Another 1911 question

[gharsh]

I did a search but got too many threads to look through for my answer so I decided to post the question.

I just bought a Springfield Mil-spec and was shooting it. I also have a Springfield loaded model 1911 and use primarily Wilson magazines. Well, when I used the Wilson's in the new Mil-spec I would get FTE on the second to the last round. With the factory mag it ran fine. Now the Wilson's worked great in my other pistol. I asked around and was told that it is because the Wilson's use a stronger spring in their mags and the newness of the pistol was the problem. The recoil spring was so tight and the mag spring was so tight that that is what was causing the hang up. Is this true???

I am going to give it another 500-600 rounds before I get too bent out of shape, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what the result was?

Thanks.

 

[Matthew_Q]

Might be... The upward force of the rounds being pushed into the slide might be slowing it down a little. Shoot the heck out of it, then try it. Make sure it's lubed well.

 

[MaterDei]

I'm no expert...therefore I'll respond.

In my experience it is a too WEAK mag spring that would lead to the problem you describe, not a too STRONG one.

 

[MaterDei]

Oops. Rereading your post you say you are having a FTE not a FTF. In that case I don't know. I told you I was no expert.

OTOH, common sense would suggest that you would have a FTE problem when the mag is fully loaded not when it is almost empty. My guess is that it is not spring related.

 

[1911Tuner]

Springer Burps

Howdy gharsh,

Without more info and assuming that FTE means failure to eject,
I'll take a shot at describing your malfunction.

Second round fires, slide moves back, empty case is still under the extractor
as it tries to strip the last round. The case that fails to eject is either dead parallel with the slide, or the case mouth is out of the port at an angle.
The resulting jam is a combination of the last round trying to feed with the
empty rammed against it straight-line, or the left side of the rim wedges the
live round between it and the feed ramp.

You said:

I asked around and was told that it is because the Wilson's use a stronger spring in their mags and the newness of the pistol was the problem. The recoil spring was so tight and the mag spring was so tight that that is what was causing the hang up. Is this true???

Nope. If I've accurately described your malfunction, the problem is that
the last round is bumping the empty case upward as the slide moves out of battery, which moves it high enough on the breechface to cause the
rim to ride over the ejector. The empty case gets in a bind between the top of the ejector and the extractor hook.

Check the extractor tension by chambering a round from the magazine
by thumbing the slidestop from lockback. Remove the magazine and
slowly pull the slide back enough to extract the round, but don't let it
touch the ejector. The round should sag as it extracts, but it shouldn't
fall down the magwell. Shake the pistol from side-to-side and up and down
a little. The round should stay put. If it falls, the extractor tension is too
light. If you know how to adjust it, let us know how the pistol does. If
you don't, write back and I'll walk you through it.

There was a time about a year or so ago that Springfield had a bad lot of extractors. Soft...not properly heat-treated, etc. They won't hold tension
for more than a few hundred rounds, and the hooks wear quickly. You
may have gotten one.

Standin' by,
Tuner

 

[gharsh]

Thanks for the info. I think 1911 Tuner described the problem well. That was why I was told the springs in the magazine were maybe to fault since they were pushing the new round up against the empty case.

I'll give the gun the test described and let you know. But, why with the Wilson's and not with the factoy magazine??? Shot over 100 rounds that day and consistently had this problem with the Wilson's and not the factory. Anyhow, I'll check the extractor and get back with you.

A note of interest here that I forgot to mention. Probably the answer to the question. With a couple of these, the empty would be pushed against the chamber which resulted in an indentation on the mouth of the empty case. Does that help any with the diagnosis?

Thanks.

 

[1911Tuner]

Confirmation

A note of interest here that I forgot to mention. Probably the answer to the question. With a couple of these, the empty would be pushed against the chamber which resulted in an indentation on the mouth of the empty case. Does that help any with the diagnosis?

Yep...It's the extractor. Either the tension is too light or the extractor
is rotating in its channel. Also known as clocking.

The Wilson magazine spring is stronger, and contributed to the problem
because it pushes the round up faster. The factory magazine isn't quite as
fast on the uptake as the wilson, and it let the empty get past it.

Whupped'em ag'in Josey!

 

[gharsh]

I took it to the range last night and shot 50+ rounds through it. The first magazine through with the Wilson produced the same problem as before, but the next three magazines full did not have any problems. I hope to take it again on Thursday and see what happens.

I forgot to check the extractor tension last night. I'll check that tonight and see what I find.

Thanks for the help.