Changing Barrel link

original: forum.m1911.org
Retrieved: November 09, 2011
Last Post: August 16, 2011

xkimberman
15th August 2011

I have a couple of 1911s that when the gun is in battery and you push down on the barrel there is slight downward movement. Would it hurt anything to go up one size over the stock?


wichaka
15th August 2011

You need to find the cause of the problem. Could be a smaller diameter link pin, or something may be wore out... check that first.


niemi24s
15th August 2011

Quote:
I have a couple of 1911s

* What kinds of 1911's are these?

* How much is that "slight downward movement"?

* Is that "slight downward movement" measured from when the barrel is forced fully up into the slide to where it's forced fully downward?

These asked because if these 1911's are built to Government Model specifications....

* Their barrels are supported by the link when in battery

* There is 0.010" of play in the link system

* The radial locking lugs are about 0.020" away from being fully engaged when the barrel in standing on the link in battery.

...that "slight downward movement" may be perfectly normal provided the barrel does not move back up more than about 0.002" when the pressure on the barrel is released.

Quote:
Would it hurt anything to go up one size over the stock?

It would if the barrel's linkdown timing is adversely affected.


xkimberman
15th August 2011

One gun is a Kimber USA and the other one is a Kimber Target II. Gun is in fully in battery or you could say the slide is forward as far is will go. Both guns run fine. My other Kimbers lock up like tight with no verticle movment if you push the barrel down. If you push the barrel down the barrel will move back up a very slight amount. Both guns have less than 500rds thru them. I think the standard link is .278 and the next one up is .283. Could the link pin itself be a little on the small side as suggested?


CAWalter
15th August 2011

When the chamber end feels tight, and is tight, the lower lug is sitting on the slide stop pin. When it move down and sometimes back the barrel is sitting on the link. A longer link will only change the timing, in a negative way most likely. An undersize pin would not make any difference as if under size the lower lug would more likely sit on the slide stop pin and be solid.


xkimberman
15th August 2011

CAWalter are you saying I should try one size shorter? A.273? I like the solid lock up. I was really disappointed in the Team USA because of this. Both guns run fine. A gun store Commando told me to buy a no. 14 link. Sounds more and more like I should just leave them alone. Does not look like a simple thing to correct. And I know it does not hurt anything.


Todd_M_S
15th August 2011

I'd suggest it may not be a "riding the link" issue, but may be "riding the SS pin" with an oddly cut rear lug profile.

If it was a case of riding the link, I think you would witness a down and forward movement (as the link is over-center). But... as the barrel is already as far forward as it can can go you should only see a down movement.

If you note a definite rearward movement I'd say SS pin touching on an odd rear barrel lug profile and that's the only way down+back happen.

FYI, that may not be a bad thing...


Todd_M_S
15th August 2011

Don't monkey with the link just yet... because it may (most likely) be sized correctly.


CAWalter
15th August 2011

Quote:
CAWalter are you saying I should try one size shorter? A.273? I like the solid lock up. I was really disappointed in the Team USA because of this. Both guns run fine. A gun store Commando told me to buy a no. 14 link. Sounds more and more like I should just leave them alone. Does not look like a simple thing to correct. And I know it does not hurt anything.

No, the fix for an over cut lower lug is not a link size change, but a lower lug weld and re-fit, or a new barrel.


CAWalter
15th August 2011

Quote:
I'd suggest it may not be a "riding the link" issue, but may be "riding the SS pin" with an oddly cut rear lug profile.

If the lower lug is oddly? cut, and the lug is sitting on the slide stop pin then when pushing down the chamber end goes down, where's the lug that it was sitting on?

When the barrel is ridding the link the link takes the barrel as high as it can at it's apex, the barrel continues forward .040"-.050". the barrel has no reason to follow the link back down as there is plenty of clearance in the link to slide stop pin. When you push down you are closing this clearance. It's just not a tightly fitted barrel. Doesn't mean it can't shoot well however.


Todd_M_S
15th August 2011

Quote:
If the lower lug is oddly? cut, and the lug is sitting on the slide stop pin then when pushing down the chamber end goes down, where's the lug that it was sitting on?

Its still there... But the ss pin is nested into either over-sized barrel lug radius or against a non-vertical rear lug face (or both). Technically riding on the ss pin but not assuring solid lockup. And... the recoil spring may cause it to pop back up a bit after you release the push down pressure.

Quote:
When the barrel is ridding the link the link takes the barrel as high as it can at it's apex, the barrel continues forward .040"-.050". the barrel has no reason to follow the link back down as there is plenty of clearance in the link to slide stop pin. When you push down you are closing this clearance. It's just not a tightly fitted barrel. Doesn't mean it can't shoot well however.

Yup, agree as long as there is no rear cam around the pin motion.... Either way "Doesn't mean it cant shoot well".


niemi24s
15th August 2011

This may (or may not) illustrate some of the things being discussed in the previous several posts:

Please answer the 2nd and 3rd questions in Post #3.


saltydog
16th August 2011

Maybe you might want to ask your self if its reliable with your mags and your ammunition?

Betcha it'll print within saucer area with just about anything that satisfies requirement # 1 above.

Isn't it fun to try to convert a draft horse into a Preakness winner?


xkimberman
16th August 2011

Ok saltydog. Both guns groups are decent. They are not up to my Kimber Gold Match or Les Baer but not far away. As good as my new production Series 70 Colt Govt model and LW Govt model. I think I am going to just leave them alone.


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