Need help. FTF!!!!

[Stormvet418]

I recently traded for an early Colt 1911 that has been modified into what I belived is a hardball bullseye gun ( I shot on an Army Reserve Pistol Team back in the late 80s). It is set up similar to a National Match (ie. fitted bushing, tightened slide, adjustable sights, trigger is 5lbs with no noticeable take up). Here is the problem - I keep getting failure to feeds where the bullet is in a higher position and jams the slide. If I pull the slide to the rear the round will usually pop into proper position and chamber. Is this a magazine problem ( it has done it with a McCormick and a Colt magazine) or is it a gun problem? I have thought about ordering a Wilson Magazine and see if that helps. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

PS - I am using a 18lb spring and wilson shock buff if it makes any difference. I switched to the heavier spring when I got the gun because it did not always go into battery.

[twin oaks]

Remove the shok-buff and try some controlled feeds. Watch the round feeding to see what it's doing. The shok-buff might be causing a short cycle. With the increased spring weight you're effectively forcing the slide to RTB faster. If the slide IS short cycling, shoving it forward again in less time will only make it worse.
Anyway, pull the shok-buff and see if feeds anymore reliably.

Seems cheaper to find the problem first, instead of buying a fix and hoping it fits the problem.

[niemi24s]

When you first got the gun and it did not go into battery, please fully describe the position of the cartridge (& bullet) being fed in relation to the chamber, receiver feed ramp and breech face.

What kind of ammunition have you been using?

After switching to the 18 lb recoil spring please fully describe what you mean by "I keep getting failures to feed where the bullet is in a higher position and jams the slide." Do you mean the bullet's in a higher position than the aft end of the case or in higher position than it was before switching to the 18 lb spring?

When you had the jams, did you try pushing the slide forward to get the round chambered? If so, was this successful? When the gun jammed, did the case get dented about 3/16 to 1/4 inch back from the case mouth and along about 1/4 to 5/16 inch of its circumference?

Details are needed so we don't send you off on a wild goose chase. If the details are no longer clear, shoot it some more and make good notes of exactly what was what when it jams. If you can, pictures are a big help.

Sounds like you may have a 3-point jam problem, but can't say for sure based on what you've said so far. Please say more. Regards.

[twin oaks]

Also take a look at the ramp/throat area. It doesn't look like someone took a Dremel to it does it?
Thanks Niemi, I focused too much on springs and shock buffs, and didn't think of the initial jam he mentions, the one before the 18lb spring.