1911 jam issue

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

To all:

I have tuned up my nice PT1911, replaced all the internals, everything (essentially!). However (not since I have replaced the parts), with my mags (a few McCormicks shooting stars and some no name mags that use some McCormick shooting star parts) jam up with a full mag. Insert full 8 rounds, then slingshot (slide release jams them hard!). Round goes forward a little, then nosedives into the mag forward! It does this with any ammunition and essentially all my mags. If I load 7 it wont jam so bad (or rarely). My mags are somewhat old though and I was wondering if this was just a spring issue? Wolff springs look nice (+5%) as a replacement for these. Is there a way to test spring pressure or function?

Thanks to all,
da Chimp

PS: Please do not harass me about McCormick mags, a Taurus (essentally not a Taurus anymore) or any comments like "Just buy some Wilsons". My equipment worked well before, but beginning to get problems now. BTW: My particular Taurus HATES Wilson mags and I have had nothing but problems with the one I had.

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

I forgot to mention, the extractor is fine! When it jams into the front, the extractor isnt even close to touching the shell yet. I just dont want to go out and buy a bunch of new mags when the old ones worked wonderfully. What other things should I check for?

 

[gb6491]

New springs have usually fixed any nose dive issues that I have had.
I would like to ask; did you replace your magazine catch? If so, did your magazines work well with the old one.
Regards,
Greg

 

[rcmodel]

Any chance you accidently put the mag springs in backwards?
That will do it every time!

Make sure the upward bend at the top of the spring is in the front, applying more pressure to the front of the follower.

It wouldn't hurt to even bend them up a little more. Worth a try anyway.

Also, what are you lubing the slide rails with?

rcmodel

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

I didnt change the mag release, but the mags worked before hand. If it helps at all, the mags (8 rounders)are very very easy to load where before they were stiff, but also the follower, when at the top, tends to move forward and backward more than they used to. I guess I will try new springs. The "knock off mags" were cheap and used a McCormick body and follower. I guess they were built by someone because the spring looks different than the stock McCormick I have. They work awesome but not so much anymore . New springs are in order! Are Wolff gunsprings good? I know they have ones for the different types of mags.

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

Unfortunately, the springs were what ever came with the mags (OLD!). I have not taken them apart at all. I know the top two springs sometimes are staged in order to lift the follower up in the front. Slide rails are lubed either with Royal Purple Motor assembly lube, black lithium grease or sometimes just regular old CLP (if Im lazy ). I use the grease on the high pressure impact parts (or sliding assemblies) and either CLP or ATF on trigger parts, firing pin stuff or similar.

 

[rcmodel]

Wolff springs are as good as it gets.

From what you said, it sounds like they may likely fix the problem.

As an aside, I believe the "new & better" 8-round mags over-stress the springs more then John B's original 7-round design. Especially when the mags are kept loaded all the time.

That extra 1/2" for the eighth round comes out of the compressed spring stack height in most cases.

Maybe Ol' John B. knew something about designing guns, and magazines for them that would last forever, after all.

rcmodel