FIDO
3rd February 2006, 16:05
Well, I took the plunge and bought a new commander-sized high end 1911. The fit and finish are great, and it is a nice shooter. BUT it does not have the reliability I expected. I do NOT want to mention the manufacturer yet, until the problem is fixed.
I am hoping i did not make an expensive mistake.
Here are my observations from an e-mail to the manufacturer:
I have about 200 - 250 rounds through it.
1) During firing, it has failed to go into battery 4 times.
2) During reloading, it has not properly chambered the first round out of the magazine 3 times.
3) It has stove piped twice.
4) 3 times the empty brass was caught between the ejection port and frame--each time the brass was horizontal with the open end facing to the rear.
5) Several of the magazines do NOT free fall out of the weapon when the magazine release is actuated.
The sights also need to be adjusted--point of impact is about 1.5" - 2" left of point of aim at 15 yards.
I can send some digital pics of the targets later if you like.
What is step next to make it 99.99% reliable?
My .45 ACP HK USP has over 4000 rounds through it and I have NEVER had ANY malfunctions.
It has a nice trigger and is fun to shoot, but so far does not exhibit the characteristics that we agreed are needed in an off-duty carry gun.
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The manufacturerer is after me to send the gun back; they even offered to pay the shipping. Before I do, I want to narrow down as much as i can, what are the problem(s) so i don't have to send it back more than once.
My questions for the forum is how can I scientifically eliminate variables given my laundry list?
I THINK #1 & 2 above were caused by a single magazine. Won't be able to test fire again it until next week to make certain.
3 & 4) During the next 150 rounds, there were NO stove pipes or other ejection abnormailities.
5) The FREE FALL problem does not seem to be related to any particular magazine. MOST of the time when you hit the mag release the mag free falls out of the gun just fine. The all of a sudden, it won't; it will drop out only an inch or two. This behavior will then repeat itself several times in a row and then it goes away again until it "feels" like coming back.
I wasn't able to post a picture of the scanned target. At 15 yards, my targets have a rat hole in the paper 1.5 to 2 inches to the left of center. Elevation is spot on, but point of impact is 1.5 to 2" left of point of aim. I was shooting 2 handed, drawing from the holster at the "threat."
The factory target (also from 15 yards I think) has a 3 shot group in one ragged hole dead center in the black. At the factory, a human was shooting off of a rest.
Is it my eyes, are the sights off, or do i have a very consistent, but bad, habit?
All help appreciated.
I am hoping i did not make an expensive mistake.
Here are my observations from an e-mail to the manufacturer:
I have about 200 - 250 rounds through it.
1) During firing, it has failed to go into battery 4 times.
2) During reloading, it has not properly chambered the first round out of the magazine 3 times.
3) It has stove piped twice.
4) 3 times the empty brass was caught between the ejection port and frame--each time the brass was horizontal with the open end facing to the rear.
5) Several of the magazines do NOT free fall out of the weapon when the magazine release is actuated.
The sights also need to be adjusted--point of impact is about 1.5" - 2" left of point of aim at 15 yards.
I can send some digital pics of the targets later if you like.
What is step next to make it 99.99% reliable?
My .45 ACP HK USP has over 4000 rounds through it and I have NEVER had ANY malfunctions.
It has a nice trigger and is fun to shoot, but so far does not exhibit the characteristics that we agreed are needed in an off-duty carry gun.
--------------------------------------------
The manufacturerer is after me to send the gun back; they even offered to pay the shipping. Before I do, I want to narrow down as much as i can, what are the problem(s) so i don't have to send it back more than once.
My questions for the forum is how can I scientifically eliminate variables given my laundry list?
I THINK #1 & 2 above were caused by a single magazine. Won't be able to test fire again it until next week to make certain.
3 & 4) During the next 150 rounds, there were NO stove pipes or other ejection abnormailities.
5) The FREE FALL problem does not seem to be related to any particular magazine. MOST of the time when you hit the mag release the mag free falls out of the gun just fine. The all of a sudden, it won't; it will drop out only an inch or two. This behavior will then repeat itself several times in a row and then it goes away again until it "feels" like coming back.
I wasn't able to post a picture of the scanned target. At 15 yards, my targets have a rat hole in the paper 1.5 to 2 inches to the left of center. Elevation is spot on, but point of impact is 1.5 to 2" left of point of aim. I was shooting 2 handed, drawing from the holster at the "threat."
The factory target (also from 15 yards I think) has a 3 shot group in one ragged hole dead center in the black. At the factory, a human was shooting off of a rest.
Is it my eyes, are the sights off, or do i have a very consistent, but bad, habit?
All help appreciated.