Hello Gents, I am the new owner of a full size tactical 1911 from RIA. I have spent the better part of today searching and troubleshooting some minor problems that I encountered at the range yesterday. I now have a headache and just need a bit of guidence.
The first thing I did when I got it home from purchase was completely strip it down and clean completely and GENEROUSLY re-oil ALL moving parts. Then a comlete dry function and safety check. So far, so good, everything checked fine.
Went to the range with the intention of doing some break-in. I have heard that 500 rounds is recommended. I used 100 PMC factory new 230 grn FMJ hardball, and followed with 100 reloads os FMJ hardball. The first round chambered felt like it slowed the slide. Almost a hesitation in the slide going forward, then fell into battery. Volly of shots left a very nice, tight pattern. Very happy with the accuracy.
The next magazine showed me the first feeding issue. Of course all my mags are 8 round (one factory ACT, and 2 Wilson Combat) and if you put more than 5 rounds in it the next round down goes almost horizontal and gives no frontal support to the top round. This, I believe, is causing the round being stripped off of the top to nose dive into the feed ramp of the frame causing the slow slide movement or worse a jam on some occations.
Is this a feature of crappy mags? I guess I wouldn't wonder so much but the Wilsons do it too. Should I buy a different magazines? which ones won't do this? I am fully aware from todays reading that 7 rounders might work better, but these both do it with just 6 rounds in them.:banghead:
The next was the 3 point jam. This happened occationally, worse as time went. I suspect that the gun was getting dirty and that wa not helping any. The jam was tight enough that it would not go into battery without completely clearing the weapon and starting over. This happenned with factory ammo as well as the reloads. I had my calipers with me and measured all the rounds that jammed and they were all in spec. Sometimes this jam left a tiny witness mark just below the case mouth, but most of the time not. I checked the ramp and trout of the barrel for sharp edges and it looks great as is. Then I checked the breech face and extractor. The tension on the extractor pased the shake tests. although the rims of the expelled cartrages were slightly chewed.
I took it home and cleaned well, and inspected. I measured between the cheeks of the breech face and it seems to be big enough at .481". However, with the firing pin removed, I reinstalled the barrel into the slide, and chambered a live round just to see if there was movement of the round while in locked battery. What I discovered was the round being held forward about .001"-.002" off of the breech face.
I can't tell if the extractor tension is hoding it forward or the crappy machineing at the cheek of the breach face is. I assume that the round should be flat against the face with no gap when locked in battery, right? None of the rims of the spent cases showed any deforming though. I think these are probably easy fixes that I can perform, or maybe not. What do ya think?
Thanks for any advise or help offered.
The first thing I did when I got it home from purchase was completely strip it down and clean completely and GENEROUSLY re-oil ALL moving parts. Then a comlete dry function and safety check. So far, so good, everything checked fine.
Went to the range with the intention of doing some break-in. I have heard that 500 rounds is recommended. I used 100 PMC factory new 230 grn FMJ hardball, and followed with 100 reloads os FMJ hardball. The first round chambered felt like it slowed the slide. Almost a hesitation in the slide going forward, then fell into battery. Volly of shots left a very nice, tight pattern. Very happy with the accuracy.
The next magazine showed me the first feeding issue. Of course all my mags are 8 round (one factory ACT, and 2 Wilson Combat) and if you put more than 5 rounds in it the next round down goes almost horizontal and gives no frontal support to the top round. This, I believe, is causing the round being stripped off of the top to nose dive into the feed ramp of the frame causing the slow slide movement or worse a jam on some occations.
Is this a feature of crappy mags? I guess I wouldn't wonder so much but the Wilsons do it too. Should I buy a different magazines? which ones won't do this? I am fully aware from todays reading that 7 rounders might work better, but these both do it with just 6 rounds in them.:banghead:
The next was the 3 point jam. This happened occationally, worse as time went. I suspect that the gun was getting dirty and that wa not helping any. The jam was tight enough that it would not go into battery without completely clearing the weapon and starting over. This happenned with factory ammo as well as the reloads. I had my calipers with me and measured all the rounds that jammed and they were all in spec. Sometimes this jam left a tiny witness mark just below the case mouth, but most of the time not. I checked the ramp and trout of the barrel for sharp edges and it looks great as is. Then I checked the breech face and extractor. The tension on the extractor pased the shake tests. although the rims of the expelled cartrages were slightly chewed.
I took it home and cleaned well, and inspected. I measured between the cheeks of the breech face and it seems to be big enough at .481". However, with the firing pin removed, I reinstalled the barrel into the slide, and chambered a live round just to see if there was movement of the round while in locked battery. What I discovered was the round being held forward about .001"-.002" off of the breech face.
I can't tell if the extractor tension is hoding it forward or the crappy machineing at the cheek of the breach face is. I assume that the round should be flat against the face with no gap when locked in battery, right? None of the rims of the spent cases showed any deforming though. I think these are probably easy fixes that I can perform, or maybe not. What do ya think?Thanks for any advise or help offered.
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