Lesson learned on my "perfect" 1911, and a question from a newbie.

[mmpsteve]

Here's the question first, so you don't have to read the whole story if you don't want to: Dan Wesson Bruin 10mm long slide - Is the rear sight adjustment screw hole supposed to extend into the firing pin tube?

Situation: In the Perfect 1911 thread below, I posted a picture of my Dan Wesson Bruin, thinking it's close to the perfect 1911, at least for me. Another gentleman posted his Bruin picture, with a price tag, thinking he wanted to sell it. So I bought it from him (great guy, by the way). At home with it, I'm comparing his to mine, and notice the firing pin sticking out in mine with the slide racked open. That don't look right, so I try to push it in and it won't budge.

So it's time for my first breakdown of a 1911. Yes, I'm a 1911 virgin. So I get it broke down and the firing pin and spring are tough to get out, but I get it done. Had to screw out the spring for it to come out. Clean everything up and get ready to reassemble. Spring will not drop into the tube. Long story short, the rear sight adjustment screw is extending into the firing pin tube, and will not let the spring drop in. Back off the sight adjustment screw and the spring drops in like it should. Yes, I do know to put the spring onto the firing pin correctly first, but was just troubleshooting at this point.

So this was a brand new Dan Wesson with the adjustable rear sight screw adjusted down far enough to interfere with the firing pin! What could have happened had I fired a live round like that with the pin stuck out? Lesson learned is for me to know more about how the platform works, but it strikes me as questionable engineering for anything to be possible to encroach into the firing pin tube, unless mine is defective and drilled too deep? I'm going to look at the 2nd Bruin, but I've gotta get this 1st one back together first!

Comments welcome. Thanks,

Steve

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[bwframe]

Have you tore down the other to see the differerence? Will it's sight screw lock up the firing pin also?

 

[mmpsteve]

Have you tore down the other to see the differerence? Will it's sight screw lock up the firing pin also?

No sir. Doing some final clean and lube on the first one before putting back together. I move really slow on new stuff I'm learning on!

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[Jaybird1980]

If the screw is protruding into the channel and putting drag on firing pin or spring then it is to long. The only thing controlling the firing pin movement should be the spring and retaining plate.

File the length of the screw down

 

[armalitesheepdog]

If it was used when you got it its possible someone replaced the screw and used one that was to long? I can't imagine why DW would make the opening protruding into the firing pin channel let alone install a screw that would interfere with the spring / pin.
Not exactly a inexpensive pistol.

 

[Dean C.]

If the screw is protruding into the channel and putting drag on firing pin or spring then it is to long. The only thing controlling the firing pin movement should be the spring and retaining plate.

File the length of the screw down

This is the correct advice IMHO, you don't want to give that screw a chance to move and interfere with the firing pin again.

 

[churchmouse]

New one on me....

 

[mmpsteve]

New one on me....

Actually fixed more than one 1911 today. The pistol shown below, someone traded it to me, and it had some pimp grips on it, so I fixed it . (actually, the pimp grips were bevelled bottoms, and I wanted the flat bottoms to go with the magwell).

What do ya think?

 

[deo62]

What did you find out on your original bruin?

 

[churchmouse]

Actually fixed more than one 1911 today. The pistol shown below, someone traded it to me, and it had some pimp grips on it, so I fixed it . (actually, the pimp grips were bevelled bottoms, and I wanted the flat bottoms to go with the magwell).

What do ya think?

View attachment 135010

View attachment 135012

Love the Burl. Seriously
do you want to sell the pimp pieces

 

[mmpsteve]

What did you find out on your original bruin?

The Bruin is fine now. Broke down the 2nd one (you know the one ), and it too has the rear site adjustment hole drilled all the way through into the firing pin tube. It must be easier and cheaper to drill and tap all the way through, rather than drill and tap a blind hole. The one that was binding on the firing pin is the original equipment adjustable sight, and I didn't adjust it at all. My brothers and I only shot it about 50 rounds to function/fun test, so it either worked it's way down a little, or got shifted and stuck upon me dry firing at some point.

It was like fully extended about 1/4" out the firing pin hole when I just happened to see it. I really do wonder what it would have done had I fired a live round? Pierced the primer? Glad I didn't find out.

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[mmpsteve]

Love the Burl. Seriously
do you want to sell the pimp pieces

If you're serious about the pearls, you're welcome to them. I'll trade you for a box of ammo ..... oh, wait ...

 

[churchmouse]

If you're serious about the pearls, you're welcome to them. I'll trade you for a box of ammo ..... oh, wait ...

I will send you a PM.....This is pretty good stuff.

 

[churchmouse]

The Bruin is fine now. Broke down the 2nd one (you know the one ), and it too has the rear site adjustment hole drilled all the way through into the firing pin tube. It must be easier and cheaper to drill and tap all the way through, rather than drill and tap a blind hole. The one that was binding on the firing pin is the original equipment adjustable sight, and I didn't adjust it at all. My brothers and I only shot it about 50 rounds to function/fun test, so it either worked it's way down a little, or got shifted and stuck upon me dry firing at some point.

It was like fully extended about 1/4" out the firing pin hole when I just happened to see it. I really do wonder what it would have done had I fired a live round? Pierced the primer? Glad I didn't find out.

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Looks like you caught an as built Boo-Boo.
Production guns are as prone to baffling BS issues no matter who makes them but the better offerings seem to be more QC'd.

 

[churchmouse]

Actually fixed more than one 1911 today. The pistol shown below, someone traded it to me, and it had some pimp grips on it, so I fixed it . (actually, the pimp grips were bevelled bottoms, and I wanted the flat bottoms to go with the magwell).

What do ya think?

View attachment 135010

View attachment 135012

Damnit thats a fine looking piece.

 

[thompal]

I have to wonder if they test-fired it at the factory? If the screw was keeping the firing pin from going forward, I can't imagine that it would have fired.