Suppressed 1911 .45 acp government spring weight

[Ballen]

I recently “fit” a nighthawk drop in threaded barrel to a kimber custom ii. Didn’t take much to make it fit well and has great lock up when manually cycled. The gun fires, ejects and loads fine with no indication of odd wear after a few mags. This is with an 18 lb recoil spring. I threaded a piston and an octane .45 onto and it fails to go into battery completely after being fired, short by approximately one 1/16th of an inch. Swapped to a 22 lb spring and it’s a little better, only takes slight pressure on the rear of the slide with my thumb to go back into battery. It’s close enough that it fires a second round (I know, only did it once) but not a third. I’m wondering what spring weight anyone else is using with their suppressed 1911 or of anyone has any similar experience with suppressed 1911’s in .45 acp. I’m also thinking it could possibly be an issue with the weight of the suppressor or barrel but haven’t tried any other bushings that are a little more open on the barrel. I may also try a different slide stop or fitting/sanding the radius of the bottom lugs a little better. 

 Thanks,

 Brent

Edited March 6 by Ballen
Edited

[scatman]

What kind of suppressor are you using? What ammunition? 

[Ballen]

It’s an octane .45. I smoothed the radius on the bottom lugs a little more fine and rechecked for any other contact. No noticeable irregular contact on the slide, frame or barrel. I ran 230 Winchester White box through it the first time with and without the suppressor. Only malfunctioning when suppressor is attached. I ran a few federal Hst 230 grain through it today, which is a little hotter but not a lot. It cycled the Hst fine, returning fully into battery after each round. I have read about 1911 barrels needing a break in period but now I’m questioning what the issue may actually be. Likely not the recoil spring weight.

[Thursty]

I’m running 24 lb springs in my guns for suppressed work. I’ve found that weight also help keep the gun locked up long enough that I don’t get a lot of blow back in my face. Gun may or may not function unsuppressed. With my light target loads unsuppressed it will generally short stroke, but with some warmer factory ammo it functions fine with the heavy spring.