1911 Failure to Eject

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caldwest

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I have a Kimber TLE that has 11,000 rounds through it. The last few trips to the range, it has had a failure to eject about once very 75 - 100 rounds.

It has always happened with the last round and the last three times it has been with the same magazine. I am not sure if the same magazine was involved in earlier failues to eject.

When the failure to eject happens, the slide is in slide lock. The head of the case is trapped in the mag lips and the bottom of the case mouth (as you look at it) is angled up and crimped in as if it was forced through the rear of the mag.

I hoped the attached photo shows enough detail.

Thanks, Sam
 

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Well, isn't that Special!

I'm not quite sure how an empty case gets put back in the magazine like that at slide lock.

I'm not even sure how the slide lock could work with the case holding the mag follower down that far.

I would start out by checking for:
Proper extractor tension.
A loose or broken ejector.
And check the back of the magazines carefully for cracked feed lips.

If the gun has a Wilson Shock-Buff in it, take it out.

rc
 
SAME problem on my custom 1911. Gun feeds and shoots reliably, but that last round has that crimp damage in 3/5 magazines. I'm certain it's not the magazine, ejector, or extractor (all have been checked, rechecked, gunsmithed, and rechecked). My next step will be to get an 18LB spring and a new barrel bushing (old one is worn, doesn't hold tight) to see if that rectifies the problem.

I'll be doing the testing in about a week and I'll let you know.
 
RC,
I know it is strange to have it happen at slide lock, I really wish it did not. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and I am having a difficult time 'picturing' how this happens.

I have tested the extractor tension and it seems fine and the ejector is not loose or broken. I think that mag is fine, but I will check it again.

1911Today,
Sorry to hear that you are having the same problem, but at least I now know that the problem is not unique to me. Good luck on your fix.


Sam
 
I'm not quite sure how an empty case gets put back in the magazine like that at slide lock.
Click to expand...

Seen it too many times. I'll 'splain it...

The extractor clocks and drops the case...always on the last round. Extractor tension is good enough not to let go of the rim until the case gets stuffed partway back into the mag, which depresses the follower and prevents slidelock. Slide heads back toward battery and strips the empty case, trying to feed it. The case goes nose up and rams into the barrel hood, crushing the case at two points about 30 degrees apart. The magazine follower is now free to engage the slidestop, and...if the timing is juuuuuuuust right...locks the slide.

Sometimes it doesn't lock the slide, but it always crushes the case against the barrel hood.

The reason it doesn't do it anywhere besides the last round is because with rounds left in the magazine, there's a convex surface to prevent the case from dropping.

The extractor is the problem. Clocking...or rotating in the bore...is the mechanism.
 
Appreciate that info Tuner. I don't think I ever ran into that one before.

caldwest
Actually, you need to get an over-size FP retainer plate and fit it to the existing extractor so it cannot clock or turn.

Probably not a whole lot wrong with the extractor you have except the retainer plate is so loose it lets it turn back and forth in the slide.

rc
 
rcmodel,

Thanks for the advice on the over-sized firing pin stop. I have been reading up on it in other threads. 1911Tuner makes a very good case for this. My mechanical skills are limited, but I think I can fit one.

Sam
 
Thank you rcmodel and 1911 Tuner

The original firing pin stop on my Kimber TLE is very lose in the slide.

I received from EGW two of their over-sized firing pin stops. I used the first one as a learning experience . . . I reduced the FPS width too much, less than 0.01". I just finished the second FPS and I believe it is a perfect fit; it fits finger tight, the bevel is straight across and it looks like the pictures published in this forum.

I go to the range on Friday.

Sam
 
It's not critical for it to be a perfect fit...just that it keeps the extractor in place and aligned. What is important is that the extractor is correctly oriented. If the inside edge is squared with the slide recess...and it doesn't roll around in the channel...you're good to go.
 
I'm no expert but sounds like a worn out mag spring, he did say it only happens on that mag and the last round.

Would it be possible to overdiagnose his case? ;)
 
For Tuner1911 and rcmodel

I went to the range today and tested the TLE with the newly fitted EGW firing pin stop. I shot 30 rounds and used three magazines, each mag was loaded with only one round. I didn't get to shoot more as I was setting up for a match tomorrow.

I was pleased that I had no failures to eject as I had desribed at the start of this thread. I did have one case that was crushed at two points about 30 degrees from hitting the barrel hood but it still ejected.

So there still seems to be a problem, maybe the extractor?

Thanks,
Sam
 
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