1911 questions

[jay524288]

I have a couple problems my Rock Island compact in .45. I've fired about 500 rounds with it.

In the thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58497, it says

Round chambered, slide out of battery, extractor stopped by the rear of the case rim, usually on the last round:

This one is a magazine problem, pure and simple, and generally shows up when somebody has tuned a magazine by removing that silly little dimple from the follower. An oversprung slide will aggravate the problem. Browning the Great put that dimple there for a very good reason. Best leave it be.

That's my problem, except it's not on the last round in the magazine.

It's only happened to me once or twice, but it happens my girlfriend pretty frequently. The last time we went to the range, I had her pay attention to it. When it occurred, it was always on the 3rd round in the magazine. She only had trouble with Blazer Brass FMJ ammo, but not my SWC reloads. I have seen it with the reloads in the past, however.

It happened with several different magazines, including Colt with McCormick shooting star followers and McCormick magazines. They are all new.

Is this really a magazine problem? If so, is there anything I can do to my magazines to fix it?


The second problem is with the slide stop notch. It's getting distorted and now there's a spur sticking out about .010" from the side of the slide. You can see it in the attached pictures.

Is this normal?

Thanks.

 

[cdrt]

I replaced the regular followers with the round ones made by Metalform and I replaced the mag springs with a heavier spring made by Wolff for the mags I use in Bullseye shooting. Haven't had any mag problems since.

On your second question, it may be that the slide is made from some softer material than the slide stop. I know this was a problem with pre-WW II 1911s and could cause wear at the slide stop notch. Of course, someone out there has proably had this happen to them and can help more than I.

 

[jay524288]

Thanks, I'll try replacing the follower, but I'm still confused. How could the follower be at fault if the problem only happens while there are still 4 rounds in the magazine?

Maybe this is more a shooter problem than a gun problem since it pretty much only happens when my girlfriend is shooting, but not I am.

 

[1911Tuner]

If the round is jumping the magazine and getting ahead of the slide...chambering the round and stopping the slide from going to full battery because the nose of the extractor is behind the case rim...it's still a magazine problem. it just doesn't have anything to do with the follower. This one is most often caused by a weak mag spring, and the same applies to too much recoil spring aggravating the situation.

If your magazines are standard 7-rounders with the flat followers...order Wolff 11-pound/7-round springs from Brownells.

If your magazines are 8-rounders with the folded leaf Devel/McCormick follower...order the +5%/8-round Wolff springs.

The peened slidestop notch is a metallurgy issue...likely softer than spec steel. Nada mucho can be done about it except replacing the slide.

 

[Jim K]

This may be reaching, but if it happens mostly when your girl friend is shooting, it could be an example of what is called limp wristing. Her arm is not heavy enough to provide resistance to recoil, but the combination of gun and ammo does offer enough weight until the magazine gets down to three rounds.

I think I would check that factor before shelling out for a lot of expensive magazines.

Jim

 

[jay524288]

Thanks for all the help.

I'll try switching magazine springs, and maybe the recoil spring if that doesn't help.

She could be limp wristing, and I've been trying to watch for it, but I'll pay more attention. She is pretty small.