1911 chucking brass@my head

[buddah]

Got a commander size RIA 1911 (Rock Island armory). Took it to the range and the gun kicks brass into my forehead (ouch). On a couple of rounds the slide would not close all the way after inserting a new mag and chambering a round. After nudging the slide forward w/mt thumb, no problems. Gun was cleaned and lubed prior to shooting. What could the problem be, recoil spring??

 

[dogmush]

More probably extractor tension is too high.

 

[Ford4x4]

Dunno about the brass hitting you in the face, though I've heard of extractor tension causing problems like that.

I doubt the spring is causing your pistol not to return to battery. I have the same gun as you, and it did this at first. I've got about 500 rounds through it now and it never does it anymore. Just takes a little time for the slide/frame to rub the rough spots off one another. I did send this gun into Arnel at Armscor and had an extended beavertail installed, and a reliability tune for feeding JHP ammo, and one thing he did was install a heaver recoil spring. However, it was functioning perfectly with FMJ ammo prior to the heaver spring being installed.

 

[AR27]

I would enjoy it if i were you, hot brass to the face just feels like victory to me

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Mine has the failure to feed/return to battery that you described sometimes. The cause every time is the magazine. I have 2 Chip Mccormick Sooting Star 8 rounders and they sometimes cause this problem. Seems that when I check this failure the nose of the bullet is pointed down and the base is caught by the slide. A tap and rack fixes it every time. I have been told to get heavier springs for them or just discontinue using those 2 mags. Do not be offended by this but the only reason I can think of as far as the brass flying at your face and the failure would be limp wristing. If you allow the gun to "buck" to much the brass will fly back and to the right instead of straight out to the right. Without seeing you shoot this is just a guess.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Look at your brass. I will bet that the mouth of all of them that hit you in the face have a small v shape dent. The brass is most likely hitting the ejection port and being diverted upward. This can be corrected in a couple of ways. One is to have the ejection port lowered, another is to have the ejector re profiled so the case is ejected at a slightly higher angle so it won't hit the ejection port.

 

[DasFriek]

Id be looking at the extractor and checking its tension, Too loose and too tight are both bad. Search Google for "1911 extractor tension guide" and im sure you will be ok.

 

[buddah]

Thanks for the advice. I may be limpwristing, have to pay closer attention next time. No marks of any type on my brass. It may be tension on the extractor. I think heavier recoil spring might help the feeding problem. Overall, I am happy w/ this $300.00 investment. It's my first 1911, nothing like my Glock 30. Even w/problems I still enjoy shooting a 1911 over my glock. Glock 30 conceal carry. 1911- range toy.

 

[Ankeny]

I would be looking at the ejector.

 

[dogmush]

I think a heavier recoil spring might help the feeding problem

No it won't, at best it'll mask the feeding problem while increasing wear on your pistol. The extractor tension is most likely the cause of the failure to return to battary.