Normal or Not?

[Mrick]

Took my new series 70 to the range this weekend and had some problems with the first few mags thru the pistol. I had a few stovepipe jams which I cleared without issue. After about 3 mags the gun started to run good. No issues for the remaining 150 rounds. Is this a normal situation with a new colt?

[Hunter]

Was the problem related to 1 magazine?

[Mrick]

Nope it happened using different mags. Was the problem related to 1 magazine?

[pulpsmack]

Does your colt have a nice tight slide to to frame fit? A lot of Colts rattle when you shake them, which adversely affects accuracy but adds a margin of reliability. If yours is a little tight the metal-on-metal wear (what other "tight" 1911 manufacturers refer to as "break-in") might have occured. Also, how wet did you run yours? I prefer running mine a little dry but some insist on a little extra for best results.

[Mrick]

Yup, tight frame to slide fit on this gun. It would hang up a bit when racking. I lubed itwith clp a bit before the range trip. It's much smoother now after 200 rounds through it. Forgot to mention it's stainless as well. Dunno if they are a bit rougher out of the box.

[Rio Vista Slim]

Is this a normal situation with a new colt?
In a word, no. At least my experiences with my Colts has been quite different from yours.

The reference pulpsmack made to lubrication could be a valid issue, although you state that after approximately 21 rounds, the gun ran fine for the remaining 150 rounds.

Just be sure to clean and lubricate your new Series 70 as recommended, and should other malfunctions occur, make note of "what", and the magazines being used at the time. Ammunition can also cause problems, but the brands to be avoided are chronicled quite extensively in these forums.

[paul45]

Does your colt have a nice tight slide to to frame fit? A lot of Colts rattle when you shake them, which adversely affects accuracy but adds a margin of reliability.May I comment, please? A rattle does not neccessarily mean the slide and frame is the culprit....it could be a grip safety or a loose trigger. Also, slide to frame fit contributes very little, percentage wise, to accuracy.....5 to 10%. Barrel/bushing lockup is what matters for accuracy. Since I am not the expert, allow me to quote Larry Vickers.....

"The reality is that slide-to-frame fit is not all that important.

Also.....

Vickers said the slide fit really doesn't have that much to do with accuracy, but shooters have come away with the impression that slide-to-frame fit is important, mainly because it's something that can easily be checked by a nimrod. "It's something the average guy can check, so he thinks it's important, but it's really not," Vickers stated.

And last quote....

Barrel fit is another matter. Barrel fit matters a lot.

Thanks for letting me interject that thought here.........

[pulpsmack]

May I comment, please? A rattle does not neccessarily mean the slide and frame is the culprit....it could be a grip safety or a loose trigger.

Maybe so, but a tight(er) slide often has some teething issues, particularly when dry. As to the OP, SS is a little more "gritty" as well. While insignificant in isolation, these little factors may have been just enough to cause the issues. It's all speculative, but so long as you have a reliable runner thereafter, the point is moot.


Also, slide to frame fit contributes very little, percentage wise, to accuracy.....5 to 10%. Barrel/bushing lockup is what matters for accuracy.

While I don't disagree with the statement(s), 5%-10% still satisfies the term "adversely affects" in terms of accuracy. I'd take a chatterbox that "bangs" every time and is reasonably accurate any day over a match grade, uber-tight pistol that compromises reliability. But this point is moot as well in this case, since it seems the OP's pistol (provided no more hiccups) is just right: tight enough to avoid chatter and loose enough to do what is necessary.

[Mrick]

Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I'll be sure to post up a follow up.

[daveohno]

I hope whatever it was, is not going to occur again. It's good to see that it ran fine for the next 150 rounds. Like Slim said, keep a list and check it for problems if they occur.