1911 gone unreliable

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 17:38 (4335 days ago)

I am having issues with failure to eject on the last round, brass gets jammed so hard into the slide at the front of the ejection port that it sometimes takes considerable force to dislodge it. This is disconcerting as I have had to cease carrying it as my CCW and open carry piece. I am going to replace the ejector, I have replaced to extractor and firing pin stop. Just looking for other ideas. Pistol is a SS Springfield Armory Loaded Model.


Dave B

1911 gone unreliable

by Gunner @, St Louis, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 18:08 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

What kind of ammo are you using? When was the last time you replaced the recoil spring? What magazine were you using?

My first thought is a weak recoil spring. How does the ejector look? Tip in good shape, angled correctly or flattened or rounded over?

Gunner

1911 gone unreliable

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 18:20 (4335 days ago) @ Gunner

Not sure of the angle on the ejector, it does not look original, and looks modified. Magazines are new Chekmates and Mil Surp, the recoil spring is a brand new 16# spring from Brownells. Ammo is a mix of handloaded 200gr SWC, Federal 230gr Ball, and Winchester White Box 230gr Ball.

1911 gone unreliable

by Gunner @, St Louis, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 18:39 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

OK...then my first suggestion is to look at the extractor.....it might need more tension on the hook or it might be clocking, rotating off the case rim. Check the fit between the firing pin stop and extractor, is the fit good and tight, not allowing the extractor to rotate. Is the extractor hook radiused on the bottom of the hook?

Gunner

1911 gone unreliable

by Gunner @, St Louis, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 18:50 (4335 days ago) @ Gunner

Take a look at this thread and see if it helps....

http://www.1911pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1481


Gunner

1911 gone unreliable

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 19:12 (4335 days ago) @ Gunner

The extractor fit is tight, the FP stop is one I put in and it was a file to fit, the extractor is an aftermarket, an Ed Brown, I used info from the 1911.org to radius and tension it. I am leaning towards replacing the ejector, right now I just don't want to send it back to Springfield, but I will if I have to. The magazines are brand new, less than 500 rounds.

For last round failures, I would start with the magazine.

by Edward Young @, Lexington, NC, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 18:43 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

Weak mag spring, maybe.

I agree...

by FOG, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 19:12 (4335 days ago) @ Edward Young

I would try a different magazine before anything else.

I'm sure everyone has their 'favorite' brand of 1911 magazines.

FWIW, mine is Wilson, and I prefer the standard, 7-round type with the 'lo-profile' STEEL baseplate.

I also have Tripp followers & springs in mine, but that's probably overkill.

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I agree...

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 19:32 (4335 days ago) @ FOG

Mine are new Chekmates with hybrid feed lips. I doubt I will be able to get any 1911 magazines right now.

If you would like to try a Wilson magazine...

by FOG, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:05 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B
edited by FOG, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 04:00

<SNIP>

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^^^ (Retracted) ^^^

by FOG, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 03:57 (4335 days ago) @ FOG

Since you ordered your own Wilson mag, never mind, I guess.

'No problemo', either.

Good luck!

:-)

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1911 gone unreliable

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:06 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

with out looking at it myself. I would say the Ejector is not giveing it a good kick, But Just not enough information
to fix it over the webb. I am sure it can be fixed. Wish you lived close to me I would like to check it out. If you can rule out bad ammo, then the problem is between the Mag , Ejector, extrator. And I don`t think it`s the mag. when you fix it ,please post the reason it did it. Best Regards Frank

1911 gone unreliable

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:08 (4335 days ago) @ Fivegunner

Absolutely!

Wait a second

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:15 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

I reread you post you said the last round ? you mean the slide stop did not hold the slide back?? after the last round was fired?

Wait a second

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:32 (4335 days ago) @ Fivegunner

Failure to eject the last fired brass, jams the brass into the ejection port. The slide does lock back.

Wait a second

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Sunday, January 13, 2013, 07:23 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

OK, then the case must be tiping down ,( more )than it would if there was a live round under it in the mag, points to the extractor (and or) ejector. load the gun with the mag , take the mag out and shoot it to see if it will eject ok. just a thought.

Wait a second

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 15:23 (4334 days ago) @ Fivegunner

I will try that.

I was wrong

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 19:04 (4334 days ago) @ Fivegunner

I was cycling some dummy rounds, and the last round jams into the rear of the barrel, not the slide.

1911 gone unreliable

by Steve, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 20:22 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

If it only happens on the last round in the magazine, it probably is not the ejector or extractor since you would have problems all the time. Please try some good magazines like Wilson or McCormick before you rush to judgement.

1911 gone unreliable

by Catoosa, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 21:01 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

Are the Checkmate mags the only ones you have access to?

I have a couple of Checkmate .38 Super "Colt factory" magazines. I ain't impressed with them. Have Mec-Gars and Metalforms that work well.

Brownells has magazines

by brionic @, Saturday, January 12, 2013, 22:28 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

McCormick, Wilson, and Metalform, all in stock.

... but they are running about two weeks behind in shipping, as is everyone else, apparently.

Ordered a Wilson Combat from Brownells

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 01:42 (4335 days ago) @ brionic

Was hoping to be spending money on ammo and reloading supplies, but gun is only as good as its reliability. Will order more as the funds allow.

I hope you ordered a 7-rounder...

by FOG, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 03:10 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B

The 'old standard' Wilson 8-round mag has a good, well-deserved reputation for reliability, but there is no denying that the skirt on the follower is a little on the short side, and the spring is a compromise in terms of strength. Both of these can add up to trouble.

JMB spec'd a 7-round mag for a reason: It fits in the mag well, and it still has some room for 'error.'

The same cannot be said for 8-round mags that have more or less standard-length tubes.

If you ordered one of the new-fangled Wilson 8-rounders with the slightly extended tube, then I suppose 'good on ya.'

If not, well... :-P

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Thanks again FOG

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 15:22 (4334 days ago) @ FOG

I did order a 7 rounder, I don't own any 8 rounders.

You're welcome.

by FOG, Monday, January 14, 2013, 15:26 (4333 days ago) @ Dave B

I'd be surprised if a Wilson 7-round mag - plus good ammo, of course - doesn't solve your problem.

I look forward to hearing about your success. :-)

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1911 gone unreliable

by Sarge ⌂ @, Central Misery, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 08:48 (4335 days ago) @ Dave B
edited by Sarge, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 08:55

1. Check ejector. If it's solid, flush with the frame and don't have a chipped or peened front edge, it's probably OK. It worked before and it should work now.

2. Check extractor for proper tension and hook configuration.
A good summary here: http://www.m1911.org/technic2.htm

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3. Eliminate magazine as source of problem. I've become so impressed with the Chip McCormick Power Mag that I now use them to the exclusion of everything else; but if all else ie well, your Wilson should run just fine.

Do you load the chamber from the magazine

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 10:43 (4335 days ago) @ Sarge

every time? Or do you occasionally drop a round into the chamber and drop the slide? The later will bend the extractor and remove the slight arch that should be present. You can just take the extractor out and look at it. if it just falls out, it's probably too straight and needs to be re-bent(If it will hold it's shape) or replaced.
There's plenty of guys here that have forgot more than I will ever know about1911s. This has been my experience, just the same.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Never load except from a magazine.

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 15:26 (4334 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

Too many old coaches have warned me, I don't let the slide slam forward on an empty chamber either.

1911 gone unreliable

by Charles, Sunday, January 13, 2013, 12:09 (4334 days ago) @ Dave B

I have only had that happen once in 50 years with various 1911 pistols. A change of recoil springs solved the problem. I don't know why, but it did. Replace with a 16 -18 pound spring.

That is of course, if it does this with various magazines.

In any kind of function problems with 1911 pistols, the ammo and the magazines are the most likely culprits.

try a glock, HK, Sig.....they work

by cable, Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 00:47 (4333 days ago) @ Dave B

:-)

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