stuck cartridge
- Thread starter pappylee
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I'm not sure that I understand the sequence of events leading up to the stuck slide. Did you fire a shot then, unable to fire a subsequent round, pull on the slide and find it would not move more than a little? I know of a couple of causes that were found to have caused that locally but I want to be sure I understand what you wrote before posting them.
pinto
Member
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Have seen this before.
Most common cause is an oversize improperly taper crimped round jammed partway in the chamber.
I cleared one by clamping the slide firmly in a padded vise.
Placed a rubber block at the back of the grip.
One good smack there with a dead blow hammer cleared it with no damage to the pistol.
Most common cause is an oversize improperly taper crimped round jammed partway in the chamber.
I cleared one by clamping the slide firmly in a padded vise.
Placed a rubber block at the back of the grip.
One good smack there with a dead blow hammer cleared it with no damage to the pistol.
If you have some kind of an out-of-spec round stuck in your chamber and you cannot draw the slide rearward, your best bet is to use a small tool, preferably plastic and gently pry up the extractor on the right side of the slide. This should unhook the slide from the stuck cartridge and you can then draw the slide rearward.
If it were mine, I would then begin to field strip the pistol until the barrel is completely free of the frame and slide... and THEN begin to try and remove the loaded round from the chamber.
If it were mine, I would then begin to field strip the pistol until the barrel is completely free of the frame and slide... and THEN begin to try and remove the loaded round from the chamber.
Arc Angel
Member
I'm not sure that I, quite, understand what the OP is saying, either. It seems like the magazine and a cartridge are BOTH stuck in the pistol. Yes?
If this is correct then before doing anything else see if it's possible to remove the firing pin stop. If the stop will come off the slide then remove the firing pin and free up the opposite end of the extractor.
I'm going to agree that an improperly sized and/or crimped case is the cause of this problem. The amount of mechanical force used to lock that cartridge into the chamber is (more than likely) equal to or less than 25 lb. This is about the same amount of force a handloader will use to press down on a bathroom scale in order to test the strength of a bullet crimp; or, in other words, not all that much mechanical force.
With the firing pin removed from the pistol, insert a properly sized wooden dowel down the barrel. (I think I keep a 3/8" dowel around for such emergencies; but I don't have it in front of me right now. Anyway a 1/4" dowel should also work.) Give the end of the dowel that's sticking out of the muzzle a few gentle whacks. The cartridge should release from the chamber. When it does immediately remove the magazine.
PS: It won't matter whether or not the extractor claw is still fastened to the case's head. One other thing: Like internet handloading, internet gunsmithing can also be tricky! If the OP isn't familiar with how to take a 1911 apart, AND put it back together again then it might be a better idea for him to bring the pistol to a gunsmith, and let the smith take care of the problem for him.
If this is correct then before doing anything else see if it's possible to remove the firing pin stop. If the stop will come off the slide then remove the firing pin and free up the opposite end of the extractor.
I'm going to agree that an improperly sized and/or crimped case is the cause of this problem. The amount of mechanical force used to lock that cartridge into the chamber is (more than likely) equal to or less than 25 lb. This is about the same amount of force a handloader will use to press down on a bathroom scale in order to test the strength of a bullet crimp; or, in other words, not all that much mechanical force.
With the firing pin removed from the pistol, insert a properly sized wooden dowel down the barrel. (I think I keep a 3/8" dowel around for such emergencies; but I don't have it in front of me right now. Anyway a 1/4" dowel should also work.) Give the end of the dowel that's sticking out of the muzzle a few gentle whacks. The cartridge should release from the chamber. When it does immediately remove the magazine.
PS: It won't matter whether or not the extractor claw is still fastened to the case's head. One other thing: Like internet handloading, internet gunsmithing can also be tricky! If the OP isn't familiar with how to take a 1911 apart, AND put it back together again then it might be a better idea for him to bring the pistol to a gunsmith, and let the smith take care of the problem for him.
Start by determining if there is a live cartridge in the chamber, only a fired case, or it is empty. Slip a rod in the barrel until it touches what ever is there, mark it flush with the muzzle, then hold it along the out side of the slide. If there is not a complete cartridge in the chamber take a peek in with a flash light to verify the empty from the last shot is still there. Hopefully the last three posters' presumption that you have a stuck live round is correct.
flagman1776
Member
Don't understand the problem fully but want to offer a preventitive.
I wasn't long into reloading when I had some inadequately sized 45ACP rounds. My Bad. I was at a distant range so the whole business was a PITA. I learned to remove the barrel & make sure all rounds would drop into the chamber. Yes, there are guages for this but MY barrel is the only one that counts. As a matter of fact, I also checked duty ammo... dud factory ammo is rare but would sure suck in a gun fight.
I wasn't long into reloading when I had some inadequately sized 45ACP rounds. My Bad. I was at a distant range so the whole business was a PITA. I learned to remove the barrel & make sure all rounds would drop into the chamber. Yes, there are guages for this but MY barrel is the only one that counts. As a matter of fact, I also checked duty ammo... dud factory ammo is rare but would sure suck in a gun fight.
MMA fighter Joe Riggs had this same problem with his 1911 recently, and wound up shooting himself through the hand and leg while trying to fix it at home.
Take care, whatever you do with this situation.
Have you considered calling S&W to see what they advise?
Take care, whatever you do with this situation.
Have you considered calling S&W to see what they advise?
