Smokey cases

[The Z]

I notice that some 1911 45s leave a smoke stain on one side of the fired cases and some don't. What causes this and does it indicate a prolem?

[headhog]

Reloads or factory ammo? Light loads (reloads) are the usual culprit. The case doesn't expand enough to seal the chamber. So some of the gasses sneak past the case causing the smoked sides. If factory loads are causing this, then there might be a problem.

[The Z]

Smoke stain occured with CCI 230gr ball. Stain at about 10o'clock and extending back two thirds of case. When snow lets up a little I will try a different brand of ammo.

[spoor]

I've seen this with my PT1911. Haven't had any problems with the operation or accuracy so far,(other than me not being a very good shot that is). I have noticed the sides of some of my brass to have black smoke on them.

[berkbw]

I have also noted this.

You might try marking the 12:00 on a case/rim, and see where in these guns the powder blow happens.

I'm thinking that some "cheap" barrels have low spots in the chamber, and some others might have 1)too little case support at the bottom [6:00], This might be "enhanced" by a large headspace.

Also - look carefully at the rounds before you load them. I have had, in the same box, rounds that were +/- 5' from being "true".

SO- if the "stains" are repeatable with various ammo batches, think chamber, or chamber to barrel. If not think barrel. Look closely at the 6:00 positioned "stains", and freeplay of the cartridge in the chamber toward the breech face. This is called "headspace", and the difference of 1 1/2 hairswidth of a young male can be the difference between :bang" and "Ka-Boom".

Making things short, it's the barrel - but not the "whys".

b-

[headhog]

Some good advice above. Make sure you mark the cases so you can index them into the chamber and see if this happens in the same postition on the case each time.