Storing the 1911

[WildBill]

I have a question for all of the 1911 carriers out there.

When you get home after carrying do you take the gun out of the holster and store in #1 Condition or do you unload? I know that it will depend on whether you are cleaning it or it is going into a safe, but in general do you always leave it cocked? Part of my question has to do with people who "rest the springs" of their magazines. Does leaving the 1911 always in the cocked position weaken the spring? I think not, but I would like your opinion.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I used to unload everything before I put it in my safe. The only loaded gun aournd was the Glock 21SF in the safe by the bed. My brother told me that's not always the best plan. If someone were to get to us before I had a chance to react, and force me to go to the safe, there's a chance I could use one of the guns in the safe as I was getting the money or jewellery or whatever they thought they could get out of my safe. I now keep all my pistols, including my 1911, loaded with the safety engaged along with a Winchester 1300 shorty shotgun, and one of my AR-15's in case the need for one were to ever arise. Everything else still stays unloaded, and nothing is ever out of the safe unless I'm packing for the range or cleaning.

[Kalrog]

I leave it ready to go. But then again I am carrying a Para Ord LDA so I always carry condition 2.

[WildBill]

I leave it ready to go. But then again I am carrying a Para Ord LDA so I always carry condition 2.

You don't count! I've tried the trigger on the LDA and a gunshow and it's sweet.

[G.A. Heath]

Actually leaving the weapon in condition 1 will prolong the life of the main spring and the sear spring as they never move in this condition. If you unload and never let the hammer down you are also prolonging the life of the spring. Press checking will slightly (read not noticeably) shorten the life of the recoil spring but they are plentiful and easy enough for anyone to replace.

[shooter1911]

Cocked and locked in the night stand, in the safe, and in my waistband.

[NcongruNt]

I have a Hi-Power, but as it is a Condition 1 gun, I'll share anyway. I don't "rest" my gun. Spring metal wears from cycles of movement, not from being tensioned in a stationary position. Thus, unloading it to "rest" the gun or magazine puts more wear on the springs than just leaving it as it is. The Hi-Power stays cocked and locked at all times.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I have 4 guns that I carry. They include a Para Carry 6.45 LDA in 45ACP, a Colt Series 80 Custom Commander in 45ACP, a Ruger SP101 in 357 Mag, and a Keltec P32 in 32ACP. They are all loaded all the time, regardless of which one I'm carrying on a given day. One on the hip and 3 in the safe.

They only time they get unloaded is if I decide to do some dry fire practice with snap caps or if I am doing live fire on the range.

The LDA and Keltec are always in Condition 2 (hammer down on a loaded chamber) and I guess this applies to the SP101 as well. The Colt is kept in Condition 1 all the time.

Note that even in Condition 2, there are internal springs in the Para and Keltec that are at least partly compressed.

Springs don't get "tired" when kept in a fixed position unless they are stretched or compressed beyond the "elastic limit" of the material. No gun will stress its springs beyond this limit anywhere within the full range of motion of the hammer, slide, sear, or any other spring loaded moving part. (This assumes that the springs are made of a proper grade of spring steel and not some cheap substitute, and also that they are properly heat treated.) So they can be left with springs relaxed or compressed indefinitely.

An exception is if the spring gets very hot for any reason. I'm talking several hundred degrees here. In that case, the spring can lose its temper and take a set. Springs can also weaken if they become rusty or corroded, but this takes a long time.

[KD5NRH]

Does leaving the 1911 always in the cocked position weaken the spring? I think not, but I would like your opinion.

A full set of Wolff springs is $18, so change them every year or two if it bothers you. Besides, it's a great excuse to strip the gun all the way down and clean it when you do the change.

Incidentally, anybody tried their variable recoil spring in a Gov't Model?

[CompVest]

They only time they get unloaded is if I decide to do some dry fire practice with snap caps or if I am doing live fire on the range.

Don't ya ever clean them?

[G.C.Montgomery]

When I'm carrying a 1911, I typically dismount the holster and gun as a unit after settling in for the night. I don't typically remove the magazine or void the chamber unless it's going into the main safe and I don't plan on wearing it the next morning. In the main safe, it's in storage mode (empty chamber and magazine well) until I need it again. Overnight, it typically remains in Condition 1 inside the holster. If it's not going to stay in the holster but I need quick access, I'll put it into transport mode (emtpy chamber with a fully charged magazine inserted) before placing it in a nightstand or on a desk within arm's reach.

GM

[tboesche]

The CZ is condition 3 under the mattress, the Taurus is Condition 1 in the nightstand drawer