1911 E Series: denting back of brass?

pixel

Member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Hey there, long time lurker, first time poster here.

Recently purchased the E Series. A minor QA issue required a trip back to SW and now that it is back everything works like a dream, no problems at all. Just ran about 200 rounds through it without a hiccup but... when i was collecting the brass i noticed that every ejected brass had an imprint on the back, right on the edge, a straight clean imprint as if something is hitting it. Hard to explain but i actually remember a post here i saw not that long ago with had pictures of the same issue - i just spend an hour searching for it and did not find it. Imagine taking a spent casing, placing it on the table primer up and hitting it straight on the edge with a solid block of steel - that is what the dent would look like. It is exactly the same every time. Not strong enough to bend the rim but strong enough to be easily seen.

What could this be? Is it the extractor hitting it? If anyone has any suggestions or can locate the original thread which had this problem i would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Edit: scroll down, took pictures showing the problem.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Not the extractor - the ejector. It is mounted on the frame of the pistol. If this bothers you, you can take a piece of fine emery paper or a stone and very lightly polish the edge that hits the brass. Don't change the shape of it, just take off the sharp edge that is marking your brass. DON'T overdo it. You can always go back and polish more if you don't get it on the first attempt.
 
Thank you. Would you kindly post a link to an image showing exactly where a bit of tlc is needed?
 
Edit: web photos replaced with my own photos down below.
 
Last edited:
Found something that looks very much like it:

1AR15BlueDot18Gr33VmaxDSCF0027.jpg


Note the straight line mark at the top (not the semi-round mark from the ejector on the bottom)

Are you sure this is not the extractor hitting it?

To know for sure what is going on with the gun/ammo combo you refer to I would have to have it and the ammo on my work bench. BUT from your posted picture, IMHO that load is too hot for that chamber and barrel. Plus, IMHO that chamber is not correct. It should not be burnishing the brass like that just ahead of the extractor groove. .......... Big Cholla
 
Sorry for the confusion, that is just an image off the web, not the correct round but the imprint matches the size and shape of mine.

Here is what i suspect is happening: The extractor is hitting the brass. Take a look at these:

sw1.jpg

sw2.jpg


I just took one fresh round, loaded it into the clip, locked the slide, inserted the clip and released the slide catch. Took a photo which shows exactly what i was talking about:

sw3.jpg


Now is this something i should be worried about? Would this have a negative impact should i decide to reload? Is this something i can fix myself or should it go back to S&W?
 
Last edited:
...Now is this something i should be worried about? Would this have a negative impact should i decide to reload? Is this something i can fix myself or should it go back to S&W?

No. No. and No. As Big Cholla says, without seeing the gun, it is hard to say what is making the mark - probably not the extractor, or at least it shouldn't be. If the gun is working OK, don't worry about it.

If you want to cycle the gun to observe for correct feeding and to see if the cartridge is making it under the extractor, as it should when it feeds, for Heaven's sake, don't use loaded ammunition! Get some snap caps or, better still, have someone make up some dummy cartridges for you (no primer and no powder).

I see 1911s all the time that mark up brass a bit. I didn't know anyone even paid any attention to that.
 
No. No. and No. As Big Cholla says, without seeing the gun, it is hard to say what is making the mark - probably not the extractor, or at least it shouldn't be. If the gun is working OK, don't worry about it.

If you want to cycle the gun to observe for correct feeding and to see if the cartridge is making it under the extractor, as it should when it feeds, for Heaven's sake, don't use loaded ammunition! Get some snap caps or, better still, have someone make up some dummy cartridges for you (no primer and no powder).

I see 1911s all the time that mark up brass a bit. I didn't know anyone even paid any attention to that.

I did use snapcaps but was not able to achieve any marks. Thank you for the concern, however, live ammo was used in a safe environment with the muzzle pointed down range and unloaded immediately after the test.

I am going to place a call to SW and see what they say.

Thanks.
 
I had the exact same mark on my 1911 (sku#108284) when I got it. When I field stripped it I fould on the breech face, across from the extractor an unmachined piece of the slide. You could see a ridge that the machine had left coming straight down from the top. I called S&W, and they said I could file it away, but I said I wasn't confident in my ability to do so, and didn't have to correct tools. They sent me a prepaid shipping label and took care of it--even though I am the second owner of this firearm.
 
I had the exact same mark on my 1911 (sku#108284) when I got it. When I field stripped it I fould on the breech face, across from the extractor an unmachined piece of the slide. You could see a ridge that the machine had left coming straight down from the top. I called S&W, and they said I could file it away, but I said I wasn't confident in my ability to do so, and didn't have to correct tools. They sent me a prepaid shipping label and took care of it--even though I am the second owner of this firearm.

Thanks. I am convinced i have the same exact issue but it does not actually bother me any more. The brass denting is just so slight and the gun is just a beast. 25 yards slow fire one inch groups over and over. I just use a black marker and draw a 5 cent dot on the back of targets and this thing just delivers.
 
Back
Top