So, how hard does the slide hit the frame? It seems to the one of the big concerns. Let’s do a little math. Assuming a 230 grain bullet at 830 fps…GI Hardball spec…we’ll calculate the slide’s speed and kinetic energy. Weights were taken on a postal scale using a 1919 production Colt GI pistol. Due…
A few years ago, I calculated the slide-to-frame impact based on a 5-inch pistol firing 230 grains at 830 fps. Without factoring in any resistance from the “recoil” spring, mainspring, hammer mass, or friction, it came to right around 9 foot-pounds. In normal operation, I’d estimate it at probably 7-7.5, assuming a 14-pound action spring…
Extractors: Innie vs Outie The question of internal vs External extractors comes up from time to time, and it mainly centers around which is best or more reliable. Since all modern auto pistol producers have pretty much gone to the external type, we’ll have to use Johnny Browning’s pistols to represent those with the internal…
1911 School: Commander and Government Model differences. We’re specifically discussing Colt’s pistols here since Colt pioneered the Commander. Clones and variants may or may not be true Commander spec. Along with a shorter slide and barrel are a shortened barrel bushing, spring plug, and spring guide. Because of the shorter slide, the slide travel and…
Almost as soon as Colt introduced the Series 80 pistols, they began to be denigrated by the purists, and all the pre-Series 80s…whether they were built in 1912 or 1982…were to become known as “Series 70” guns…even the pistols not made by Colt. Now, it seems that even Colt has taken to using the term…
There seems to be a misunderstanding of the similarities and the differences between these two basic designs. so I thought I might be able to clear up some of it. First, let’s look at what recoil is and where it comes from…what causes recoil. Recoil is the reaction side of an action-reaction event. Newton’s 3rd…
The next critical dimension is the cartridge OAL itself. Too short or too long and you’ll have problems. The issues that so many people ascribed to the 1911’s failure to feed hollowpoints came from the old Speer 200 grain JHP “Flying ashtray” in the 80s…but it wasn’t the size of the cavity that caused the…
The 1911 style pistol with internal extractor, as originally designed. The extractor’s role in feeding is often misunderstood and underestimated. Most important is the deflection. That is, the amount of the wall behind the claw that protrudes beyond the guide block into the breech area…and this is where I’ve found problems in pistols produced in…
In order to effect a better understanding of the dimensions and conditions critical to reliable feeding in the 1911 pistol, I thought this might be a good idea to go into more detail than the average magazine article. The first critical spec is feed and barrel ramp angles. The feed ramp is ideally 31-31.5 degrees…
In the spring of 1991, when I lived in Rural Hall, NC I got a call from my stepfather. His aunt had died at the ripe, old age of 96, and her children had discovered one of his uncle’s pistols in her attic, wrapped in a diaper and stashed in a hat box. He said…
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