1911 bushing tool

[halfmoonclip]

On a 1911 with a bushing you can simply remove the spring tension by moving the barrel bushing and letting the tension off of the recoil spring which will allow you to take down the gun without fighting the recoil spring. My preferred method on a 'normal' 1911 is to cock the hammer and activate the frame safety because it will lock the slide in place, work the bushing by hand or with a wrench, release the spring tension, drop the safety, pull the slide back to the disassembly position, remove the slide stop, and then remove the slide from the frame. For assembly I definitely recommend doing it without the recoil spring under tension.

Listen to SHO; excellent summary. The use of the safety, to immobilize the slide especially.
A late buddy, who actually lit up a Nork in Korea with a 1911, managed the dreaded 'moon shot' with the recoil spring plug. He found it months later, having already replaced it.
BTW, avoid the 'idiot mark' when replacing the slide stop; don't swing it across the frame, just push it in and up when the slide is correctly aligned. It is easier without the recoil spring installed.
Moon