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Thread: readying my M1991 9mm for Afghanistan

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    23rd December 2004
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    Florennes
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    readying my M1991 9mm for Afghanistan

    Gents,

    I have officially requested permission to carry my privately-owned handgun as sidearm for my tour in Afghanistan in January. It's a stock Colt M1991A1 shooting 9mm cartridges. As a left-handed shooter, I have already installed an ambi safety but now, I am wondering about other things:

    - issued ammunitions are NATO specs cartridges, generating higher pressure than 9mm Luger. My Colt still wear its original 14lbs recoil spring...Should I put a stiffer spring in it such as a 16lbs ?

    - Mags...I have several SA 9mm magazines. Those are working perfectly so I don't think I would change anything.

    - Sight: may be I would change the rear sight but I'm not seeking for an adjustable sight...just something useful. May be I will keep the original sights.

    Any ideas are welcome.

    Gabriel
    Did you try to follow the manual ?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    2nd June 2004
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    Terra
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    9mm NATO is very close to commercial +P. If you were going to shoot a few rounds, once in awhile, I would stay with the standard 14-pound recoil spring. Since that's what you'll be using all the time, I would change to a 16-pound spring, and if possible try several mags full of either the NATO ammo or some commercial 124-grain +P (the NATO round is a 124-grain projectile) before shipping out, in order to verify function with the heavier spring.

    Other than that I would not change anything.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside
    Last edited by Hawkmoon; 5th August 2010 at 21:38.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    11th June 2010
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    I like the Yost retro sight for a nice replacement or the original sight, I think Brownells carry them. It should not need any milling of the original sight dovetail. I think if you swapped to 16lb springs I would definately carry a few of the 14lb springs as back up.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    22nd December 2004
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    Orlando, FL USA
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    If you can see the current sights and get good hits with them, I wouldn't change.

    As Hawk said, try to test the gun out with the newer spring, and pack some spare parts like safeties, slide stops, springs, grip screws, etc. It's those little things that will get you.
    "The 1911 was the design, given by God to us through John M. Browning, that represents the epitome of what a killing tool needs to be. It was true in 1911 and it's true now." - Col. Robert Coates commanding, U.S. Marine Corp Special Operations Command Detachment 1 (DET 1)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    4th July 2007
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    Gabriel.... our thoughts and prayers will be with you on your tour in Afghanistan. Sounds like you are squared away but might I suggest if your "several" 9mm mags is two/three to at least make sure you have a six pack on hand. I doubt that like the Beretta or Glock this will be a well stocked item in country.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    29th April 2010
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    Keep your head down over there.

    PS. your guys have the best mess in KAF The couple days that I was there it was the only mess I went to.

    goodluck and stay safe

  7. #7
    Join Date
    20th June 2005
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    not to burst your bubble but unless you have some major high level connections or are in a special unit you are not likely to get that request approved. And if by some miracle you do, make sure to bring extra copies of your paperwork to prove the pistol is your personal approved for possession property. Without documents your pistol will end up confiscated by customs on your way home.
    I did both Iraq and Afghanistan tours and personnaly owned weapons are violations of gen order #1 so an exemption would be a big deal.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    20th June 2005
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    sorry did not see you were posting form a foreign country where your military unit rules may be different. Good luck to you and your Colt

  9. #9
    Join Date
    23rd December 2004
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    Thanks MajorD. My request was approved, my M1991A1 is ready to go: all springs are factory-fresh, new extractor & firing pin, tested at range with the 4 magazines I will take...it's ready to go !
    Did you try to follow the manual ?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    2nd June 2004
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    Stay safe, Gabriel.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

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