1911 feeding problem

[KurtC]

Don't perform any corrections to the pistol until you try it using the factory mags and premium ammunition. Generic ammo is often underpowered, and does not send the slide back far enough to develope full compression of the spring. The result is the cartridge not fully going into battery.

WWB is notorious for this, especially in .45 acp.

If the pistol still does not go into battery with factory mags and premium ammo, then the timing is off. Send it back to the factory with the original mags and a specific list of which ammunition had been used.

 

[don p]

Folks at the range think the recoil spring is fatigued or needs to be a bit stronger.

I guess the village idiots at the range know more than S&W did when they built the pistol call/send it back to S&W being it is new.

 

[Marauder2003]

Had the feed problems last Sat. Well lubed factory mags. Remington ammo. Gun lubed so much I had oil blowback on my glasses. I even swapped in a 16.5 lb spring. Made no difference.

Called S&W this morning. As soon as I said I had a feed problem the tech asked for my address so he could send me a label. Was not interested in the details.

We shall see.

 

[rdc]

Well lubed factory mags.

Chip McCormick or Wilson Mags. Buy one and try it. You did not read the other messages regarding the mags or chose to ignore it. If your going to own a 1911 get some good mags. Most factory mags are not tier 1. Most are not worth betting your life on.

 

[NE450No2]

Been shooting a 1911 since 1966. For a Govt Model get an 18 to 18.5lb recoil spring.
The last time I fired a 1911 was yesterday, and the day before... It worked perfect.

 

[T.Webb]

I just spoke to someone at the gun store about Chip McCormack mags. Seems the little plate under the bottom round (follower??) moves around under recoil. It'll cause the last round to not fully load, and the slide to fail to lock open.

He pulled one out of a package and showed me exactly what he was talking about.

 

[biglew0923]

There is a lot of good advice here, but I am sure you are smart enough to lube the weapon enough if you are having issues. I am not against trying different mags, and if it is happening continuously with different mags then that should show it is NOT the mags. So I would follow the advice you are getting and contact S&W. Give them the chance to make it right and you should be good to go.

 

[Rancher]

You say 1911 and SW1911 with external extractor is assumed. Is the extractor hook clean and does the extractor slide in and out freely in its slot? Extractor tension on the case rim is a critical thing in 1911 function.

 

[Marauder2003]

Got gun back from S&W 2 weeks ago. Work order says:
Barrel Modification
Adjust slide to BBL fit
Inspected/tested & passed

Gun was tested. It came back slightly dirty! Cleaned and lubed and went to range. PMC ammo and factory mags. 18 lb recoil spring. 3rd round in first magazine jammed. Kept trying and was getting a jam every 2nd or 3rd mag. These jams would not clear with a light push on the slide. Gave up and went home. While cleaning I saw tiny metal bits in the rag. Looking at them with a jewelers loupe I saw they were brass.

Started checking shape of extractor hook. Decided the shell was hitting the extractor wrong. Filed a slight angle on the hook piece of the extractor. Went to range today and got 65 rounds off before first jam. All told got 6 jams out of 196 rounds. Switched back to the 16 lb spring about midway. No change.

Just now started Googling extractor. Found this site and it shows one of the bevels I did.

1911 Reliability Secrets

I will try some of the others and try shooting again this week.

 

[oldman45]

I feel for you but I have not EVER had such problems with a 1911. Owning several 1911, both factory and custom with two of them being S&W, I enjoy shooting a 1911 more than any of my other guns.

Since buying my S&W 1911 guns a couple months back, I have ran likely 5,000 rounds through each. During that time I had exactly three FTF due to failure to cycle instances. Once it happened, I took the mag out, still with the same bullets, and put it in another gun to shoot. Still FTF due to failing to cycle. Changed the bullets using same mag but just a different type/brand bullet and the guns worked fine. The other two instances were identically the same and with the same type bullets.

While you case may be different, many times a FTF due to not cycling properly is due to the shooter enjoying economy bullets that were on sale, reloads or off brand bullets made by who knows.

I have fired virtually all types of ammo and found one brand will not work well in my 1911 guns. It works but with more problems than it is worth.

My bet is the problem is the ammo you are using. Try a good brand of new ammo and see if the problem remains.

 

[JohnAC]

Holding hard?

Total 'shot in the dark' here, but have you changed your hold, or are you allowing the pistol to possibly 'free' recoil upwards? If I shoot my revolvers I get in this habit and need to be conscious of NOT doing that with my 1911's or I will sometimes get the same failure to feed. Just a thought

 

[Marauder2003]

oldman45,

Please define good ammo. I have tried PMC Bronze, Remington, Winchester Target/Range and S&B.

What do you consider better?

JohnAC,

I doubt it is my grip. I have a gun stand. I will try shooting off it this week.

 

[oldman45]

oldman45,

Please define good ammo. I have tried PMC Bronze, Remington, Winchester Target/Range and S&B.

What do you consider better?

.

Well, it ain't going to be PMC. If you are a regular reader of firearm forums, you will have read many threads about FTF with PMC. Reloads is also bad in my opinion in any gun. A person never knows who did the reloading or under what conditions. Most target ammo is not made to the same standard as premium ammo and that is why it sells for less. Shooting is an expensive hobby so people tries to find cheaper bullets and guns do not like cheap ammo.

Some guns do not like certain brands. Since I have not shot your gun or know where you get your ammo, I cannot say what the cause of your problem is. All I am offering is suggestions as to solutions. Ammo is the major cause of gun malfunction. If the gun works properly with some ammo, then it likes that type.

Personal note: I have a pricey custom made 1911 in my collection. It will not load virtually any discount brand ammo. My custom S&W 1911 shoots everything I put in it other than lead bullets.

 

[Marauder2003]

I don't read many boards. How about a few brands 'better' than what I have already used? Perhaps PPU, Wolf, Aguila, Federal, Hornady, Fiocchi, ???

 

[Vadermedic]

For what its worth, I've been using Speer rounds without any problems. 45 auto, 230gr tmj. They work well in all my 1911's as well as old reliable, my Sig 220.

 

[Marauder2003]

I am back. Shaved a bit more off the same surface of the extractor as before. Went through 100 rounds with no problem. Using Remington FMJ ammo and the 2 factory mags. My dealer said one of them had given him problems when he tested my gun.

I will try again Tuesday with more Remington and some PMC. Need to use it up.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Don't perform any corrections to the pistol until you try it using the factory mags and premium ammunition. Generic ammo is often underpowered, and does not send the slide back far enough to develope full compression of the spring. The result is the cartridge not fully going into battery.

WWB is notorious for this, especially in .45 acp.

If the pistol still does not go into battery with factory mags and premium ammo, then the timing is off. Send it back to the factory with the original mags and a specific list of which ammunition had been used.

Well hell....I've got a 108284 arriving any day now and I've got 2 boxes of a hundred of WWB that I was going to shoot up

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Well hell....I've got a 108284 arriving any day now and I've got 2 boxes of a hundred of WWB that I was going to shoot up

Surely you have a .45ACP revolver! If not, is this not a sign that you should get one?

 

[Marauder2003]

Well, I have done some more shooting. PMC is the problem. Started with 2 mags. 3rd round failed to feed. Manually emptied mag and put in Remington. 8 rounds with no problem. Put in PMC. FTF. Put in Remington and all 8 fired. Solves it for me.