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Finally got myself a decent camera, so I thought I'd snap a few pics of my pistol (the Kimber) and the wife's Sig P-229.



I've got no kids to be proud of yet, so this is about as close as I can get!

Also-- anyone in the Lubbock area that knows how to restake a plunger tube on a 1911? I'm about to take a stab at it.

MrDrummy wrote: Also-- anyone in the Lubbock area that knows how to restake a plunger tube on a 1911? I'm about to take a stab at it.

What does that mean?

Is yours just loose, or does it need to be replaced?

If its on a "carry" gun take care of it immediately. A loose plunger can work out far enough to prevent you from disengaging the thumb safety on some models.

Buy a tool: Midway, Brownell's, etc.... make them.

Its important to support the tube to avoid damage.

flintknapper wrote:Is yours just loose, or does it need to be replaced?

If its on a "carry" gun take care of it immediately. A loose plunger can work out far enough to prevent you from disengaging the thumb safety on some models.

Buy a tool: Midway, Brownell's, etc.... make them.

Its important to support the tube to avoid damage.

+1 You need the tools to do it properly, it's not as easy as it look's.

I found a guy here locally who was confident that just restaking and Loc-tite-ing the loose plunger tube will solve the problem for good. He's cheap, quick, and knowledgable.

Thanks guys.

TX- The plunger tube is the little piece on a 1911 that holds a small spring between two little metal plungers which put pressure on the thumb safety and the slide stop. Mine has worked loose, and from what I've been told this can cause major problems.



From what I've read, the plunger tube has two little feet that pass through the frame, and once through, these feet are expanded (like a rivet) to pin the piece in place. Most places that I've read, they call this "staking" it in place.

Is that what you were wondering about?

Locktite is fine for a range gun/safe queen. It will NOT do for a carry gun.

As a result of two factors: The destructive nature of installation (this goes for any staked part) and the fairly low cost of a replacement, I would not even consider the idea of tightening up a loose plunger tube. Partial staking (where the process is incomplete) can be fixed. Improper or damaged staking trashes the part.

It's about a $15 part. If this fellow you found has a proper plunger staking tool (it might look like a pair of vise grips or a bike chain breaking tool), have him locktite and stake a fresh one.

Heck, do it yourself. The tool is about $30. You'll need a vise, a magwell filler, some wire and a good pair of pliers. If you make yourself a good pair of blocks for the vise, you can even do it without pulling the grip screw bushings (which you shouldn't do because they're staked, too). If the tube will actually come out with ease, all you need is the staking tool.

Oh, and whatever you do, don't try to pry the thing off the frame with a screwdriver.