Ssanders224 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 I'm having a problem with my Limited gun. Thought I would put it out there to see if anyone has some insight. First off, I don't run any super hot loads in the gun. 170PF and I chrono often. I run 13# recoil springs and 17# mainspring. Problem is, the top edges of the guide rod head, and the back of the spring tunnel are deforming where they make contact. Any ideas as to what is causing this??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 What guide rod is that? It is possible that it might be out of spec? Have you not used a shokbuff or some sort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshidaex Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 How old is that recoil spring? Possible it's past it's use by date... Also I noticed you have a lightened slide. A lighter slide will have a higher slide velocity which may batter the guide rod head/frame a bit more than a non lightened slide, all things being equal (i.e. recoil spring, main spring, ammo, etc, etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vernbo Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 On the other side of the flange from where the damage is , does the round nub of the guide rod fit and nest into the frame and sit square ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 How old is that recoil spring? Possible it's past it's use by date... Also I noticed you have a lightened slide. A lighter slide will have a higher slide velocity which may batter the guide rod head/frame a bit more than a non lightened slide, all things being equal (i.e. recoil spring, main spring, ammo, etc, etc) The spring is fine. 13# Sprinco, and I change them often. 2-3k rounds. And yes, slide is lightened... But the gun was built by a very popular and renowned Smith. It shouldnt be self destructing like this. That guide rod is new, and only has about 3k rounds on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 On the other side of the flange from where the damage is , does the round nub of the guide rod fit and nest into the frame and sit square ? Yes, the nub was fit to the frame, and the flange sits square against the frame. The damage to the guide rod has happened rapidly. In the last few thousand rounds. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powder Finger Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 the machine work on the slide isn't done from the bottom view. the part between the lightening hole and the spring guide tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 the machine work on the slide isn't done from the bottom view.the part between the lightening hole and the spring guide tunnel. +1. That surface where the slide is bottoming out on the guide rod should not be flat like that. It should have a radius cut going into the spring guide tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 the machine work on the slide isn't done from the bottom view. the part between the lightening hole and the spring guide tunnel. Can you show a picture? The gun was built by someone very well known and respected around here... I wouldn't think he would have skipped a step?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 I'm at work, so I can't actually look at my gun.... But I was just looking at my picture again, and I sure hope I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing. It almost looks like there is a crack forming right where the spring tunnel meets the rail. Holy cow I hope not. This top end was brand new less than a year ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Here's a photo of a new Caspian slide. Note the rail cuts are a radius and not right angle like yours. Also notice how far they go back into the spring tunnel. The frame rails should have a radius at the front as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Here's a photo of a new Caspian slide. Note the rail cuts are a radius and not right angle like yours. Also notice how far they go back into the spring tunnel. The frame rails should have a radius at the front as well. Thanks for the picture. I'm not sure which radius I should be looking at, but my slide tunnel/rails looks pretty much exactly like the one in your picture? Unless you mean the very small fillet where the rail turns to form the tunnel?? Going to be very dissapointed if this is actually a flaw in the build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 You could try another guide rod and see if the same problem occurs. It's possible the metal in the head on the present rod might be too soft ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 You could try another guide rod and see if the same problem occurs. It's possible the metal in the head on the present rod might be too soft ??? I considered this too, but the back of the spring tunnel is deformed as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpl Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I looks like it has been cut for a flange style reverse plug like this: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/recoil-parts/recoil-spring-plugs/1911-auto-reverse-plugs-gm-flange-plug-sku448-191-101-7568-18802.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 I looks like it has been cut for a flange style reverse plug like this: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/recoil-parts/recoil-spring-plugs/1911-auto-reverse-plugs-gm-flange-plug-sku448-191-101-7568-18802.aspx No, it has a standard looking reverse plug in it. The top end was built from uncut parts by the Smith... So whatever it is cut for, and whatever is in it, is what he intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Death Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Here's a photo of a new Caspian slide. Note the rail cuts are a radius and not right angle like yours. Also notice how far they go back into the spring tunnel. The frame rails should have a radius at the front as well.The radius is there, you just half to look under the ledge, it's in a shadowThe slide is built correct Edited December 4, 2013 by Sudden Death Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Ok. I enlarged the photo and can see it. Sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Good news is, the slide is not cracked... Just an illusion in the photo. Bad news is, I still have no idea why the gun is beating itself up like this. The reverse plug is definitely pushed a little far forward in the tunnel... It stands just a little proud of the front of the slide (they were flush in the front when the gun was new). I think I might try to drop in a new reverse plug... And new guide rod?? Then see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MoreChains Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Sorry to ask the obvious question, but have you contacted the builder to ask him/her about any of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Death Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Steve, You can get a gunsmith fit oversized reverse plug, clean up the reverse plug shoulder in the slide and cut the new reverse plug to fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Sorry to ask the obvious question, but have you contacted the builder to ask him/her about any of this? Yes. Contacted the smith, and sent pictures. I was advised to "try an STI guide rod". However, I know the plug needs to be cleaned up/replaced as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Steve, You can get a gunsmith fit oversized reverse plug, clean up the reverse plug shoulder in the slide and cut the new reverse plug to fit Thanks Jeff. This is probably the route I will go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpl Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I looks like it has been cut for a flange style reverse plug like this: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/recoil-parts/recoil-spring-plugs/1911-auto-reverse-plugs-gm-flange-plug-sku448-191-101-7568-18802.aspx No, it has a standard looking reverse plug in it. The top end was built from uncut parts by the Smith... So whatever it is cut for, and whatever is in it, is what he intended. The rear of the tunnel is cut. Look at the rear of the plug in the picture that has the flange, not the collar. That is what would fill the area that has been machined and allow the rear of the the tunnel area to contact the guiderod head, not just the uncut area at the top of the rails as it is doing now. I would bet that your "gunsmith" ordered the slide cut for a reverse plug and didn't specify a collar style plug, which is what is in your picture. Changing the guiderod will not fix it. Getting the correct plug to fill the void at the back of the tunnel will. I have had pistols through my shop that did the exact same thing. The slide had been cut for a flange style plug and the customer was using a collar style. Bent the ears of the guiderod head, pushing it back into the frame rails. Change the plug and it will run forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 I looks like it has been cut for a flange style reverse plug like this: http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/recoil-parts/recoil-spring-plugs/1911-auto-reverse-plugs-gm-flange-plug-sku448-191-101-7568-18802.aspx No, it has a standard looking reverse plug in it. The top end was built from uncut parts by the Smith... So whatever it is cut for, and whatever is in it, is what he intended. The rear of the tunnel is cut. Look at the rear of the plug in the picture that has the flange, not the collar. That is what would fill the area that has been machined and allow the rear of the the tunnel area to contact the guiderod head, not just the uncut area at the top of the rails as it is doing now. I would bet that your "gunsmith" ordered the slide cut for a reverse plug and didn't specify a collar style plug, which is what is in your picture. Changing the guiderod will not fix it. Getting the correct plug to fill the void at the back of the tunnel will.I have had pistols through my shop that did the exact same thing. The slide had been cut for a flange style plug and the customer was using a collar style. Bent the ears of the guiderod head, pushing it back into the frame rails. Change the plug and it will run forever! I think the picture of my slide might be misleading you. The tunnel is not relieved for a flanged plug. The back of the tunnel, and the two areas that are deforming are flush (or were before the damage). The gun was designed for a collar type plug, and the slide is cut accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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