1911 Question

[Mumbles_45]

I bought a Spingfield GI 1911 not too long ago, and it refuses to consistently eject. I don't know what else to say about it, other than every couple of rounds, it will extract, but not eject the spent casing, and cause a fairly irritating jam. I've got over 1000 rounds of various types of ammo through it, and all are pretty much just as bad as each other, except for CCI Blazer, which does marginally better for whatever reason. So anyway, any information on what would cause this and how to fix it would be much appreciated.

 

[KenRocks]

Wow...got the same gun about 2-3 months ago and havent had a single FTF no matter what I put in it.

No helpful advice or anything...just wanted to gloat.

 

[Helstrm]

Are there any marks on the cases? Sounds like an extractor problem. Either the tension is too low, or the hook is too short.

 

[made2cut]

I had the exact same problem with my GI. Often times the the spent cases would hit me in the forehead.

The first thing I would check is to see if your extractor is clocking (rotating) due to a sloppy fit with the firing pin stop. If it is buy yourself an oversize stop, egw and bcg make them. I got the BCG and it fit very well.

I also installed an extended ejector and lowered the ejection port. I can't say whether those two mods were both necessary but I did them before I replaced the stop pin. My GI now works perfectly kicking the cases back to my right about 5-6 feet.

I also tried replaced the extractor with a Wilson bullet proof but I believe I was having problems with the rounds coming up in front of it instead of slipping underneath the hook. I ended up going back to the stock Springfield extractor.

Good luck getting yours to run right. I like my GI despite the problems and it was actually fun trying different stuff. I feel like it's "mine" now

edit: I should also add that I bought some Wilson mags and installed Tripp Super Seven kits in them. I would stay away from the 8 round mags until you have things running right. The more spring pressure you have the better. Not that I'm a 1911 expert by any measure, just telling what worked for me

 

[XavierBreath]

I'm assuming this is with factory magazines. If not, try the factory mag or a Wilson magazine.

Is the pistol stovepiping?

Check your extractor, both the tension adjustment and the curvature of the engagement surface. Here are a few links to help you out.

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3 (perhaps the best one of all!)

The problem could also be marginal cycling of the slide. Do you have a recoil buffer installed? Have you swapped the recoil spring? FLGR? Any other modifications? Ejection force depends on slide speed. If the slide cannot recoil back fully from a shock buff the casing will not impact the ejector with enough force to chuck it out of the gun. Usually the shock buffs will make the recoil force marginal. Variances in ammo then decide whether the slide will have enough recoil force to eject the casing.

Other factors that can slow the slide are lack of lubrication, heavy hammer springs, swapped out firing pin stops, sear springs, and even thumb safeties if they are rubbing the underside of the slide. Your thumb in a high hold can do the same thing.

 

[45auto]

I'd also go to the gunsmithing section of this forum, look under the sticky's for 1911s and find your problem.

Tuner probably has your problem and "fix" detailed there.

Good luck.

 

[1911Tuner]

Springer Burp

Most probable cause...extractor tension. Many 1911 pistols will run surprisingly well without an extractor in the gun at all. The problem comes when it's time to eject. Ejection in these will be erratic, and usually jam on the last round.

Possible cause, but not likely...Extractor claw too deep from wall to tip, causing the case rim to become trapped between the inside of the hook and the ejector as it tries to roll out of the port. haven't seen an OEM Springfield extractor that had this particular problem, as most are a bit too short instead of long.

Along the same lines...Extractor too long, and the nose of the hook traps the case by pressing on the forward angle of the case extractor groove as the case rolls out. Less likely than the extractor tension, but more likely than the
claw depth. Seen several Springfields with this problem, and it seems to be a spec issue mainly with the extractor, but once in a while, the slide is also involved.

Tension the extractor first and see how it goes.

 

[Frog48]

The only problem I've had with my Springfield 1911 GI has been when my girlfriend was shooting it at the range last week... Somehow she managed to cram 8 rounds into 7-round mags, which made it jam over and over. When I figured out what she had done, I counted rounds as they were being loaded, and didnt have any more problems.

 

[Mumbles_45]

Thank you all for all the help.

Wow...got the same gun about 2-3 months ago and havent had a single FTF no matter what I put in it.

Yeah, my roomate and one of my NCOs both have the same gun and both claim zero problems. I guess I'm just lucky.

Often times the the spent cases would hit me in the forehead.

Yup.

Is the pistol stovepiping?

No, it just hangs on to the spent casing and shoves it into the back of the next round or the top of the chamber or anything else.

I'd also go to the gunsmithing section of this forum, look under the sticky's for 1911s and find your problem.

Sorry, didn't even think of that. I spend 90% of my time in Rifle Country, and I guess I've kind of gotten tunnel vision.

 

[gandog56]

My GI eats any kind of .45 ammo I feed it. But I get the exact same problems when I dump in my .400 Cor-Bon barrel.

 

[BigO01]

I would also like to suggest that you have a quality smith lowered and flare your ejection port .

Try going to an Auction site such as www.Gunbroker.com and look at the pictures of the GI's and Milspecs and then compare them to the loadded models or perhaps the NEW Colt XSE's .

You will notice that on the loadded and Colts the ejection ports are considerably bigger .

I had the same problems years ago with a Colt Combat Commander , lowering and flaring the port took care of the problem completely .

 

[Slvr Surfr]

Simple Fix.......

I think theres one thing a lot of you experianced gunners are forgetting. The gun he's talking about is brand new. Im not sure about him but I personally dont know enough about tuning a 1911 to NOT screw it up. Its made by Springfield Armory, and they stand behind their products. Give them a call and send it to them. It should'nt cost you anything except gas to get to the local Fedex/UPS drop location. Ive had one gun go back to SA and they fixed the problem no questions asked.

Good Luck,
Naji

 

[Mumbles_45]

Yeah, I thought about sending it back, but I'm a big fan of instant gratification, and I'd really rather pay a little extra and get it fixed quick than have to wait. Also if I send it off to get fixed I learn nothing, whereas if I fix it myself/have someone I know/someone local fix it, I learn at least a little about the pistol.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

I agree with learning as much as you can. I have seen work on 1911s and it aint easy. Ive taken my glocks apart and been able to reassemble them without a hitch. 1911s need love and experianced attention. I dont know too many professional gunsmiths that are available to work on a gun as soon as it comes in. I also dont know too many that will let you watch as they fix it. All the work wont be free! Seems bad for buisness. Thats why Id send it in. I believe SA would probably only need a couple of weeks if not less to take care of the problem including shipping.

 

[Mumbles_45]

I agree with learning as much as you can. I have seen work on 1911s and it aint easy. Ive taken my glocks apart and been able to reassemble them without a hitch. 1911s need love and experianced attention.

Well, there's only one way to learn, and an extractor is a cheap and easy piece to replace if I mess this one up

 

[Mumbles_45]

well, after close examination of the extractor I decided it was a tension issue, as it appears to be rounded and bevelled and all that in all the right places.

I went with Blind Hog's method (from XavierBreath's Link 2) of puting the extractor halfway in it's tube and tapping on it, as I am too cheap and broke and impatient to buy all those fancy tools from Brownells. I've got it to where it reliably chambers and ejects dummy rounds when hand cycling the slide. Before, it would almost never eject when hand cycling the slide, which made clearing it really irritating.

Anyway, thanks again, and hopefully I can make it to the range later today to see if it really is fixed.

 

[saltydog452]

Let us know about the 'fix' whateve it turns out to be.

salty.