Suggestions for fixing up a used 1911

[KingofChaos]

Over the Thanksgiving break I acquired this Springfield 1911-A1 from my neighbour's sister for $300. Date under the right grip panel says it was manufactured in 2006 and I believe it's a Mil-Spec. It belonged to her deceased husband and then her before passing into my hands. Unfortunately, she wasn't particularly careful with it. In particular she knocked the plunger tube off with a hammer when she couldn't figure out how to work the thumb safety. Needless to say, this thing needs some work. This is my first 1911 and I'd appreciate the input from those of you who are more familiar with them.





As you can see here, there is some surface rust on the frame.


The rust was all over the matte parts of the finish, but I've managed to remove most of it gunzilla and a brass brush.


Here you can see the knocked off plunger tube. I actually have the original tube since she didn't throw it away.It's bent all out of shape.
I assume the marring is from the hammer.


I know I need a new plunger tube and plunger tube spring assembly. Does anyone know how much a gunsmith will charge for the installation? I actually would rather do it myself, but it requires a special staking tool, and buying a specialty tool for what will likely be a one time job seems silly. Though if any of you with lots of 1911s has the tool and would be willing to let me pay to borrow it, that'd be grand. I'm also going to get a better magazine. I suspect the factory one that came with it has been modified since the rounds come out of it extremely easily, as in drop the magazine and it vomits rounds all over the floor easy. I'm thinking a Wilson 8 round mag. Other than that I'm not really sure what all I need to get this thing back into shape. I shot it at PSC on Saturday, and the slide would lock mid-magazine. I suspect this had to do with the lack of the plunger spring assembly applying pressure to the slide release. I'm also considering a new barrel. I couldn't hit a plate from 10 yards to save my life this weekend, though with my Witness I could knock down both racks.Anything else I should consider? Perhaps a new slide release, the one on it is all beat up.

[gigag04]

Paging AndyC...

[XinTX]

I have a plunger staking tool that you can use. Looks like a candidate for a refinish. Maybe you could buff out some of the marring.

But I wouldn't shoot it any more until the plunger tube (and guts) are installed. You can mung stuff up if that isn't working right.

[mossytxn]

You got a stainless Milspec for $300. If you change your mind on it, I'll give you $305

Two things to note...one you got a smokin' deal plunger tube notwithstanding, and two it's a Springfield so you have a stellar warranty. Get the tube, clean the heck out it, lube it correctly, shoot the snot out of it. Problem solved :)

As for magazines, Wilsons may work, may not. Some 1911s are picky. McCormick is good as well. Everyone has their favorite. Personally, my Springfield runs great with the flush fit 8 round Kimber mags. Also, you may be fine with the Springfield mags they have in their online store. The price on those can't be beat.

[cbunt1]

I'm with AndyC on this one...don't worry about the barrel yet, and even if it *is* firing "off", it may just be the bushing or some such....1911's can have serious issues, but more often than not, it's the little "armorer" parts and not the full-on "gunsmith" parts that are at issue...one of the beautiful things of the design.

Plunger tubes are about $15....I have the staking tool in the garage. I may even have a stainless plunger tube, but I'm not sure. The plunger and springs themselves are easy enough to pick up at places that have a gunsmith/armorer on hand...I'd bet you can get a pair of plungers and the proper kinked spring at the Arms Room in League City...AMSS might have one as well...of course, you can get one at the gun show this weekend.

I'd be more than willing to let you use my staking tool...takes about 10 minutes to do the job.

I wouldn't worry too much about the slide release at this point, unless it just annoys you. To me, this is the perfect "carry" rig, since you've already got the first battle scars on it, so you're not going to be too worried about the mild beating a gun takes as an EDC rig.

As far as magazines, I tend to take a three-step progression with them...I use Wilsons when I'm diagnosing gun issues, or when it's absolutely positively GOTTA function or I'm not 100% sure about the gun(matches, self-defense setup, etc.) I also run a lot of McCormick Power Mags after I've thoroughly tested them in a gun/ammo combination -- I prefer the McCormick for "real life" carry for a couple of reasons...for range mags, I use the McCormick Shooting Star mags...they're less expensive than the Power mags, have a flush fit, and are true to Mil-Spec with the exception that they feed wadcutters quite nicely.

[DocV]

You can buy a WIlson Combat plunger tube for 12 bucks from shopwilsoncombat. Their plunger tube assembly goes for $5.
Brownells has staking tools for 25 and 35 bucks. I would not worry about the divots on the slide. It's a shooter not a safe queen.

[KingofChaos]

@XinTX I'll shoot you a PM. And I probably won't be shooting it very much until it's fixed. The narrower magwell, than my witness that is, feels odd in my hands anyway.

Correct - recoil would cause it to flop around and catch the slide.

Ok, ignoring the crazy lady with a hammer *takes deep breath*.... you have a great-looking 1911 there; won't take much work to get it back in shape. A plunger-tube is inexpensive, fitting it is easy (I don't have the tool but it can sourced fairly easily) and getting out those hammer-marks will take a little bit of elbow-grease. Not a big job at all, though :)

I wouldn't bother with a barrel until you know for a fact it's messed up; lots of folks just don't know how to drive a 1911 properly.

I guess I'll hold off on the barrel and see if I can find someone to show me how to properly handle a 1911. I'm actually not sure how to get those nicks out. They took off quite a bit of metal, so buffing them out isn't really an option.

You got a stainless Milspec for $300. If you change your mind on it, I'll give you $305

Two things to note...one you got a smokin' deal plunger tube notwithstanding, and two it's a Springfield so you have a stellar warranty. Get the tube, clean the heck out it, lube it correctly, shoot the snot out of it. Problem solved :)

As for magazines, Wilsons may work, may not. Some 1911s are picky. McCormick is good as well. Everyone has their favorite. Personally, my Springfield runs great with the flush fit 8 round Kimber mags. Also, you may be fine with the Springfield mags they have in their online store. The price on those can't be beat.

I thought it was a pretty good deal myself, and without it I doubt I'd ever get a hold of a 1911. Just wasn't very high on my priority list. Upgrading my 10/22, buying a FAL, and something in 50 BMG after saving for six months all topped it. Are your Springfield mags loose like I described? I dropped it onto a carpet, and nearly all the rounds shots out. This just doesn't seem normal.

I'm with AndyC on this one...don't worry about the barrel yet, and even if it *is* firing "off", it may just be the bushing or some such....1911's can have serious issues, but more often than not, it's the little "armorer" parts and not the full-on "gunsmith" parts that are at issue...one of the beautiful things of the design.

Plunger tubes are about $15....I have the staking tool in the garage. I may even have a stainless plunger tube, but I'm not sure. The plunger and springs themselves are easy enough to pick up at places that have a gunsmith/armorer on hand...I'd bet you can get a pair of plungers and the proper kinked spring at the Arms Room in League City...AMSS might have one as well...of course, you can get one at the gun show this weekend.

I'd be more than willing to let you use my staking tool...takes about 10 minutes to do the job.

I wouldn't worry too much about the slide release at this point, unless it just annoys you. To me, this is the perfect "carry" rig, since you've already got the first battle scars on it, so you're not going to be too worried about the mild beating a gun takes as an EDC rig.

As far as magazines, I tend to take a three-step progression with them...I use Wilsons when I'm diagnosing gun issues, or when it's absolutely positively GOTTA function or I'm not 100% sure about the gun(matches, self-defense setup, etc.) I also run a lot of McCormick Power Mags after I've thoroughly tested them in a gun/ammo combination -- I prefer the McCormick for "real life" carry for a couple of reasons...for range mags, I use the McCormick Shooting Star mags...they're less expensive than the Power mags, have a flush fit, and are true to Mil-Spec with the exception that they feed wadcutters quite nicely.

I'll PM you about the staking tool. I carry my Witness and probably will continue to do so, though the holster I have is IWB and it severely limits my pants selection. Getting a 1911 OWB holster will be infinitely quicker than an OWB for my witness, though I've got to be able to actually hit the target with it before I get to that point.

You can buy a WIlson Combat plunger tube for 12 bucks from shopwilsoncombat. Their plunger tube assembly goes for $5.
Brownells has staking tools for 25 and 35 bucks. I would not worry about the divots on the slide. It's a shooter not a safe queen.

I'm not super concerned about it, but I figured it would be a nice thing to work on/get fixed. I'm definitely going to be taking to the range a lot though. I had actually planned on possibly giving it to my step-dad to be his carry weapon, but he hates the grip safety.

[DocV]

You can buy a WIlson Combat plunger tube for 12 bucks from shopwilsoncombat. Their plunger tube assembly goes for $5.
Brownells has staking tools for 25 and 35 bucks. I would not worry about the divots on the slide. It's a shooter not a safe queen.

I'm not super concerned about it, but I figured it would be a nice thing to work on/get fixed. I'm definitely going to be taking to the range a lot though. I had actually planned on possibly giving it to my step-dad to be his carry weapon, but he hates the grip safety.

You could change that grip safety out for a beaver tail but that would require some grinding. A Smith & Alexander Beaver Tail .220 radius is made for the milspec. It costs around 37 bucks and a fitting jig costs $16.50.

Lots of work but you are still way ahead of the cost curve.

[XinTX]

@XinTX I'll shoot you a PM. And I probably won't be shooting it very much until it's fixed. The narrower magwell, than my witness that is, feels odd in my hands anyway.

Just let me know. I'm not too terribly far from PSC. Recently became a member there myself.