Paraord 1911 FTF problem.

[SWDoc]

Paraord P 14-45 LTD. Has always performed well. Started this problem pretty suddenly, will fire, extract, eject perfectly, then as it feeds the next round (same Georgia Arms ball it has always digested perfectly) the cartridge will lodge tip up in the chamber, rim of the case catches under the extractor as it should slide up the face of the slide and feed. It has apparently cleared the mag lips, as when I release the pressure on the slide (pull the slide back just a hair and release the pressure against the base of the cartridge a bit) it finishes sliding up under the extractor and will finish feeding and go into battery. The mags look fine, feed angle looks OK, and it is not restricted to only one mag. Yesterday I had 5 FTF in 3 mags of ammo. Replaced the slide spring, still have the problem. Cleaned the whole pistol, scrubbed and polished the face of the slide, the feed ramp, and the chamber. Esp. the top of the chamber.

Something in the extractor? Any ideas? This problem developed pretty suddenly. Coming out of the same 1000 case of ammo.

Obviously unable to carry this pistol until I figure this out. ANy ideas?

Steve

 

[wally]

Dirt fouling inside the mag is my most common cause of this.
Second most common cause for me is weak mag springs, or the mag feed lips have opened up. Replace the mag springs and if that doesn't cure it, squeeze the front of the feed lips in a bit.

This is the reason I regard the Para .45 double stack (and all others that use the Para mag tubes, Bul, Kimber BP, Armscor/RIA 1911-A2) as range toys only.

It happens generally out of the blue and in years of shooting P14 type pistols I've never been able to completly eliminate it.

--wally.

 

[SWDoc]

Thanks, Wally. One of the mags is factory new, but will change out springs. Has never been done. Would make sense, not enough pressure upwards to pop the round into place.

Keep those ideas coming....

Steve

 

[wally]

I've actually had better results with the Mec-Gar and ACT aftermarket mags than with the Para factory mags -- I've pre-94 ban Para and 2006 stamped Paras and about everything in between. all show the problem sooner or later. Many of my factory Para mags were very rough on the inside at the seam weld, smoothing this out helped a lot.

This is one situation where "short loading" i.e. putting only 13 rounds into the 14-round mag may help with spring life.

My ritual is when I get this feed failure, set the mag aside and give it a good cleaning. If it fails again next time or two out, replace the mag spring. If that's not the cure work on the feed lips and then junk the mag if this don't work.

--wally.

 

[SWDoc]

Appreciate the advice. Springs were shipped from Brownell's Fri, will clean up the bodies. One mag has spread lips for sure, can see the abnormal angle when compared to other mags. Problem was not just in that mag, though. Will definitely work them over before looking at the pistol itself.

I short load, too. And rotate mags kept loaded for HD. If 13 won't solve the problem.....

Thanks again.

Steve