1911 spring problem?

[BighandEd]

ok..it's on a compact size 1911 (springfield ultra compact V10).sorry..but this is my only gun forum.
it started doing this intermittently at first..then the other night it was doing it most of the time..so I checked it in for repair.
The gun will fire a round, then lock open as if it's empty..next round is sitting there waiting to be ramped into the chamber..a quick thumb release of the slide and everything goes into play and I can fire again..and it'll do the same thing. I tried the cheap wolf ammo, lower charge, as well as the good speer gold dot stuff..didn't seem to matter.Also tried different mags..even an extended 10rd to see if extra spring tension would force the next round up the ramp...anyway..hopefully I'll get my baby back shortly...he's usually backed up near 2 weeks...but wondered if anyone had a speculation as to what the heck is going on.

 

[BighandEd]

ok..it's on a compact size 1911 (springfield ultra compact V10).sorry..but this is my only gun forum.
it started doing this intermittently at first..then the other night it was doing it most of the time..so I checked it in for repair.
The gun will fire a round, then lock open as if it's empty..next round is sitting there waiting to be ramped into the chamber..a quick thumb release of the slide and everything goes into play and I can fire again..and it'll do the same thing. I tried the cheap wolf ammo, lower charge, as well as the good speer gold dot stuff..didn't seem to matter.Also tried different mags..even an extended 10rd to see if extra spring tension would force the next round up the ramp...anyway..hopefully I'll get my baby back shortly...he's usually backed up near 2 weeks...but wondered if anyone had a speculation as to what the heck is going on.

 

[Tony S45]

BighandEd:

You didn't mention how many rounds that have gone down the tube on the gun but it sounds like it's been broken-in, so my guess is the double recoil spring in that short barreled model. IIRC, that model has a bull barrel to aid in cycling but the recoil spring is far more critical than in a longer barreled 1911.

 

[torrejon224]

Have you tried different types of mags? Could also be an issue with the slide stop. Check out the 1911 forum, lots of good stuff about the 1911 platform and very knowledgeable folks.

 

[WR Moore]

What you are describing is "slide stop early". That is, the slide stop is engaging during the recoil of the pistol.

Possible causes:
1. Your hands are in the wrong place and you are engaging the slide stop with a thumb. Try locking the thumb of your support hand down. Depending upon your hand size, maybe both thumbs.

2. Slide stop slightly out of spec.

3. The spring that preloads the slide stop has developed issues. A slight detent in the slide stop where the plunger contacts it may help this issue.

4. I'm not sure what the recoil spring may have to do with this, but the itty-bitty pistols tend to go through recoil springs almost as fast as ammo.

 

[Grayfox]

I had a Colt Commander do this once. It turned out that the slide stop was protruding a little too far into the magazine well. When the slide moved back the next round in the mag would bump the slide stop as it popped up into loading position. I few minutes with a file solved the problem.

 

[BighandEd]

thanks guys..all good advice...I've put maybe 500rds through the gun this past year that I've had it...it came with little, but uncomfirmed use from a local DEA agent that has a habit of buying and selling frequently..he hadn't had it long so I'm guessing he didn't put many through it. I did change out last year, thumb release for a large flipper..but that's been on there now for the whole year...still a suspect..with so many options, I've handed it to my local gunsmith..but i'll pay him a visit and relay these thoughts to him..he's pretty tolerant of "help"...

 

[WR Moore]

Originally posted by BighandEd:
I did change out last year, thumb release for a large flipper..but that's been on there now for the whole year...still a suspect..with so many options, ...

You may have just identified the problem. Back when I ran a shop I refused to carry extended slide stops -if that's what you're referring to-for 1911's. 2 reasons: vastly increased chance of contact with the hands and malfunction and I never, ever, found one that would pass the Ordnance GO-NO GO gauge. This is particluarly true if your screen name is an accurate description of your paws (and with an itty-bitty pistol).

 

[BighandEd]

yep...Big Hand Ed..is the name...and it was one of the first things my local gun shop guy asked me, was to show him my grip..to see how I hold..but I don't thumb it...and I shoot a couple other guns that are much smaller and less ergonomic than this one. The original slide release flipper was so darn small, that it was useless and I had replacement installed by a good smith. the gun worked without incident for over a year so I'm thinking something else is amiss now...but I'm passing all this good stuff on to my shop tommorrow and I'll update this thread once we figure it out.
I really like this particular 45, shoot it better than anything else I own and I hope to be able to depend on it...but it is nowhere near as trustworthy as my smiths have been.

 

[haggis]

Ed,

If it's not your thumb that's causing the slide stop to engage, the next most likely thing is the magazine follower followed by the slide stop plunger. If it does it with all mags, look carefully at the plunger and make sure it protrudes all the way out of the spring tunnel. I have seen a Springfield that behaved the same way. There was a small burr in the spring tunnel that eventually worked itself into a blockage that kept the plunger from contact with the slide stop. Something to check.

Buck

 

[Fastbolt]

Is the plunger tube still securely staked to the frame? Is one end loose?

Is the rear of the plunger still positioned back inside the thumb safety lock's indentation? Has the thumb safety shifted leftward and released the rear of the plunger?

Any chance your finger (support thumb, maybe) might be shifting toward the bottom of the slide stop lever at the moment of recoil? Sometimes folks may experience a slight change of their grip without noticing it.

Might be some sludge/crud which has accumulated inside your plunger tube, and it's binding up the spring, or making the plunger stick in the tube?

Maybe the slide stop lever's extension is contacting the rounds as they rise under recoil?

Don't have a clue ... just making guesses for polite conversation.

Having a good gunsmith familiar with 1911's examine it is a good idea. Hope he gets it up and running again for you as quickly as possible.

... but the itty-bitty pistols tend to go through recoil springs almost as fast as ammo.

Ain't that the truth about some of the smaller 1911's.

 

[BighandEd]

stopped by the shop this morning..as expected..he hadn't had a chence to look at it yet, but I printed off this thread and passed it to him..he said "as many heads..the better" and put the printout with the gun..at least I had a chance to tell him in person what it was doing, because the writeup wasn't as clear.
He was suspicious of the metal cased wolf ammo I've been plinkin with...possible burr..etc..but said he'd hold opinion til he could look at it.
I'm out of town for a week so hopefully my baby will be ready when I get back home..in the meantime..my smith CS40 will get to ride..and that ain't a bad alternative

 

[BighandEd]

update - after 2 trips to the shop, the owner called in a local specialist who immediately spotted the problem..either the factory, or the prior owner was having this same feed jam problem and while the actual problem was theextrractor adjustment/alignment..the previous hands on the gun tried to fix the problem by grinding down the feed ramp...darn near ruined the frame..but 22,000 of an adjustment where the ramp meets the barrel, a correct extractor adjustment, and the gun is running perfectly now..cost me $50 but i'm still ahead cause I only paid $400 for the gun to begin with. I'm expecting that's why the gun wound up in the used case at the other gun store...last thing i bought there for sure.
Anyway...federal, winchester, and speer +P all running through it... I'm excited to have this gun carry ready...finally.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by BighandEd:
ok..it's on a compact size 1911 (springfield ultra compact V10).sorry..but this is my only gun forum.
it started doing this intermittently at first..then the other night it was doing it most of the time..so I checked it in for repair.
The gun will fire a round, then lock open as if it's empty..next round is sitting there waiting to be ramped into the chamber..a quick thumb release of the slide and everything goes into play and I can fire again..and it'll do the same thing. I tried the cheap wolf ammo, lower charge, as well as the good speer gold dot stuff..didn't seem to matter.Also tried different mags..even an extended 10rd to see if extra spring tension would force the next round up the ramp...anyway..hopefully I'll get my baby back shortly...he's usually backed up near 2 weeks...but wondered if anyone had a speculation as to what the heck is going on.

Send it over to Springfield at Geneseo, Illinois and ask them to show it to Dave Williams. They have great customer service and Dave will make it right! Dave is in charge of their custom shop and will take care of you.