I recently acquired a Colt Combat Commander. Looks like it's hardly ever been used. Guy I got it from bought it new and says he only fired 2 mags through it. Here's my question; the slide is REALLY hard to pull back. Is this just a Colt thing or is there a problem? I gave it a good cleaning and lubing but it didn't help.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Colt slide hard to pull
- Thread starter cycleguru
- Start date
Tommy Vercetti
New member
have it checked out by a gunsmith
Colt doesn't have the reputation for quality it had 30 years ago
Colt doesn't have the reputation for quality it had 30 years ago
Try cocking before pulling the slide back.
If the slide force goes down significantly it would indicate the firing pin stop has a very sharp corner.
This was a complaint a long time ago to Browning, and he produced a slight rounding of the stop to decrease the effort needed to cycle the slide to load.
Changing the firing pin stop can affect timing, so go carefully.
A more rounded stop also tends to increase felt recoil since cocking the hammer does not take as much momentum off the slide.
If the slide force goes down significantly it would indicate the firing pin stop has a very sharp corner.
This was a complaint a long time ago to Browning, and he produced a slight rounding of the stop to decrease the effort needed to cycle the slide to load.
Changing the firing pin stop can affect timing, so go carefully.
A more rounded stop also tends to increase felt recoil since cocking the hammer does not take as much momentum off the slide.
Colt doesn't have the reputation for quality it had 30 years ago
How do you know the gun's not 30 years old?
Harry Bonar
New member
Colt
Sir;
I don't think you have a slide to frame problem. You could have a pistol someone has replaced the recoil spring in. I, in a full size 1911 use an 18 1/2 pound spring - I'm not familiar with the commander. The standard in a full size 1911 is 16 pounds.
Slides are hard to pull back when a heavy spring is used but if your Colt Commander functions O.K. with hardball factory ammo you do not have a problem!
Harry B.
Sir;
I don't think you have a slide to frame problem. You could have a pistol someone has replaced the recoil spring in. I, in a full size 1911 use an 18 1/2 pound spring - I'm not familiar with the commander. The standard in a full size 1911 is 16 pounds.
Slides are hard to pull back when a heavy spring is used but if your Colt Commander functions O.K. with hardball factory ammo you do not have a problem!
Harry B.
m.p.driver
New member
Might have extra power springs,you can notice the difference going up or down in pounds when you cycle the slide by hand.Have a para .45 that started having ejection issues,noticed that it felt harder pulling the slide back and you could feel it catching.Stripped it and found marks of the locking lugs dragging on the slide,new link and it was as good as new.Next question how does it shoot?If it cycles fine it just might be you.
patriotthad
New member
Could be recoil and mainspring. If extra power springs were used. If so, see how well it functions while shooting. I have a Kimber Pro Carry, app. size of the Commander and I use a #22 spring. In a full size a #24 spring. It will add to the reliability and life of your gun. But, I don't think that a spring(s) are the issue here. Could be various other issues ie. barrel link, firing pin safety (depending on series) bushing, locking grooves. Also, if any of the factory pins, sear etc., are bent it could also cause this to bind.
Winterhawk56
New member
I have a 70 series Colt Combat Commander and put a 22# spring in it. This make its very difficult to pull back but nice when you shoot!
As long as the sear disconnect is not bent (safety disconnect through body) and you can push it with the slide off, I would tend to think its the spring.
I have seen what an individual with good intentions can do to a slide and a vise! Trying to make the slide tighter (so he said) by crimping the slide at the grooves. It ain't pretty! You have to buy a new slide! Place the slide on the gun without the main spring and see if it slides cleanly?
I am curious so please let us know when you discover the issue?
As long as the sear disconnect is not bent (safety disconnect through body) and you can push it with the slide off, I would tend to think its the spring.
I have seen what an individual with good intentions can do to a slide and a vise! Trying to make the slide tighter (so he said) by crimping the slide at the grooves. It ain't pretty! You have to buy a new slide! Place the slide on the gun without the main spring and see if it slides cleanly?
I am curious so please let us know when you discover the issue?
In a full size a #24 spring. It will add to the reliability and life of your gun.
A 24# recoil spring in a 5" 1911 will contribute nothing good to either functional reliability or durability. 16# plenty, for a 5" .45.
Some folks think an extra heavy spring cushions the recoil and reduces battering of the frame. They forget that it also adds to the force of the slide moving forward, so the battering is moved to the slide stop, the barrel, and the frame at the slide stop hole, where many alloy Commanders break. There is no such thing as a free lunch in physics.
Also don't forget that for a Commander, you need not just the right weight of spring but the right LENGTH; a spring for the standard GM is too long.
Jim
Also don't forget that for a Commander, you need not just the right weight of spring but the right LENGTH; a spring for the standard GM is too long.
Jim
And, the "18#" spring in a Commander is a 16# Government Model spring shortened from 32 coils to 24 coils. I have heard a lot of arguments about how shortening a spring does or doesn't increase the spring's rate, but the spring that Colt supplied with Commanders was a shortened GM spring. Today, Colt probably uses a spring from Wolff that the latter says has an 18# rating.
I bought a spare Colt Mark IV slide-small type-for my Colt Mark IV with its original large type. Believe it or not I had to use lapping compound to get the second Colt slide to fit on a Colt frame. In your case I would try a couple of boxes of ammunition through it, it just might need some "breaking in."
I am assuming that you field stripped the gun, cleaned and lubed it and it still is difficult? My Commander and Government are what I would call easy to slide. But in no way would I call it difficult. A good set of OEM quality rated Wolff springs might help. http://www.gunsprings.com/ As you can see from the posts, lots of owners think heavier springs than normal can help. I bought my two Colts used and immediately put new springs in them, just to be sure.