Factory Test Fire 1911

September 29, 2021, 06:08 PM

cee_Kamp

Here is a little tidbit of information.
Just because it was fired at the factory doesn't mean it's made correctly, or fitted correctly.

Back about 8 years ago I purchased a brand new all stainless steel Colt Gold Cup National Match .45ACP from one of the Forum's favorite vendors.
The purchase was without incident. And I place no blame with the vendor.

I got the new Gold Cup out at the range and it worked and shot great. A good friend of mine happened to be at the range that day, and he happened to pick up one of my fired cases.
He's a pistolsmith and looks for bad things in a new gun, especially 1911's.
He said something like "Holy Shit, that firing pin strike is really off center" and then we fired another round and he caught the fired case in the air. (to verify it was actually mine)

Yup, really bad off center. Called Colt, got an idiot customer service person... Emailed this photo. (below)

That Colt went back to the factory, they replaced the slide. They should have replaced the entire gun. I soon sold that Colt.

I won't ever buy another Colt. They can kiss my ass.

Gold Cup by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

September 29, 2021, 08:24 PM

Rodfac

Mine was test fired both when it left the factory in 2013 & when it went back for a bbl. issue in 2014. Sig 1911 RCS, (Officer's model grip length, 4" bbl., alloy frame) HTH's Rod

September 29, 2021, 09:25 PM

sigarms229

I believe Sig test fires all guns before they leave the factory.

That being said, many years ago I bought a Sig Hammerli Trailside .22 pistol. Had a test target that was cutout and inserted into a hanging button. Group was amazing.

1st time I took it out, on the 3rd trigger pull of a full magazine the gun burst fired 4 rounds. I was shocked. The gun did it several more times and did a slamfire when releasing a locked slide onto a loaded magazine.

It went back to Sig, they replaced the gun and gave me 2 spare magazines for my trouble. The new gun they sent worked perfectly.....

September 30, 2021, 05:50 PM

nra-life-member

I recall watching on How It's Made that UBERTI (Or one of the clone makers) test fires their weapons with cartridges that are double the standard pressure.

September 30, 2021, 06:09 PM

HayesGreener

I went to a Sig Academy instructor course with a Sig factory employee whose job it was to test fire new guns before they are shipped. They don't shoot a record target they just make sure they go bang. My understanding is they test fire every one.

September 30, 2021, 06:45 PM

hrcjon

I haven't had a factory visit for a few years, but did several before the latest nobody in the building crisis. They fire everything. Its for function only not (as many newbies ask) to make sure the sights are aligned or any other total silliness on a production line. Its a volume production check period.

September 30, 2021, 08:13 PM

US_P225

quote:
Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
Here is a little tidbit of information.
Just because it was fired at the factory doesn't mean it's made correctly, or fitted correctly.

Back about 8 years ago I purchased a brand new all stainless steel Colt Gold Cup National Match .45ACP from one of the Forum's favorite vendors.
The purchase was without incident. And I place no blame with the vendor.

I got the new Gold Cup out at the range and it worked and shot great. A good friend of mine happened to be at the range that day, and he happened to pick up one of my fired cases.
He's a pistolsmith and looks for bad things in a new gun, especially 1911's.
He said something like "Holy Shit, that firing pin strike is really off center" and then we fired another round and he caught the fired case in the air. (to verify it was actually mine)

Yup, really bad off center. Called Colt, got an idiot customer service person... Emailed this photo. (below)

That Colt went back to the factory, they replaced the slide. They should have replaced the entire gun. I soon sold that Colt.

I won't ever buy another Colt. They can kiss my ass.

I'm a 1911 gunsmith. The way I learned, all of mine are built to impact off center. Bullseye gunsmiths learned a long time ago that hitting the center of the primer produces a less optimal burn than slightly off center. Perhaps your Colt was set up by someone who thought it might be intended for precision pistol shooting? There are a number of quirks with 1911s that don't seem right to the layman, but are intended to be that way.

October 01, 2021, 11:21 PM

cee_Kamp

I'm not fussy on it being perfectly centered.
Reasonably close is fine.
That one was off a country mile.
Good riddance of bad rubbish.
Colt... Fancy name, on a piece of junk.
It was brand new, that's how Colt built it.

October 02, 2021, 11:11 AM

SIGfourme

I bought an Ed Brown Evo in 9 mm in 2019. I wanted a semi custom 1911. I expected it to function and perform flawlessly. Loaded the magazine with FMJ range ammo. Drop the slide- bang. 2nd round doesn’t chamber. Release slide, bang. 50 rounds like this. Back to the dealer- factory checks gun out, opps 38 Super recoil spring. 2 new Ed Brown mags are returned with the gun.