1911PD First trip to the range plus a question

[maxxpower]

I cleaned and lubed my new 1911PD and took it to the range today. I hadn't shot a 45 since I traded my Glock 30. My experience:

I really liked shooting this gun. I find the slide release very hard to work compared to my other semi-autos but I expect this will break in some. I shot 2 1/2" groups at 15 yards. I say GROUPS because there were 2 groups. The first group was where it should be. The second group was abot 6 inches away at 5 o'clock. Why? That was were I shot every round AFTER I got hit in the face with flying brass. Nothing will make you flinch more on the next round than catching brass in the face. At least that second croup was tight as well!

So, I have a question. I'm used to gtting one on the top of the head occasionally with other semi-autos but not 2 inches above my right eye. Is this normal with a 1911 or will that change as it breaks in? I did find that it happened less frequently at the end of the first 50 rounds... one in 5 or 6.

 

[maxxpower]

52 views and not one opinion? Over on the revolver forum all you have to do is mention the lock and you're guaranteed 10 replies!

Well, another range visit today and more brass in the face. Someone there thought it was an extractor issue. Anybody here have this on a 1911? I'll be calling S&W tomorrow but I'm just curious about your experiences.

 

[prproulx]

Some people think the slide release is really a slide catch and shouldn't be used to put the slide into battery.
It sounds like a stiff recoil spring not allowing the slide to go all the way back so the brass doesn't get kicked out very far. I just put a 22lb spring in my P12 and was getting peened on every shot.

 

[pace40]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I have a few S&W 1911's, including the PD and they all have been great out of the box.

Extractor adjustment is the most likely culprit but since it is a new pistol, call for a tag and send it to be cared for at the factory. Be very specific in your description of the problem. They'll make it right.

 

[greener]

I saw maxxpower shoot today. 5 rounds eject at about a 30° degree angle to the right rear and round 6 straight back in his face.

 

[ultra45]

I saw maxxpower shoot today. 5 rounds eject at about a 30° degree angle to the right rear and round 6 straight back in his face.

Mine has had this problem even after 2 visits back to the factory for other stuff. I really don't want to send it back again. The gun has always been very reliable. I am hoping a few hundred more rounds and it will get better. I qualified with it several weeks ago and only got hit in the forehead once in 100 rounds.

 

[maxxpower]

Mine has had this problem even after 2 visits back to the factory for other stuff. I really don't want to send it back again. The gun has always been very reliable. I am hoping a few hundred more rounds and it will get better. I qualified with it several weeks ago and only got hit in the forehead once in 100 rounds.

THAT doesn't sound very promising...

 

[ultra45]

If it's not any better after another 1000 rounds I might send it back. Getting hit every 100 rounds ain't too bad. It has definatley gotten better. The gun is 100% reliable, to me that is more important.

 

[Texaspass]

It has been a day or two since I shot my 1911PD but as I recall it will chunk those shells out of there. I have had other 45's throw shells all over the heck and half of Georgia. I wouldn't worry about it but be sure and wear eye protection. I had a guy one day standing at least three people width to my left and his 9mm chunked a shell that came in the side of my shooting glasses. It smoked a couple of eye lashes. Not fun.

 

[Fastbolt]

The only time I've received an occasional empty case back near my head was when I allowed my wrist to relax/break, or my grip relax, at the wrong moment. Not something just limited to 1911's for that matter.

Low power ammunition can also affect ejection patterns in a similar manner ... also depending on the shooter's grip & wrist lock.

Are you saying that some of your closely spaced groups are going low/right?

Are you a left-handed shooter? A right-handed shooter who flinches in anticipation of recoil (or empty cases in the face), and presses the trigger in more of a finger clenching manner, than a straight rearward press, can often see low/left groups. Milking the grip can lend itself to this, as well, with some folks.

I wouldn't be all that surprised to see a left-handed shooter end up with low/right groups under these circumstances, or even a right-handed shooter with long fingers who gets too much finger over the trigger (and actually pulls the trigger/gun rightward), or someone who allows their support hand to torque/deflect the master hand and gun a bit off to the right ... while anticipating the shot (and an empty in the face) and depressing the muzzle downward.

These sorts of issues are arguably best identified, addressed and resolved in person, with the help of a skilled instructor on hand to observe the shooter.

S&W will likely be more than willing to send you a prepaid shipping label to examine and correct anything they feel may be out of normal spec, but they can't anticipate the interaction of the shooter once the gun is returned when it comes to how the shooter's grip technique may affect the gun's functioning ... nor can they control the ammunition being used (power levels, meaning using ammunition on the lower end of the normal power range which might cycle the slide a bit slower than other ammunition).

Hey, just my thoughts. I obviously can't know what's happening with your gun or your shooting technique (or ammunition selection) because I'm not there.

BTW, last time I checked the extractors in the standard SW1911's were fitted parts (meaning a bar gauge is used to check for proper tolerance of the extractor's reach) and there were a couple of extractor spring choices in the way of tension.

Call S&W.

Might not hurt to ask if there's an experienced instructor at a local range, either.

My personal SW1911SC 5" gun has been exemplary in its feeding, firing, extraction & ejection. But then I make sure my grip is normally firm, my wrist is locked and I use good quality factory ammunition. I can get virtually any 1911 (or especially a Glock) to throw empty cases at my face if I relax my grip or let my wrist go soft/break during recoil. Other guns, too (even a Ruger P90).

 

[shovelwrench]

Your extractor needs adjusted... Sending it back would be a waste of time.

Read THIS

This will give you the basics, don't worry about the filing or polishing, just the bending part.

 

[Fastbolt]

The pivoting external extractor used in the SW1911, like in the traditional S&W pistols, is not like that used in other 1911-style pistols which use an 'internal' extractor.

It is not adjusted by bending anything. The tension is provided by a spring pushing outward against the inside of the extractor's tail. The depth to which the extractor hooks reaches inward, if adjustment is required, is changed by filing the adjustment pad behind the hook and the fit is checked with a bar gauge.