So I recently purchased the ATI FX45 3", I bought it gently used only 200 +- rounds through it. I had been looking for an affordable 1911 and this one seemed more appealing to the eye. I will say that the tolerances between the frame and slide were very tight and smooth. I was immediately persuaded into the purchase of this pistol by a rather smooth talk and quite attractive young lady. So I took it to the range upstairs and wouldn't you know the gun had more malfunctions ftf's and stovepipes than I have ever witnessed . I even had several rounds beam me in the forehead, one of which hit me with enough force to break the skin and draw blood. I would say 60 put of the 150 round would FTF or or stovepipe. It turns out that this is due to a cheap and very poorly engineered recoil assembly. The original outer recoil spring is only a 14lbs spring, so I ordered an 18lbs spring from Kimber, I installed the spring and took it to the range. After 50 rounds of 230 gn range loaded the reverse plug, which holds the recoil assembly in the slide, sheered complete in half. Turns out the part is also cheap pot steel, not at all like weapons grade steel found anywhere else on the gun. So I purchased a complete recoil assembly from Kimber. This was not a perfect drop in piece as the reverse plug from Kimber required a good amount of machining with my dremel tool in order for this part to be installed properly. Now the reoil guide rod and spring is a drop in part and once you get the reverse plug fitted properly then the rest of the assembly installs easier than the stock component. So finally after several weeks of tinkering and frustration, I finally have got this 1911 running flawlessly and is now my carry gun. I only had to pay an extra $120 so the $500 you will pay for this gun new in box will end up being $620 if you want the gun to go boom every time.
By
CLackie88 from
Virginia