FTF on colt M1911... Spring recommendations??

[7thGenAustinite]

Ok I've been getting some FTF on my old m1911. The bullet gets stuck on the bottom of the feed ramp. This happens on all my mags (colt and chip mccormick) wether they are full or not. No I'm not limp wresting it either. Feed ramp is smooth. No burrs. I asked the range officer at my local place and he recommended I change the recoil spring since I'm not sure when it was last done ( only had the gun a few months and three range visits). Should I go ahead and replace all the springs? or should I just swap out the recoil spring? Also what lb recoil spring would be recommended for my old 1911 ( built 1918).

 

[Jim Watson]

The Modern Standard 1911 recoil spring is 16 lbs although somebody here once went back to the mil-spec for wire size, etc. and concluded the Army actually got by with a bit less.
The other action springs are very long lived and I don't think they need replacing. They don't control feeding anyhow.

What ammo are you shooting? Tuner says his GI guns handle semiwadcutters but not all will. Hardball is the best bet.

I can imagine a worn magazine catch not holding the mags up to the normal feed location.

Tuner will have other ideas when he comes along.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Should I go ahead and replace all the springs? or should I just swap out the recoil spring?

At least change the firing pin spring at the same time you change the recoil spring.

A weak FP spring can let the FP stop slip down and cause problems.

 

[1911Tuner]

The bullet gets stuck on the bottom of the feed ramp.

That there's whatcha call...a clue.

Has the feed ramp been polished or "blended" to the bottom of the barrel ramp...resulting in a rounded top corner? If that's what you've got...you've got a problem.

Field-strip the pistol. Lay the barrel in the frame and insert the slidestop pin through the barrel link. Push the barrel down and back firmly. There should be a small gap between the top corner of the feed ramp and the lower edge of the barrel ramp. If it's not there, or...worst case...the edge of the barrel overhangs the feed ramp...there is whence the bug nests.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If any spring has anything to do with feeding problems, it is more likely the magazine spring.

 

[7thGenAustinite]

 

[1911Tuner]

I see the problem. The face of the barrel ramp is flat. Looks like somebody filed it to get the clearance and didn't finish the job. At least they left the feed ramp alone.

 

[Skylerbone]

Note the difference between the barrels at the 6:00 position.

 

[7thGenAustinite]

could this be due to a re-arsenal at some point in its service life?

Im not gonna touch it myself so what would y'all think a reputable gunsmith would charge to correct this?

thanks again for all your help guys!!

 

[1911Tuner]

what would y'all think a reputable gunsmith would charge to correct this?

If you were within drivin' distance, it wouldn't cost ya zip. It'd only take about 10-15 minutes. Dunno what a smith-in-business would charge, but it couldn't be a lot.

 

[Skylerbone]

Just make sure he knows what he's doing and don't let him talk you in to the full "reliability" package. Tell him not to touch that frame.