1911 ejection question.

[jr_roosa]

Here's a question I was wondering about. I should probably bug my gunsmith about it, but he's already doing a bunch of work that he didn't anticpate on my 1911, so I'll ask you guys.

Do the old GI m1911s tend to eject brass straight up?

Here's the background: I have a Colt m1911, pre WWI, without a lowered ejection port on the slide. It's been refinished (sad face), and before I got it the extractor was replaced and the recoil spring was replaced with an 11lb shortened spring. It had at least 200 rounds of factory FMJ through it, some of it by me, in this configuration before my gunsmith cleaned up the mess (battered slide rails) and put in a GI spring. I haven't shot it since the repair because he still is working on getting the trigger right (let's not talk about the crappy trigger job somebody did on it before I got it).

While I was shooting heavy loads with a super light spring, the brass ejected straight up, and the case heads have a clear "stamping" from the ejector. I assume they were hitting the ejector with considerable force.

Do you suppose with the proper recoil spring the brass will eject in a slightly more normal trajectory (to the right and into a net would be best) or do you suppose I'll need to humbly ask my gunsmith to tune the extractor to get it to do the job? Do the GI 1911s tend to send the brass straight up anyway since they don't have the lowered ejection port?

I don't mind paying him for the work, since I feel like he's doing quite a bit of extra work for me that he's not charging me for, but I think he might have a stroke if I ask him to do anything else on that gun right away.

I suppose the correct answer is to just take it to the range and see where the brass goes.

Thanks!

-J.

 

[gb6491]

I suppose the correct answer is to just take it to the range and see where the brass goes.

That's a good plan.
Regards,
Greg

 

[cdrt]

The heavier spring should help the brass eject more to the right. You were getting them straight back with the reduced recoil spring because it was letting the slide travel back too fast. You might still get one in the face if you break your wrist, even with the heavier spring installed.

An extended ejector might help as well, if they still don't eject quite right. Also, if you reload, try a 230 grain lead RN bullet with between 4 and 4.3 grains of Bullseye powder. Nice load and out of my Series 70 Govt Model, it would eject just like you want your's to.

 

[jr_roosa]

Thanks CDRT, that's reassuring enough that I won't hit my gunsmith with an "oh, by the way..." when I go to pick it up. I'll just have to head to the range and do some shooting once he's done.

No brass in the face yet...lots off the ceiling and onto my head.

I don't reload yet, but that's coming soon. Until then I'd just like to be able to collect my spent brass easier. I haven't been able to think of any way to catch them other than a bucket on my head.

Thanks again.

-J.

 

[loop]

The easy fix is a long ejector - available through numerous sources, but best installed by a gunsmith.

The correct fix is to have the port lowered and extended. Also done by a smith and considerably more expensive.

A cheaper fix may be a change in mag springs and recoil spring, but that may only end up putting more brass flying back toward you, just doing it differently.

It really is just simple mechanics, but you have too many factors influencing the decision on a cure. You need to try some things, I generally start with the cheap ones, and analyze the results.

I'd start with springs. You can change your mag springs for under $20 from Wolff. You can get a selection of recoil springs from Wolff for under $20. With shipping you're still under $50.

An extended ejector is also under $50 for the part and installation.

Port work gets expensive. You can have it lowered and flared for about $100, but then you also need refinishing for $70 and up for the slide only.

Personally, I've never had to go beyond springs. The manufacturer had a system that worked, but by the time it got to you there may have been minor changes - like the power of the springs.

Every time I buy a semi-auto I begin the spring search. I start with mag springs. Then I go to recoil springs. After that I look at firing pin springs.

They are all part of the system. Does the mag spring push the next round up quickly enough to put the next round in line for the slide? Does the recoil spring work too fast or too slowly to pick up that next round? Is the extractor spring fast enough to give a good bite on the rim?

You get the idea. It's a machine with a lot of parts that have to work together. Springs are what make it work.

 

[10X]

The standard weight recoil spring should help. Try it, if that works, all done.

If not, since that gun has been messed with, do you know that the ejector has not also been messed with? That could be part of the problem.

In addition, the extractor could have the angles altered improperly. That can cause the brass to be thrown where you don't want it.

I am not an advocate of extended this and longer that parts on a 1911, unless it is out of spec and the extreme parts are needed to compensate for a spec flaw.

 

[jr_roosa]

Thanks for the advice loop and 10X.

We'll see how it does at the range. If it's still rocketing brass into the sky, I think I'll start messing with the springs. I might even hold off a little until I start reloading. Maybe it will behave better with some softer loads.

The previous owner was my brother, before that my dad, before that his dad, before that some misguided soul who re-blued it, and before that the US Army, so I have rough idea of what work was done on it, at least in the last 40 years.

The original extractor was missing a chunk, and I don't know if the replacement is GI spec. New recoil spring is GI spec.

The ejector should be the same one it left the factory with in 1913, or at least the same one it left the Army with in the '50s.

No way this gun gets a lowered port. It's got a 25,000 serial number, all the important parts are original, and someday it's going to make it far enough up the to-do list to get restored to what it looked like in 1913.

I'd just like it to be a decent shooter until then.

-J.

 

[jr_roosa]

Turns out half of 'em go over my right shoulder, the other half head for the sky.

I guess I'll take a look at the extractor. I don't know if I want to mess with the recoil spring since we just got it to the point where it will function properly.

Thanks for your help.

-J.