1911 10mm Strength

SamC · December 24 2015 11:48:19 PM MST

Is a 1911 built to chamber 10mm built stronger than one built for 45 acp i.e. breach face, slide, frame, extractor, etc.?
Thanks, Sam

Intercooler · December 25 2015 03:46:11 AM MST

A 1911 is a 1911 is a 1911.

Other than springs or ramped barrel I don't think so.

sqlbullet · December 25 2015 08:12:04 AM MST

The Delta Elite had a heavier slide than the 45 ACP IIRC.

But, overall, no. Colt had an issue with cracked frames in the steel bridge in the rails above the cut out for the slide stop. They corrected the issue by removing that metal completely. The edges of the opening had sharp corners that focus stress, and by just removing the bridge they removed the focus points.

The_Shadow · December 25 2015 02:30:40 PM MST

The differences are what they are, 10mm smaller making barrel thicker but the 10mm is working at higher pressures. It was the unsupported area at the end of the chamber that was the main issue as the upper performance ammo. This allowed the brass to swell like a balloon and in some cases blow out. Those the utilized ramped barrels fared better in the 1911 platform.

Yes the frame was modified to relieve the potential of cracking.

SamC · December 26 2015 04:54:15 PM MST

So I'm guessing a shorter life span than one chambered in 45 acp?

sqlbullet · December 26 2015 05:03:03 PM MST

Yes.

That said, you would have to shoot a bunch to notice. Run a flat bottom firing pin stop and 25# main (hammer) spring and it will be a VERY long time before you wear out a slide, and you won't wear out a frame I don't think.

fltbed · December 27 2015 06:14:08 AM MST

Quote from: SamC on December 26 2015 04:54:15 PM MST
So I'm guessing a shorter life span than one chambered in 45 acp?

Yes but you have to understand just how long that "life span" is. For 95% of shooters out there, that gun will outlive their grandchildren.

If you look at the other 5% that really shoot a lot, USPSA competitors for example, you get a better idea of just how many rounds that is. IMO the biggest factor in causing wear in a 1911 is slide velocity. Now, no one shoots 10mm in USPSA but the 40 S&W causes slide velocities somewhere in between the 45 acp and the 10mm. My own personal 40, (custom built on a high cap Para frame back in the 90's) has in excess of 60K rounds through it and it's still shoots better than I can. I know several shooters that have over 100K through their 40's and their still using them.
Sqlbullet may be right on the frames as I know one shooter who has an ongoing experiment in frame life since 1996 on a first gen STI frame he calls "Mule". He has 4 complete slide assembles for it in, .22 for indoor practice, 9mm (for Steel Challenge) 40 S&W, (limited division) and 38 Super (open division). When I spoke to him about it back in September, he said, not counting the 22, he was just over a quarter million rounds on Mule.

Personally, I feel if you can afford the ammo to wear one out...you got your money's worth.

Jeff

Ramjet · December 27 2015 08:20:17 AM MST

I can tell you the slide on my Custom RIA 10 is very heavy but being a Commander size it still has some snap to it. I hope I wear it out ........ ${$default_grin_smiley}$ ${$default_grin_smiley}$

sliclee · January 28 2016 08:10:17 AM MST

I have seen brass from GLOCKS swollen at the base after firing but have never seen a 10 mm piece of brass after
firing a heavy load,1400, swell up like a balloon.
This must be a Glock lovers forum.

sqlbullet · January 28 2016 09:01:56 AM MST

The only gun I haven't seen swollen bases from are my Witness guns. My Para is the worst at it. I think the previous owner got a little zealous in throating the barrel though, and it probably would be solved if I fitted a new barrel to the gun.

ZanderMan · January 28 2016 04:58:00 PM MST

Quote from: sqlbullet on December 26 2015 05:03:03 PM MST
Run a flat bottom firing pin stop and 25# main (hammer) spring and it will be a VERY long time before you wear out a slide, and you won't wear out a frame I don't think.

I asked RIA what size mainspring was in my Tact II FS 10mm and they said 25#. I was expecting lighter.

sqlbullet · January 28 2016 05:17:15 PM MST

23 is standard the mainspring. Certainly not the recoil spring, but the mainspring.

Captain O · January 29 2016 01:50:45 PM MST

The recoil spring on Colt's Delta Elite is 23 lbs.

sqlbullet · January 29 2016 02:04:28 PM MST

Captain, you gotta be careful throwing around that 23 lb number.

That is for the newer DE's with the dual spring set up. On the older guns with a single coil spring, Colt reported the spring rating in number of coils, though it was generally accepted as a 19lb spring.

Reason is I think a 23 lb single coil spring is VERY hard on the frame, because of slide velocity when returning to battery. The dual coil spring stacks very differently and doesn't result in the high slide velocities that can damage the link, link pins, slide stop pin and slide stop pin holes in the frame.

Captain O · January 29 2016 09:31:21 PM MST

Sqlbullet: I obtained this from Wolff Gunsprings. If memory serves, the original "twin" springs (one within another) were illustrated in the American Handguner back in 1987 and were manufactured from Dupont's Delrin polymer. This original "dual-spring" setup was progressive in nature, reaching it's peak power at the slide's apex. I try to remain as factually accurate as possible.

No offense intended whatsoever.