NIB 9mm 1911 won't eat

I just got a RIA 1911 in 9mm (specifically, The M1911A1 Tactical 5" model), and it doesn't seem to want to feed. I've tried with snap caps and with live rounds, and both have the same issue. These are pointed and/or rounded cartridges, so I know it's not because they're JHP or flat-nose rounds.

The rounds get stuck below the barrel. This happens about 50% of the time. I pull the slide fully to the rear and let go such that the spring acts on it from fully rear (i.e. I'm not short-stroking it or gently pushing it forward for part of the way). I haven't taken it to the range, but I can't imagine it would be better with live rounds.

This was intended to be a range toy, but I can't see how something that feeds this unreliably would be fun at the range. This is my first 1911, and everything I've read suggests that 9mm 1911s wouldn't have this problem, but this one does.

One thing I was reading is that some magazines have a ramp built into the follower which alleviates this problem, which mine doesn't seem to have.

The slide racks just fine if there is no magazine inserted.

I have attached photos of the gun while it's in this failure (with snap caps) and of an empty magazine. Do you think this is an issue that can be resolved by purchasing new magazines (which I was planning on getting new magazines anyway)? Or is it one that I should contact RIA about?

What magazines would you recommend for this?

 

Cycling by hand is not the same as live firing. Take it to the range and put a hundred rounds or more of 230 gr FMJ through it. Then come back if there are problems.

 

I agree with Jim, try shooting it before you get worried. Use a few different kinds of ammo just to see how it acts.
I wouldn't worry about shooting 230gr, though, it's wicked hard to find in 9mm. Standard 115 or 124gr should be fine.

 

So you think it's normal for the round to end up stuck in between the magazine and the barrel when handfeeding 50% of the time?

I've never seen that on any other firearm.

Closest thing has been a sort of stutter my Ruger LCP has with hollowpoints.

 

Well, if you are dropping the slide on a round (live or dummy) and not riding it, I don't believe it should be hanging up like that. But I'm not particularly familiar with 9mm 1911s, so maybe live fire will cure the issue. Do you have a different magazine you can borrow from a friend, or a gun shop that you can try (I know, not likely with a 9mm 1911)?

I do know that "nosediving" is a fairly common issue with the 9mm 1911 platform, where the round dips down and impacts the feed ramp. Usually it is a magazine issue, and as I understand it, finding reliable mags for a 9mm 1911 is trickier than 45 ACP. I know just enough about "nosediving" to be dangerous, but you can probably learn quite a bit through googling it.

 

Well I wanted to get some spares anyway, so I ordered some online. They will probably get here before I can go to the range and I can check to see if they feed better.

I think they are nosediving (I noticed it a bit when playing with the dummies in the magazine, outside of the gun). There doesn't seem to be anything preventing them from doing so. Hopefully the new magazines work better.

I thought I'd get a few different brands just to be safe, so I ordered one each of Metalform, Trip, and Wilson, which seem to be recommended from what I read online.

 

I disagree with those who say firing it is different than handcycling it. How do you think a pistolsmith checks functiong before firing it?

 

Contact Advanced Tactical in Pahrump, NV. They're the importer and they fully warrantee RIA's, they stand behind them and will make it right. If you don't think it's working right, call them immediately. Don't void the warranty by dinking around on it yourself. Let them fix it.

 

You have a magazine problem. Will it feed properly if you only load one round in the magazine. Then try 2 and so on to find if and when it stops loading properly.

I've seen problems like this with new magazines with their springs at their greatest strength. Even with OEM and good quality aftermarket magazines. Putting some wear on the springs has fixed it for me.

Load the magazine fully to compress the spring. Leave alone for a full day at least to put a little wear and set to the spring. Then try to see if it begins to feed properly.

 

If it were my gun I would detail strip it. Clean and lube it.
Check the magazine feed lips for burrs, Clean if necessary.
Take it to the range with some quality factory ammo and see what happens.
If it runs, great. If it doesn't, call RIA and ask them where to send it.

The 1911 feed cycle seems a little clunky when you watch it in slomo.

 

Agree on the procedure of a range break-in by live fire for at least 200rds.

But he's got a 9-minimeter, not a .45acp, so 230gn FMJ ammo is a no-go.

 

If some of those other mags you ordered work, that will confirm the magazine issue. If not, its likely something with the gun, and either way you can contact the RI distributor as recommended above. Gun related issues would most likely be either the feed ramp is a little off or it could be an extractor issue ... remember the 1911 is a controlled feed design, which is one of its great strengths and potential weaknesses. Properly setup the extractor grabs the case by the rim and guides the round into the chamber ... instead of just just flicking it in their like a booger . And some degree of nosedive into the feed ramp is actually the way its supposed to work, see link below, but obviously too much isn't good either. When tuned right this means a 1911 is less sensitive to limp wristing, grip strength and firing angle than other designs, and with good mags they can be very dependable under many varying conditions. If not tuned right, they can give all sorts of aggravating issues :banghead:.

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?9178-Controlled-Feed-Principles

 

If he could get more than one 230 grain 9mm through it, I'd be pretty impressed

 

This^^^^

No, no one is saying that it's normal but nobody here is able to be there to what you're doing or how you're doing it, see if the gun has been cleaned and properly lubed, etc.. We're suggesting that you're not going to replicate the force that firing the gun cycles it with. In addition, you bought an inexpensive version of the 1911, it won't have the same amount of fitting and finish work that you get with more expensive versions, meaning that chances are very good that your gun, especially during the first couple of hundred rounds, is going to need to be run wet and you can probably expect some cycling issues until everything starts to break in. It's having to overcome roughness and friction that will get worked out as you shoot it. And, all of that still isn't saying you don't have a mag problem, companies like RIA have to save money somewhere in order to meet their price points so you see that in fitting, finish, and quality of components, like magazines.

I've got a bunch of 1911s and have owned scores of them over the years. If it was my gun I would be doing the same thing that rskent suggests - clean it, lube it liberally, shoot it, and see what happens then go from there.

 

Man, what are your sources? Feeding problems with 9mm's in 1911 is a common issue.

Here's some 9mm 1911 (custom guns designed for 9mm) stuff from the late Todd Green that may help some with magazine selection.

Heirloom Precision 9mm Commander http://pistol-training.com/archives/9352

Springfield/Warren 9mm 1911 http://pistol-training.com/archives/6982

 

I've had 2 9mm 1911s and I still have the second, an STI Trojan.

I strongly recommend you buy at least 2 of these #500-9 Wilson Elite Tactical Mags;

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/mobile/...Size-10-Round-ETM-Base-Pad/productinfo/500-9/

Take the gun & the Wilson mags to the range and shoot about 150 rds. through the gun. If you're still having feeding problems call RIA customer service and arrange to have it sent back for repairs.

 

http://www.dillonprecision.com/docs/march_07_metalform_mags.pdf

 

Skribs,

We were correct that you have not shot the gun yet?

 

JTQ, just anecdotal evidence of people reviewing RIA 9mm 1911s saying they function great.

BSA1, that is correct. I said in my OP I had not been to the range yet.

I cleaned it last night and it was still nose-diving the rounds. I think maybe I should take it apart and give it a bit more lube, but it doesn't seem like a cleaning issue.

I will probably get the magazines before I can take it to the range, so I'll see if they work better running dry.

 

Contact Advanced Tactical in Pahrump, NV. They have a decent price on magazines; which are the same as the factory RIA magazines. Actually they are Mec-Gar.

 

For folk that don't want to follow the link that I posted earlier - ditch the MecGar and get the Springfield/Leathams.

 

While those Springfield/Metalform/Leatham mags would probably be one of the one's I'd give a try, in all fairness, that Duane Thomas article was written in 2007. The 1911 9mm has come an awful long way since 2007.

Bill Wilson has become primarily a 9mm shooter and has sunk a bunch of effort into his 9mm mags, and guns, in the past few years. I'd also give a shot to Wilson's 9mm mags.

Bill Wilson 9mm carry guns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scz1uWl21bM

 

I'm wondering if the magazine got dropped at some point. Dropping one on the feed lips doesn't do 'em any good.

 

Is the barrel ramped or the frame ramped on your RIA?
cannot really tell from the pics.

 

tarosean, How do I tell?

rbernie, I have the MecGar one from the factory. Might that be part of the issue?