Dangerous time with a Colt Conversion unit

[hatchetbearer]

A few weeks back, I picked up a Colt Conversion unit for a song. I went to the range today to try her out, the first 6 rounds fired fine, then I got a double feed, and the round of the second bullet stuck the primer of the first hard enough to set it off, firing out of battery, resulting in a double tap and a stuck round. I cleared the Jam and finished that magazine without incident.

The next magazine, I only loaded 5 rounds thinking it might have been excess spring tension or something, and the same thing happened, another double feed resulting in a split case stuck in the chamber.

If any of you fine individuals could give me some pointers to prevent this, I'd really like to keep my face intact.

 

[1KPerDay]

you sure it was a double feed? If so it's a mag problem. It may be the extractor putting too much pressure on the rim as it closes. Check for proper movement. That doesn't sound like fun.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Double-feeds, where a fired case fails to extract from the chamber and the magazine pushes the top round up against it, are a sign of an extractor problem. Take the slide off, or at least pull it back and lock it, and see if there is even a hook on it. And stop shooting it.

 

[hatchetbearer]

good to go, the extractor might not be engaging the round. I'll check it for proper engagement.

 

[OcelotZ3]

Sometimes a too-tight chamber can cause issues too. That's what ironing tools are for.

 

[kBob]

I am still having difficulty imagining how a single stack magazine can have double feeds........

The only way to have a .22LR round in the chamber and pick up another to ram against it in the COlt Conversion unit I had for a Series 70 would have been for me to have a misfire and me work the slide and have the extractor fail to extract the misfired round or me simpley try to charge a gun already charged and the extractor fail.

I just can not see any way for two.22LR rounds to come out of that mag in a manner to cause the type of problem discribed.

Wonder if something else is going on.

I think perhaps there was an out of battery firing that happened when the bolt was still far enough back that it was driven back enough to pick up a new cartridge which then got into the mix. This may have happened because the chamber was dirty or has a ding or knick that stopped or slowed down the first round enough that the out of battery occured....perhaps from the slide hitting something with the hammer still back.

Assumming this is an actual Colt conversion unit with the floating chamber, the first thing I would do would be remove the floating chamber from the barrel and clean it and inspect it for dings, such as a spot where the firing pin peend the edge of the chamber from dry firing. Besure to clean not only the floating chamber but the end of the barrel where it goes and ensure that carbon has not built up inside the hole at the breech end of the barrel the floating chamber fits in.

I used to clean my floating chamber after every session and was advised to do so atleast every 200 rounds.

Wish I had never traded that thing away.

-kBob

 

[GLOOB]

Double-feeds, where a fired case fails to extract from the chamber and the magazine pushes the top round up against it, are a sign of an extractor problem.

Naw, he says the round in the chamber is unfired.

I am still having difficulty imagining how a single stack magazine can have double feeds........

It sounds impossible, but I've seen the same sort of double-feeds in a 1911 (45ACP, single stack, stock Gold Cup, stock mags). Same jam happened many, many times. Live round in chamber. Second live round wedged behind it.

Not sure why a 22RF would be any different. It seems impossible anyway you look at it, but then there's what seems possible and what is.

 

[rcmodel]

I am still having difficulty imagining how a single stack magazine can have double feeds........

Possibly rim lock, if you load the top round with the rim hooked behind the rim of the round under it??

It is a stretch with a .22, but the top round could jerk the second round out with it if the rims are hooked together due to improper mag loading.

Thats why a lot of older .22's had such sharply angled grips.
The Colt mag isn't angled as sharply as most other 22's of that era, and it might be possible to load one improperly with the rims hooked over each other. I just don't know??

rc

 

[hatchetbearer]

Rcmodel, I'm thinking rimlock may have something to do with it. maybe it was pulling two rounds in, and the slide hitting the second round into the back of the first one in the chamber caused the first to go off.

kbob, I looked over the floating chamber, and it looks to be in working order.

I'll get pictures tomorrow if the range is open. I'll set it up how it was.