How to Rebuild a Colt 45

Determine which parts are worn out or broken and find replacement parts. If your barrel or recoil spring is worn, replace them before rebuilding your pistol. Purchase the parts from your local gun dealer, on-line or through direct mail. Once you have all your parts you'll be ready to assemble your pistol.

Place the recoil spring over the end of the recoil-spring guide.

Place the barrel bushing onto the end of the barrel. The flat side should face forward with the bushing tilted slightly to the left.

Hold your slide upside down and place the barrel through the front of the slide. Seat the small tab on the barrel bushing onto the end of the slide. Rotate the barrel bushing all the way to the right.

Place the recoil spring on top of the barrel from the back of the slide. The spring should be sticking out the front of the slide.

Flip over the slide. Position the ring attached to the bottom of the barrel so that it faces directly down.

Line up the grooves on the slide with the rails of the lower receiver. Slide it on.

Align the barrel ring with the hole located just above the trigger.

Place your slide-stop through the hole so that it also passes through the ring. Move the slide so that the tab on the slide-stop lines up with the detent cut into the slide. Press the slide-stop into position.

Put the recoil-spring plug over the end of the recoil spring. Ppress the plug into the pistol so that it is past the barrel bushing.

Turn the bushing straight down and release the recoil-spring plug. The pushing will hold it in position.