1911 plunger tube loosening

L

Lone Star

New member
I had an old GI (Lend Lease .45 M1911A1 - genuine Colt - some years ago that had the plunger tube assembly (between the thumb safety and the slide release) come loose. (Unstaked.)
I understand that this happens with 1911's. Has anyone here had it happen on a postwar Colt or Springfield gun?

In fairness, this didn't happen until I'd had the gun reblued, and the gunsmith may have loosened the part.

Lone Star
 
Yes. Happened to me on a Series 80 Combat Commander. I learned the hard way why John Browning designed 1911 stocks to support the plunger tube. At the time, the Commander was wearing Pachmayr stocks that didn't secure the tube. Now I won't use stocks that don't support the tube, which rules out some of the newer "slim" stocks as well as the old Pachmayrs.

Of course, this is something that should be regularly inspected if you rely on a 1911 for defense. It's no big deal for a gunsmith to repair, as I'm sure you know.

Mike
 
I have three 1911's older than I am, some by 50 years, and the only one that ever pulled this stunt was a new Springfield. I fixed mine quite effectively by silversoldering it.
 
Plunger tubes will come loose after many rounds, or if they have been pulled off once before (in other words, that gunsmith shouldn't have re-used the tube). I have seen several factory-new Colts with loose tubes, and in fact I was literally able to pop the one off my new Series 80 that I'm customizing! :eek:

Unfortunately, the plunger tube is indeed one of the 1911's few design flaws. :(
 
Had it happen on a Series 70 Combat Government Model. A loose plunger tube is one of the very few things on a gun that I'll attempt to fix myself. I got a staking tool, etc. from Brownells and took care of it rather easily.

BTW, just when I thought this particular gun was fine, the firing pin stop dropped out in mid-cycle at the range. Some guns are just trouble. :rolleyes:
 
I don't consider that a design flaw. Made as it should be, and staked as it should be, the tube will not come off or loosen. Some after-market ones I have seen had too short studs to stake properly.

Jim
 
I have four 1911 pistols, so when one started coming loose I just bought a staking tool from Brownells because I figured I would need it again and I don't know any 1911 smiths around here. They look like modified Vice-grips and cost around $25.00 if my memory is correct.
 
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