Dan Wesson Heritage (handgun match vid) and weird 1911 malfunction question

[1KPerDay]

Dan Wesson razorback heritage 1911 .45 ACP

This video is just my runs edited together; if you want to see the other guys in my squad shoot search my other vids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylAbq2ieCfs

I did pretty well this time out I think, by my standards anyway. LOL

The gun was flawless all day EXCEPT for a really nasty malfunction where the slide stop came out just enough to lock up the gun mid-stage. it was stuck between the takedown notch and the slide stop IIRC. Has anyone heard of this? Weird thing is it happened to another 1911 shooter in my squad that day.

 

[ku4hx]

Not a 1911 aficionado, but I thought I recalled a similar problem posted here earlier this year.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-639082.html

 

[mrvco]

I've only competed in two formal matches so far, but single-stack 1911's seem to be the most prone to feeding and/or ejecting issues. My Colt has always been perfectly reliable, but I haven't tried it in a competition yet.

 

[1KPerDay]

I wouldn't call this a feeding/ejecting issue. More a mechanical singularity.

Thanks ku4hx, I'll check it out.

 

[1KPerDay]

From 1911 Tuner in that linked thread:

Check to see of the barrel is being stopped by the link. Sometimes that can push the stop out.

Do this:

Remove the slidestop partway and let the arm hang vertically. Push the stop back into the frame as far as it will go.

Press the muzzle straight into the edge of a heavy table or bench until the slide and barrel stop solidly. Hold it firmly and see if the slidestop will swing freely. If it gets in a bind, the link is stopping the barrel.

Possible reasons:

Short link. Vertical impact surface located too far to the rear. Rear edge of the lower barrel lug located too far forward. Link pin mislocated in the lug. Slidestop pin mislocated in the frame.

Dang... none of those sound very fun.

Hopefully this is not the problem. I'll check it out tonight.

 

[Zerodefect]

The above test is key.

Also the slide stop itsself may not be fitted right. Or the shooter hit the slide stop nub as the gun cycled. There's a reason why many 1911's get recessed or flush slide stop nubs.

It should be really hard for this to happen. It's barrel fit or slide stop lever fit.

 

[1KPerDay]

Well thankfully the test above leaves the stop swinging freely... so that's good I guess.

I tried pushing out the stop at varying places along the slide's travel and it only moves out fully at the disassembly notch. It moves SOME other places, but you can feel the top surface of the level stop against the slide and prevent it moving outward.

Any other ideas? As I said, the chances of it being pushed out by my trigger finger are nil, as I was in the middle of shooting a row of steel lollipops at the time, and the gun just locked up. Was it just a fluke? I'd really like it to never happen again....

 

[1KPerDay]

bump for the daytime crowd...

 

[HisSoldier]

As I said, the chances of it being pushed out by my trigger finger are nil,

There is a combat shooting technique that calls for holding the first finger alongside the frame and shooting with the second finger, natural pointing being the key to fast effective shooting during a chaotic gunfight scenario. One proponent says actual gunfight videos show as many as 80% misses at close range because with the adrenaline people do not actually aim, so adopting by training the finger alongside the frame technique raises the hit probability by a huge margin.

The downside for 1911 shooters is that under combat stresses the finger can push against the RH side of that pin and push it in (Out on the other side) disabling the gun when it is needed most. Some people, for whatever reason, choose to make the pin flush and chamfer the hole.

To my machinist mind that compromises the area and wearability of the bearing surface on that side, and since field stripping is never done during a gunfight simply making the pin flush would be better, as pushing with a finger tip should push the pin far enough without the chamfer, and it's done in times of relaxation when time is no factor.

As to the finger along the frame technique I have no personal experience.

 

[1KPerDay]

Well it happened again, shooting from the bench, 230 grain ball, slow fire. 3 rounds then locked up on the fourth. ejected, but the round being chambered is just left sitting on the top of the magazine. It's locked up good. The tab on the slide stop is rearward of the slide stop notch in the slide (I remembered incorrectly before). I'm contacting CZUSA and hopefully sending it back to them unless they try to make me pay for shipping. I'll keep you updated.

 

[1KPerDay]

Well I have to say I'm quite impressed with the customer service so far... I emailed CZusa SUNDAY evening at 5pm and had an email from the operations manager by 6:45 A.M. the next morning, and a prepaid return shipping label.

I'll ship it back tomorrow.

I'm digging CZUSA so far... I'll keep you updated.

 

[1KPerDay]

Got it back yesterday. They replaced the slide stop, 3 of the grip bushings (improperly staked) re-radiused the rear edge of the thumb safety where it was a bit proud and bothering my thumb (can't even see the mod... nice job). And test fired.

I put 70 rounds through it so far. round 38 the slide locked back prematurely, 3 rounds left in the mag. The slide stop notch just BARELY engaged. Round 50 the slide locked back and didn't chamber the last round in the magazine. Live round just resting atop the empty mag. Ammo was 230 grain Remington "Leadless".

*sigh*

Any other ideas?

Could the Chip McCormick Power Plus 10 round mag be contributing? I haven't had a malfunction shooting the OEM 8 rounders but I generally shoot the 10s (limited division etc.)

 

[1KPerDay]

Well, 250+ additional rounds through it, magtech ball, remington, winchester and reloads... Strong and weak hand.... No further issues.