Loose barrel link pin

[TBY]

I have a Springfield Champion with under 1000 rounds. During a recent field strip, the barrel link pin fell out. The pistol was shooting fine before and this had never happened I thought maybe too much CLP got in there and it "slipped out." I inspected and cleaned the pistol before re-assembling. Everything seemed fine, however the pin still came out with a light shaking (slide assembled and off of the frame).

My quick internet search told me that this is common. The only thing to worry about is losing the pin during disassembly and re-assembly. Options I could take include leaving it alone, buying another pin, or staking. I am assuming that when the pistol is fully assembled, the barrel link and pin are under pressure from the frame, thus holding the pin in place. Is this a correct assumption? I wouldn't want the pin to fall out while I was carrying or shooting. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.

[Jim Watson]

The link pin is trapped in the frame when the gun is assembled and cannot be lost out. However, a real 1911's link pin is staked in place so you don't lose it and the link when field stripping. A punch mark right at the edge of the hole in the link lug will displace a little metal into the bevel on the end of the pin and keep it from slipping out.

[Mail Clerk]

Originally posted by TBY
I have a Springfield Champion with under 1000 rounds. During a recent field strip, the barrel link pin fell out. The pistol was shooting fine before and this had never happened I thought maybe too much CLP got in there and it "slipped out." I inspected and cleaned the pistol before re-assembling. Everything seemed fine, however the pin still came out with a light shaking (slide assembled and off of the frame).

My quick internet search told me that this is common. The only thing to worry about is losing the pin during disassembly and re-assembly. Options I could take include leaving it alone, buying another pin, or staking. I am assuming that when the pistol is fully assembled, the barrel link and pin are under pressure from the frame, thus holding the pin in place. Is this a correct assumption? I wouldn't want the pin to fall out while I was carrying or shooting. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.


TBY,

When it happened to me I just took mine to my local smith and he punched it quick n' easy. 20 secondes and it was done. No charge. Like the others said it's very common and left alone it'll continue to work with no problem.

Mail Clerk

[TBY]

The day after my post, I decided to man-up and stake the pin in. I figured, hey I already have the idiot mark, why not? So I went for it. After I was done, I violently shook the barrel with the pin and link attached. Then I reassembled the pistol and shook that around pretty hard too. I field stripped once again and it was still solidly inside. Thanks for the responses!

[Sarge45]

My Springfield readliy comes out upon dissassembly but I don't worry about it. They can't come out during normal use and I like the fact that if I choose, I can readliy swap out the link and pin for new as regular maintenance warrants.