1911, 9mm Headspace Problem

[schmeky]

Have a 1911 I had built using a Rock Island frame assembly, an Essex slide, and a Fusion Match barrel. On the first outing, I only fired about 20 rounds due to feeding problems.

It seems the feeding problem has been resolved, however, a new problem has surfaced. When I went shooting today, the manual safety would not engage. The slide seemed to be a few thousanths of an inch from going into full battery. I shot about 80 rounds, checking the manual safety from time to time and it would never engage. Feeding was flawless.

Got home, removed the barrel and inserted a snap cap. The base of the test round protruded from the barrel hood about .005-.007". Tried a live round, same thing. Tried a fired case, and it would seat flush with some coercion.

Checked the headspace on a spare 9mm "drop-in" barrel and the headspace checked good. Installed the spare barrel and the manual safety works now.

Cleaned the Match barrel with Hoppe's, a brass brush, and several cotton patches, but the snap cap and live round (Factory Blazer brass cased, 115 gn FMJ ammo) still sits .005-.007" inch out.

Is it possible a sliver of brass or powder fouling is causing this? The manual safety worked fine with a loaded chamber right after I got it back.

 

[rcmodel]

It is possible a tiny ring of brass has broke of a case mouth and lodged in the end of the chamber. Never seen it happen in a 9mm, but I have seen it several times in .30 Carbine Ruger revolvers.

Usually an over-size bore brush will pull them out if you run it partway in, then pull it back out with the bristles reversed.

Failing that, try some copper solvent and see if it will desolve it enough to get it out.


rcmodel

 

[schmeky]

rcmodel,

Thanx, I tried a brass bore brush to no avail. I'm thinking a chamber reamer. I'll check locally.

I also just discovered the barrel link on this barrel is "flanging", almost like this part is not hardened. Only have about 100 rounds through this barrel, never had a headspace problem in 30 years of shooting.

 

[Jim Watson]

Undersize chambers are a plague on aftermarket "match" barrels for 1911s. The Fusion barrel probably needs to be reamed to proper depth.

Links are cheap. Be sure you get one the same length as what the barrel was fitted with.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree that many match barrels are short chambered slightly and need to be reamed slightly to set the headspace once the barrel has been fitted to the gun.

However, the curious thing is that yours apparently worked fine at first, and then later didn't.

Can you take the gun back to whoever built it for you for a 100 mile check-up?


rcmodel

 

[schmeky]

Jim & RC,

Just to let you know, I took the barrel to a local gunshop. They had a head space gauge on hand and sure enough the chamber is going to need to be deepened.

The gunsmith mirrored your statements that match barrels typically need to be sized/reamed. I think a ring of brass is lodged on the chamber lip next to the lands. This would explain the first 80 rounds doing fine, then having headspace problems.

What gets my goat is the outfit that put this pistol together should have done a much better job. I'm diappointed.