Rookie needs help with 2011

[montrala]

Hi!

First I introduce myself : My name is Andy and I live in Warsaw, Poland (Eastern Europe).

Since I shoot IPSC competition in my region I always wanted to own 2011 pistol. After some time of using Heckler Koch guns (I still use P2000 and P2000SK in 9mm as my carry guns as they are extremelly reliable, durable and "all-eating" handguns) I just bought STI 2011 Standard gun assembled by VM Custom from Czech Republic. And all hell breaks loose then! It's constant chain of failures to feed. I also noticed problem with hammer follow. Problem is, that there is no single 1911/2011 experienced gunsmith in Poland. All they can do is hunting rifles and Tokariev pistols So I must become my own gunsmith and use parts and procedures that nead least "gunsmithing", are least prone to ruin gun or are easy to explain (my english is quite good, but gun specific vocabulary is not my best side). I allready went trought some threads from "1911 clinic" here and started to understand lot of things, but I'm too "green" to go all by myself. As for tools and parts, Brownells is my source as they ship to Poland quite fast and with no problems (provided I don't order "gunparts" for over $100 a time, in this case export licence from DoS is required).

So for now I need help in 2 departments:

1. Failures to feed - it ruin my stages, my confidence and my mood.
2. Trigger job - I went to 3.5lb now to be safe, but I spend $3000 (yes! i's how much it cost here in EU!) on race gun to have nice 2lb trigger.

Here are some photos of my FTFs from last range session. I used CCI Blazer Brass .40SW 180gr FMJ ammo. Same problems on Magtech .40SW PS 180gr FMJ. Recoil setup is STI Recoil Master heavy. Thing where worse (I had problems to chamber frist found, even when realeasing from slide lock) but it get better when I installed Aftec extractor (with only one spring in rear position - no extraction problems).

First photo is kind of jams are happening most of the time (usually once per mag). It getst worse as gun is getting dirty (say 50-100 rounds after cleaning), but happen on clean gun. Second is new one (on third photo is how it looked like with slide open). Sorry for quality, but all I had to take photos was my mobile phone.

 

[olyeller]

Hello, andy!

I would focus on the extractor, as a source of your feed problems.
So read up on how an extractor is tuned; or get an aftec.

 

[montrala]

I wrote, that I installed Aftec already (this is long, complicated and written in bad english post ). I was forced to go down to one spring in rear hole (so least force on case rim). I have no idea what to do more in extractor area

 

[1911Tuner]

re:

The source of the last two failures is the magazine. The first is a failure to go to battery, and the extractor is the likely culprit here. Either too much tension...the claw is too close to the breechface centerline...or the bottom corner of the hook is hitting the bottom of the case extractor groove as the round angles up and into the chamber. Check also to see if the nose of the extractor is contacting the forward angle of the extrator groove with a round on the breechface, pushed hard against it with a dowel rod through the barrel...view from the underside with the slide off.

 

[montrala]

I'll do that checks tomorrow (it's very late evening here now) and report back. I think too much tension is not a problem, as Aftec with only one spring installed is rather weak. So it's either or bouth of other reasons. Tomorrow I'll sure have more fun experimenting with my STI

Second one is magazine? To weak spring? Feeding lips too wide / to narrow?

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

I'd say mag spring on the last two photos.

I used to get F-T-feed like that with a couple weak 'shootingstar' McCormick mags...

 

[1911Tuner]

Last 2

The second photo came from the round jumping the follower...if it happened on the last round...or jumping the lips if it happened earlier. Usually happens on the last round, when mag spring tension is at minimum, but out of spec mag feed lips can also play a role.

The one on the right is a classic Bolt-Over Base misfeed, and is almost always due to low mag spring tension. Almost always happens on the last round. High recoil spring rate can be a contributor.

The failure to go to battery in the first picture is likely the extractor, but low mag spring tension can be involved if it happens on the last round. If it happens when the magazine is closer to full, the extractor is the first suspect.

 

[montrala]

Last 2 photos are actually same failure. It happened one round before last.

Problems with returning to battery are usually somewhere middle in the mag, sometimes near empty. No rule here. Usually banging on slide doesn't work, but banging on magazine bottom makes round go up and slide closes to battery. Magazine springs I use are Arredondo +10 mag springs with 10 coils and Arredondo competition followers. I just received 10 pack of mag springs from Wolff. I will try those as well.

 

[montrala]

I've done checks on extractor (I use Aftec with only one spring installed), that 1911Tuner suggested:
1. Extractor barely moves when round is pushed up. When I slide round under extractor (with slide removed) it slides very easy, but it's not loose.
2. As far as I noticed extractor claw does not drag on extractor groove bottom at any time.
3. Nose of extractor does not contact forward angle of extractor groove.