1911 last round failure to feed powder related?

[Reefinmike]

For a while now, The last round of the mag hangs up about every other mag. It had gotten progressively worse and with a quick google search I blamed the mag springs... I put some springs on my midway wish list for my next order and forgot about it... well except for the constant reminder every other mag :banghead: Recently I switched to loading fo' fie with bullseye because unfortunately hogdgon changed their hp-38 powder formulation to a new blend of unobtainium. after load workup with bullseye, I havent had any malfunctions in the past 150 rounds.

My previous load was 4.4gr HP38 behind a lee 230gr(actually 235gr) truncated cone cast bullet seated to 1.171". The bullseye load is 3.9gr BE, 235gr cast boolit 1.171".

Sure stinks that I have a few thousand loaded up with the 4.4gr hp38

would a lighter recoil spring be a quick fix for the HP-38 loads?

Like I said, I had been using this load for months without any issue, and then it gradually got worse to the point of being a real annoyance... could it be due to lower chamber pressures due to the cold(i shoot outside)? maybe a combo of temp and mag spring wear?

It is always the last round in the mag. im not sure how, but the round feeds up at a 45 degree angle and shoves into the top of the chamber, usually gouging the brass about halfway down.

 

[UpTheHill]

just one mag? or a couple different mags?
if just 1, then its the mag spring got too old and weak.

I guess the same could be said for the recoil spring.
both have an average life span of about 5000 rounds.

I use basically the same hp 38 load with no problem in my 1911 with wilson combat mags

 

[Reefinmike]

It happens in both 8 round mags I have. one is a chip mccormic shooting star and the other a MEC-gar. Ive probably ran 3500-4000 rounds through the gun and mags the past year ive owned them.

 

[LiveLife]

My BIL's Springfield had the same problem and I checked both the magazine and recoil springs. The recoil spring was worn. I replaced the recoil spring with 16 pound replacement and problem was solved even with my lighter target load (200 gr SWC with 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo).

Are those steel Tulammo cases?

 

[Reefinmike]

well, I do have a new 16.5lb spring on the way from mr potterfield but I was holding off on the mag springs.

and yes its tula steel and lead . I have about a hundred cases of tula steel that I load up just for giggles... some I have up to 7 reloadings. I only used that pic as a representation so people could see the bullet profile of the boolits im casting... Just used it because its the only pic of my 45's that I have on the comp... getting a picture of brass reloads would be just too much work

 

[oneounceload]

If all of the rest feed correctly, why would you suspect the load as opposed to the mag spring?

 

[Reefinmike]

If all of the rest feed correctly, why would you suspect the load as opposed to the mag spring?

because I havent had any failures with my new bullseye load.......

 

[CNobbe]

Mag springs are shot...99.9999999999% positive..

 

[oneounceload]

If ot was the load, it would happen with every round, not just the LAST one. When it is the last one, the odds (as mentioned right above) is 99.999999999999 the mag spring

 

[NWcityguy2]

A weak mag spring + a weak load? That is possible but the bigger issue would be the mag spring.

 

[LiveLife]

OK, got a much clearer picture on the computer monitor. I was out when I posted and did not clearly see how the round was angled on my cellphone (actually, couldn't even see the round on my cellphone). I would also agree with the weak mag spring.

Were those the new magazines that came with the pistol? I can imagine recoil spring going weak after 3500-4000 rounds but how were the magazines kept?

Were they kept loaded full during this time?

 

[oneounceload]

Should not matter as springs weaken by work, not by sitting compressed. I own a Kahr compact - they have forum threads stating to take them apart and check for mag springs being in backwards - it seems to be enough of a problem and causes things like this - whether this might also be an issue is something to consider. Besides a weak spring, it could also be some gunk buildup inside the mag causing the issue. In any event a disassembly and cleaning and check is in order

 

[Reefinmike]

Yeah I keep the mags loaded at all times... It must be a load/mag spring combo... Maybe the BE load is keeping the slide all the way back giving that very last round in the mag just enough time to putz his way all the way up to the top of the mag

 

[sexybeast]

My first fix would have been the mag springs too. A friend had a simular problem with his Delta Elite. Double feeds on the last round with the empty case and the slide not locking back. We were using light loads and we increased the load by .4gr. Fixed the problem! At the same time he also replaced the recoil spring with a progressive one. One or both fixed it.
4.4 of hp38 behind a 230 should be enough.
Since you have so many rounds loaded I would try the springs first. Wolff has everything you want and usually has it to you in two to three days.
Since you are experimenting I would try a spring pack with different weight springs. I like a 14lb in my Gold Cup.

 

[james layman]

My friend had the same problem with a Sig. I had him to stretch the magazine spring slightly. Problem solved.

 

[rcmodel]

Problem solved, temporarily.

You can't stretch a spring without making it weaker then it was after a short amount of use.

If stretching it fixed the problem?
Better be ordering new mag springs because you will need them pretty soon.

rc