Failure to eject!

[Mudslgr]

Hello, This is my first post. I'm impressed with the professionalisim of this site! My problem is I bought a SS 5" 1911-A1. After 3 rounds it jammed with a stove pipe. Called SA and they said to send it back. They polished the feed ramp, slide and adjusted the extractor. After about 50 more rounds it jammed with spent cartridge hanging onto the extractor. Can you give me any advice? I have not done anything else to it! It is rock stock and I am on a limited budget.

[stans]

Let me destroy that opinion about professionalism! :D

It could just be the pistol has a teething problem and will work itself out within about 200 rounds. You are shooting 230 grain full power loads? The extractor could have insufficient tension or be rotating slightly in its tunnel and this is where I would look first.

Now if you are shooting 185 grain target loads, you might need a lighter recoil spring.

[Mudslgr]

I am using 230gr FMJ PMC and Remington. I'm going to run 100 rnds of Winchesters through it this weekend. I will post the results when I get done.

[1911 TERRY]

My WWII GI model had the same problem, but it started after I had fired 250-300 rounds. I tried adjusting the extractor, different springs, and mags with no improvement. I finally had my gunsmith install an Ed Brown Hard Core extractor. Haven't had a single problem since. By the way, Springfield wanted me to send it into them too, but after reading all the posts here and on other forums I decided to do the extractor. Apparently Springfields extractors are not always reliable.

[Mudslgr]

Thank you for the input! Is the extractor replacement a do-it-your self job or should I seek prof. help. I have moderate mechanical abilities as this is my profession but not with firearms.

[wichaka]

SA's have been having terrible problems with their extractors.

Replace it with either the Brown Hardcore like 1911 Terry did, or a Wilson Bullet Proof. I would also recommend a Wilson Bulletproof firing pin stop as well. Its a bit snugger fit to keep the extractor from rotating or clocking.

You should be able to do it yourself. Check out the tech forum about how to tune extractors. If you're still not sure, come on back and we'll get-R-done.

[John]

Yes it is do-able by the home gunsmith, but for God's name, shoot the pistol a little first. I am sure that others will agree, it can just need a little breaking in.

Rgds

[Mudslgr]

Ha! I couldn't wait till the weekend. I put 50 rnds of Winchester 230gr FMJ without a hitch. I will get 50 through it by thie weekend. Not a jam one. It may be that it needs to seat in. I will be paitent. But I still plan on replacing the extractor in the future. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!

[wichaka]

Let me destroy that opinion about professionalism! :D
Love the quote stans!


I jumped the gun there a bit, guess I just skimmed over your post.

Go with Johns advice, shoot the gun a bit........if after a few hundred rounds its still doing it, then a tune is in order.

[1911WB]

There is almost universal agreement that SA extractors are pos's. I replaced mine right away with a Wilson "Bulletproof"- only required minimal bending & a little stoning in the right places to put a "bevel". Also, replaced the FP stop with a Brown (a Wilson would also have been good). :)

[USMC2111]

Where can I get one of the Brown Hardcore, or Wilson extractors? Also what is the approximate price that I should expect to pay? Thank you.

[Mudslgr]

After some surfing and reading some other threads, www.wilsoncombat.com has a great selection! I'm sure that there are many more. There are several other links on the m1911.org home page also.

[wichaka]

Where can I get one of the Brown Hardcore, or Wilson extractors? Also what is the approximate price that I should expect to pay? Thank you.

Brownell's
Wilson around 30.00, Brown the same........

[Mudslgr]

Well, I ran another 100 rnds of cheap ammo through and all went great. I love my SS GI .45 but when is SA going to do something about this problem?

[1911Tuner]

All very good advice here. Springfield has had some extractor issues in the past...and most extractor issues can be addressed with correct tension and
a little reshaping here and there in critical places.

By and large, I've found that when a failure to eject occurs at random through the magazine, and the case gets hung up on the extractor...most often the problem is that the hook is too long from the bottom of the slot to the tip. When the case tries to twist free after smackin' the ejector, the backside of the hook digs in the backside of the rim and gets trapped between the hook and the ejector nose. This is more likely to occur on pistols with extended ejectors.

Optimum length/depth of the hook is from .032 to .035 inch...and I've found
several new, high-quality extractors to range anywhere from optimum to
as deep as .045 inch..including Brown, Wilson...and Cylinder & Slide.

Just no such thing as a (guaranteed) drop-in part, I'm afraid.

Luck!

Tuner