1911 feeding question...

[MICHAEL T]

That's what I keep wondering! Why, in this modern day is it acceptable - even expected - that a certain product will often NOT function reliably unless the buyer goes through a ritual of breaking in, troubleshooting and "tuning" to get the bloody thing to work??!!
If the only lower priced models exhibited these traits as an acceptable tradeoff allowing DIY gun guy to save a few bucks by doing the finishing work himself and the higher priced offerings delivered "tuned" flawless shooters out of the box, I would understand. But apparently - they are all fussy and finicky devices making buying one a roll of the dice - regardless of what you buy and how much you pay, it is possible or likely that some level of post-purchase gunsmithing (deburring, new springs, tuned mags, etc, etc.....) may be required to make it functional. WHY IS THIS OK???

Maybe if all these companys made the pistol to the orginal specs. Their wouldn't be all these troubles But no they want tighter chamber or tighter that or this and their goes the relieably . The 1911 was known for .They were combat pistols and operated under all kinds of weather and conditions Only since they begain trying to make target pistols or game guns have all these troubles began Military 1911 as issued went to war no break in and worked My 41 and 43 both shot well and have never been a problem But their not target guns.
When people stop trying to make the 1911 a target pistol and return to its correct specs They will once again be relieable. Colt seems to work the best from box. But people say it rattles Well gee it also works and the extractor is where browning wanted it

 

[JohnBT]

"regardless of what you buy and how much you pay, it is possible or likely that some level of post-purchase gunsmithing..."

Speaking as a hobbyist, this isn't exactly a bad thing. I have plenty of guns that work, so I can take my time and fool with a new gun. OTOH, now that ammo is silly-expensive or impossible to get, it's not nearly as much fun to shoot hundreds or thousands of rounds while tuning a new gun to get it just so.

My first solution to the original problem posted would have been to add lots of CLP to thin the sludge and keep shooting.

John

 

[skeeter_08]

I had an SW1911, and they are generally reliable feeders, and your ammo and mags are good quality; sounds like the extractor is out of tune, but I'd call S&W and explain the problem and they will probably want you to send it back to them, they should fix it under warranty and pick up the cost of the round-trip shipping. Good luck with this - skeeter_08

 

[BlindJustice]

Hey, Lonegunman,

I also have a SW1911 - 5" Bbl Stainless Steel.
It's got about 1300 rounds through it. After
the first 400-500 rds and only a couple of FTFs,
- note it's never had an FTE. It's 'bedded in'
broken in whatever.

So, last saturday prior to going to the range
I stopped at a nearby sporting goods shop - found
they had .45 ACP. I picked up two boxes of 230
gr. FMJ PMC for $18/50 rds. Then at the
range I shot a box of the PMC first. The gun had
just been cleaned and lubed. About 7 or 8
FTFs just as you describe, the
slide not closing. ***? I then shot 24 rounds
of CCI Blazer/brass case 230 gr. FMJ, as well as
8 rounds of my carry load, Double Tap Speer Gold
DOt 200 gr. (1125 FPS.) No proglbems.

Last night after reading this thread yesterday I compared
the PMC to the Blazer brass case side by side. I find the
PMC O.A.L is a greater O.A.L. Maybe 0.10 inch?

I'll reserve the other box of PMC to be loaded in
Full moon clips for my 625 - it doesn't care about
O.A.L.

First time I've shot PMC out of the S&W 1911 so
live and learn....

Randall

 

[tipoc]

Over to the S&W forum and a few others as well, there are plenty of complaints about their current wheelguns as well. Guns not deburred, headspacing problems, too little or too much b/c gap, etc.

Stuff happens unfortunately.

tipoc

 

[loop]

Tropical Buzz,

I said it is what I do. I demand flawless functioning out of every 1911 I have. I've learned little tricks over 40 years of shooting and rebuilding 1911s.

For the most part I only buy guns that other people are having trouble with feeding or extracting and ejection. I can usually get them for a lot less because people feel like they got a lemon.

The truth is they just don't know much about 1911s.

This problem is a very simple one. Without seeing the gun when it jams we can only guess at nature of the problem. However, I'd bet a three-pack of 18 1/2-pound variable power recoil springs that one of them will cure the issue.

And no, they're not the kit cars of the gun world. They are the Ferraris. Those need a little help to work right all the time, too. And, they do require a break-in period.

 

[BADUNAME30]

Maybe if all these companys made the pistol to the orginal specs. Their wouldn't be all these troubles But no they want tighter chamber or tighter that or this and their goes the relieably . The 1911 was known for .They were combat pistols and operated under all kinds of weather and conditions Only since they begain trying to make target pistols or game guns have all these troubles began Military 1911 as issued went to war no break in and worked My 41 and 43 both shot well and have never been a problem But their not target guns.
When people stop trying to make the 1911 a target pistol and return to its correct specs They will once again be relieable. Colt seems to work the best from box. But people say it rattles Well gee it also works and the extractor is where browning wanted it

AMEN Michael. !!!!

Try as they may, the copiers will NEVER be John Moses Browning when they grow up.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

OK, update: problem solved.

I changed out the recoil spring with a standard Wolff 16 pound spring. I put 200 consecutive rounds through it. No jams whatsoever.

I think the gun is now OK.

I also cleaned and lubed it real good before firing.