need some help with this pistol..

[ltdave]

back years ago i bought this "COLT" 1911A1...

turns out its a Remington Rand with a Colt slide. its been together for sometime because the patina and finish between the frame and slide is a perfect match even if its not perfect...

the problem is that the slide runs forward about 3/32" when in battery. ive tried different slides and they fit fine. so im leaning toward a worn out slide...

is there something that can be fixed on the slide to get it to fit where its supposed to?

ive got a proper RR slide for it but its in like new condition and doesnt match the gun. i dont mind that the slide isnt correct, because its obviously one that has been reassembled from a lot of pistol parts and that gives it lots of character. if i cant fix the slide, i guess ill have to pony up the coin to get it all refinished to match...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/P1010431.jpg

david

[berkbw]

From your description, it, of course sounds like a slide. You should be able to visually compare the "original" slide to one of the others and get a clue, like the specifics of the locking lugs underneath the slide. You will want to have a new barrel fitted when you replace the slide. Maybe you'ld like to donate the "new" RR slide for this?

Just $0.002 on a Sat. nite :)

b-

[pa_guns]

Hi

I'm hardly an expert at this.

I *think* it could also be the barrel not being fit quite right.

If you are correct and the pistol was made up out of a grab bag of parts you may have more than one issue.

What kind of shape is the barrel in?

Bob

[muscle]

gotta agree with pa_guns

Gotta be the barrel.

definately dont shoot it.

[Deacon Aegis]

yep yep, PA_Guns called it I do believe. Sounds like a barrel fit issue.

[robot1911]

Just to eliminate one area, why don't you measure the length of each slide from the slide stop pin to the back of the slide.

Bob

[OD*]

I believe it could also be a barrel link problem.

[wichaka]

Generally thats a problem with the lower lugs on the barrel.

They are cut way too deep, or very wore out.

You're using the same barrel when checking different slides on your frame?

[Joni Lynn]

They're right, don't shoot it until it's figured out and corrected. The biggest problem with 1911's is that they've been around now for almost a century and it seems everyone I know has 'gunsmithed' one in their kitchen workshop. It's a headache for the next person that owns it.
You'll get it figured out and have a decent gun before it's all over.

[robot1911]

Judging from the looks of your slide/frame misalignemt, if the slide itself isn't too short, then those lower barrel lug feet must be REALLY thin. Specs are .112 at the center of the radius and if yours are a lot thinner than that, there's the problem area.

Bob

[pa_guns]

Hi

This should be a fun one to figure out !!!

Any chance we can get a picture of the breech area and / or the bottom of the barrel.

Bob

[Candiru]

Based on my experience, it's probably the barrel's lower lug. Either the lug is worn down, or a drop-in barrel was added when the slide was replaced. As I am given to understand, drop-in barrels have conservatively cut lugs, since a slide/frame mismatch at the rear is mostly cosmetic (provided the disconnecter still works), but lugs that are too thick could prevent the gun from going into battery.

Can you post more pictures, including the inside and the barrel's lower lugs? If nothing else, we'll get to look at a neat old gun.

Edit: Here's a picture of my slide to frame fit, courtesy of a drop-in barrel. At some point down the road I'll fit a Kart barrel to the gun, but since the disconnecter still does its job, I'll just live with it for now.

http://how-i-did-it.org/1911/img/tn_railfit_left.jpg

[gbw]

"ive tried different slides and they fit fine."

Really have to wonder about the slide, not just the barrel.

Compare the slide to known in-spec slides, and the barrel to known in-spec barrels. Given large amount of mismatch, it should be visible where the problem lies.

If it's the barrel lower lugs, the bbl. must have been made with l.lugs much too far towards the rear - I don't think there is enough steel in the l.lugs to cut them to allow that much over travel. Could also be upper lugs, rear face filed (or worn) very badly.

Same with the slide.

As everyone has said, don't shoot it until you know and correct the problem.