Eject problems

[tvafishing]

I have bought a Colt Combat Commander used, a 70 series, only shot it a few times. Had Wilson armor-tuff it and since I have had a chance to shoot it I have ejecting problems. A fired case will get stuck in the slide before it clears the gun. It does not seem to make a difference in the first rounds or if its near the last. The gun came with a Wilson 7 round mag. and I have purchased two more, they all seem to do the same thing. I have tried different ammo, put a new 20# Wilson recoil spring in and it has not helped. It will do it in the first few rounds some times and then will run two or three mags. full and not do it!! Anybody have any ideas on this? I am new to the site and have read a lot of the threads but didn't fine any answers.

Thanks,Terry

[1911Tuner]

. I have tried different ammo, put a new 20# Wilson recoil spring in and it has not helped.

A clew! You've oversprung the slide. If you have a shock buff in the gun, take it out.
Use a lighter recoil spring. If these things don't squash your bug, your extractor needs attention.

Luck!

[tvafishing]

I do have a shock buff in, I will try without it. What weight spring would You think is the right one. In the Wilson Catalog they only have two listed a #20 and a #12, I tried the #12 and the problem seemed to be worse. When You say the slide is over sprung, do You mean the spring is too strong or the slide itself is out of spec. What extractor, if needed, would You recommend to put in? I guess I mean from who would get it from?

Thank You for Your time,
Terry

[1911Tuner]

Colt Commanders and Combat Commanders generally don't act right with shock buffs. They give up a full 1/8th inch of slide travel to the 5-inch guns, and the buff further reduces that by the thickness of the buff...which average about a tenth inch.

For Commanders with standard recoil systems, my long-standing practice has been to use a Wolff 16-pound spring designed for the 5-inch Government Model...32 coils...and trim the spring to 24.5-25 coils. I've never checked a new Colt Commander recoil spring that even came close to the "Standard' 18 pounds. Most run in the 15-16 pound range.

Stovepipe failures to eject are usually caused by short-cycling of the slide, though the extractor can also be a player.

If your problem is usually on the last round, and the case is more or less horizontal, and gets crushed between the slide and barrel hood...you either have low extractor tension, or the extractor is clocking and dropping the case. If it occurs at random throughout the magazine, it's probably the tension, but a worn or badly modified extractor can also be the cause.

Another surefire sign of a clocking extractor is the empty case getting stuffed partway back into the magazine. Very often, adding more tension will help with the clocking...rotation in the channel...but most of the time it requires a new extractor or possibly a firing pin stop that keeps it aligned in the channel.

A little tuning trick has long been to file a light bevel at the bottom of the
hook where the wall bears against the case rim. This allows for smoother extractor pickup during the feed, but if overdone it doesn't leave sufficient contact area with the rim.

[tvafishing]

Thanks so much for the info, I will try without the buff and order a new spring!


Will let You know when I do another test fire.
Thanks again, Terry

[tvafishing]

I changed to a Wolffe 18# spring, took the shock buff out and tried it again. The first mag, 7 shots, went thru great the next one the second round got caught between the slide and the breech face about half way out of the port and was caught backwards! the primer facing forward ! The next round would not chamber because it was not under the extractor hook. The extractor seems to be it in its channel snug and the FP stop seems to fit well, I don't think it is clocking. I shot one more mag and all 7 fired fine. All mags are new Wilsons. Is it time for Me to try to find a Pro and take it to Him?


Thanks For Any Help!!

PS. All shells eject over My head , if thats any help. Terry

[1911Tuner]

All mags are new Wilsons. Is it time for Me to try to find a Pro and take it to Him?


Nope. Get some good magazines and call Wichaka. He'll buy the Wilsons.

All shells eject over My head , if thats any help.

Completely different issue.

[1911Tuner]

the next one the second round got caught between the slide and the breech face about half way out of the port and was caught backwards!

Live round or empty case?

18 pounds is still a lotta spring...

[ArmscorBA]

Tuner,
;) ;) ;)
As always!!!!
:D
Ivan

[tvafishing]

The round was a empty case, what kind of mags do I NEED ? I would like to use this as My carry weapon and need it to be dependable. I will try a 16# spring and run some more rounds thru it tomorrow.

Thanks for the help,
Terry

[1911Tuner]

The round was a empty case

Add tension to the extractor. You may need a new one, but more tension will probably do it.

As for the magazines...if they prove, use'em. If they don't...come on back.

[tvafishing]

I changed the spring to the 16# and put a little mor tension on the extractor and tried again. I found that the one mag that seems to have the problem is different than the other two, it is a 8 round mag that I have been putting 7 rounds ??? Would this make the difference ??? What mags would You recommend ?? I am going to run some more thru just the the two and see if this is the fix. I am starting to think maybe I need to look for a different weapon!!

I thank You for your time and knowledge,

Terry

[John]

You should mark your mags so that you know if the malfunction is mag-related. I do not think so, but it's a good practice to know how your mags work.

[Sniper350]

Terry - In the future, when trying to diagnose or troubleshoot your 1911 - try to stick with changing only one variable at a time.

See if that change makes any improvment - then move on.

Changing out springs, changing out magazines, and applying tension to the extractor all at one time.........is going to make it hard to decide what the original problem was - even if by chance you get the weapon working.

I believe the extractor tension is 90 % of your problem ........ followed by having that shok-buff in there which 1911Tuner advised was bad in a Commander.

My Colt Commander will run with any spring from 16 lb up to and including the 20 lb Wilson spring [ recoil ] Extraction is flawless - no matter

Make sure your extractor can hold the weight of a live round, while you turn the Slide 360 degrees around. The bullet should be placed tight against the breach Face. The Slide needs to be removed from the weapon, for this check.......slide the bullet up from the bottom.

JF.

[tvafishing]

I added a little tension to the extractor and ran 50 rounds with a different mag. and it was great, I know that 50 rounds probably does not mean that its fixed but thats the first time since I have owned it that it has run flawless. What Mags would be recomended to buy?? The mag I was useing had no name on it just that it was made in Italy, a old mag that I borrowed. I am going to get rid of the Wilsons.

I really thank everybody for all the help!


Terry

[John]

Original Colt 7-rounders are fine, so there should be the new CheckMates with the hybrid lips. There is a group-buy running for CheckMates, see if you can get in. Or call CheckMate and order a couple if you are in a hurry.

[Pappy]

Terry, click here to see what CheckMate offers.

http://www.lpspinner.com/CMIPricesheet.htm

You probably want the CM45-7-B-H blue or CM45-7-S-H for stainless...Pappy

[tvafishing]

I have run approx. 200 rounds thru My Commander without a flaw. It is a sweet shooting pistol.

Just a note to THANK YOU all who took the time to help Me with it, I have learned a little about this weapon and will continue to read and learn as much as I can.

Thanks,
Terry

[John]

Another happy customer!

Good work on that extractor tuning. Enjoy your pistol.