A few weeks ago, I posted a thread asking for input on an extraction problem I was experiencing with my S&W PC1911DK in .38 Super. I was going to update that thread but could not find it.
The gun was failing to fully extract fired casings from the chamber a high percentage of the time and I was in agreement with the Internet sources who blamed extractor tension for the problem. But when Smith & Wesson wanted the gun back for possible repairs because of the rarity of problems with external extractors, I looked further for answers.
I called Dillon to see if there was some sort of adjustment I needed to effect on my 650 loader and the gentleman with whom I spoke suggested my loads were too mild or the recoil spring was too stiff. I didn't think a recoil spring could affect extraction because the slide was traveling fully and even locked back on empty magazines but I gave his suggestions a try.
I shot 20 CorBon factory JHP rounds through the gun without incident, so I started increasing my powder charges from the minimum amount I was using. The frequency of failure was reduced a lot so I then changed springs.
That gun comes from S&W with three springs, 16 pounds (which is factory installed), 14 pounds and 12 pounds. With close to the maximum powder charge and the 12-pound spring, I have had just one failure to fully extract a fired case. But another benefit has been evident as well.
I have always "tuned" (read: "bent") my 1911's internal extractors so that the guns tossed their empties right into my catch net and I was a little disappointed that this gun was less well-behaved in that regard. I was anticipating having to play around with extractor springs to find the magic amount of tension but it ejected every empty case of the 100 shells I fired yesterday into my net so I apparently stumbled upon the perfect combination of variables or these extractors work more consistently with hotter loads. Either way, the problem is solved and I am in absolute love with this gun!
For what it's worth, I'm loading 125-grain .356" Missouri coated semi-wadcutters over 6.0 grains of AutoComp powder in Starline cases with either CCI 500 or Remington 5-1/2 small pistol primers. The ammo is very accurate and that powder really burns cleanly - the only dirt on the gun after 100 rounds is on the barrel hood and no unburned powder is left in the bore.
The moral of this story is that even though an idea violates what we accept as being true, it sometimes is worth trying. Knowing that my Kimber 1911 in this caliber digested my very mild handloads completely had me even more skeptical but perhaps this PC gun is more tightly fit than the Kimber and cannot overcome the stiffer spring's resistance as easily.
Or something...
Ed
Update on my external extractor thread
Linear Mode
