Feed Problems

[larry24]

I own a Springfield armory 1911 Ultra Compact, completely stock. I bought it used from a friend whom advised me of the problem.......I assumed it was the ammo he was shooting.

About every 3 ro unds the gun will have a feeding problem......It never "JAMS" or "STOVEPIPES" , it ejects the spent casing perfect, but just won't "GRAB" the new round and shove it in the feed ramp!!!!!!!

I have tried numerous different types and weight of bullets, nothing helps...........

ANY IDEAS ON THE PROBLEM, ANY SIMILIAR EXPERIENCES?

 

[DnPRK]

Call Springfield and tell them you want them to correct the problem. See how they want to proceed.

 

[HammerBite]

If the slide rides completely over the topmost round in the magazine then perhaps a dirty magazine, weak magazine spring, incorrectly installed magazine spring or deformed magazine lips. Also, does the follower move freely?

 

[larry24]

YES IT MOVES FREELY< AND I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT AND NEW MAGAZINES>>>>>>>>>>> I thing contacting springfield may be the best idea..........Although I usually like "TINKERING" with 'em myself.

thanks for the feedback

 

[1911Tuner]

If the slide picks up the rounds when hand-cycling, but not when it's operating at full speed...you've got a magazine problem. Specifically, the spring. The chopped variants' slides run fast, and if the magazine can't keep up...the slide runs over the top of the cartridge before it gets into feeding position.

New magazine is no guarantee of a good magazine.

 

[rcmodel]

This is possibly one of the very few times when Wolf Extra-Power mag springs might be in order.

http://gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/SpringfieldNF.html

Or, a better & more through cleaning, followed by a better & slicker grade of lube then what you are using now.


rcmodel

 

[1911Tuner]

This is possibly one of the very few times when Wolf Extra-Power mag springs might be in order.

Indeed. I replace all my magazine springs with Wolff 11-pound springs. That's a large part of why I don't have magazine related problems. The other key to trouble-free magazine function is that I've never allowed an 8-round magazine in any of my guns until I ran some tests for Check-Mate's new design...and those were only tested in my beaters.

All the Wolff 11-pound "Extra Power" spring is...is a spring that's made to original specs adjusted for the initial set. In other words...It's got enough extra strength engineered in to match the new strength of the original USGI specs AFTER it takes a set and loses some of its as-new strength...and they last for years.

 

[larry24]

Thanks for the input guys, but the bullet actually end up about half lodge in the barrle............Its not that the slide closes and there is no bullet in the chamber, Its just that it doesn't close completelely, sometimes you can manueally push the slide forward to complete the unfinished task, But sometimes it gets "STUCK" and you have to start over.

ANY MORE IDEAS??????????/

 

[1911Tuner]

Okay! The devil's in the (accurate) details. Now we're gettin' somewhere.

Excessive extractor tension will often cause it to fail to go to battery. When it's te extractor, it can usually be pushed into battery. This is known as excessive stem bind, and is usually easy to correct with a little tweak on the extractor tension...or it may require a bit more extractor massaging.

The magazine spring tension can also contribute to this, since the mag spring plays a role in getting the case into the extractor.

When it gets jammed to the point of NOT being able to bump it into battery...look to see if the front bottom corner of the breechface is past the rim, and in the case extractor groove...or if the rim is against the breechface, just below the point of extractor pickup.

You may be experiencing a full-blown 3-Point Jam. Go ahead and provide a few more details, and we'll get into that if we need to.

 

[19112XS]

From personal experience new, high-dollar magazines don’t always help a pistol with mag related issues function reliably. Wolff extra power springs and flat, dimpled followers usually do. Wish I had back the money this lesson cost.

 

[larry24]

tHANKS, AND WITH A NAME LIKE 1911TUNER, I'LL CERTAINLY TAKE ALL YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS SERIOUS................IM NOT VERY KNOWLEDGABLE ON THE 1911 GUNS.

THANKS SO MUCH

 

[1911Tuner]

Wolff extra power springs and flat, dimpled followers usually do. Wish I had back the money this lesson cost.

When I met 2XS through this forum about 5 years ago...he had several pistols that were givin' him fits. He made the trek across state lines...about a 5 hour trip unless ya drive like he does. His record stands at 3.5 hours, give or take.

We went to the range, and...sure enough...he had a lot of misfeeds that were interfering with his ability to concentrate on his sights and trigger control.

I handed him a dozen or so of my magazines. When he got through, he was a bit mystified because all his feed problems went away. Unconvinced...he tried his magazines again. Problems returned. Mine again...Nary a burp. Hard-headed this one...

We procured a few good 7-round magazines for him...installed the Wolff 11-pound springs...and the "cure" endures. With two notable exceptions, I "fixed" all his reliability woes with magazines...and the occasional extractor tweak just as a fine-tune operation. He conceded and rebuilt his problem mags with 7-round followers and Wolff springs, and life was good.

Of the two exceptions, one was a USGI parts gun with mismatched slide and frame...and barrel...etc. etc. The other was a Norinco that had undergone a nifty "Ramp and Throat" job by Bubba or Bubbas unknown. The Nork came very close to kickin' my ol' skinny six ways to Sunday, but it eventually came around. I told him that I shoulda told him that it was hopeless and offered him a hundred bucks for it. By the time I'd tried and failed twice...he probably woulda gone for it, and I probably woulda parted it out and used the frame for my .22 conversion unit.

Moral:

It ain't over 'til it's over...The third time's the charm....and you can cure what ails your 1911's feed with a good magazine about 95% of the time.