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In the following paragraphs, the cycle of operation of the M-1911 is shown. Since any operating cycle should begin at some point, the basic M-1911 operating cycle illustrated here is based on a full magazine first being inserted into the pistol and the slide either having been manually pulled back and released or having been released from the slide locked open position under the pressure of the stored energy in the compressed recoil spring.
Chambering occurs when a round is fed from the magazine and placed in the chamber. This action takes place as the slide moves forward under compressed recoil spring pressure; strips a cartridge from the magazine; and pushes the cartridge up the frame/barrel ramp and into the chamber. The initial portion of the chambering phaw is completed as the cartridge breaks over the horizontal plane, aligns with the chamber and the cartridge case rim is engaged by the extractor.
chamber wall, as show at A below. Note: National Match barrel hoods are hand-fit to maintain horizontal lug engagement until the barrel links down.
Cocking Phase
Cocking occurs as the hammer is positioned to fire the next round by the continuing rearward movement of the slide. Specifically, the slide rotates the hammer back, as shown at A below; moves the hammer strut downward; compresses the hammer spring and enables the sear, under sear spring pressure to engage the hammer's full cokc notch at B. Further rearward slide movement, C, then fully compresses the recoil spring for the next firing cycle. When the magazine is empty, the magazine follower forces the slide stop upward to engage the slide stop notch in the slide and thereby locks the slide open.
The above description was taken from the "American Rifleman", from an article by Jerry Kuhnausen, in the August 1999 issue.
2. The barrel is inserted into the bottom of the slide, and the recoil spring and it's guide are attached to the bottom of the slide and barrel.
The recoil spring and guide with the barrel and slide
3. The assembled top portion then added to the top of the frame.
Assembly completed
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