1911 hollow point problems...

I have the same issue with my TRP Operator, but only with the top round off a full Chip McCormick mag. I have one 10 round Wilson, and it doesn't have the issue. I looked at the mags closely, and the rounds don't quite sit at the top of the feed lips, whereas they do on the Wilson. I was meaning to do a thread on it, but you beat me to it. I don't have issues feeding anything other than the top round in the mag. The mags work fine with FMJ's so I'm going to keep those for IDPA and get some Wilsons for CCL... I'll be watching to see what wisdom comes up here.

Or should I just give up on hollow points and run ball since its a 1911 and thats what it was designed to shoot?

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No. It ought to run JHPs. Wilson makes a fine mag, but I prefer Checkmate. Never have any problems with JHPs. What is the mag follower doing when you have this problem?

ETA: If you want to see a pretty good write-up of some popular 1911 mags, you ought to look at this.

Jason

It'll run hollow points, so don't worry about that. To me it sounds as if your magazine (or rounds) may be the problem. As Jason mentioned, what is the follower doing during the malfunction?

Many of us buy Wilson (I like the 47ds) or Chip McCormicks for our carry 1911s...and for the rest of them, I guess

Also, does this happen with ALL hollow points or just one brand? Some guns / magazines just don't like some rounds.

You have a very good gun. You may want to buy a couple of after-market magazines and see what happens. If all else fails call Springfield. They have great customer service, but I don't think it will get to that.

If you need to load it with FMJ in the meantime, so be it, they're very good at what they do.

I think you are going to end up doing some experimenting. Not every magazine works with every pistol and not every hollow point profile feeds in every pistol.

Wilson, Tripp, Checkmate, and Chip McCormack are the big names in 1911 magazines. Cylinder & Slide also has a quality mag called the Extreme Tactical. I would stay away from the 10 rounders as mentioned by LRS_Ranger and stick with 7 (preferably) or 8 round magazines.

I'd just keep shooting primarily FMJ as you learn the pistol and periodically run some HP rounds through it. I'm sure your pistol will begin feeding HP rounds as the round count goes up and the pistol gets broken in.

Some sources (you've already found Wilson's site)

Tripp Research
http://www.trippresearch.com/

Cylinder & Slide
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=382

Top Gun Supply
http://www.topgunsupply.com/1911-magazines/

Checkmate
http://www.checkmatemagazines.com/cart/pc/home.asp

Your Springer has a lifetime warranty, they normally pay shipping both ways. Send it to them and let them fix it so it will run properly with any decent 1911 mag.

800-680-6866

So the gun you bought doesn't work with the mag it came with when loaded with Gold Dots? I would call the manufacturer and have them fix it.

My dad's mil-spec runs JHP just fine. I would try some other mags.

Of all the .45 ACP hollow points out there I've had more problems with feeding using Speer Gold Dots and 200gr JHP's (old style) in 1911's than any other brand of HP's. The Speer bullets have a very large hollow cavity and a rather sharp edge to the bullet jacket at the cavity mouth. If anything will catch on the feed ramp it will be a Speer. That's not to say that it won't run fine in some guns but the Mill Spec pistol isn't tweaked to feed anything more than standard ball ammo like the military uses, hence the "mill spec" moniker. The Gold Dots function well in my 80 series Colt and 1991-a1 with their factory throated barrels but not so good in my 70 series Combat Commander. My Sig 220 and Ruger P90 feed them just fine.

I'd suggest looking for a different brand of ammunition. The Remington JHP's are probably the best feeding of the bunch, both regular Express JHP's and the Golden Sabers.

don't waste your money on wilson, or any other expensive mags. they have hit or miss reliability with springifeld 1911's.

besides, it could very well be caused by an issue with your extractor, or it might simply need a throat bevel/feed ramp polishing.

i only use springfield factory mags in my springfield champion operator (including an extended 10 rounder), and i've never had an issue with any ammo.

Some of those "MILSPEC" mags are not kind to JHPs with the shorter overall length.

First try taking your mag apart and cleaning some of the newness out of the inside of the mag tube. If your mags have a rough finish to them, you may want to smooth the insides of the mag tubes up a little with some 600 grit emory paper (don't use steel wool, it will rust). Make sure the metal follower doesn't have any sharp edges. Rub a little gun oil on the mag parts with your fingers then wipe off with your gun rag. Then, reassemble and try it out again.

If it still does it, your mag lips may need a little tuning to run JHPs through your pistol. If you can find a good 1911 pistol smith in your area, he can do it for you for a reasonable price.

Just to add, I bought 6 Wilson Combat 47D 8rd magazines for my brand new Kimber. I don't consider it a wasteful expense.

There gotta be someone with a 1911 close by that will let you try another mag. My Loaded Fullsize ran great on the SA mags, but every gun is different. I did buy some Tripp Research Super Seven follower kits, for the SA mags when I carried my S&W SC Commander, very good stuff.

Hatterasguy; keep the springfield mags and try using them in NORC 1911s or the RIA 1911s if you can find someone willing to let you shoot theirs. Just curious though, everyone else was suggesting on mag names.

Thanks and goodluck.

Checkmates have a HYBRID lip design - I think it presents the cartridge a bit HIGHER similar to the old GI mag, but hybrid with more control on the rear of the round.

I have a thread here:http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=514855

For SOME reason the more modern designs slam the round into the FRAME feed ramp LOWER than the old GI mags. I'm not sure as to the advantage of this. (I'm trying to find out why this is better - anyo0ne know?)

I would hold off on the expensive Wilson mags with plastic followers. I just think they are way more money than they are worth. Checkmates are much less, and are likely much better.

Did it come with 8-rnd mags? I now simply avoid 8-rnd mags, as any feed problems I've had with my 1911s was with 8 round mags. Now, I just stick with 7-rnd mags and have no problems. My mag box consists of checkmate, wilson (47c) and colt OEM mags (which may in fact be checkmate, since they do make mags for colt) and they feed fine in my Combat Commander.

Just to add, I bought 6 Wilson Combat 47D 8rd magazines for my brand new Kimber. I don't consider it a wasteful expense.

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it's not.

kimber factory mags are notoriously bad quality, and the wilson mags work great with kimbers.

too bad people have to pay all that money for kimbers, then spend a bunch more on reliable mags though.....

too bad people have to pay all that money for kimbers

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And only get 1 mag!

Did it come with 8-rnd mags? I now simply avoid 8-rnd mags, as any feed problems I've had with my 1911s was with 8 round mags. Now, I just stick with 7-rnd mags and have no problems.

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Give the 8 round Checkmates with the hybrid lips and the bull nose follower a chance. I've never had a problem, and I've been using them for quite a while now. As a matter of fact, they are my carry mags.

Jason

I agree with some of the other posts 7 rounds flat follower with the dimple. Metal Form, Checkmate and Colt OEM. Seem to work the best for me.

springfield OEM mags are good- Speer GD have a tough time feeding in any of my 1911s. Remington Golden Sabers, Winchester PP, Winchester Silvertips, and Federal Hydra-shocks all run fine in my springfield. Try a different hollowpoint.

Have you only tried 230-grain bullets? Sometimes these have a greater overall length than ball. (To keep the weight the same after hollowing out the nose, the bullet has to be longer.) Try a 185-grain with a round profile (e.g. Winchester Silvertip, Remington "green box") and see if those feed better. These aren't the "latest and greatest" loads, but that high-tech bullet will do you no good hung up on the feed ramp.