I must be unlucky...Colt 1911's

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King Red

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I think I posted before about this but I'm still trying to decide what to do.

Somehow I managed to buy TWO brand new non-functioning Colts. I purchased a WW1 reissue and then a Series 70 repro a month later.

They both have around 450 rounds through them and continue to be jam-o-matics. I use nothing but WWB round nose and the factory Colt magazines that came with the guns.

The WW1 reissue fails to feed the last round from the magazine every time.

The S70 jams at different times and in various ways (ftf, stovepipe, etc).

I have installed some Tripp Research mag springs and hybrid followers in the Colt mags but have not tried them yet. The problem is that I don't want to solve the gun issue by improving the mags, if there's something wrong with the guns, I want it fixed. (I ordered two new Wilson extractors but they're backordered).

So I really don't want to send them back to Colt and wait several months for them to fix the guns that should have been fully functional to begin with.

I want to get peoples' opinions of Wilson Combat custom work. They offer a "complete reliability package," for $165 which includes:

polish feed ramp
throat barrel
polish and adjust extractor
polish breach face
adjust breach face clearance
install recoil spring
tighten ejector
adjust chamber depth

Does this seem like the thing to do? Are there other better smiths that can help me?

Thanks!
 
Before sending it off to someone I recommend doing a few simple checks...first would be the extractor, second would be the magazines (should be 7 rd with dimpled follower). There are several threads here by 1911Tuner that tell you how to trouble shoot just about everything with a 1911. Look in the Gunsmithing and Repairs forum for the 1911 consolidated clinic threads and do some reading...you'll learn the pistol inside and out and what the cure is for what ails'em! ;)
 
Yeh, IMHO the mags leave something to be desired. I had to have Colt replace two blued 7 shot, because the last round wound up sitting on the mag with the slide locked back. They did and the replacements seem to function correctly.
If you're able check the extractor as mentioned, If you decide to return for repair, look the pistol over very closely so that all issues may be fixed at once.
Good luck with the pistol, with Colt, remember persistence.
rhtwist
 
Wow that's a shame that you're having such trouble with your Colts. I have three, and although the one has never been fired, the other two have been superbly reliable. You should contact Colt about this, I have heard that their CS is really good
 
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Wow. I've never had a 1911 in my hands that would not feed RN/Ball ammo. If I did, I'd switch to known good magazines as the first part of trouble shooting. Yes, make sure there's that little dimple on the follower.

Reading Tuner's info on magazines and how the 1911 operates is good advice.

"Honey, the car pulls to the left when going down the road". Husband says that she needs to make an appointment to take the car back to the dealership to have warranty work done.

Without looking at the air pressure and/or tread wear on the left front tire before he says that.

A buddy had a rifle always shot 2" left. Adjust the scope... Always 2" left for him. He said he was going to sell it because it wasn't accurate.

That thing was dead on when I shot it. Every time.

-Steve
 
Like has already been said, call Colt. I have only had one 1911 that would not run hard ball, a Llama, never did get it figured out but still think it could have been corrected if I had more know how and patience at the time. New Colts or any of the other good 1911s should work with most 45 loads let alone hard ball. Try different mags first then call Colt.:what: --Bill
 
King Red,
I like 1911s alot but, I've had the same kind of experences with mine as you have had with yours. I sent my springfield 1911 to Wilson Combat for a trigger job and a reliabality package. It now has a very good 4 pound trigger pull and is the most reliable auto I've ever owned or shot. It feeds everything I have put through it without a hitch. If i ever buy another Springfield 1911, I won't even take it out of the box. I'll just ship it off to Wilson Combat so they can "finish it". I think you will be pleased with their work.

Also, their 8 round mags are worth the price, I would recomend getting a couple at least.
 
This is what I have experienced with every Colt I have owned..... they are doorstops. I put them in the same category as the Beretta 92fs, wouldn't put my life on one.
 
1911s can be frustrating but they're not doorstops. Once they are properly set up they are as good as it gets. In my experence plastic guns are as good as they get right out of the box, and that is plenty good. 1911s on the other hand might need some tuning but when they're good, they're better than anythig else out there.
 
King Red said:
I want to get peoples' opinions of Wilson Combat custom work. They offer a "complete reliability package," for $165 which includes:

polish feed ramp
throat barrel
polish and adjust extractor
polish breach face
adjust breach face clearance
install recoil spring
tighten ejector
adjust chamber depth
Click to expand...
I have praise for Wilson's products and services, don't get me wrong, but you should not have to spend extra money to correct things that should have been done when the guns were manufactured. Contact Colt and tell them you want them fixed. I very much doubt that it will take several months.
 
Your problems could all simply be magazine issues, which is a very easy fix.
 
Let me clarify a little bit. I already had the Tripp springs/followers and I forgot to add that I canceled the Wilson order when I found they were out of extractors.

I have four Colt factory mags right now, two with the Tripp upgrades and two with factory followers. I hope to go to the range this weekend to find out if my problems are indeed mag related.

My concern about fixing the problems with new mags (Wilson, Tripp, etc.) is that theoretically in a combat (SHTF) scenario, I would like to be able to pick up any beat-up 1911 mag off the ground and have it function. Does this make sense? I haven't heard of the original WW1 and WW11 combat 1911's jamming up so much waaay before plastic mag followers came along.

Anyway, I'll try the mags and if they don't work, I guess I'll give Colt a chance to fix them provided it doesn't take too long.

Thanks!
 
Years ago when Colt was the only 1911 you could buy, it was not uncommon for a new one to have "issues". It was fairly common for a new gun to go to a 1911 smith for a tune up. I had a commander that would not feed ball. I throated the bbl. and it ate everything I fed it. It wasn't accurate for beans, but it worked. I bought a used one that had been accurized and it was a tack driver and would feed and eject spent cases. It was the slickest 1911 I've ever owned. I'm kicking myself for selling it.
 
HiTech78 stated - " This is what I have experienced with every Colt I have owned..... they are doorstops. I put them in the same category as the Beretta 92fs, wouldn't put my life on one. "
.
amazing - he picks the two most reliable and combat-proven pistols in the world and dismisses them as useless - makes you wonder how all those soldiers survived with them.....
 
you're lying. a colt could never malfunction. they are created by the magical gun fairies in the forest of noth. forged in the great tree of koolaidious for all of the 40 year old plus crowd to swoon over. only a colt is REAL 1911.
 
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Buy a Ruger P90. Mine works every time.
I've owned 3 1911's- but only one now, Springfield GI Model (has always been reliable until the safety astarted acting up recently)
 
I've owned three, a Colt and two others, all junk. The Colt Commander was the worst of them all, and Colt scratched it all up, and didn't fix it.

I don't like the 1911 grip anyway, so I'm done with them, too expensive in most cases anyway, IMHO.
 
I have bought two new Colts in the past 6 months. A 70 re-issue and a 80 series. Both have worked flawlessly from the day I pulled them out of the box. I have also picked up a Combat Commander made in 1977. It also has worked without so much as a burp.

I have also bought a Norinco that works without a problem.

One SA Mil-spec that fired 5000 rounds without a burp...sold to buy the Commander.

Had a SA GI that gave me problems with FTF on last round, one trip to SA fixed that,

SO, if you are having a problem. Call Colt...that was easy, now wasn't it...
 
Your issues with both pistols are simple in origin and simple to cure. If you're within driving distance of Lexington, NC you can bring it to me and I'll have ya up and runnin' in about 30 minutes, not including a short run to the range to test fire it.

Bring your own ammo.

No charge...
 
I seemed to have fallen into the 1911 curse too. The ones I have had are either problem children or I just don't like them and I really tried too. The fact of the matter is while everyone says they are the best I just don't find the platform to be the best for me. For the money you spend buying a good 1911 or tuneing it to work I can get a SIG P220, M&P 45, Ruger P345, or a Glock 45 that will function right out of the box and will shoot better in my hands anyhow. Most of my guns are 9mms. I'm parting ways with all my 45 stuff and sticking with the 9. My M&P 9C is a phenomenal shooter and I think with good ammo I'm just as well protected. That being said the guys already posting above can hook you up with some good advice if you really want to get that 1911 running.
 
My first handgun, a Series 70 Colt bought in '79 or '80, wouldn't reliably feed ball when I first got it. After a few boxes of ammunition it was 100%. Strangely, it would feed the old 200gr. "flying ashtrays" 100% right from the start.
 
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