[DJJ]

I've been having this failure-to-feed malfunction intermittently for a long time. I always thought it was bad magazines, but this time I remembered to take a good look at it instead of clearing it right away. It seems that as the case rim moves up the breech face, the edge at the 12 o'clock position is catching on the edge of the firing pin hole at the top (while the round is angled upward, going up the feed ramp). Energy from the impact is deforming the brass and making the hangup even deeper. Tap-rack won't work because the extractor isn't engaged (in fact, tap-rack usually results in a type 3 malfunction). It happens with every ammo brand I've tried. Not every time, but just often enough that I don't trust it. I've tried different magazine brands, stamped metal and plastic followers. No difference.

Comparing side by side, the hole in the Kimber is noticeably bigger than in a Springfield milspec. I haven't compared firing pin diameters yet; I'll do that tonight.

Any thoughts? Anybody ever had this happen?

[Jim Watson]

Warranty repair, or take a close look.

Is it catching on just the edge of the hole or is there a burr? If burred, stone it flat. If a sharp edge, well... Beretta countersinks their firing pin holes to prevent this malf. Get a look at a Beretta slide. You probably don't need that much, a teeny bevel will probably fix it.

Springfield firing pins and holes are the odd ones, oversize 9mm, you can't compare with a gun built close to Colt specs.

[DJJ]

Slight chamfer, no burr. :(

[stans]

Send it back for warranty service.

[Kruzr]

If the round isn't under the extractor, it sounds like the extractor is too tight. You may want to loosen the tension a bit and see if it still happens.

[Rosco Benson]

If the problem is happening with reloads, but not with factory ammo, it could be that the cut at the bottom of the breechface--that the casehead slides through when feeding--is too tight. When a reload with a burr or some slight peening of the rim tries to go through, it catches and looks very much as if it is catching on the firing pin hole. Frequently, the offending round will feed just fine if it is put back in the magazine, because on the 2nd attempt, it goes through the cut oriented differently and the burr or peening on the rim is thus not a factor.

This is one that will drive you crazy trying to diagnose.

Rosco

[DJJ]

Haven't put any reloads thru it. It's all been factory, mainly cheap 230 gr FMJ from S&B, Fiocchi, etc. And it's definitely hanging up on the firing pin hole. This last time, I carefully pulled the slide back about 1/4" and let it go slowly so I could see what was happening, then I let it fly the 1/4" a few times, until the deformation in the brass was really deep. It's definitely a semicircular eyebrow of brass plowed out from the edge and pushed downward (toward the primer).

I deepened the chamfer slightly, and put a good polish on the breech face all around it. If that doesn't work, I'll send it back.

[bountyhunter]

I agree that the extractor could be the culprit if it is forcing the round to try to go up and under the hook at too steep of an angle. You may want to verify that the lower edges of the extractor face is radiused out smoothly to enable smooth feeding. I've seen some new extractors that were straight cut with no radiusing at all that would not feed worth crap.

[DJJ]

Checked. Some radius, not sure if it's right, though.

[CWL]

Check the extractor. Kimber extractors are not always properly tensioned or installed.