Series 70 Gold Cup Malfunction

[unobvs]

To any 1911 guru:

My beloved Colt Series 70 Gold Cup froze up at the range this week: The slide and barrel locked together part way back during recoil. They will move slightly (1/32") as a unit along the slide rails, but will not separate. The bushing will not turn so I am unable to get it apart to determine what caused the malfunction.

Any ideas?

All help much appreciated.

Lee

 

[rcmodel]

Not a whole lot it can be.
Things to check first:

Fired case or loaded round stuck tightly in chamber?
Look down the barrel and see if there is a case or loaded round stuck in it.
If so, place the recoil spring tunnel against a bench and whack it on the grip real hard with the palm of your hand.

Broken barrel link or link pin not pulling the barrel down out of lock?
Try pushing down hard on the chamber area while trying to open it.

Broken collet bushing finger wedged in the slide. (Most likely)
Or:
A bulged barrel from a squib or stuck bullet?
You should might be able to turn the barrel bushing, kicking & screaming, with a good barrel bushing wrench.
If not, you will have to drill the slide stop pin out.
Or VERY carefully cut it off on the flat at an angle to miss the slide with a Dremel cut-off wheel.
No other way to get it apart far enough to explore other possibilities, like a broken barrel cam lug, or?

Regardless of all that, when you do get it apart, and find if it has a collet barrel bushing?
Replace it with a solid match bushing before it breaks.

rc

 

[unobvs]

Thanks much RC. Going down the list of posssibilities you identified:

1. Nothing in chamber and barrel is clear.

2. I have not experienced any squib or stuck bullets in the past.

3. I do recall that a collet barrel busing is installed rather than a solid bushing.

4. My lightweight plastic bushing wrench does not appear to have sufficient strength to move the bushing. Are good wrenches metal and more sturdy?

5. I pushed down on the chamber area as I tried to cycle it, but there appears to be precious little room under the chamber area into which it might move, and in any case, this did not free things up.

Regards

Lee

 

[rcmodel]

Almost for sure it's a broken collet finger wedged tight in there then.
Yes, a metal wrench is better. I have one I made for such occasions with a 10" handle on it!

Might see this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=320149
As it says, getting it off can range from brute force, to finesse & drilling the pin out, or cutting the slide stop.

Regardless, it's never pretty!
Too bad you didn't know about replacing it before it broke.

rc

 

[unobvs]

Too bad indeed. I should have been more diligent in doing my homework.

Looking more closely at the bit of barrel that is visible near the chamber end, it is clear that new scars can be seen on the top outside surface of the barrel. This appears to confirm the diagnosis of a broken and wedged collet finger.

I am not competent to do the drilling or cutting operations that the doctor has prescribed. Does Colt correct this type of problem?

 

[rcmodel]

I would think they most certainly should!!

After all, plain old fashioned barrel bushings from WWI still haven't broke and jammed up a gun so far that I know of.

I'd call them and whine as loud as you can tomorrow morning!

I doubt if they will warranty it.
But they might cut you a little slack.

And they most certainly should know the best way to get them apart without furthering the damage by now!

rc

 

[unobvs]

RCModel:

I succeeded in getting the Gold Cup apart and discovered a bulged barrel, with no other apparent damage. Barrel bushing looks fine.

Which areas should I examine under magnification to assure that all else is undamaged?

Who provides the best aftermarket solution for a new barrel and solid barrel bushing? I contacted Colt and they were incredibly lame; finally admitting that they have no replacement barrels available for the Series 70 GCs.

Lee

 

[rcmodel]

Hmmmmm?

I find it very odd that Colt says they can't replace a Gold Cup barrel?

The fact is though that the Gold Cup barrel hood is about .065" narrower then a Government model barrel.
So any Government model barrel & bushing kit can be fitted to a Gold Cup by filing the barrel hood to fit the slide.

Anyway, Wilson Combat, and Nowlin makes a "drop-in" kit that should work with barrel hood fitting, although I have never used either one.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=16395/Product/1911-AUTO-DROP-IN-BARREL-BUSHING

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9603/Product/1911-AUTO-PRE-FIT-MATCH-GRADE-ECM-BARREL-KIT

Kart E-Z Fit:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=7611/Product/1911-AUTO-EASY-FIT-BARREL-KIT

If you are uncomfortable with fitting a Kart barrel, I would suggest you send it to Barsto, Wilson, or other company to have the barrel replaced properly.
http://www.barsto.com/category_main.cfm?ID=GV&cco=24

Which areas should I examine under magnification to assure that all else is undamaged?

It is very unlikely anything else besides the barrel was damaged.


rc

 

[phaeton7919]

70 gcnm bbl

The fiting PROPERLY of a barrel on your pistol uusually isn't just dropping in.
Yes, you can often do that, BUT you may not engage the locking surfaces in the slide, and the hood may not fit against the breech.
The later GCNM barrels may differ from the earlier one,( have not checked any late issue pistols) and that may be why Colt said no barrels available.
My guess is that if you sent it in for a barrel to be fitted, they could help even if it had to be a 'custom shop' job.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I once had a 1911 and installed a full length recoil rod that my brother gave me. On the very first shot the gun jamed and was locked up. The barrel bushing had been bent.

 

[243winxb]

a bulged barrel yes, i guess that would cause a problem. Sorry to hear this, great gun.