My plunger tube fell off!

[alexanderom]

I was doing holster/unholster drills at the range today and when I got back I noticed that my plunger tube had come off of my 1911. It's a Springfield Armory pistol.

My question is, what do I need to replace, exactly? JUST the plunger tube? Does it just snap into place, or will it require special tools?


Help? This is my carry piece.


A

 

[Oro]

To do it properly you need a staking tool to attach the plunger tube to the frame securely. You also need a proper jig or tool to hold the plunger tube in place without crushing it while it is staked.

You should call SA and have them send a call tag - there's no reason that a factory gun should have the plunger tube come off or that you should have to pay to have it fixed.

 

[alexanderom]

Oro,

What's a call tag? Does this typically take a long time to have done?

I'm going to call them and see what I can do.

Thanks very much!


AR

 

[Jim K]

Some folks will advise using some magic glue to hold that tube in place. Do not fall for that line; they were meant to be staked and if the maker didn't leave enough metal for that purpose, they should fix it.

The flaw is not in the design, just in sloppy manufacturing.

Jim

 

[David E]

This is the reason the original grips came up high enough to cover the plunger tube: to keep it in place !

I fixed mine with superglue until I could get it to the gunsmith. I've since purchased my own tools for this task.

.

 

[Oro]

What's a call tag?

I meant a UPS call tag - that's normally how manufacturers take back guns for warranty work - they send you a tag, you put it on the box and then it's off to them w/o you having to go through the hassle and expense of going through an FFL or overnight expenses.

Hopefully they will take care of you on this - it's an obvious manufacturing defect. Good luck getting her back into shootin' shape.

 

[loop]

I would advise finding out who your local 1911 smith is and taking it to him. Chances are he will get it done faster and with much less hassle than sending it back to SA.

If you are really into the gun you are going to meet the guy sooner or later. May as well make it sooner.

 

[Walkalong]

The flaw is not in the design, just in sloppy manufacturing.

This is the reason the original grips came up high enough to cover the plunger tube

Yep, it should be properly staked, and use the grip for "backup".

 

[Old Fuff]

A lot of current plunger tubes are made using the MIM (metal injected molded) process, and they don't stake well at all. In addition the manufacturers don't bother to countersink the holes on the inside of the magazine well. The easy (read that to mean "cheap") way is to glue the tube in place with an adhesive.

Start by field stripping your pistol and see if the two little holes at the top of the magazine well on the left side are countersunk. If not it is unlikely the tube was staked in the first place. The right solution would be to countersink the holes and replace the plunger tube with one where the posts are cupped on the end so they can be effectively staked. Getting this from Springfield Armory is unlikely at best.

Of course the older Colt commercial and USGI guns were done right, because cost-cutting wasn't the central issue in they're manufacturer. You have just learned a painful fact of life. Today's 1911 pistols are not weapons, they're big-boy toys.