New Stovepiping , Help Please

[chiltech500]

Howdy,

Have been using Vita Vhouri N310 4.0 gr pushing a 200 gr 45 SWC in my 45's for years.

Suddenly my Les Baer target is stovepiping, the ejected round can't seem to get out of the way fast enough for the new round which is pushing on it and it gets caught before ejecting.. The only change was exchanging a red dot scope with a lighter reflex by Burris.

BTW the sight mount is a heavy steel slide mount (which replaced the original Baer aluminum frame mount). But that is not new, it has been there all along.

Lighter weight spring? I have them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Blue68f100]

Check the tension on the extractor first. It should be able to hold a round with a little pressure without falling off. With a heavier slide setup I would drop the RS down 2 lbs from where your at, and give that a go.

 

[JeffG]

also...You might want to check your reloading setup. Making sure your OAL and powder charge hasn't changed for any reason. New primers? Some of the dies I have using non threadlocking devices like O rings have given me fits in the past.

 

[PapaG]

I suspect the heavy steel mount is slowing down the slide.

 

[Lafitte]

My first thing to correct any such problem is to clean and lube. Next go to the mechanical and spring things that might be suspect.
Lafitte

 

[TigerCreek]

When I run into problems like this I tend to take the Occam's razor approach - What has changed? What is the last thing I did?
Start simple/obvious and work your way out.
Being that this started after you made the scope changes I would start there.
Remove what you put on and see if it performs better.
Check every set screw/mount screw you touched.
Something is touching or is tighter than before this all started.
Good luck.

 

[chiltech500]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It does not stovepipe all the time....also seems more likely at the end of a mag. Heat effects of slight expansion on the metals? read through please, it's possible.

The obvious were checked, I wish it had proved to be that. I did start using Winchester primers recently (had been using CCI) can't believe it's that though.

The slide is lighter than prior so I don't believe it's that. The big item I left out above is that I had a problem, either a double load or a burst casing where the round was stuck had to pry it out, and forcibly retract the slide. The slide seemed to work normally after all was checked cleaned and lubed.

However I have screwed up a Les Baer before with a similar problem where I had to send the gun to Les and he replaced the lower. In that instance I could not work the slide at all, it got stuck at a point midway and wouldn't move beyond it. Not so this time. but......?

 

[RainDodger]

No such thing as a coincidence. As TigerCreek said - what did you change? Start there.

 

[4v50 Gary]

What Lafifte suggested. Clean it, especially the chamber. Clean beneath the extractor claw too.

Then try it without the sight on it. If the lighter slide works, then it's sight and base related.

As to the burst round, check the OD of the barrel and the chamber area. Any expansion will impede the action. Sometimes you can see it (look through the barrel and see if there's a ring in the barrel or chamber). If so, ditch the barrel and get a new one then.

 

[chiltech500]

The gun is being sent off to a bullseye pistol 1911 gunsmith. These obvious solutions ain't it unfortunately, it has to be the slide and frame are not in full alignment due to my debacle with the round stuck in the barrel/chamber as above in my post. BTW can anyone explain how a lighter slide could cause stovepiping? heavier weight yes...heavier spring yes

Thanks anyway.

 

[RecoilRob]

When you forcibly retracted the slide with the stuck case you might have damaged the extractor...or at least affected the tension. This was suggested in post #2 and I agree that would be the first thing I'd check and is even more likely after your revelation about the stuck case. If the extractor is losing grip on the case before it hits the ejector all kinds of bad things can happen. Happily...this should be an easy and inexpensive thing to fix.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Lighter slide can result in hyper-function. The action is working too fast for the other parts.