slide swap?

[TexAg91]

I have a Springfield 1911 full-size loaded I've had for a few years. I'm thinking about using it for concealed carry and would like to move to a 4" barrel. Is this just a swap out of the barrel, spring and slide when I've got it in a cleaning takedown, or does a gunsmith need to tune it up?? TIA

[John]

This belongs more in the gunsmithing forum than here, but the answer is, you will need a gunsmith to fit everything together.

Rgds

[stumbler]

IMO, one cannot have enough guns. I would consider buying a second used one from a pawn shop. I've seen a Colt Commander go for approx $475.00

[stans]

Generally speaking, it can be a real headache to turn a 5 inch Government model into something smaller. If you examine the frames of the Government model and models with barrels shorter than 5 inches you will notice that the dustcover on the shorter 1911's is shorter than the one on the Government model. With the slide off, you should also notice that the frame rails and recoil spring guide abutment are cut back 0.100" compared to the Government model frame. This allows the shortened slides to retain a little more recoil spring plug tunnel length and still allow the slide to cycle far enough to the rear to eject and feed reliably. Just slapping a shorter top end on a Government model frame sounds easy and the parts will physically fit, it is reliability that can be a real problem. I tried it, found I had to mill the frame rails and recoil spring guide abutment to get my home brewed Commander to work.