Feed problems with 1911

[Starscream23]

Please help.

I did some research and it seems other people have had this problem too. I have a s&w 45 acp 1911 pro series with a 3 inch barrel.

I have gone to the range with this gun twice this week. I just bought it new. I cleaned it today.

The round will not chamber into the barrel which results in myself having to either try to force the slide forward or press the magazine release button and force the mag down.

After the first time this happen a couple days ago, my friend asked me to run some oil threw the barrel and down the feed ramp. I did and it did work pretty good. But I only shot one more mag and left. I went today and if I add more than 3 bullets in the mag, it has to be pulled down. Less than 3 bullets, than I can force the slide forward and shoot the 3 rounds.

Please help me with this. I know other people have had this happen to them and I would love to know what they did to fix it.

It sucks sending a brand new gun in for repair after two times using it.

Thanks

 

[Ironbark]

I have one as well, and it failed to return to battery twice for me in the first 20 rounds. I had to push the slide forward with my thumb, but then worked perfectly for the next 50 rounds through it.

Three quick things to look at ...
1) What ammo were you using?
2) Did the Failure to feeds happen with both mags or just 1 in particular?
3) Did you swap out your spring? (u get 2 spare in the case)

IB

 

[Fastbolt]

How well is the diminutive 1911 lubricated?

What ammunition is being used?

How familiar & experienced are you with shooting short, light-weight, fast-cycling .45's?

FWIW, it's not uncommon for some shooters to discover that as the 1911 platform shrinks, the guns can become increasingly less tolerant of both shooter AND ammunition influences.

 

[BillyMagg]

How well is the diminutive 1911 lubricated?

What ammunition is being used?

How familiar & experienced are you with shooting short, light-weight, fast-cycling .45's?

FWIW, it's not uncommon for some shooters to discover that as the 1911 platform shrinks, the guns can become increasingly less tolerant of both shooter AND ammunition influences.

I don't own anything shorter than the 5", and no magazine greater than 7 rounds in 45acp or 9 in 38 super, the 45 can be finicky in some 5" guns, iffy at times in 4.25" guns and gets cranky in a hurry as the guns/magazines get shorter, spring tension must go up....Billy

 

[Starscream23]

Wonderful

 

[Fastbolt]

1911's are a bit like Sig's ... they need to be run a little "wet".

Use some good quality FMJ made by one of the major American ammo companies, if only to establish a "baseline". (Although my SW1911SC 5" has always fed an assortment of hollowpoints with aplomb.)

If you're not using the magazines that came with the gun, at least don't use lesser quality magazines.

Use a reasonably firm grip (healthy handshake, "deathgrip" not necessary), with a LOCKED wrist.

 

[icemn]

I've got a similar issue. I previously posted on another thread. My problem existed with both factory and Wilson mags. with Speer GDHP 230 gr.. Initially, would not chamber a round with either overhand or sling shot racking of slide. ( no problem with ball ammo ). Gun is plenty wet.
Got some Hydra Shoks and had no problem feeding. Then, took it to the range yesterday and racked the slide over hand and it would not chamber the Hydra Shocks. Tried sling shotting and it chambered. Put 2 mags down range no problem. Wondering if its and extractor issue.

 

[gm272gs]

I am scratching my head here. I have been shooting 1911s for 40 years, and never encountered a problem such as you describe.

Humor me, and post photos, please. One photo (showing the ejection side) with the slide locked back, and one (same side) with the slide forward into battery.

 

[icemn]

I am scratching my head here. I have been shooting 1911s for 40 years, and never encountered a problem such as you describe.

Humor me, and post photos, please. One photo (showing the ejection side) with the slide locked back, and one (same side) with the slide forward into battery.

Here you go:

 

[Ironbark]

I took mine to the range today and experimented a little with gripping the gun in a variety of different methods including a limp wristed method, a death grip method and everything in between. I managed to get the gun to malfunction twice with a failure to feed. Both times when I had the gun in a very lose limp wristed grip. I fired a box of Remington 230 gr and a box of American eagle 230 gr and these 2 malfunctions were the only ones I experienced.
Generally I hold a gun with a locked wrist and a semi firm grip and I have never had a malfunction with this style, even one handed either in main hand or off hand.

I took some pictures of groupings with 3 different pistols but I will post them in a different section

IB

 

[SW CQB 45]

are you shooting Hollow Points?.....because of the nickel colored case.

some HPs do not feed well.

if so, try some quality ball ammo.

you should have to put oil in the barrel and feed ramp however oil on contact points heavier than a plastic gun.

if it still does not work, I would suggest sending it back.

to many variables to guess.

 

[crofoot629]

I don't own anything shorter than the 5", and no magazine greater than 7 rounds in 45acp or 9 in 38 super, the 45 can be finicky in some 5" guns, iffy at times in 4.25" guns and gets cranky in a hurry as the guns/magazines get shorter, spring tension must go up....Billy

How well is the diminutive 1911 lubricated?

What ammunition is being used?

How familiar & experienced are you with shooting short, light-weight, fast-cycling .45's?

FWIW, it's not uncommon for some shooters to discover that as the 1911 platform shrinks, the guns can become increasingly less tolerant of both shooter AND ammunition influences.

And they eat recoil springs every thousand rounds or less.

Anything shorter than a 5" gun gives up reliability. Period.

I'd sell it and save up for a 5" all steel Wilson Combat.
Just what you wanted to hear I'm sure.

Or if you want a small gun buy a Glock or XD.

Sorry, but there it is, short and sweet.

Emory

 

[lhump1961]

You said that if you load 3 rounds in the mag it will cycle and I assume it is a new gun. No one has suggested loading the mags full and storing them that way for a few weeks to see if it will soften the springs just enough to take a touch of the pressure off the slide when loaded in the gun. I was having some similar problems with another new auto (not a 1911) and this seemed to help.

I have both the 5" and 4.25" 1911's (S&W) and both run trouble free with any ammo. I reload for everything I own and have been thrilled with my Smith 1911's. I will echo that I have heard from multiple sources that 4.25" is about as short as the standard 1911 design will go without risk of losing some reliability.

I don't think manufacturers would make the 3" if it didn't run reasonably well but it may take finding those couple of details your guns responds to. Usually it's just one or two little things that make the difference. Don't give up on it too quick and let us know how it goes.

 

[perrazi]

everything said is true of short 1911's. sometimes they work right off and sometimes they take some effort. if this is something to shoot regularly,then read up on the maintenance needed and follow it religiously. just to make your day, i have a colt officers model in stainless that has fed everything i have put through it. it has over 2000rds shot now and on 3rd recoil spring. good luck and don't give up. if you are new to the platform, check out the 1911 forum. lots of good guys there that will help out.

 

[2hawk]

Welcome to the Forum!

Starscream23, sorry to hear of your troubles. But if there was ever a gun that break-in would be recommended for it's a 3" bbl. 1911.

Get some 230 gr. ball, and put at least 200 rounds through the gun before you decide if you really have an issue or not. I am betting it will smooth out and start working fine. If not, then you will be on solid ground when describing the problem and getting the warranty work done by the factory.

As stated above, the shorter bbl'd 1911's are known be be more sensitive to shooter grip, magazines, ammo, and spring rates. They are cool, but the 1911 platform has had a reputation as being one that demands some knowledge of the operator in terms of how the gun functions, and while that was not so true before the modern era, it is now when everybody making them has tightened up tolerances as much as possible.

And, just an aside: I wouldn't think you got a 3" bbl 1911 as a range gun. If you did, you may have made the wrong choice. As a CCW, it can be a wonderful choice, once you establish the guns reliability.

ANY gun you may use as a means of self defense should have at least a couple hundred of rounds though it, trouble free, before you can call it reliable enough to stake your life on, imho. I try to put at least 500 to 600 rounds through my autos if they are apt to be in a defensive role, and at least 100 to 200 through any revolvers. I would not trust any gun out of the box. Not to say I would expect problems, just that I want to make sure there aren't any.

By the way, it's my understanding that the Winchester PDX is the closest HP in terms of the ogive of ball ammo. FWIW, HTH

 

[Delos]

Please help.

I did some research and it seems other people have had this problem too. I have a s&w 45 acp 1911 pro series with a 3 inch barrel.

I have gone to the range with this gun twice this week. I just bought it new. I cleaned it today.

The round will not chamber into the barrel which results in myself having to either try to force the slide forward or press the magazine release button and force the mag down.

After the first time this happen a couple days ago, my friend asked me to run some oil threw the barrel and down the feed ramp. I did and it did work pretty good. But I only shot one more mag and left. I went today and if I add more than 3 bullets in the mag, it has to be pulled down. Less than 3 bullets, than I can force the slide forward and shoot the 3 rounds.

Please help me with this. I know other people have had this happen to them and I would love to know what they did to fix it.

It sucks sending a brand new gun in for repair after two times using it.

Thanks

Never force anything.
If you force the slide closed you can do bad things to the cartridge. Like seat it deeper and blow up your gun?

If the cartridge is half way out of magazine, do not release the magazine and force it downward. With cartridge part way out you can spread the lips of the magazine and increase feeding problems.
.......
It sounds like you needed to push the cartridge back into the magazine. If you cannot lock the slide back because the shell is a bit under the extractor it gets more complicated and dangerous.
Easy to forget where the barrel is pointed when holding back the slide part way.

So yes you must release the slide button. But do not pull it our hard.

Your best grip, to hold slide open, might be left hand around slide and frame griping it together, to hold it open - taking the pressure off the cartridge by a little backward pressure on slide.

Then if the extractor releases the head you can perhaps feed it out of magazine as the magazine drops free onto table from it's own weight. Maybe you will need to push it back into the magazine.

If you do not have enough grip strength, or hands available I might suggest you duck tape that sucker back where the stress is off the bullet. Again do not force anything. You might end up pivoting the cartridge upward gently?

Once shell is out.
Oil the extractor and move it around with a plastic pen or a pencil eraser or whatever handy. Short piece of wooden dowel is best. If the extractor has any problems take the slide off and barrel out. Push a shell up under the extractor to see if it seems to be reasonable (much much less effort than pushing the cartridges into magazine).

With the magazine in your hand......
If you do not have an extra magazine find a friend with one and use a pencil to mark where it releases the bullet when holding the magazine in your hand and pushing shell or cartridge out with thumb. Check it against yours.

Disclaimer - do not do anything that seems dangerous. Anything that does not sound right ..... do not do that.
Take the pressure off the shell and find a way to keep it that way so you can take it to someone who has dealt with a few jams.

Lots of possibilities. If the rails need more oil, then do that. But do not dump oil on it like an overheated machine gun in an old movie. If you are using cheap ammunition made in asia or some third world place then buy some American name brand ammo.

If you can duplicate the jam at home working it by hand with a dummy cartridge show us a photo.

 

[Delos]

Corrections to my above post

Sorry for a few Mistakes……

In 4th paragraph down (or 8th sentence)
So yes you must release the slide button. But do not pull it our hard.

That should read:
So yes you must release the "Magazine Release Button". But do not pull it out hard.

A couple more paragraphs down:
Then if the extractor releases the head
Should read:
Then if the extractor releases the "Cartridge Rim" (or head)

And I should have added "Putting some lucky gold rings on all your fingers might make your hands heavier and give the very light frame more substance for the slide to recoil against".

In other words the slide and its parts are heavy. The frame is light to make it a good carry gun. If you designed a controlled experiment with the pistol laying on a very slick surface - only the slide would have any traction. There would be no reason for this type of pistol to unlock when fired.

Same with the old ballistics pendulum. Hanging from strings the frame does not have enough weight for the slide to even unlock the pistol.

Tape 16 ounces of weight to your hand and see if you ever have another problem.

 

[geddylee10002000]

I also have the S&W Pro 3". I haven't had any problems with it.

I use Kimber & the S&W mags that came with the gun for carry. I have used the Chip McCormick Shooting Star Magazines (8rd), and have tried a friends generic Mil Surp 8 round mags bought from a discounter (cheap) and didn't have a problem.

I agree with all the advice above. I have about 800 rounds through mine. Couldn't be happier. I trust my life on it for a 1911 platform.

I like to lube my slide guns with grease on the slides and a oil on all the working parts. I use Castrol Braycote Micronic® 803 Grease on the slides. It's very expensive. Oil I use Kano Microil.

 

[Starscream23]

I figured I would write in with a update... I clean the gun and mags today and took a trip to the range. Well I guess it was one mag. With the other mag, the gun chambered fine. I put the first mag back in and it failed to feed. I called my gun store to see if they would swap my broken mag for a new one. Considering I bought it last week. I got a answer of " we have to send it back to the factory if you want a new mag so they can check the gun too." So this brand new gun I have had for a week will go back just for a mag replacement. I am a little upset considering I could just use the gun with the good mag in the mean time. But no I got to send the broken mag with the gun. I feel b.s ed.

 

[arjay]

I'd just buy another mag and not waste my time sending in the gun.Stuff happens.