RIA reliability upgrades

[gandog56]

I hope EGW didn't claim it was a "drop in" part, then!

[Mr. AR50]

No, they didn't say that it was a 'drop-in' part. But they do need to put disclaimer on it saying that it will take electricians longer than normal to install. BTW, I just got my spring kit from RIA, and that 20# recoil spring was fun to install.

[gandog56]

Har har. I was in electronics, not electricity. I wouldn't even TRY to handfit it, having all the mechanical ability of a rotten orange. That's what I have a gunsmith for.

[Mr. AR50]

I finished installing my fbfp stop from EGW, which, BTW, required about two hours of filing and fitting to get it to fit properly. This makes three mods that I've made to the gun, and I have yet to send a single round downrange. I will say that it feels as tight as a bank vault, and it has a very good trigger for a mass produced firearm. One of these days, I may actually get to shoot it.

[Intercooler]

   I was thinking about putting some parts on my Razorback. If you give EGW a thickness dimension is their any hope they can machine it close to that size? How hard is it to change the main spring? The other thing I want to do is full-length guide-rod.

[cmemiss]

The hardest part of changing a mainspring is keeping control of it and the plunger once you take the pin out.  I've changed 3 MS on the 5 1911 pattern guns I have and while one got away, haven't had to buy a replacement plunger yet. 

Still waiting to get my Kimber to the range with a 20# MS, FBFP stop, and 22# recoil spring.  I've got some reloads I want to chrono (180, 185, and 190 lead) and see just how far the brass goes with the heavier recoil spring.

[Mr. AR50]

Changing my mainspring was fairly easy, all you need is a small vice to hold the housing while you're removing the spring. As for the EGW stops, it can't hurt to ask them about getting the stops at least a little closer to the dimensions that you need.I ordered three fbfp stops from EGW, and I ruined the first two by removing too much metal. By the time I got to #3, I was checking the fit after each pass of the file. 

[gandog56]

   I was thinking about putting some parts on my Razorback. If you give EGW a thickness dimension is their any hope they can machine it close to that size? How hard is it to change the main spring? The other thing I want to do is full-length guide-rod.

Why I do NOT want to alter my Razorback!   



It would be scary if it made this pistol any MORE accurate.

[cmemiss]

Got to the range today with the new 22# MS.  I fired some 184 gr LHP over 7.6 gr AA5 for an average of 1000fps, 188gr LHP over 7.2gr AA5, at 974fps and 192gr LFP over 6.8gr AA5 at 920fps (the MP mold from Cast Boolets).  The Kimber was well behaved with the heavier spring dropping most of the brass 12 ft. to the right rear.  There were still a few outliers, but a large tarp would have caught about all the brass.  I think things will improve once it is broken in.  I was really happy that leading was minor for 100 rounds.  A couple of passes with a bore snake will make it look good (I only clean every 4-600 rounds unless there is extensive leading which has not been the case with most of my guns.

[Mr. AR50]

Hey cmemiss, nice report on the range time with your Kimber. I hope that my RIA performs similarly. How does it handle warmer loads, like Buffalo Bore and Double tap?