Hey everyone!! I wanted to get some suggestions for my Colt. When I bought this pistol, I was psyched, but I'm not to sure about it now. Don't get me wrong, I love this gun and I don't want to get rid of it. The reason for this plea for help is that the guide rod has a buffer on it and it looks like part of the spring is cut off. I don't know if the spring is supposed to be like this with the buffer. From my standpoint, the action doesn't seem to be operating properly. When I go to rack the pistol to load a round (JHP), the cartridge gets stuck (I've only seen this happen with JHP's, but not with FMJ's). However, when I push the slide release down, the action loads the round, no problem. If I could get some suggestions, tips, or comments, any info at this point will be greatly appreciated. Also, looking to see what upgrades I could make to the pistol (i.e. new spring, if needed, barrel, trigger) and accessories would be best for this gun (i.e. holster, magazines) Thanks in advance guys!! JPZ25
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Help!! Colt MK IV Series 80 Lightweight Officers .45ACP
- Thread starter JPZ25
- Start date
welcome to forum I had a colt that would do the same thing it did not like hollow point ammo cor-bon to be excact just ball ammo also make sure your not riding the slide forward Have you shot this gun if so how does it function?
GREEN on your first post! You sir, are a great example of starting off right! Welcome! ![[cheers]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/018.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
I'd be curious to know the same thing. If you drop the slide release on a JHP and it feeds, does the gun then run 100%??
I had a Colt 1911 that would not run JHP's no matter what, until I sent it out - it also had an after market buffer. I was too young and stupid to fix it myself, so Colt put a factory spring back in, polished the feed ramp, sent it back to me and it never had a problem ever again...
I'd be curious to know the same thing. If you drop the slide release on a JHP and it feeds, does the gun then run 100%??
I had a Colt 1911 that would not run JHP's no matter what, until I sent it out - it also had an after market buffer. I was too young and stupid to fix it myself, so Colt put a factory spring back in, polished the feed ramp, sent it back to me and it never had a problem ever again...
Welcome! Lots of really good people here.
If you are sure the buffer is worn just replace it. Same with the recoil spring. Both are inexpensive and do wear out frequently. As far as it loading JHP ammo vs. FMJ; If there are no jams or misfeeds during live fire you should be good to go. If you have problems with JHP and not FMJ you may want to polish the feed ramp, or most likely, check your magazines for defects.
With regard to accessories: There are literally thousands of ways to "upgrade" a 1911. It really depends what you want to do with it and how comfortable it is to shoot. Check out the "build it" section of this forum. There is a whole lot of information about 1911's and accessories. Also, be sure to check out all the home built pictures for ideas.
If you are sure the buffer is worn just replace it. Same with the recoil spring. Both are inexpensive and do wear out frequently. As far as it loading JHP ammo vs. FMJ; If there are no jams or misfeeds during live fire you should be good to go. If you have problems with JHP and not FMJ you may want to polish the feed ramp, or most likely, check your magazines for defects.
With regard to accessories: There are literally thousands of ways to "upgrade" a 1911. It really depends what you want to do with it and how comfortable it is to shoot. Check out the "build it" section of this forum. There is a whole lot of information about 1911's and accessories. Also, be sure to check out all the home built pictures for ideas.
Hey guys, thanks a bunch, I appreciate the feedback. Unfortunnately, no I haven't fired it, seeing as I just bought it (and for a great price, i might add) on monday the 23rd of this month (March). Hopefully i can get out this weekend and fire off a couple of rounds and see how the gun performs with FMJ and JHP.
I did clean the gun, thoroughly, and it does seem to be working a little better. The buffer and spring seem to be fairly new. I'll try to polish the feed ramp and see how that works.
Thanks for the warm welcome, as well. Thanks again.
I did clean the gun, thoroughly, and it does seem to be working a little better. The buffer and spring seem to be fairly new. I'll try to polish the feed ramp and see how that works.
Thanks for the warm welcome, as well. Thanks again.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
That's normal. I pulled my own Lightweight Officers Model out of the safe and it's here disassembled on the desk. The recoil spring on mine is actually two springs, one nested inside the other. The inner has a right hand twist and the outer a left. This way the springs won't intertwine and bind. The ends that goes into the spring plug is NOT flattened. The flattened ends go over the guide rod, the inner spring fits inside the hole in the buffer.
You're probably easing the slide forward this way. Pull it back all the way and let it fly forward under full spring pressure.
The only known weak point on these is the reverse spring plug. There's only a little tab that retains it in the slide, and these have been known to break. When it does, the plug and springs fly out the end and renders the gun useless. There are aftermarket plugs available that are much stronger than the OEM piece. You can also get a full length guide rod, but that requires a small machining operation on the bottom of the slide to enable fitting the new open end type spring plug.
