Colt New Agent problems

[Rangemeister]

Evening, I am posting on this forum for the first time so be kind.

I recently acquired a Colt New Agent. I admired this gun for a while and finally got one. When I got the thing home, I noticed that sometimes it would not go into battery fully. I thought maybe a good cleaning and a trip to the range would change this small problem.

I went to the range today and after 70 rds or so, I came away with a little disappointment. First, the thing chunked a couple of spent rounds into my forehead. One of which really zapped me. A third landed right on top of my otherwise balding noggin.

But the biggest problem was the fact that three rounds did not get into battery.

I came home and cleaned this little buggar and then I function tested it. If I pull the slide back about a half inch, it goes back into battery fine. If I pull the slide about 2 to 21/2 inches back, the thing locks up in the barrel area. I can correct the problem by simply pulling the slide quickly to the rear and allowing the slide to return equally as quick. However, If I let the slide return a little slower, it locks up the barrel about every 5th ot 6th time. Or, if I push down on the barrel at the ejection port, it slams back into battery. Wow...

I pulled the gun apart and noticed unusual scrape marks on the top of the barrel lugs. Before I went to the range, I lightly sanded those same marks down so they returned with the use of the gun.

HELP. Like many others I know Colt would make this right, but I really like carrying this gun and would hate to have it sit unused somewhere.

Does anyone know what, where, how this might be corrected locally? I have a good friend who works with me and is quite 1911 savy. Is it something he might know how to fix? He is gone for the weekend or I would call. This is very frustrating.

:butthead:

[Murphjup]

Well I have a New "New Agent" as well and I have not fired it yet... But I could tell you if I was having problems like that with a brand new pistol and spent a good dollar on it would be going back to Colt...

Remember you might void your warranty by working on it yourself... IMHO...

I would at least talk to them and see what happens, but I would be cautious about doing any work on it yourself...

Let us know what you do...

:)

[Rangemeister]

Thanks Murph, I totally agree. I will wait and call Colt Monday, you know how it is to have your sights set on something, get it late Friday, then have it weird out on you when all the offices are closed. Do I sound like a kid? Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Murphjup]

Yes I have been there... But after I worked on it myself I was always sorry I didn't send it back initially...

Hang in there it will get worked out...

:)

[clughog]

Welcome to the forum, Rangemeister. Sorry you're having problems with your New Agent. Haven't heard of many folks finding problems with them, but there will always be a few anomalies. Definitely agree that you should send it back rather than work on it yourself, given the problems you describe. Mine needed just minor adjustment which I felt comfortable doing myself...yours sounds a little more complicated. Colt will make it right and it will be well worth the wait. Good luck!

[paul45]

Perhaps you should check extractor tension.....

[1911Tuner]

Or, if I push down on the barrel at the ejection port, it slams back into battery. Wow...

Three-Point Jam. Betcha there's a little mark on the side of the case just below the mouth that looks like this---> ) and probably goes "ka-chunk" when you release the slide with the slidestop during a reload on a full magazine...I betcha.

Bullet nose is pushing the barrel forward and up too early...before the slide times it by striking the barrel hood.

Extractor tension may be involved...but it's more likely a combination of the frame ramp and barrel ramp geometry. I also suspect that it came with a 7-round magazine instead of a 6-rounder...assuming that the Agent is built on an Officer's Model frame...or an 8-round magazine instead of a 7-rounder if it's on a Commander or GM frame. Haven't seen an Agent yet...so I'm takin' potshots.

[twin oaks]

What kind of ammo are you feeding it? If you're feeding hardball, and still having the problem I'd say send it to Colt. Try Tuner approved mags with hardball, you could just be having mag issues, but the mention of the empties hitting you kinda screams extractor, IMO.

[1911Tuner]

the mention of the empties hitting you kinda screams extractor, IMO.

Probably a combination of things...including the extractor. A major contributor to empty case "head shots" often turns out to be the short slide travel and the far oversprung slide that most of the chopped-down variants are equipped with.

What is actually happening is that the case is bouncing off the lower wall of the port, and into the path of the rearward-moving slide...and the slide bats it straight backward into your face. Bad JuJu.

Look for brass tracks around the ejection port. They're there.

[Rangemeister]

Right on! There are brass tracks on the lower rear end of the ejector port. Also, I used 50 rounds of hardball and 21 rounds of JHP, various manu..Winchester and Remington. And yes, all 7 round mags.

Does anyone know if Colt refunds shipping costs in these matters?
Thanks you guys. I will call Colt Monday and see what they say. :)

[clughog]

Colt will reimburse you for the shipping costs. Customer Service asked me to send them a copy of the receipt along with a letter requesting reimbursement, plus it would be helpful to send them a copy of the letter Colt will send you acknowledging receipt of your pistol and accepting it for warranty repair. I've sent two back and they've been great to deal with.

[Rangemeister]

Thanks ever so much for the input. :)

[Murphjup]

Rangemister...

I'm glad you got some good warranty senerios about Colt.....

I can tell you if mine has those problems, it's going back too.... I would rather have them fix it than me...

Let us know how it goes..

:)

[Murphjup]

How did it go with Colt?

:)

[Rangemeister]

The latest on the New Agent saga......I called Colt and they told me to send the gun in and that if it was found to be a manufacturing defect, they will replace shipping cost. They also said not to send until after the New Year, cause they are shutting down. In the meantime, I sneaked about 30 rds on the range during lunch yesterday (work at a Corrections Training Site) and all fmj and jhp got out without problem. My 1911 guy I mentioned earlier says he thinks it will work out with a little more range time. It still jams up while operating the slide and I got clunked once. Since I don't reload this could get quite expensive. Thanks for your insight you guys! Happy Hoildays.... :D

[Rangemeister]

I continue to shoot my New Agent. The last 75 rds was not remarkable. In other words, shot very straight and had no malfunctions. This is a great 7 to 10 yard gun! Unloaded, it still will not allow the slide to travel freely forward unless you sling shot it. Pull it back and hold the slide as it returns and it will hang up nearly everytime. I will shoot it a few more times over the next week or 10 days and then if no improvement, back to the factory. I do love this gun though. Merry Christmas to all! :)

[Rangemeister]

The New Agent went to Colt in early January. Did not get a letter saying they rec'd the gun. I read in an earlier post that I should have. Will call this week. Thanks for the input everyone. :confused:

[Rangemeister]

Received New Agent this past Wednesday. The gun functions well. The repair notes state they 1.)adjusted the extractor 2.) replaced the recoil spring and 3.) returned functions to factory specs. The thing works, just need to take to range. When do they refund the shipping? :)

[clughog]

Glad you got it back, Rangemeister. Colt just sent my shipping reimbursement in a separate check. Looking forward to hearing how it shoots!

[Rangemeister]

Have now shot the New Agent 150 rds and am very pleased. This gun handles and shoots very nice indeed. I read how to use the "sight rail" and can shoot pretty accurately. It is no target gun, but is more than adequate for personal protection. This gun is a keeper. Pass it on.... :geek: