

I pulled my 4 foot flouresent lights and put in a couple of those screw in floursent bulbs, now at least the target is much smaller

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:47:00 AM »

graywolf

You and I might be a little alike. I've always been one to do my own thing, and when people tell m eit won't work I prove to them it will. But I could care less at how someone else does it, unless of course they will be endangering themselves.

All my bullets are hard cast wheelweights. That is the only thing I use as works fine for all my purposes. When I first started casting I used pure lead, and I leaded up one of my barrels pretty bad.

My guns are used 99% for pure enjoyment, but they also serve as home defence and I have a few bullets stored for that purpose. One never knows what tommorow will bring.

SlimPigguns · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2011, 02:45:08 PM »

As my Norinco does not have a full length guide rod, I have ordered a "mil spec" plug from Brownells. It is supposed to screw onto the spring, so it can't take off. I have had a couple of long, but luckily successful, searches around the shed. Pete

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2011, 12:00:42 AM »

I have to schools a thought on acp bullets. For general shooting and practice i will use about anything. Mostly ww or even 5050 ww/pure. But when i shoot a match youll usually find me using #2 or 5050 ww/lyno or even straight lyno. Why? because just about accross the board in my 1911s if i compare a properly sized and lubed hard bullet to a softer one the harder one will outshoot the softer. Now it isnt by a big margin but it is enough that it might make the diffence in a first place trophy and a second. When im working up loads for a comp gun i try many differnt alloys just like i try differnt bullets primers and powders. If all you want to do is roll coffee cans at 15 yards it doesnt make a pinch of ### what alloy you use but when you want to get the absolute best accuracy out of your gun its as big of variable as any other in loading. So if your the type that is pleased with 2 inch groups out of a 1911 at 25 yards use anything and if your one of the guys that i have to face on the line PLEASE use anything.

Quote from: gray wolf on October 15, 2011, 04:06:33 PM

Ya know I am the kind of guy that likes to stay calm.
But every time I here this talk about hard cast for a 45 ACP I just about loose it.
Why on earth have so many people bought into the lie that you need a hard bullet for a 45 ACP. The 45 is a low pressure round, so what is there to gain by using a hard bullet ? Obturation ? I think not.
Fit, fit, fit is the answer once and for all. If you don't slug your bore you will never know about proper fit. Run a soft lead slug through the barrel and measure it with a Mic. not a caliper, most 45's will be in the area of .451---
if so your bullets should be .452--.4525--- .453 that is .001---to-- .002
over bore diameter. With that in mind you should be able to shoot bullets
with a hardness of about 10---12--14 hardness. or 50/50 lead to WW
Hard cast bullets are sold by commercial casters so they don't get damaged in transit. Just like the hard lube that is on them.
45 ACP velocity of 675 FPS to700/775 FPS for target and hard ball loads of about 850 FPS just don't need a hard bullet to NOT lead a barrel and deliver very good accuracy. Don't get caught up in the hard cast hype.
Many cast bullets in pistols & rifles have been shot with plain WW or 50/50 WW & PB
Naturally if you are hot roding your loads rifle or pistol you may have to adjust your hardness.
I do not wish to get into a pissing contest about this, I really don't care what you shoot but some people may find it of interest.

Jim_Ole_Timer · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:57:21 PM »

Found it!

I have some ball caps hanging from the ceiling next to where the recoil plug took out my floresant light, so I was moving the hats because they were blocking my light while reloading and much to my surprise the plug fell on the floor.

Never thought I would see it again, so now I at least have a backup plug.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2012, 03:08:41 AM »

Didn't you know the best way to find a lost item is to buy a replacement...

Tony

Dezynco · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2012, 11:15:52 PM »

What's very frustrating about that plug is that you KNOW that it will get away, yet the little rascal will still manage to get away! I shot my across the bedroom at my wife accidently, she was a liitle perturbed!