1911 Feed issue...1911Tuner?

[jr_roosa]

While we're paging 1911Tuner, I have one for him too (or anybody else with ideas).

SA Milspec 5", both Colt 7rnd and SA 7rnd mags. Bought new, ~1500 rounds down the tube.

Always had a problem going into battery...gets stuck last 1/8" to 1/16" from time to time with extractor over rim. All mags do it. Less often with FMJ ball, more often with SWCs. Almost like the slide runs out of steam before fully in battery. This happens with rounds that easily drop into a case gauge or into the chamber with the barrel out of the pistol.

Also had a problem with rounds jamming when nose-diving into feed ramp, but this is less common.

Recently started having the last round or 2nd to last round just pop out of the mag prematurely and fail to feed, and several end up in the chamber ahead of the extractor. Started getting double feeds.

Ejection is fine. 3-point jams are rare.

What I did:
Took a Dremel with rouge and felt wheel and polished the feed ramp. Adjusted extractor tension...it was very tight previously, now it just holds a loaded round. The extractor itself looks good with the radii where they should be and no big burrs, so I left it alone.

At the range I had no more problem with the last or 2nd to last rounds hopping out of the mags, but I had several (230gr MBC Softballs) end up in the chamber ahead of the extractor. SWCs seem to feed fine.

So, what else can I try? New mag springs? Stronger recoil spring? Give up and send to the gunsmith for the custom work I really want?

I think that the main problem is that the gun is just poorly fit together. It seems too tight...the rear left slide rail is wearing faster than the rest, the barrel link seems a little too long and feels like it's camming the barrel into the lugs the last 1/8", and the headspace is a little long...the barrel hood stands off the breechface by the width of a playing card, and loaded rounds are held off the breechface by extractor tension. It just seems like there is so much resistance to the slide coming to battery that if the round is a little snug or has any damage to the rim, it fails to go all the way.

Thanks for you help!

-Jason

 

[1911Tuner]

At the range I had no more problem with the last or 2nd to last rounds hopping out of the mags, but I had several (230gr MBC Softballs) end up in the chamber ahead of the extractor.

Try a stronger mag spring. The rounds are jumping the lips when the slide smacks the frame.

But, this may be a player:

What I did:
Took a Dremel with rouge and felt wheel and polished the feed ramp.

With some pistols, under just the right conditions...polishing the ramp can be detrimental, and I'm assuming that you didn't roll the top corner of the ramp...which you very likely did. It's easy to do with that buffing mop if you're not careful.

So, try a Wolff 11-pound/7-round mag spring. Be sure not to get the "5% Extra-Power" spring.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Give up and send to the gunsmith for the custom work I really want?

I would do no custom work until the fundamental reliability problem is solved. All you would wind up with is an expensive custom gun that still jams. This includes the so-called "reliability package." If the gun is reliable, no work is necessary; if it is not, it needs to be repaired.

 

[Jed Carter]

I had similar problems with the last round sitting on the magazine and the slide locking back, excessive recoil, and a lot of hot gas out the ejection port. Bought a used SIG RCS 1911, it just needed a new recoil spring, magazines were fine, if you do not want to send it to SA or a smith, try a new recoil spring first, may want to try Wilson Combat shock buffers as well, they actually do work. The SIG RCS is now my EDC, it shoots and works that good. as far as the nosediving into the feed ramp I would blame the magazines, I have only seen this on my cheap (project mule) Para Ordnance GI Expert, I just threw out the magazines that came with it and never looked back.

 

[jr_roosa]

I would do no custom work until the fundamental reliability problem is solved.

I was going to send it to Clark to have rebuilt as a hardball gun. Probably new barrel and most of the internals replaced.

I'm assuming that you didn't roll the top corner of the ramp

I was worried about taking too much off.




It's still fairly sharp. I didn't touch the barrel, that's how it came.

I really was disappointed the first time I broke down the pistol to see how rough the inside was.

-J.

 

[1911Tuner]

The feed ramp looks okay...but I'm a little concerned with the barrel bed.

 

[jr_roosa]

but I'm a little concerned with the barrel bed

Yeah, isn't that awesome? I probably should have sent it straight to SA when I got it. I don't dare touch it myself.

So, should I send it back to SA, or send it to Clark to be rebuilt and let them fix the ugly parts and figure out the reliability issues?

I've really soured on Springfield Armory with this pistol. My next 1911 will be a Colt.

-J.

 

[1911Tuner]

Well...Since you're leaning toward the rebuild, I'd let Jim knock the warts off of it and beat it into submission. His daddy showed him the ropes, and he'll do ya proud. The functional reliability is probably somethin' simple anyway. The barrel marks in the bed could be a problem within 2-5 thousand rounds, depending on how hard it's hitting. It could jerk the lower lug clean off the barrel.

 

[jr_roosa]

Be sure not to get the "5% Extra-Power" spring.

OK, looking at the Wolff website, they have standard 7rnd mag springs at 9.5lb, 10lb, and 11lb. Which ones do you recommend?

It will be a few months before I have the $$$ to send the gun to Clark, and getting the mags working seems worth a few bucks.

-J.

 

[1911Tuner]

11-pound.