Series 80 Extractor/Feeding Problems

[Combat45]

I bought a Combat Commander last week at a local gun shop for $425.00. The guy selling the gun had not even had time to clean it up or test fire it. It was taken in on trade. It came with the original magazine and one aftermarket mag. I took it out and shot 50 rounds 235 FMJ and no matter which magazine I used, it would fail to eject the spent round about every other round. The factory mag also stopped holding back the slide after the last round in the mag was fired. I cleaned the gun and tried another 40 rounds yesterday, same thing. I noticed on the rounds that failed to extract/eject the edge of the rim on the case looked as though the extractor removed some of the brass and scarred it a little. Any advice on how to fix this problem would be greatly apprciated.

[Hunter]

I would check extractor tension. Is the ejector tight to the frame? As far as the magazine not locking the slide back I would check the follower. There is a piece right below the follower at the front left that engages the slide stop. If that piece is broken or bent it will not engage the slide stop. Compare it to the magazine that does lock the slide back and you will see what I am talking about.

[Combat45]

I can see a big differnce in the followers. The one that will hold back the slide everytime sits higher in the magazine and in the original magazine that part that engages the slide stop sits lower in the magazine. That solves that mystery. The extractor tension: I checked it using a spent round, I placed it between the extractor hook and the bolt face. The spent round did not seem too tight. It actually seemed to fall loose at the slightest touch from my finger. The ejector: It does not seem to have any play at all. It looks good to me. I am not too sure what to look for on the ejector though.

[Hunter]

If your ejector is tight to the frame and no obvious damage is apparent you should be good to go there. It sounds like your extractor does not have enough tension and without enough tension the ejector just knocks the case out of the way but not a complete ejection. The ejector should have enough tension to hold the case in the slide even if you shake the slide. I would add some extractor tension by takeing the extractor out of the slide most of the way and put tension on it by pushing the rear of the extractor toward the firing pin. It will not take much so go slowly and check it often. Once the extractor will hold the case tight to the breech face you should be good to go. Keep in mind that too much extractor tension will cause a failure to return to battery so be careful.

[Combat45]

Thanks for the help. I will try that and see what happens. I have owned 45's before but this is my first real Colt. I like it alot and want to conceal carry it when it is functioning properly. When it fires, it shoots real well. I am very pleased with it.

[Hunter]

I am sure it is nothing serious. I have several Colts and I have been impressed with them. To me there is no finer pistol to be had than the Colt 1911. Give that extractor some work. You can also reference the technical section of this forum for some more troubleshooting info. Good luck and let us know how she does next range trip.

[1911Tuner]

Details...We need mo' details!

Failure to eject...or failure to extract? If it gets out of the chamber, it's a failure to eject. If a failure to eject...did the empty
case stand up vertically in a stovepipe jam...or did it get crunched horizontally between slide and barrel? Last round every time...or at random?
Did any of the cases get crunched on the last round, with the empty case stuffed back into the magazine causing a failure to lock the slide? Is the ejection good until the last round, and then just dribble the empty out of the port?

Lastly...What weight recoil spring is in the gun?

Standin' by...

[Combat45]

Hunter I worked on the extractor as you recommended and went out to test fire the gun. The aftermarket magazine worked flawlessly and the original magazine would not feed the last round from the magazine two out of three times. I ran about ten clips through it with the aftermarket mag and not a single problem. You are the man! Thanks for the help.
1911Tuner I am not sure what weight recoil spring the gun has.

[Hunter]

I am glad it is working for you now. It sounds like the magazine spring is weak in the original magazine and that is causing the last round not to feed. As the rounds are expended from the magazine and spring tension is relieved by the time you are at your last round there is not enough spring tension for reliable feeding. I would get a new spring for the original magazine and that should clear up that problem. www.brownells.com will have everything you need if you don't have somewhere local to get the parts. Again I am glad you got your Colt up and running she will serve you well I am sure.

[1911Tuner]

Hunter! You rule! :D

[Hunter]

Thank you very much Johnny but I was lucky to read the post before you and thought " WWTD (what would Tuner do)"

[FXdiz]

OK, so why hasn't anyone asked for a picture!? :-) Great price on the Combat Commander. Got a stainless myself and use it as my carry. Never had a problem with it ... I only have a couple of hundred rounds through it so far, but enough to be completely confident in it. It replaced a Firestorm mini 40 as my carry piece and I couldn't be happier.