Question for 1911Tuner on RIA 1911

[bakert]

quote[I've started to see more RIAs as their popularity grows. A good many have had return to battery issues because of excessive extractor tension, and are corrected with just a few minutes of adjustment, or...in some cases....light modification of the extractor. Your problems may be just that simple]

Tuner I read your above comment about the Rock Island pistols not going fully into battery. Mine has done it 4 times in a little over 200 rds. The first 2 times I pulled the slide back and ejected the shell but the last 2 times I just bumped the slide and it went on in. Each time it stopped about 3/8 of an inch or a bit more from going fully into battery. The stoppages have been random. I thought it was either because the gun was new and very tight or maybe the chamber was getting dirty from shooting. Otherwise it's worked perfectly. Is this something a kitchen table tinkerer could adjust. Thanks
bakert

 

[1911Tuner]

Hi Bakert,

I'd try takin' a little tension off the extractor and see how it goes.

As a rule, if you can push the slide into battery pretty easily, it's usually the extractor. If you can't...or if you have to use a lot of force to get it in...it's a 3-Point Jam. Although excessive extractor tension...which causes excessive stem bind...can mimic a 3-Point Jam, it's not the same issue..so if reducing the tension still results in a failure that can't be pushed in easily...you've got a true 3-Point.

 

[bakert]

Tuner, thanks for the reply. The last 2 times it seemed to go into battery pretty easy. I have the diagram here how to take the firing pin and the extractor out and I know this is a dumb question to those of you who know, but how do I let up on the tension? Thanks again.
baker

 

[wally]

Once you've got the extractor out, I usually put it partially in the tunnel "backwards" so the hook end is beyond where the hammer would be. Then using my thumbs to hold the hook end and the slide for leverage just bend it a bit to straighten the curve to decrease tension (push on the hook side of the the extractor so it would move away form where the case would be).

As long as the extractor is out, before adjusting it, check the bottom of the hook for any burrs and the proper bevel -- I think photos/diagrams have been posted in the gunsmithing section.

Also check the breech face of the slide for smoothness as any roughness here can mimic a too tight extractor -- my Kimber BP had this problem, a little polish and its been fine since.

Sometimes its as simple as crud being in the tunnel preventing the cartridge from easily sliping under the extractor and only cleaning the extractor and tunnel is required. But this is usually the first thing to look for when a gun that has been reliable starts doing it. Pretty common issue for me as I generally only throughly clean my range guns after they've had an issue, so this is a common one for me

--wally.

 

[bakert]

Thank you wally. although I've shot gun belonging to other and babysat( and shot) one for my son for a while during his one of his Army tours, I've never got into one other than field stripping. Think I might be able to do that