E-series 1911 .45 brass shell getting stuck in the ejector port - random

[Jeronimo]

Hi from Cape Town South Africa. I'm new to the forum and I have a problem - I own a S&W 1911TA e-series in .45 cal. Have her from new about 18 months now. Shot around 6000 rounds thus far and I recently am experiencing the following problem:

After about 60 to 70 rounds in a league shoot on the range a shell will jam in the ejector port area. I've attached a pic of the shell after releasing it from the pistol. Why is this happening...anyone else experience this perhaps?

NB: I dont load hot rounds at all. I use 230gr Frontier FMJ's and my charge is quite mild at 4.5gr S121 Somchem powder(In SA this is a very fast propellant powder ideal for .45 cal pistols)

Why does this happen with the Smith? My other pistols and revolvers are quite fine in any league shoot...it's only the S&W.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Smith may be a bit "tighter" than your other .45 autopistols. The revolvers won't care.

Looking at the Denel/Somchem loading data, you are well below the starting load for S121 + 230 FMJ.
Search | SOMCHEM

I suspect you are getting short recoil in a tighter fitted gun after it cokes up with 70 rounds worth of fouling. I would increase the load. Try 5 grains and then if necessary the starting load of 5.3.

 

[arjay]

^^ This or pull the slide,clean the rails and lube after 50 rounds or so.

 

[Jeronimo]

Thanks for the advice Jim & arjay. Will do more checks and clean thoroughly and up the loads too. Lets see what happens then. Something tells me it could perhaps also be the recoil spring thats too tight at the original 16 pound. Will also try a 14 pound recoil spring with the lighter loads and progress to the heavier loads.

 

[WisconsinKen]

I agree with the loads. I would keep it as you have been shooting and run standard factory loads for a match and see if the problem recurs.

 

[Jeronimo]

I agree with the loads. I would keep it as you have been shooting and run standard factory loads for a match and see if the problem recurs.

Hi WisconsinKen been at the range today and shot various loads and jamming occured especially with the hotter loads and Sellier & Bellot factory ammo too...which is very hot loaded SD ammo. I use this ammo for when I do league shoots and until now it never let me down. The 14 pound Wolffe recoil spring that I inserted did function fine with the milder loads but I found that with the factory ammo a few cases were getting kinked in the ejector port but the cases where being extracted at least. I attach a few pics below taken at the range yesterday. I'm baffled...why after 6000 rounds doe sthis happen even with a new recoil spring?

Can't seem to load the pics but will try later again.

 

[arjay]

I would start with a new mainspring and recoil spring that meet factory specs and see how it behaves with factory ammo.If that doesn't solve it,something's off with the extractor or ejector

 

[t-bird]

Try the factory recoil spring and see what happens. I have the same gun without the rail and it's been flawless.

 

[Jeronimo]

Ok so I visited the range last Saturday with the last of my tests and a few final loads to test and eurika!!!! I found that after testing various loads the following works 100% for my e-series:
- 5.2gr S121 Somchem powder - SA(very fast burning ball propellant) using 230gr Frontier copper FMJ's. No jamming at all.
- Also tested 5.2gr S121 powder with 230gr TC trunckated cone bullets. No jamming.
NB: this performance was with the original 16pound recoil spring.

- I also tested much lighter loads with a 13 pound recoil spring e.g. 4.2gr S121 powder up to 4.5gr S121 powder with 230gr Frontier copper FMJ's and yes no jamming at all.

Looks like I've solved this problem. NB: Also kinda helps when I stop pushing my right hand thumb against the slide just before taking a shot.

 

[Rick_A]

5k is a good point to replace the firing pin and recoil springs.