Colt 1911 Defender problem.

[bluethunder1962]

I have a Colt 1911 Defender. I love the gun. I love 45's but I hate to shoot it because of the shells hitting me in the head. Is this a problem with all 1911s or all 45acp's? I want to keep the gun but it is just not fun to shoot. Does anybody know of anything that will help. If not anybody wanting to buy one keep this in mind. I love Colts and I love 45s but knowing what I know now I would not buy one.

 

[smalls]

I think you might have an ejector problem. Not really sure what causes ejectors to start acting up, but my wife had the same problem with a rental M&P, and the guy at the range we rented it from said it was the ejector wearing out or something like that.

 

[kimbershot]

when was the last time you changed your recoil spring?

 

[bluethunder1962]

I bought it used but it looks new to me. They guy said he shot two clips through it is all. I am wondering if that is why he sold it. Thanks for the info. I know a good gunsmith
I will try him. I didn't know if it was normal. thanks again.

 

[NOLAEMT]

it could also be an extractor tension issue.

Any decent gunsmith should be able to fix it for you for a few bucks.

 

[theQman23]

If the gun always ejects just fine, don't touch the extractor. What you have is an issue with the back of the shell casing hitting the ejector too early, and then the side of the case is bouncing off of the slide.
Do one of these things, depending on:
A) Clear your gun, and then put one round in the magazine. Lock the slide back, and push the magazine into place. If the ejector is sticking up forward so far that it covers half of the brass casing in the round that is next to feed in the magazine, then trim it back until it is only a few millimeters (or less) over the shell casing that is next to feed in the magazine.
B) If the ejector is already trimmed back this amount, then your next option is to mill the slide and have the ejection port lowered. I can understand not wanting to do this with a safe queen, but if its a shooter that'll help you a lot.
C) If you do both of these things I'm quite sure you'll never hit yourself in the head again, (unless you are shooting in a tight booth like me and they bounce off the wall and hit your head......... eeegad eeegad.........)

 

[Skylerbone]

Before re-profiling the ejector or changing extractor tension you need to pay attention to your brass as it will help you determine what the problem is.

As for your question about it being a problem with all 1911s, well yes. Many will feed and eject fine from the box but all will need occasional adjustment from time to time. The shorter the variant, the more critical proper adjustment becomes as there is less mass to your slide making expedient removal of your brass a must. Inspect it for dings to make sure it's exiting cleanly and if in doubt about how to proceed a pistolsmith is a good idea. You could send it in but I doubt you'll get much satisfaction since it is "working".

 

[bluethunder1962]

Thanks everybody. I will try all of your sug. I don't want to give up on the gun. It took me forever to find one and I am not the kind of guy to unload my problems on somebody else. I am not going to carry it till I get this fixed. I don't want to really need it and the first round hit me in the eye. And yes I bought it to shoot not put in a safe. I will do whatever it take to get my trust back in it. Thanks again.

 

[theQman23]

AWESOME, perfect attitude. Do whatever you have to do to make it right, and learn from the process. This is what I love about theHighRoad.
keep us posted, and yes, kudos to skylerbone on the notion of inspecting the brass itself. You'll verify that its bouncing off the front lips if they are dented in, but be mindful that you won't see it dented if it's bouncnig off the base. food for thought,
keep us posted

 

[Skylerbone]

On a side note, I'd be remiss not to suggest having a second shooter of known quantity shoot it (with eye wear) and verify it isn't grip. I just got back from function tests on a Colt Govt. that included a limp wrist ejection check and thought instantly of this thread, you guessed why- 3 to the head!

 

[bluethunder1962]

I was scared to start working on a $900 gun myself. I want to learn how but just not with this gun so I took it to a gunsmith I know and trust. He said he was sure he could fix it for me. He said it could be a lot of the same things all of you have said on here. Skylerbone I never thought of that. I wish I had tried better grip or at least different. Most all I shoot is big cal guns but they are not auto. Might have helped. I gave him 50 rounds to shoot. If he works on it and says he did not have any problems and I still do we will know It is not the gun it is the dummy holding it.

 

[bluethunder1962]

thanks again everybody. I wish I had found this place long time ago. Lot of smart people on here.

 

[ku4hx]

A gun other than a Glock hitting you in the head with ejected cases? Who'd a thunk it?

 

[Skylerbone]

They come with quirks more and more often, mine has a mag. catch that sits a bit low that gave me a stovepipe and a few fails to lock on empty but it survived another 120 rounds today.

 

[CDW4ME]

This is not the first brass to head Colt Defender

I had a Colt Defender that threw brass at my head.
I sent it back to Colt and after a 10 week wait I got it back only to still have brass thrown at my head.
A call to customer service resulted in me being told that brass to the head was my fault, as I must be holding the pistol incorrectly.

I had previously owned two different Kimber Ultra II aluminum frame 45's (along with a aluminum frame CDP Compact) and after over a 1,600 rounds + between them I had never been hit with brass.

I had an aluminum frame Colt Lightweight Commander that didn't throw brass at my head either (300-400 rounds).

My current Springfield EMP 40 doesn't throw brass at my head (260+ rounds).

So, according to Colt CS, out of all those aluminum frame 45's, I only hold the Defender incorrectly. :banghead: BS
I was so ticked I not only sold the Defender, I sold the Lightweight Commander too; I wanted to be Colt free.

I purchased a couple of AR's including Stag and Windham; I would have paid MORE for either one of those than a Colt on principle alone.

 

[Skylerbone]

Everyone has different experiences and not every work order is for a misbehaving pistol. I understand the frustration but selling one off on principle is an emotional response to a disappointing experience with, I suspect, a less than critical evaluation from Colt. What if the extractor tension on the EMP loosens over time or the magazine springs weaken and the pistol jams?

A simple email to Brent in the Custom Shop would have gotten you a reliable pistol and a far different outlook on Colt. I try to approach things systematically with a plan for what I need, who can best help me achieve my goals and how to get them involved. I want the gun to run, Colt's repair department couldn't help, I call the Custom Shop, ask for Brent and introduce myself as a longtime shooter of 1911s and (insert qualifications ie. LEO/mil./IPSC competitor) who would like his Colt XXX to work. I explain inspector 7 may have mis-diagnosed shooter error as my Kimber, S&W, RRA and Detonics all toss brass fine, I ask for an intervention, I thank him for his time.

A simple letter included with a return will often net similar results if you include information regarding skill level (owner of 20 1911s from Govt. to Officer) for 25 years, shooting 230 gr. Federal ball ammo, experienced problem from 6 magazines (Metalform, Colt, Wilson), no pattern to the problem, happened X times in X number of rounds fired, brass severely dented- see enclosed photos denoting brass damage at 12 o'clock position.

Standard protocol will not be to test fire 100 rounds to check function so being specific tells a trained tech that you've done your homework and let's him know that you're not a first timer who was shooting at flying geese when the problem occurred. I don't suggest everyone sending problems straight to Brent but when other avenues close it can be a useful option.

 

[KenW.]

Wear a hat?

 

[Skylerbone]

A helpful suggestion Ken, for other situations. Not every defensive situation provides opportunities for head and eyewear, and this is a defense minded model, and not every cheeky comment should be posted. If they were, most post count would astound us all and THR wouldn't be what it is.

 

[bluethunder1962]

Skylerbone you are a smart dude. That is what I was thinking. I have had a hat on and it still stings a little. One hit me in the forhead yesterday. That is my carry gun. That is why I had to do something. I can't take the chance when I need it the first rd goes straight in my eye.

 

[Skylerbone]

Don't go accusing me, my friends and neighbors know different. There I go with that post count again! Gratuitous smiley to follow: wait for it...

 

[Gordon]

One of the best threads yet IMHO. I wouldn't go shorter than Officers Model .45 in quasi 1911 format. The Defender I had was indeed quirky and the brass kinda were toward my head. My AMT .45 Back up which seems very reliable throws them toward my head also with 230 grain ammo. So does the Star PD to a lesser extent. The Officer Lt. Wt. does not. nor any Commander or any 1911 I own . My theory on this is the great recoil impulse and torque of the .45acp in a Micro Format will turn a 60 degree ejection pattern into a 90 degree pattern and I am not sure if I am Iron Man enough to fight that.

 

[bluethunder1962]

I hope my gunsmith can figure it out. I love the gun. I have a lot I want to do to it. I am going to try to make the hammer into a horse's head and do some carvings of horses on the slide. Already got walnut grips coming and am going to inlay them.

 

[KenW.]

Oh, I was put in my place. Did I violate a TOS? I hope not, since I've been here substantially longer than you, I should know the rules about a little humor. Note my post count is around 635, and yours around 1500. And I have years on you Skylerbone. This post may not pass the TOS test, but I will stand up for myself. Yet, I digress.

In a REAL LIFE defensive shooting, you won't have eye or ear protection either. Neither will you notice the recoil or the sound. So naturally I was speaking of using a hat on the range.