Question for the 1911 folks

J

jh9x18ky

New member
I have a RIA 1911 frame that has a STI slide with a 38 super barrel, and recently picked up a 9mm barrel and fitted it and got it running. Then I picked up a Colt 80 series 38 super conversion ( slide,barrel, ejector,mag) and tried to put it on the RIA frame. According to what I tried, there must be a difference in the length of a 80 series slide compared to a 70 series. When I put the Colt 80 series on the frame, put everything together, the slide hangs off the back of the frame ( approx 1/4 in) and the thumb safety wont engage. Am I seeing this right..... is there a difference in length, or am I missing something ?
 
I don't have a schematics and measurements handy, but it's only logical that they had to stretch something somewhere to fit in the firing pin safety... the stuff that sets an 80 apart from a 70.
 
Slides and frames for Series 70 and Series 80 1911s are all the same length. More likely, your gun is not ging into battery because the lugs are not fitting.
 
As Scorch indicates, nearly all 1911 clone parts (except barrel/slide configurations) are drop-in interchangeable, but the lugs are probably not going into battery. Try a shorter barrel link and see what happens. I know that Wilson sells a package of links in varied lengths that may shorten the lock-up arc, and allow the barrel lugs to mate into the slide. When the lugs properly engage, the slide will swing forward into battery position.

Good luck.
 
I will look at the lock up issue tonight. It took about a week to get the 9mm change working proper, recoil spring strength makes a big difference... with some advice, I will make this 38 super change work also. Thanks folks.
 
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