magazines changing ejection angle? (1911)

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Kaylee

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Has anyone else experienced the ejection angle seeming to change with magazines? I've a Springfield 1911 (standard length ejector, dropped and flared ejection port) that with the first couple mags didn't present the least bit of problem... then with a Shooting Star mag seemed to want to plop the cases somewhere between my forehead and my left eye.

I can't for the life of me figure what might have made the difference. Any ideas?
 
I've seen the same thing. While using a brass catcher, some magazines throw them into the bag, and others miss it completely, even the placement of the gun in the mouth is the same as I can get it. Don't know exactly what part of the magazine is to blame.
 
Here's a good writeup on various 1911 magazines, and how their design, i.e., follower design, affects the operation of feeding a 1911. I stumbled across it a while back and saved it cause it is the first one I've ever seen that attempts to compare various types of 1911 magazines.

I thought it was pretty interesting. It may not be an exhaustive test, but it's pretty close.

Tuner, I'd like to know what your thoughts are on the write up.

http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/index.html
 
Originally posted by 1911Tuner:
It's caused by the round escaping from the feed lips and bumping the case before it hits the ejector.
Click to expand...
Are you saying the top round in the magazine jars loose and the ejecting fired case bounces off this instead of the ejector?
 
Hrmm - so would that be a matter of the feed lips being a touch too short, or the higher power spring in the 8-rounder?

For what it's worth, I dragged out the magazines -
1. No-name blued 7-rounder, typical dimpled follower. No issues.
2. An (I think) older blued 8-round "Shooting Star" - the "Patented" is outside the Star logo for what it's worth. Spring tension may be a skosh lower. No issues.
3. A stainless "Shooting Star" magazine - the "Patented" is inside the Star logo with "Chip McCormick Corp" on the base of the magazine. This is the one that was banging me in the face every round.

And finally... the gun was recently refinished. It wasn't quite going all the way into battery at first, I assume from some of the finish on the frame rails slowing things down a bit. After about 50 rounds or so in - no issues anymore.

So - new recoil spring fix everything you say?

And BB - neat article!
 
Are you saying the top round in the magazine jars loose and the ejecting fired case bounces off this instead of the ejector?
Click to expand...

Pretty much describes it. Not many people understand the effect that the rising round has in ejection...until the last round, anyway. There are a good many 1911 pistols out there that will extract and eject with surprising reliability without an extractor at all. The ejection is erratic, but they normally don't hang up until the last round out...and sometimes not even then.
**********

So - new recoil spring fix everything you say?
Click to expand...

Maybe. If the magazine feed lips aren't sprung or out of spec on the width...probably. The trouble with the parallel lips and early/abrupt release is that they don't have to be too far out of kilter to cause problems. It's one of those rare instances in which the magazine can have an effect on the ejection.

Load one round in the offending magazine and measure across the flat right at the top. If it's much more than about .540 wide...that may be your bug.
 
BB,
That was a great article. I will try the recommended magizines. One question, when you click on blue or stainless, after the Brownell's page comes up, which is the one recommended? And why would the stainless be less in price than the blue?
 
Dobe, on the question about the Brownell's page, I don't know.

You can always call the Brownell's 800 number. Very nice and very helpful people there that can give you the answer. 1-800-741-0015
 
Hey Tuner, didja get a chance to check out that linked article I posted above yet? What do you think?

(I wouldn't ask if I didn't value your thoughts on the subject...)

Terry
 
I think our friend was a consultant on said article. Look at the clarifications page.
Click to expand...

Ayep. I've got a little interesting news on magazines.

No secret here and abroad that I've never been a great fan of 8-round magazines...but recently I've been working with Check-Mate Industries on a
new design that...once a few minor tweaks have been implemented...is probably gonna send the others runnin' for cover.

They sent two early prototypes to me for testing and evaluation, and asked for ideas. I wrung'em out, and found them to be very reliable...made a few suggestions...and they told me that they'd make up a couple more prototypes with the changes, and send'em for another test. If they work the way that I think they will...I may have to eat my own words regarding 8-round/flush-fit 1911 magazines.

Kaylee...Have you measured the mag body?
 
Colt factory magazine. This mag uses yet another split, dimpled follower, but its feed lips are tapered instead of parallel. This kind of magazine is sometimes referred to as a hybrid magazine,
Click to expand...

FWIW...Jackie Vieweg at Check-Mate Industries has credited yours ever-so-truly with coining the term "Hybrid" to describe the tapered/gradual release lip design. I know...That and a quarter will getcha a cuppa bad coffee from a vending machine...but it's pretty cool to get the aknowledgement from the industry.

A word about 3-point Jams and such...

A stoppage induced by an extreme chambering angle isn't a true 3-Point Jam. That normally only results in a failure to go to battery with the shooter able to push the slide to battery. A 3-Point Jam is a different animal that's caused by the bullet nose striking the barrel ramp and pushing the barrel forward...and up. When the barrel tries to time into the slide too early, the front lug corners hit the rear lug corners in the slide...and it all creates a wedging action that is a true jam in which the shooter can't simply push the slide into battery, and has to retract the slide and start over before the stoppage can be cleared. How to tell? If you get a failure to go to battery, use a suitable wooden stick to rap on the muzzle...straignt back. If the round straightens up and the slide snaps to battery...it's a 3-Point Jam.

What many people don't understand is that the barrel ramp isn't a continuation of the feed ramp, and it's not a bullet guide. It's a clearance, and the bullet should contact on the side, right on the top corner of the ramp.
This serves not only to prevent having the barrel move forward and up too early, but also to place downward force on the barrel and keep it in bed...which maintains a less acute angle into the chamber, and an easier breakover to horizontal.

Think of sliding a refrigerator up a set of stairs...and how the side of the fridge rides over the corners of the steps.

Lastly...Jackie has indicated that CMI will make the full-tapered "Hardball" magazines if the demand is there...but the hybrid is a superior design.
 
I had a question as to which product numbers were the hybrids. I think I may be one of the converted.
 
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