Need 1911 Help!

[MBB]

So the Colt 1911 manual says (for Government-size pistols) to "Place the recoil guide into the recoil spring/s so that the closed end of the spring/s are up against the collar of the guide."

Which end is the closed end?

End A:

[Broken External Image]

[Broken External Image]

End B:

[Broken External Image]

Which one is correct?

End A on Guide Rod Collar:

[Broken External Image]

End B on Guide Rod Collar:

[Broken External Image]

The reason I ask is because I was out shooting at Banner Road this morning and the slide was getting stuck like this:

[Broken External Image]

Notice that it is stuck behind the position where the slide stop would lock it. It would take only a sharp slap to make it go into battery, so I thought, "well, maybe I was too light on the oil". So I field stripped it, added a little more oil, and started shooting again. Same thing happened. My friend Brian said, "you put the spring in backwards". So I turned it around and it worked wonderfully, no failures of any kind for the next 60 or so rounds (which is when I quit firing).

When I got home, I re-read the manual and either I'm misunderstanding something, like which end is the closed end of the spring, what the guide rod collar is, the manual has a misprint, or something is wrong with the recoil spring. Does anything look wrong with the recoil spring? Which position is the correct position of the spring?

Thanks for your help.

 

[HiredHand]

The "A" side is the closed end that goes over the recoil spring guide.

 

[MBB]

I had End A against the Guide Rod Collar when the malfunctions occurred. Turning the spring around seemed to fix it, but I don't want to operate the firearm exactly opposite the way the manual says...

 

[streetglideok]

Yep, picture A is correct, closed end goes on the guide rod first, open end will go into the recoil spring plug.

 

[BrandonM]

Shoulda bought the springfield. End A is definitely the right way. Luckily they are cheap if you need a new one. If that doesn't fix it I will buy your problem pistol for $11.53. Just to get it off your hands. Let me know. Brandon.

 

[MBB]

Did I mention this gun is brand new? Today was the first time I fired it. I called Colt today but they're only open M-F 0800-1700 EST. I'll be giving them a call to see what they think.

So do you think the problem is in the spring, the guide rod, or what?

 

[MBB]

Is this part of the break-in process?

 

[Chocobo]

Is this part of the break-in process?

Maybe, Colt are usually loose enough to where it would work right out of the box. But if the manuel says it needs a break in period then fire a few hundred rounds through it and see if the problem still exist. Make sure you lube the right place also.

 

[mr ed]

If your gun is completely colt you will find on the recoil plug a stamped indenture place almost like a puncture.
The open end in photo B screws into that plug and the indenture keeps it from flying across the room when you take it apart.
Leastways thats the way it works on the older ones.

 

[grwd]

Are you a lefty?