1911 slide binding

[Robinson]

I know there are members here who have more knowledge than I do about 1911s so here's one:

A brand new pistol, 38 Super, went to the range for the first time recently. It shot just fine, no malfunctions of any kind. Later I decided to clean and lube the gun and when reassembling it the slide started to bind in the frame. After a few attempts it got to the point where it was impossible to get the gun back together.

So I disassembled it again, removed the barrel, recoil spring and rod, main spring housing, thumb safety, grip safety, and sear spring. The slide is still binding in the frame -- as if the rails were cut wrong. But the slide moved freely earlier in the day.

Any ideas what would cause this? I would suspect the disconnect, ejector, or firing pin stop -- but I don't see anything obvious with any of those parts.

My next step is to remove the fire control parts and see if that makes a difference. If it does, it almost has to be something with the disconnect.

TIA

[SecondsCount]

Where is it binding? When it is close to being in battery?

Series 80 or 70?

[Robinson]

Where is it binding? When it is close to being in battery?

Series 80 or 70?

S70 so no plunger or other related parts to cause the problem. It binds as the slide moves backward on the frame toward its last half or third of maximum rearward travel. It also binds moving forward in that same location.

The disconnect doesn't seem to be protruding more than it should.

[5pins]

Have you tried to assemble the slid on without the barrel and recoil spring?

[Wendell]

Is both the frame and the slide made of stainless steel? (It sounds like it could be 'galling'.) I'd clean it again, and lubricate it with a quality gun lubricant, and try it again.

[Robinson]

Have you tried to assemble the slid on without the barrel and recoil spring?
Yep, the barrel and RSA are not in the slide.

[Robinson]

Is both the frame and the slide made of stainless steel? (It sounds like it could be 'galling'.) I'd clean it again, and lubricate it with a quality gun lubricant, and try it again.

Blued carbon steel, properly lubed.

[5pins]

Check the ejector and ejector pin and make sure they are not loose and flush. If they look ok then disassemble the fire control parts.

[farscott]

If the ejector is not loose and the ejector pin has not walked out a bit, take a look at the firing pin stop to insure it has not started to drop from its place in the slide. Unusual but not unknown.

I would also look at the slide and frame rails where the binding starts. A small piece of powder or bullet jacket may be constricting slide travel.

[KevH]

What brand/model is it?

Take the disconnector out and see what it does.

[Robinson]

What brand/model is it?

Take the disconnector out and see what it does.

It's a Fusion Firearms govt model 38 Super I got for a fun gun. Nothing like this has ever happened with any of my Colts. But that's all beside the point. The gun ran great at the range, then started binding up during reassembly after cleaning.

I've removed the fire control parts and it's still binding. I can work the slide back and forth on the bare frame with a little pressure, but when I reassemble the gun, as soon as I insert the slide release lever it locks up tight -- no front to back motion is possible.

[Robinson]

If the ejector is not loose and the ejector pin has not walked out a bit, take a look at the firing pin stop to insure it has not started to drop from its place in the slide. Unusual but not unknown.

I would also look at the slide and frame rails where the binding starts. A small piece of powder or bullet jacket may be constricting slide travel.

Checked all of those things, no issues there.

[willie]

I think the link is not able to move within its range. Check the link self itself and that part of the barrel where it fits.

[5pins]

Is it under warranty? Sounds like the barrel or barrel link is not fitted properly.

[Robinson]

Is it under warranty? Sounds like the barrel or barrel link is not fitted properly.

I've started suspecting that as well. But it's strange that it operated perfectly during live fire earlier the same day. Also, before I fired it I had done a quick takedown to make sure it was lubed properly and the gun went back together with no issue.

An improperly fitted barrel or barrel link would explain why I can't reassemble the gun, but it doesn't explain why the slide doesn't move freely in the bare frame with no other components installed. Could be multiple issues of course.

Something weird happened, and it's a situation I haven't encountered before.

[willie]

The only other factor I think of is that either the slide or the frame has a crack in it.

[JohnO]

I would (if you haven't already) run a patch up and down on the frame rails and slide rail channels feeling for a bur or rough spot. Also make sure the ejector is properly positioned and not contacting the slide.

[Robinson]

Okay I'm starting to relax about the slide/frame fitment. I've been moving the slide forward and back over the frame and it has smoothed out. I think the concern was a bit of paranoia on my part.

However, the issue with the gun seizing when I install the slide release still exists. I have checked the movement of the barrel link by installing just the barrel and slide release into the frame. The movement is just as it should be. So now I am focused on the geometry of the slide release itself. If I just insert the slide release pin, the slide is able to move freely. Once I fully install the slide release into the frame the slide is frozen in place. To me that indicates something is amiss with the slide release. So I will keep investigating.

[Wendell]

I highly recommend (both of) Jerry Kuhnhausen's manuals. You can get them directly from Heritage Gun Books.

(volume 1) http://www.gunbooks.com/colt45.html

(volume 2) http://www.gunbooks.com/vol2.html


You can also get them from Brownells.

(volume 1) https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/books-amp-videos/books/handgun-gunsmithing-books/colt-45-auto-shop-manual-10th-edition-prod13805.aspx?avs%7cManufacturer_1=HERITAGE%2bGUN %2bBOOKS

(volume 2) https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/books-amp-videos/books/handgun-gunsmithing-books/us-m1911-and-m1911a-shop-manual-volume-ii-prod13815.aspx?avs%7cManufacturer_1=HERITAGE%2bGUN %2bBOOKS

[Robinson]

It turns out the slide release lever had a very slight bend in it that was not allowing the channel to be inserted as deeply into the frame as it needs to be. Hammer and a punch, problem solved.

[DueSpada]

Thank you for coming back triumphant, holding high your solution and turning this mystery into a good lesson.