My carry gun broke today

A

ArizonaTRex

New member
Well I had a thought provoking problem today.
Just reinforced why I carry a backup gun. (Questions are further down-here is the setup)-
I carry a full size 1911 for CCW. Or open carry, doesn't really matter here in Arizona, and a Glock as a BUG but....
The safety plunger tube on my Springfield Armory 1911 came loose today and locked my gun "on safe". The plunger popped out and over the safety lever and locked it up solid. I could not release the safety and it took about 2 minutes for me to figure out what happened and force the plunger back into position. I have a habit of swiping the safety on and off when holstering to check function and keep my thumb "trained". Never any trouble until today when I tried to release the safety and nothing happened! :eek:
(note i'll have more questions and comments about the safety in the Smithy Forum here)
So that problem just made me glad I am not locked in to one firearms platform.
Being left-handed the Glock 17 was my first choice when I started carrying semi-auto.(availbilty and price too...)
But EVERYONE talks about the 1911 so I got one. I like the round count of the Glock, but I shoot the 1911 so much better, so it moved up as primary and the Glock is backup.
Now for the questions
1.Who here daily carries CCW, and did not have a backup, experienced a serious problem with their carry gun-do you now have a backup? If not why?
2. For those that do have a BUG, do you carry the same platform/ or caliber as your primary or like me totally different?

(my bug for now will be my .357!)
 
This is one thing I'm not worried about. My daily carry is a Ruger single action, with a stronger base pin latch spring eliminating the one defect (a tendency for the base pin, the cylinder's "axle", to pop out under heavy recoil).

With that issue dealt with, it's about as stone-cold reliable as a gun gets.
 
Man, those external-safety pistols sure are dangerous...

Guess you oughta switch to your much safer Glock :cool:
 
Primary, CZ P01, BUG, CZ PCR, same mags, same rigs. BBUG, Taurus 850 CIA, absolutely nothing in common with the other two. :D
 
None of my defensive pistols have external safeties. I don't use external safeties on guns that do have them. If I give my firearm to anyone to handle I make sure to tell them that the external safety is not engaged or that there is not one.
 
1.Who here daily carries CCW, and did not have a backup, experienced a serious problem with their carry gun-do you now have a backup? If not why?
2. For those that do have a BUG, do you carry the same platform/ or caliber as your primary or like me totally different?
Click to expand...

1. Yes, I daily carry. I carry a Colt LW Commander. I own a Sig GSR 1911 that is currently in for warranty replacement, and when I get it back I'm trading it for another Colt Commander. In the meantime, I have a CZ-75 that I can carry cocked and locked if the Colt is unavailable for whatever reason, using the same manual of arms.
2. I have guns that would work as BUGs, but I think I've only carried like that a couple of times; mostly days when the illegals are out feeling cantankerous and marching in the streets. Obama inauguration day. Things like that. A 642 in a pocket holster does it for me.

I couldn't imagine carrying a 1911 as a BUG to a 1911. Perhaps a Mustang backing up a 1911 would work though.

I also am not afraid of switching up my daily carry to an XD9. No safety to "forget about" so an extra mentally ingrained thumb swipe isn't a big deal.

I don't switch over my carry gun without a trip to the range, though. Just make sure it works and put a few rounds through it drawing from the holster. Get a feel for how it comes to my hand and the trigger or safeties. If the session doesn't go to satisfaction, I'll forego switching the carry gun.
 
I carried my Kimber Ultra CDP for a while before I decided the grip without the arched MSH was a bit small. I bought smooth grips that wrap around into finger grooves in front. Love the feel and the grip is perfect now. Problem was, they weren't designed for ambi-safeties and I didn't know it until I had worn the gun for a few days. After changing the grips, I reloaded and set the safety. Something rattled and I again checked the grips. Evidently I had forgotten to securely tighten the top screw on the right side, though the bottom one was tight. No problem, out came the allen wrench and it was tight in a few seconds. The grip was now tight against the ambi's flange and I was blissfully unaware, as I had neglected to retest the safety which was still on. FF to a couple days later, when in horror I found the safety wouldn't come off! This gun had effectively been dead since I had installed the new grips. A little file work took care of it, but the damage had been done and I've carried a BUG since. Certainly not the gun's fault or even the grips; this screw-up was all mine. I now also test my safety hardware every day, and function test the gun every couple weeks, even if not at the range. The BUG is not a .45 like the primary though, I prefer the flatness, weight, and concealability of a P32.
 
My last Daily carry set up was a XD compact .45 and a 1911. For the same reason as you, my 1911 stayed on my strong side but never carried it without the XD since I hadn't put even trigger time in with it to carry solo. I really enjoyed it and suspect that something VERY similar will be my next purchases.
 
"Man, those external-safety pistols sure are dangerous..."

I was at the range a couple days ago and had my 1911 cocked and locked in it's holster, a young man walked up to me and asked "Isn't that dangerous???" I looked at him and replied "It certainly is!" :D
 
I had a tendency to always carry a BUG with my 5 shot revolvers and that was about the only times I would (faster then a speed strip), otherwise an extra mag was suitable. But sometime back I put a laser on a proven, reliable gun. Took it to the range with a BUG just because I had not tested it. Boy was I glad I did. The gun was a very old first generation Keltec P32 and the additional weight caused the slide lock to engage after every shot. Ever since then I almost always carry a BUG, about 95% of the time, with yard work or sitting at the house watching a movie being the only times I don't. Well, and maybe Sunday mornings.

I usually do something like Glock or J-Frame as main, occasionally the P3AT as main and then a P32, .25 or NAA .22 mini for backup. Most of the time it is the P3AT or P32 for BUG but if threat level or distance from home or the trunk of my car is short, I will carry the smaller stuff for fun just to switch it up.

So to answer the question I always leaned towards BUG, an incident pushed me a little more that way though for sure. I mean, to be fair, my loaded P3AT weighs less then a 13 round G21 mag in the left pocket, LOL.
 
This is my Daily carry and BUG Sig226 .357Sig w/125gr Gold Dots and S&W 340PD w/135 Gold Dot SB 38's

dec08-feb09130.jpg
 
Get a better made 1911A1
Click to expand...

I did. Over 30 years ago I bought a new Colt Gov model. There were not many 1911 choices back then, I mean, I'm talking of the time of Jimmy Carter as president. <pauses to spit on floor, and mumble some angry words>

After a few boxes of hardball that safety detent plunger took a trip of its own. The entire plunger. I saw it head to the left as the pistol recoiled and then the safety was flopping about and locking the gun.

After a trip to a 'smith that part was on to stay. And I thought I had bought first rate!

Bart Noir
 
On the GI pistols, that tunnel was heavily staked and did NOT come off. Some clone makers, because they are cheap and don't give a damn, decided that they would glue it on. This thread is about the result.

Jim
 
About a month or so ago I posted on a thread noting that most of what the Trendoid McSheeple crowd look for in a "custom' featured 1911 is useless, IE motorcycle ramp sights, conehead hammers and duck's @$$ shaped grip safeties.

I noted that the parts that REALLY need to be customized or altered from "mil spec" are the plunger tube and the firing pin stop.

As Jeff Cooper pointed out before most of the trendoid types were born, the only two big failings in the 1911 other than skimpy sights are the plunger tube can work loose and needs to be staked on and that the firing pin stop needs to be press fitted as it can fall out and tie up a gun.

Oh, the moaning and wailing and gnashing of teeth that caused!
With more than one Nimrod claiming he never heard of a plunger tube working loose or a firing pin stop backing out.

Not that I needed proof that I was right all along, but It never hurts to rub some peoples noses in it.

The current Fad-ism of the 1911 doesn't adress this real world problem, becuase I reckon there is no way to make your shooting buddy envy a staked on plunger tube becuase you can't see any cosmetic difference.
 
More to think on then

Well it is nice to know what parts are mostly likely to fail.:o

I missed catching the plunger tube problems in my reading! Everyone worries about springs, I'd rather learn about what other/different parts are most likely to fail and make the gun inoperatable!
At least my Glocks "safeties could never fail...right? :D
Since any mechanical device can fail... maybe I'll start carrying a nice size rock as a BUG.(BUR)
At least I wouldn't need a carry permit for it-50 state legal too I betcha!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top