Cause of barrel link failure?

T

TexasPaladin

Inactive
Hey all,

My question (for those that don't want the whole story): Whats the most likely cause of a broken barrel link in a Star BM pistol?

Original barrel link broke on me a while back. Did alot of searching (barrel links for star bm's are HARD to find!) before finding a replacement. Couldn't find NOS or even used links, but found a company that does custom and short run production of hard to find parts. They had some newly made links for the BM, so I ordered two new links and popped one in as soon as they arrived.

Seemed to work fine, at first. Fired 30 rounds without a hitch. On the 31st round, though, the fun stopped. Took ALOT of jiggling to get the broken part of the link to move inside the gun so that I could strip the gun and remove the slide/barrel.

When the first link broke I didn't think much of it. 30 year old gun. But now that #2 link broke after less than 50 rounds, I'm worried that some other factor is at work here. Any likely cause for my links to break so soon? Or do I chaulk number 2 breaking up to manufacturing defect on the link?

Thanks,
Paladin
 
The link isn't sitting straight. Under recoil, it likely gets pushed sideways. Sooner or later it'll break from the stress. What ammo are you using? The Star BM isn't made for heavy use or ammo. No Plus P's at all.
Finding parts will be next to impossible as the company that made the pistol is gone. You'd likely be better to buy another pistol that's still being made.
 
It is also possible that the link is stopping the barrel in recoil. In a properly set up 1911 type pistol, the back of the barrel bottom lug strikes the vertical part of the frame, stopping the barrel. If the link runs out first, the link stops the barrel and that puts a lot of strain on the link. (Also, the barrel should not be stopped by the bottom rear of the barrel coming down on the horizontal part of the frame; that can break out the bottom of the barrel.)

HTH

Jim
 
bbl. links

Sirs:
Many people in fitting a bbl. to 1911s try to "link-up" a bbl by using a longer link. In which case, even though they have eliminated the bbl. down movement, they have also raised the bottom lugs off of the slide stop pin and have thrown the timing off in the pistol. Also, the gun may not function in the "upside/down" position as the 1911 is supposed to do.
Harry B.
I agree that this problem is a "short-link" problem Jim.
 
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