And as per the original specs, the recoil spring that John Browning and his Dream Team installed in the pistol was about 14.5 pounds at full compression, and 13.5 pounds as installed at full slide travel.
1911 feed issue. Tight chamber?
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And as per the original specs, the recoil spring that John Browning and his Dream Team installed in the pistol was about 14.5 pounds at full compression, and 13.5 pounds as installed at full slide travel.
LiveLife
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1911Tuner, correct me if I am wrong as I respect your knowledge about 1911s.
As I understand, many current 1911 models we purchase "out of the box" don't always meet the original specs of JMB which apparently ran quite well.
My brother-in-law's Springfield 1911 came to me with an erratic failure to feed problem often with last few rounds in the magazine. Since he said the feed ramp/barrel got a polishing by the previous owner, I looked at those areas and magazines/extractor/tension which I was suspicious of.
When I switched out the recoil spring (which apparently had not been changed since new) with 17/18.5 lb springs, problem disappeared and various bullet shape rounds fed fine even with suspect magazines.
I sent him home with both springs/new 4 pack of Chip McCormick power mags and he uses the 17 lb spring for target loads and 18.5 lb spring for defensive loads but the SA 1911 is primarily a range gun as they use M&P40 for HD. Last time I talked to him, he said the pistol is running fine and thanked me for reduced muzzle flip/felt recoil which my sister appreciates also (but she is already comfortable shooting the M&P40 with full power factory loads).
As I understand, many current 1911 models we purchase "out of the box" don't always meet the original specs of JMB which apparently ran quite well.
My brother-in-law's Springfield 1911 came to me with an erratic failure to feed problem often with last few rounds in the magazine. Since he said the feed ramp/barrel got a polishing by the previous owner, I looked at those areas and magazines/extractor/tension which I was suspicious of.
When I switched out the recoil spring (which apparently had not been changed since new) with 17/18.5 lb springs, problem disappeared and various bullet shape rounds fed fine even with suspect magazines.
I sent him home with both springs/new 4 pack of Chip McCormick power mags and he uses the 17 lb spring for target loads and 18.5 lb spring for defensive loads but the SA 1911 is primarily a range gun as they use M&P40 for HD. Last time I talked to him, he said the pistol is running fine and thanked me for reduced muzzle flip/felt recoil which my sister appreciates also (but she is already comfortable shooting the M&P40 with full power factory loads).
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The problem with using a heavier recoil spring to address a RTB issue is that it masks the real problem...and that problem will come back. Let the gun get a little too dirty or a little too dry or a little too hot...or as you noted...when the spring takes a set and weakens a bit.
More and more I see excessive extractor deflection closing the gap with magazines as the leading cause for feed/RTB issues. This is something that I never used to see, and it only got my attention in the last 15 years or so.
It's a sneaky little gremlin that only a few know to look for. The victims may recognize that it's an extractor issue and relieve tension. Sometimes so much that failures to extract and/or eject start to show up and spoil their victory over the feed problem.
And then too many of'em turn to the feed ramp.
When there's too much of the tensioning wall showing in the breechface area, it's going to cause a problem. How big of a problem depends on how much of it is in the way. The picture below is an example of excessive deflection. Here, there's about twice as much of the wall in the guide area as there should be. It caused much consternation and head-scratchin'.
When the deflection is correct...when the distance between the two small guide blocks is .482-.484 inch and the deflection is .010-.012 inch...you can run quite a bit of tension on the extractor...more than than what is claimed to be correct and proper without causing a RTB problem.
More and more I see excessive extractor deflection closing the gap with magazines as the leading cause for feed/RTB issues. This is something that I never used to see, and it only got my attention in the last 15 years or so.
It's a sneaky little gremlin that only a few know to look for. The victims may recognize that it's an extractor issue and relieve tension. Sometimes so much that failures to extract and/or eject start to show up and spoil their victory over the feed problem.
And then too many of'em turn to the feed ramp.
When there's too much of the tensioning wall showing in the breechface area, it's going to cause a problem. How big of a problem depends on how much of it is in the way. The picture below is an example of excessive deflection. Here, there's about twice as much of the wall in the guide area as there should be. It caused much consternation and head-scratchin'.
When the deflection is correct...when the distance between the two small guide blocks is .482-.484 inch and the deflection is .010-.012 inch...you can run quite a bit of tension on the extractor...more than than what is claimed to be correct and proper without causing a RTB problem.
Another problem that crops up more frequently is undersized chambers...more prevalent in .45 caliber pistols. Even high-end specialty barrels such as Kart are included...and the undersized portion tends to be in the forward third of the chamber near the leade. I rarely drop a finishing reamer into a new barrel without getting chips, and a good portion comes before the reamer touches the shoulder.
I've finish reamed two barrels in the last 3 weeks that were giving problems. Since finish reamers are pretty well standardized, the only thing that I can blame it on is economics. Reamers are expensive. Mine is middle of the road, since i don't find myself reaming chambers every day...and it cost me 85 dollars with my Brownells discount.
As reamers dull, they're resharpened, and with each trip, they get a little smaller or they get a little too much taper back to front. One too many resharpenings, and they start to turn out undersized chambers. The eventual result is predictable.
I've finish reamed two barrels in the last 3 weeks that were giving problems. Since finish reamers are pretty well standardized, the only thing that I can blame it on is economics. Reamers are expensive. Mine is middle of the road, since i don't find myself reaming chambers every day...and it cost me 85 dollars with my Brownells discount.
As reamers dull, they're resharpened, and with each trip, they get a little smaller or they get a little too much taper back to front. One too many resharpenings, and they start to turn out undersized chambers. The eventual result is predictable.
LiveLife
Member
Thank you, 1911Tuner. Actually, I referenced your past posts to troubleshoot the SA 1911 feeding problem which led me to check the magazine and extractor/tension. I almost bought a replacement extractor to have on hand before the BIL brought the pistol but decided to check out the pistol before buying any replacement parts. I already had replacement 16.5/17/17.5/18.5 Wolff and Wilson Combat springs.
My use of 17/18.5 recoil springs comes from Hilton Yam's recommendations but when I identified an obviously weakened recoil spring, as you posted, 16 lb replacement spring would have addressed the issue as well.
The Bushmaster
Member
Had the same problem with my Kimber UCC II. As you said yourself, it happns using cheap ammunition. Yup...I found granuals in the chamber using a powder that was a bit dirty. The fresh cartridges were binding on the burned powder residue. Shifting to a clean burning powder like WSF and the problem went away.
Either reload with clean burning powder or use only quality ammunition.
You guys sure make a simple problem very complicated.
Either reload with clean burning powder or use only quality ammunition.
You guys sure make a simple problem very complicated.
LiveLife
Member
Sorry for sidetracking the thread, that was my doing but 1911Tuner did bring up a good point that may be affecting OP's return to full battery issue and I would at least take a look at the extractor.
Bushmaster, I agree with you and that's why I suggested to OP to replace the heavier recoil spring with 16 lb spring to test with offending factory target loads as OP did not have RTB issues with "premium" ammunition.
Bushmaster, I agree with you and that's why I suggested to OP to replace the heavier recoil spring with 16 lb spring to test with offending factory target loads as OP did not have RTB issues with "premium" ammunition.
The Bushmaster
Member
If it's a fouled chamber from dirty powder burn and 18 lb spring may not do the trick. My Kimber came with an 18 lb spring.
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