FTE (?) live rounds

[studs_turkel]

Moved post to http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?p=398938#post398938
I picked up a new SA Lightweight Champion Operator, it is my first 1911 and my first pistol. I have about 300 rounds through it and only have one issue. When I try to eject a live round the round becomes lodged between the front of the ejection port on the inside of the slide at the top. This is happens about 75% of the time. It doesn't matter if the mag is empty, full, or removed. I only have 2 SA mags and it happens with both of them. It also doesn't matter if it is FMJ or HP rounds. Am I doing something wrong?

I will be picking up some snapcaps on the way home from the office. If i should move this to a different forum let me know.
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(PS. The candy is leftover from the pinata at Beersgiving.)

[studs_turkel]

I picked up a brand new SA Lightweight Champion Operator a couple of weeks ago, it is my first 1911 and my first pistol. I have about 300 rounds through it and only have the following issue. When I try to eject a live round the round becomes lodged between the front of the ejection port on the inside of the slide at the top. This is happens about 75% of the time. It doesn't matter if the mag is empty, full, or removed. I only have 2 SA mags and it happens with both of them. It also doesn't matter if it is FMJ or HP rounds. Am I doing something wrong? What can I do less wrong to eliminate this problem?

I will be picking up some snapcaps on the way home from the office. I posted this orignally in the SA forum, but thought it might be more appropriate here.

(PS. The candy is leftover from the pinata at Beersgiving.)

[berkbw]

sounds like you need to knock off a couple of thou off of the ejector is you're using factory ammo.

b-

[Tom]

With how much force are you using to clear the unspent round? Are you gently pulling the slide back, or are you applying enough force to truly simulate the normal action of the weapon?

[studs_turkel]

I am pretty sure I am using enough force and speed, sometimes I feel like I am using TOO much pressure. The times that it works the slides goes further back, the times it doesn't work the slide gets locked up with the round. Tonight, I will take a picture from above where the ejector is visible.

I am nowhere near competent / confident enough to bring a dremel, file or any other tool of destruction near my prized tool of destruction. Would that be something I should send it back to SA on a warranty issue?

[EnglishChannel]

I have a relatively new Champion Operator just like yours that has been completely reliable out of the box. No problems whatsoever.

I sometimes have that problem with my Micro Compact. I find that I need to be very aggressive with racking the slide to get the rounds to eject effectively. Has more to do with speed than force from what I can tell.

[berkbw]

If you can stand to be w/o it, sending it back to SA would be the best of all bets.

b-

[kcshooter]

I don't have any Springfields in 4" barrel length, but that looks to me like a standard "combat", or extended, ejector.
I think it is likely the ejector has a small finger or tang that extends slightly over the magazine well when you look thru the ejection port, instead of being flush with the well like a Gov't length one. Most 4" will have the extended ejector to get the spent round out faster since there is an inch less slide stroke. Normal operation.
Since most of my tinkering is on full lengths, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[headhog]

From the picture it looks like the round is already starting to eject at that point in the slide travel. This is way too early. The rim of the case should not be making contact with the ejector until the slide has completely past the barrel hood. Based on what I can see in the picture, it looks like the slide should have at least 1/8" more rearward travel before the ejector contacts the case rim.

With the gun unloaded, watch for the ejector to appear in the corner of the breach face as you move the slide rearward. You should not see the ejector appear until the slide has completely covered the barrel hood. If you do see the ejector appear before, something is wrong with the ejector. Or maybe somethig is lodged in the ejector tunnel on the slide. Start here and see what you find.

[studs_turkel]

I attempted again last night and was able to re-create the problem (although only about 25% of the time.) With snapcaps I wasn't able to get it to lodge, but the snapcaps were considerably shorter than the live rounds. The snapcaps did have their own problems however.

When shooting the gun I have never had a problem ejecting spent brass (300+ rounds so far.) The spent brass does seem to fly rather far though, about 10-15 feet at the 3-4 oclock.

Here are some additional images, hopefully someone can see something wrong. I will be calling SA this afternoon and find out what they think about the problem, I don't mind being without my gun for a few weeks, but I don't know if this is a major enough issue to send it back to them.

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http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/549/img2463zt5.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5559/img2474vh5.jpg

[studs_turkel]

I attempted again last night and was able to re-create the problem (although only about 25% of the time.) With snapcaps I wasn't able to get it to lodge, but the snapcaps were considerably shorter than the live rounds. The snapcaps did have their own problems however.

When shooting the gun I have never had a problem ejecting spent brass (300+ rounds so far.) The spent brass does seem to fly rather far though, about 10-15 feet at the 3-4 oclock.

Here are some additional images, hopefully someone can see something wrong. I will be calling SA this afternoon and find out what they think about the problem, I don't mind being without my gun for a few weeks, but I don't know if this is a major enough issue to send it back to them.

Images Hosted by ImageShack.us
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/549/img2463zt5.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5559/img2474vh5.jpg

[niemi24s]

Well, it certainly does have an extended ejector.

Ufortunately, I've got no idea whether your gun's supposed to have - or will work - with an extended ejector.

Hopefully, somebody that knows will chime in soon. Cheers.

[headhog]

I am buy any means no expert on 4" Springfields, but that ejector looks way too long. I have several different full size Springfield's and none of their ejector come close to that length.

I also have a 4" Kimber that runs perfectly with all ammo, and the ejector is much shorter. The ejector does not protrude that far over the magazine. That ejector just looks wrong to me. If it were my Champion, it would be making a trip back to SA.

[F.D. Coonrod]

Looks like Short Slide/Long Ejector to me. anybody disagree? Good luck.

[studs_turkel]

I got my piece back from SA yesterday. They were in agreement with everyone here, the ejector was too long. I can't tell if they repaired or replaced it. I hand-cycled 64 rounds through with out a hiccup. I am still not happy about having to send a brand new pistol back to the manufactuerer but their turn-around time of 2 weeks wasn't too horrible.

Thanks again to everyone for their help/thoughts.