New Colt Gunsite

[tinman44]

If this dosent belong here please move.

So i picked up a used gunsite model. seams in very good shape, and shoots excellent. the slide dosent seam to go all the way forward and the safety wont engage completly due to this. and the previous owner said every so often like 1% of the time he has a failure to feed. So i'm pretty sure i'm just going to send it in to colt to make it right. however i thought i would pick your brains if there was a 2 minute fix so i wouldnt have to send it off.

[paul45]

I do not even pretend to know the causes of stuff like that.......but I do know one thing. I change out the recoil and firing pin spring......install new mag springs and or followers.......and ensure extractor tension is correct on any used piece I buy. You might be pleasantly surprised.

[tinman44]

Sounds like good advice, i will change those springs. I ordered chip mccormack mags and sold the wilson mags. i'm not sure how to check extractor tension. two quick follow up questions. 1) will colt replace these springs if i send in for warranty repairs? 2) where do i get these springs and what tension should they be? and c) how do i check/adjust extractor tension?

[elijdub]

Congrats on the Gunsite!
The springs can be purchased from Brownells, Wolff and Colt (i think).
If you send in the pistol to Colt i'm sure they'll replace the springs...though this is a fairly simple thing to do and you could save yourself the cost of shipping-and the time without the gun-if you fixed it yourself.
There is a "sticky" thread in the "Gunsmithing Forum" by 1911Tuner about checking extractor tension.
I personally prefer the Wilson mags to the McCormick (i actually like Checkmate and Tripps the best, aside from regular old Colt mags).
Sound advice from Paul about swapping out old springs. Good luck!
And how bout some pics ;)?!

[tinman44]

well if colt will likely replace these and i'm not sure it will fix my problem i think i'm going to send it in i have a backup.

[Rio Vista Slim]

tinman44,

+1 to the very sound advice given by my friends Eli and Paul.

If a full size pistol, recoil spring weight is 16 pounds. If Commander size, 18 pounds. The firing pin spring will be the same.

I've got to go with Eli on his selection of magazines, especially the Tripp Research CobraMags.

[Joni Lynn]

Congrats on the Gunsite.

[tinman44]

i was going to add pics but of course this site is different from all the rest, seams all sites have a different way of posting to keep everyone equal.

http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01711mediumfh9.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc01712mediumaf8.jpg

[d90king]

Congrats on your new Gunsite, they are great pistols. Also welcome to the forum. I agree with the others on the mags...... Wilson 47d are great on all of my 19911's. I haven't used the Tripp ones but I understand they are very good.
I am clueless when it come to fixing things so I will leave that to the "real" Mentors. :D

[nralife71]

If this dosent belong here please move.

So i picked up a used gunsite model. seams in very good shape, and shoots excellent. the slide dosent seam to go all the way forward and the safety wont engage completly due to this. and the previous owner said every so often like 1% of the time he has a failure to feed. So i'm pretty sure i'm just going to send it in to colt to make it right. however i thought i would pick your brains if there was a 2 minute fix so i wouldnt have to send it off.
Saftey sounds like the plunger tube. Try changing the spring....might be bent, wound, unwound...what ever verbiage. On an used pistol...call wolfe springs and get ALL new springs for $20.00. Or, call Colt. They do a "tune up" now not alot of money.....depending on what needs to be fixed.
WishI found that first..... good luck with it

[John]

First of all disassemble the pistol and make sure nothing is in there that shouldn't be in there. Then replace the springs as it has been suggested. Let us know how that works.

Standard springs for a 5" pistol like yours are 16 lbs (recoil spring). While you are at it, also order a 23 lbs main spring, a Colt sear spring and you are done.

[daveohno]

Congrats on your Gunsite Pistol! change the springs like advised and As John said, take her apart and make sure nothing is amiss in there. If you still have issues, send it to Colt and have them fix it.

[tinman44]

i had it broken down to all 48 pieces and cleaned. nothing was out of place nor did any part seam worn. still though i will replace the springs. john i would assume the sear spring is colt, did you mean just replace it as well? nothing on this pistol (besides the grips) is aftermarket, all stock from colt.

[John]

Well, yes and since I had good luck with Colt sear springs I just suggest them whenever someone needs to replace one.

[tinman44]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=618771&t=11082005

i cant find colt springs, is that a good deal? seams there are some parts i dont need.

[daveohno]

Here is the link to Wolff Springs. I'd get service pack #2.
http://www.gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/Colt.html#1911ServPak

[tinman44]

so i shouldnt call colt and see if they can send me a set of new and just ding my credit card?

[tinman44]

also only difference in pack 2 is the mag spring, i dont really need that do i?

[OD*]

also only difference in pack 2 is the mag spring, i dont really need that do i?
If you're changing springs, change all of them, you really don't know the condition of the magazine spring.
Congratulations on your Gunsite. :appld:

[tinman44]

it only came with one wilson mag which i sold, so i have all new chip mccormack power mags

[OD*]

OK.

I'd still buy the Type II, but I like having spares of everything. ;)

[JustinTime]

it only came with one wilson mag which i sold, so i have all new chip mccormack power mags

Congradulations on your Gunsite. I'm not even going to :dead_hors with more advice about spring changes. However, while my Special Combat Government came with to Chip McCormick mags and I have not had any issues with them my personal preference is Wilson mags over the Chip McCormicks. In fact my chip McCormick mags have wilson follower kits in them. I just do not like the devil type follower that gouges the alloy frames and scratches the steel ones. To each they're own though.

[tinman44]

well the spring kit seams to have fixed the safety. the slide still has a catch in the back where slide does not go all the way forward. although i have this really tiny spring left over, i'm thinking its for some irons maybe? well i had it down to every piece and there was no spring like it on this firearm. so gonna see if there are any misfires with fresh springs and decide if i will send in to colt.

[Joni Lynn]

The tiny spring may be for the plunger in a series 80 firing pin safety which your gun doesn't have.

[OD*]

although i have this really tiny spring left over, i'm thinking its for some irons maybe? well i had it down to every piece and there was no spring like it on this firearm. so gonna see if there are any misfires with fresh springs and decide if i will send in to colt.
I would bet Lynnie is correct, sounds like the firing pin safety's plunger spring. Number 33 in the schematic.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/modelO_govt.asp