Cracked the frame on my 1911PD

[1911SFOREVER]

Estimate 45k rounds. I'll post pics later. Right now I need to call Smith for a return authorization.

[1911SFOREVER]

A quick call and my UPS return package is on the way.

Damn. I had grown attached to that gun.

[galland1]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

A quick call and my UPS return package is on the way.

Damn. I had grown attached to that gun.

But she had a full life. Just a little too short.

[DevilDave1911]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

A quick call and my UPS return package is on the way.

Damn. I had grown attached to that gun.

45K is nothing to sneeze at....but congrats...you should enjoy the basically new gun that they will send back.

[tlen]

Commander or full size ? Where did it crack ? Any pictures ?

[1911SFOREVER]

Originally Posted by galland1

But she had a full life. Just a little too short.

The original barrel had been shot smooth along the top. I just had a Kart fitted by someone who knows how.

Also, this was one of the early slides, so I noticed some rust/minor pitting. I probably will get a nearly new gun back from them.

[galland1]

Did you send it in with the Kart barrel or the used up one?

[1911SFOREVER]

Originally Posted by galland1

Did you send it in with the Kart barrel or the used up one?

Haven't sent her back yet, but I know what you're driving at. I'll send the Kart barrel back with the gun.

[1911SFOREVER]

Originally Posted by tlen

Commander or full size ? Where did it crack ? Any pictures ?

Cracked on the right side of the frame, just ahead of the slide stop hole. In fact, the crack runs through the "&" of Smith & Wesson. I'm trying to post a pic but I can't crack the code on getting the image below 100K.

[M2HB]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

Cracked on the right side of the frame, just ahead of the slide stop hole. In fact, the crack runs through the "&" of Smith & Wesson. I'm trying to post a pic but I can't crack the code on getting the image below 100K.

Post the photo on "photobucket" and link it to this forum. It is free.

[1911SFOREVER]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/P6270009.jpg

[Jim Watson]

That is the normal failure point for any frame material. There are a lot of Internet Reports of people "stop-drilling" such a crack and keeping the receiver in use.

[Texagun]

What kind of loads were you putting through the gun in those 45k rounds?
Just wondering if you were shooting hardball or something else?

Was it a full-size or commander-size PD?

[M2HB]

Very few people put 45,000 rounds through an alloy framed 1911.
Then again, very few people put 45,000 rounds through any gun.

[1911SFOREVER]

230 grain hard ball....reloads. (5.7 grains of W231/HP38). I shoot about 15k a year and the gun is a little over three years old. The barrel was just replaced.

I do shoot. A lot. Sometimes I think it would have been less expensive to become a crack addict.

[Texagun]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

230 grain hard ball....reloads. (5.7 grains of W231/HP38). I shoot about 15k a year and the gun is a little over three years old. The barrel was just replaced.

I do shoot. A lot. Sometimes I think it would have been less expensive to become a crack addict.

That load should have been quite reasonable, giving you about 800 f.p.s.

[DM-SC]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

I do shoot. A lot. Sometimes I think it would have been less expensive to become a crack addict.

LOL! It might be cheaper but...the negatives are a LOT better if you stick to shooting!

Maybe you should consider either getting a steel frame gun or maybe a second PD????

[paragator]

Originally Posted by 1911SFOREVER

230 grain hard ball....reloads. (5.7 grains of W231/HP38).

Maybe I'm missing something here but the Hodgdon web site lists a max load of 5.3 grains of W231 for both a 230 gr Hornady FMJ FP and a 230 gr LRN.

Art

[snooks]

I will be interested to hear what Smith does.

[Irishlad]

My steel frame 1911 cracked at the same point, and "stopped" when it reached the thicker part of the dust cover. That was 20,000 rounds ago.

The cause, I'm told, is not enough clearance between the slide and cover.

Can't go wrong if they replace the frame.

[M2HB]

Originally Posted by Irishlad

My steel frame 1911 cracked at the same point, and "stopped" when it reached the thicker part of the dust cover. That was 20,000 rounds ago.

The cause, I'm told, is not enough clearance between the slide and cover.

Can't go wrong if they replace the frame.

What brand and model did you have that cracked and how many rounds through the gun when you first noticed the crack?

[xring45acp]

I am a little curios as to why the S&W parts on Midway are so cheap. I can only guess that they are probably manufactured somewhere other than the U.S. of A. which would be no suprise. Now the materials in which they use is the big concern here. You do not get "Quality" components at this price, even if they offer a price break for quantity. I am not a S&W basher, however you get what you pay for. Do you guys remember the Marketing Phrase, "QUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON", well this Ex-Marine does!! Not sure about the Marketing techniques of S&W and others. Long live Forged and Tool Steel.

HART CUSTOM

[Irishlad]

What brand and model did you have that cracked and how many rounds through the gun when you first noticed the crack?

Colt and about 25,000 rounds...give or take.

[KYSW1911Sc]

Originally Posted by xring45acp

I am a little curios as to why the S&W parts on Midway are so cheap. I can only guess that they are probably manufactured somewhere other than the U.S. of A. which would be no suprise. Now the materials in which they use is the big concern here. You do not get "Quality" components at this price, even if they offer a price break for quantity. I am not a S&W basher, however you get what you pay for. Do you guys remember the Marketing Phrase, "QUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON", well this Ex-Marine does!! Not sure about the Marketing techniques of S&W and others. Long live Forged and Tool Steel.

HART CUSTOM

The "cheap" parts as you call them are the MIM parts that they make themselves, and unlike some MIM the ones S&W make are of pretty good quality. The frame is definitely not one of the "cheap" parts I think if you had to just buy one of the scandium frames they are around 500$.

[xring45acp]

Probably why my pistols are manufactured with strictly FORGED , BAR-STOCK and TOOL STEEL componants only. IT isn't CHEAP!! All to familiar with "MIM" parts and their inherent concerns for reliability.