Combat Commander Slide Jamming

[smokeyshowin]

I recently purchased a Series 70 Colt Commander Slide, Barrel,Barrel bushing, spring, and slide release to use on my Series 70 Colt Government frame. The problem is that the slide is jamming, after the round is fired and the case is partially out of the chamber the slide jams and is very difficult to release. Could this be due to an incorrectly sized barrel link

 

[Old Fuff]

Smokey:

You is very lucky that you don't have a serious problem, because the Government Model frame is different then a Commander frame. There is a number of things that could cause your jamming, but I suspect that the recoil spring is stacking because it doesn't have the room to compress as it should.

To solve your problem you will have to match a true Commander lower to your present Commander slide assembly. Do not shoot it as it is.

 

[smokeyshowin]

Thanks Old Fluff,

What is the difference in the frames, I thought they were the same dimensions, I am using a Commander spring and bushing.

Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

Take a look at your Commander's barrel, the bottom (link) lug in particular and notice that the front of the lug is square. Then look at the Government Model's barrel at the same place and notice that it is angled and further forward at the top.

The Commander frame has a shorter dust cover, and the shoulder the recoil spring guide butts against is set futher back - which is the reason the Commanders barrel is squared off at the front. The recoil spring guide almost sets against it. The purpose here is to make more room for the recoil spring.

There are other differences, but they don't need to concern you.

Your Commander slide assembly can be fitted to a Commander frame (obviously) or an Officers Model ACP.

For the record, 9mm/.38 Super frames aren't the exact same as a .45 either.

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

Fuff is spot on. The frame rails and spring tunnel are shorter in the Commander...nominally .100 inch +/- .003 or so.

Did you check the spring for coil bind?

Case partially out of the chamber suggests that the extractor needs more tension or other adjustment. Describe the stoppage in detail.

 

[smokeyshowin]

Tuner,

After placing the Commander upper on the Government frame I was able to fire about twenty rounds, some of the emptys were hitting me in the head so I figured that the extractor needed some attention. Then after firing a round the slide was jammed on extraction, the casing was partially out of the chamber and the slide was jammed and could not be moved. Finally after removing the recoil spring and bushing and some pulling on the slide it came free. Everything seemed to be OK no broken parts or damage to the lugs. Put the gun back together and it hand functioned fine. Loaded one round fired it and it locked up again the same way

Thanks

 

[Old Fuff]

Loaded one round fired it and it locked up again the same way

Well if you keep doing it...

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

SMokey,

The straight-back ejection issue won't be cured by fiddling with the extractor. The Commander's ejector differes from the GM's in two ways. Obviously, it's an extended type, but it's also offset toward the slide centerline a little. The other part of the problem is that the slide travel is shortened quite a bit.
Not only by the longer GM rails, but the slide is also different, so the total loss of travel adds up to a bit more than the .100 inch.

An ejector designed for the Commander...with the offset...will help a lot.

The failure to extract/jam-up is an extractor issue, pure and simple. Retensioning will help, assuming that the hook isn't worn to the point that it
slips off the rim during extraction. Easy does it. Too much bend and the gun will fal to go to battery. It's better to sneak up on the right amount of bend than have to straighten it and start over...which overworks the steel and alters the temper. Remember playing with wire-type clothes hangers when you were a kid? Bending and straightening made'em get hot and eventually break? Same principle.

 

[smokeyshowin]

Tuner,

Thanks for the reply, the extractor that is in the slide is the one that came with it, i don't know if it is a commander extractor, I will have to look into it and maybe replace it, if it is incorrect. Is there anything else I should look at like the barrel bushing or the barrel link.

Thanks

 

[1911Tuner]

Extractor

Smokey,

The extractors in Commanders and Government Models are the same. The difference is in the ejectors.

Anybody got a picture they can post?