1911 Chambering Troubles??

[Thumbsmasher]

I have a problem I thought someone here might have some advice for. I have a Springfield Mil-Spec with problably 300 rounds thru it. Last trip to the range, about 50-60% of the time when I would pull the slide to the rear to chamber a round from a new magazine, that first round will get caught up about half way and not chamber. Sometimes it will even knock the bullet into the casing.
I am using Kimber and Colt magazines and CCI Blazer ammo. I am wondering if I should put a buffer attachment on my Dremel and polish the barrel throat. I have not messed with the gun at all as everyone says that is why the 1911 will become unreliable.
To throw salt in my wound, my shooting partner has a 10 year old G22 that never coughs and I am about to go over to the dark side!
Any advice would be appprciated.

 

[the pistolero]

I'm not a gunsmith, and that's why I say this, but...
If I were you, I'd leave the Dremel where it sits. Try some new mags; I believe I read here more than once that's the key to resolution of most issues with 1911s. Wilson Combat is often recommended. If that doesn't work, send the gun to Springfield. They'll do right by you.

 

[JDGray]

Come over to the darkside New mags or fully loaded mags? Did the gun work good for the first 300rds, and now its acting up? Gun is clean and rails lubed? Try one less round in the mag. SA has a lifetime warranty, so dont do any grinding

 

[jfh]

I agree--for now, forget the dremel.

1. First, describe the problem a bit more--

a. what ammo (230RN, 200LSWC, etc.) are you shooting? Is it reloaded or factory? If it is not standard factory-made 230RN, buy some and try it.

b. caught up halfway--how? Nose up? Nose down? Simply not coming off the lips completely?

Have you scrupulously cleaned the ramp and the chamber? Where is it hanging up? Is your magazine clean?

2. technique: It sounds like you are putting a full mag into the pistol with the slide closed--and with 'standard' magazines filled up, that can be hard to feed with standard-power magazine springs or recoil spring. Try 1) locking back the slide, 2) inserting the magazine, then 3) dropping the slide release to let the slide strip the round and load it.

If that technique seems to solve your problem, then download the magazine by one round and try inserting the magazine with the slide closed. If that works OK, then you might simply have a finicky magazine or follower.

Jim H.

 

[Gary Frost]

If the bullet is being pushed into the case you have a serious ammo problem.
If you reload make your rounds a little longer and crimp them tighter. If you are buying cheap reloaded ammo, change vendors.

 

[Mad Magyar]

Since you mentioned that it is happening only with the 1st rd rack, and not when it is firing; it could be simply a matter of impetus...Give it a good "sling-shot" rack from way back...Sometimes we unthoughtfully guide it through....
All the other suggestions are good....

 

[Jim Watson]

Try some brass-cased ammunition. I tried hard to like Blazer when it first came out, but my Gold Cup just would not handle it.

 

[schmeky]

If this is a continuation from the very beginning, could be a to tight chamber.

 

[BAT1]

Milspec

Have you cleaned the Chamber? Also, pull up 1911 Reliability Secrets.

 

[CWL]

How old are the magazines? I do not like the Kimber mags at all and Colts can show their age. If you can, borrow and use someone else's magazine.

Chip McCormick makes a very good affordable line of mags.

 

[Powder_Burn]

Was it Blazer or Blazer Brass? Some Blazer Brass had a weak crimp which allowed the bullet to side backwards into the case as the slide compressed the round against the feed ramp. This was causing a FTF's and allegedly CCI has fixed the problem in newer batches of ammo. Since you are seeing this happen at least part of the time, it sounds like an ammo problem to me. Would suggest switching to Federal or S&B FMJ for plinking since they do not have any crimping issues.

 

[brentn]

Had the same problem with winclean ammo, never ever had that problem again with USA FMJ's.

Mags can help, but I'll tell you guys that I have 5 10$ 1911 magazines for my norinco and they function flawlessly with the FMJ's.

I believe that the mil specs do not have modified ramps on the barrel or the frame, polishing will help, but if your not using FMJ's your going to see issues.

 

[Shifty]

thats a magazine problem.

make sure its seated well, make sure the bullet nose is not depressed, make sure you are slingshotting the slide well, and start logging malfunctions by ammo and magazine.

or just buy some wilson magazines. i love em.

i had a kimber magazine that did the same thing often enough that i keep it segregated as a range only mag.

 

[drmsparks]

Put the dremel down and slowly back away.....

Head on over to the troubleshooting section of m1911.org . Sounds like a magazine problem. They can help you sort that out.

Dave

 

[Cousin Mike]

Give it a good "sling-shot" rack from way back...Sometimes we unthoughtfully guide it through...

...that's exactly what I was going to say.