ballester molina ammo help

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  • rob b

    c@r collecting
    waiting on a ballester Molina 1911 and was wondering if anyone has one or knows about them

    asking if they can handle standard pressure gold dot or federal hst
    also 200 grain or 230 grain any real difference
    ----------------------------------45acp ammo--------------------------------

    I will be replacing any springs in it before shooting
     

    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,178
    Sun City West, AZ
    Any GI spec or commercial equivalent will do fine. They were made under license from Colt on tooling provided by Colt. There are some differences but essentially they're Argentinian made 1911 clones.
     

    Shazam

    Active Member
    Dec 20, 2012
    731
    Ballester Molina looks like a 1911 but it isn't. Different internals and no grip safety. I think they can use 1911 mags however.

    I think bob is thinking of the Sistema Colt which is a 1911 clone made on Colt tooling.
     

    rifelman

    Active Member
    Aug 7, 2008
    615
    Calvert County
    Ballester Molina looks like a 1911 but it isn't. Different internals and no grip safety. I think they can use 1911 mags however.

    I think bob is thinking of the Sistema Colt which is a 1911 clone made on Colt tooling.

    That is Correct, BM was simplified compared to a 1911 or Sistema but they all used standard 1911 mags
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    The B-M is more like a Star (Model P) than a 1911.
    In addition to the magazine, the barrel is the same as a 1911 and Sistema. That was part of the specification, that the mags and barrels would interchange. The recoil plug, recoil spring guide and barrel bushing will interchange as well. Recoil spring is the same (16#) too.
    I would stick to standard loads and not any +P or self-defense stuff.
    I'd go for GI mags or the "usual suspects" high quality aftermarket mags rather than TripleK.

    NOTE: the serial number is on the lower left frame ("mainspring housing") and under the firing pin tunnel.
    The numbers on the top of slide, right frame, and barrel are the issue or "rack" numbers NOT the serial number.

    Some history:
    http://www.cruffler.com/historic-september99.html
     

    Attachments

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    Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    Excellent article I salvaged from an old website.
    Kind of an "everything you wanted know about..."
     

    Attachments

    • Ballester Molina Article JMT.pdf
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    Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    Don't put an 18# spring in it, as that will increase the speed (and impact) of the slide returning to battery.
    It was designed for 16#. Wolff is a good source for springs (gunsprings.com) and they offer a deep discount if you have an FFL-03.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    It's not that simple. A 1911 is a balanced machine whereby the recoil spring, mag spring, hammer spring and extractor spring have to be within a certain tolerance to work correctly with a given load. Originally the pistol was designed for 230 grain hardball. When gunsmiths started making them into bullseye pistols, changes had to be made to the springs to work with these light loads. When bowling pin shooting came about, different changes had to be made for the heavy bullet loads they used. I used to have a binder full of notes when I was building those kinds of pistols.

    What I am trying to say, is that changing the recoil spring may or may not work for you depending on the loads you are using.
     

    rob b

    c@r collecting
    It's not that simple. A 1911 is a balanced machine whereby the recoil spring, mag spring, hammer spring and extractor spring have to be within a certain tolerance to work correctly with a given load. Originally the pistol was designed for 230 grain hardball. When gunsmiths started making them into bullseye pistols, changes had to be made to the springs to work with these light loads. When bowling pin shooting came about, different changes had to be made for the heavy bullet loads they used. I used to have a binder full of notes when I was building those kinds of pistols.

    What I am trying to say, is that changing the recoil spring may or may not work for you depending on the loads you are using.



    got it thank you
    I will run 230 grain in it and get a 16# spring
     

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