Barrel Hood Springing - SA Champion Bull Barrel

[whitebear]

I have a loaded SS SA Champion that I have been very happy with - very reliable (after an extractor change), excellent trigger (for a stock trigger - no trigger job) and probably as accurate as I am.

So why am I posting?

This is only my second 1911, and I have been reading and learning constantly in the last year and a half since I bought the Champ. I have noticed recently that the barrel hood has some springiness - when the action is closed, you can press the hood down perhaps 1/32" - 1/64" (I haven't miked it).

I wonder if this is a barrel fitting issue that I should be concerned about in a stock pistol, or if I'm just being neurotic.

Thanks in advance!
Tony

 

[C.R.Sam]

Action is not locking up in a positive manner. Could be one or more of several things..including...short barrel link. binding bushing, misfit locking lugs etc etc.

Sam

 

[James K]

At lockup point, the barrel should not move in a vertical direction. As Sam says, there can be many reasons, but the main question I have is whether the accuracy is good and how good do you need it to be? If you decide that you want the best accuracy, you almost certainly are not getting it, and you will have to spend some money to do so. But if the accuracy is adequate for your needs, I would not worry about it.

If you want it corrected, you can try sending it back to SA (call them first) or having a gunsmith look at it. I could suggest things to try, but unless you know the 1911 type pretty well, I doubt they would mean much.

Jim

 

[Steve Smith]

STOP!

If its not moving enough to create a safety concern, I say leave it. I had poor accuracy from my Champion (4" 25 yard groups, rested) and sent it back. After shooting it, they installed a new match barrel (had it "lying around") and fitted it. It took a year for me to get it 100% reliable after that. Accurate it was, incredibly so, but not a fighting gun. If the Champ is your fighting gun, leave it.