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Thread: Recoil spring plug

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  1. #1
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    Recoil spring plug

    My Kahr A/O 1911 Commander (built in 2001 when Kahr first took over A/O) was in need of a new recoil spring plug. Everything about this gun is slightly off standard, so I purchased a Swenson plug from Midway that was claimed to be ok for both full size and Commander size guns. All other brand plugs are marked for either the Commander size gun or full size gun. Am I safe to use this?
    Last edited by RitaR; 7th November 2019 at 22:20.


  2. #2
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    How long is it?

    Can you post a link to the product description?
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  3. #3
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  4. #4
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    Well, that's pretty useless. How long is it?
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  5. #5
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    Excluding the nose of the plug it is almost exactly one inch.

  6. #6
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    I will answer my own question. The recoil spring plug that I asked about is 1.125" (including the nose). This is almost exactly the length of a Colt Commander plug, so no problem on my A/O Commander. The reason Midway sells it for both Commander and full size guns is because a Commander length plug will work fine in a full size 1911. (Information gathered from other forums.)

  7. #7
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    The test of whether it will work in your pistol is to insert it in the slide with the barrel bushing in place. If the back end of the plug doesn't protrude beyond the back of the recoil spring tunnel in the slide, you're good to go. If it protrudes, you will have to grind it down until it doesn't protrude.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  8. #8
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    RitaR - The Swenson recoil spring plug you purchased from Midway will work on your AO commander model.

  9. #9
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    WAIT.

    Is your AO Commander actually commander-length, i.e. has a 4-1/4" barrel? Some of those older pistols were 'Commanders' only by name, but actually had 4" barrels with barrel bushings. Which is a somewhat bad idea -- which, in turn, is why you don't see many of them today (Springfield tried it, too, in the mid-90s, then changed to bull barrels). There's just too little space between the rear of the bushing and the top barrel lugs, when the gun recoils to the rear, and interference there can cause problems (usually broken bushings).

    As for this plug being usable in both Commander-length and Government pistols... IMHO this is grossly misleading. It is true that plugs that are to be used with full-length recoil spring guides (i.e. with the requisite hole in them) can be whatever length their maker pleases, and are usually Commander-length. Makes sense, because the shaft of the guide rod takes care of centering the spring. But a closed-end, Commander-length plug, combined with a GI recoil spring guide, in a 5" pistol, will allow the spring considerably more wiggle room. Not an entirely sound idea, IMO.
    Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.
    M. Setter

  10. #10
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    This is what RitaR is most probably she's referring to:

    38330.jpg

    Auto Ordnance Commander
    Last edited by Ric4509; 11th November 2019 at 12:55.


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