Feeding Problems........... Help

[morpheus]

Hello, I am new to this website, but I hope to learn about the 1911 more.

Anyway, I am having problems with my Colt M1911 Commander. I have always read that the M1911 has preformed good with all types of ammo. But my pistol is having a problem. Whenever I shoot the pistol the ammo gets caught when the slide feeds the bullet into the barrel chamber. The bullet jams when it is very close to completely feeding the bullet all the way.

Just to explain a little, I have bought 2 Ed Brown magazines and have cleaned the pistol throughly many times before and after this feeding problem has occured (it has happened the last two times I have been out to the range).

My limited guess on what I could be the problem would be to replace the spring. But of course I am not an expert so if anyone can help me, it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[wichaka]

My first guess is a possible link problem. The barrel is rising into battery too soon, when the bullet is just entering the throat.

Of course it could be a more simple thing such as polishing the ramp and the barrel throat itself.

What kind of ammo are you using when it happens? How often does it happen? As in out of x rounds, it happens x times.

[morpheus]

Well when I first incountered this problem, my gunsmith did polish the ramp. The ammo the pistol likes best is UMC. It doesn't like Winchester or Speer. But I want to buy some Black Hills to see how that works. The problem almost allways occurs either the second to last or last round. I really can't think of anything that would make this pistol do this. :confused:

[John]

Weak recoil spring? Barrel link too long?

1911Tuner has just written an article on this problem. Check it out in the "Gunsmithing" Forums, "Technical Articles from M1911.ORG.

Rgds

[wichaka]

Sometimes when its the last or so round in a mag., its a sign that the mag. spring may be a bit weak. It isn't putting enough pressure on the round(s) to help it feed properly. Although I think you mentioned the mags are new?

John has a good point too, it may be a weak recoil spring. How many rounds have been thru it since its been changed?

Also John pointed out, and what I mentioned in my first post, but didn't elaborate on, which is a link problem. Re-read my first post. That's caused by a long link, or one that has wore out enough that the link holes are now elongated enough to allow the 'long link' effect. Also, an after market slide stop with the .200 stem (or pin) will help tighten up the link slop. A good tell tale sign of that is the wear pattern on the slide stop pin. Alot of guns come out of the factory with sloppy links and pins. And with all that metal slammin' around during a normal firing cycle, they get battered pretty good after awhile.

Speaking of which John, the slide stop I'm sending you has the .200 pin.

Anyway, there's some things to chew on. Check out Tuners section too.

[John]

Speaking of which John, the slide stop I'm sending you has the .200 pin.
Does that mean it will not fit in my standard hole?

John is not too good at all the flavors of slide stops. John just wants a checkered slide stop. John is to sleepy, with too little caffeine in his system. John has to go now.

JOHN IS PUZZLED!

LoL

[1911Tuner]

Hmmmm....

I'm inclined to agree with wichaka's diagnosis, assuming that the magazine is okay. The magazine is always the first suspect with a feeding problem....BUT...there are too many pistols that have escaped from Colt recently with the barrels riding the links into lockup. A weak recoil spring would make the burp more likely on the top rounds instead of the last one or two. If the pistol is set up correctly, it should feed with a 10-pound spring.

Check a couple of things...

When a round hangs up, eject it and look for a crescent-shaped mark on the
side of the case about an eighth of an inch below the mouth. If that mark is
there, it's called a 3-point jam..or stem bind. Proceed to...

Check the barrel throat at the top. Is there a sharp corner there...or is
it rounded off and smooth? If it's sharp, lightly scrape the corner with the tip of a good pocketknife to break that corner, and polish it with 600 grit wet or dry paper on your fingertip. All it needs is a light bevel. Don't get carried away. If you have a Dremel, take it out in the driveway and hit it 5 or 6 times with a sledge hammer so you won't be tempted to use it. If the corner is smooth, proceed to...

Swing the link forward so that the hole lines up with the centerline of the
radius of the lower lug. If the slidestop pin was in the hole, would it touch
the radius...or would the pin be held away from the lug by more than the thickness of a sheet of paper? The pin should lightly rub the radius of the lug,
and stay in light contact all the way into lockup. If it doesn't, the barrel
will rise too abruptly when the bullet nose strikes the throat, and can cause a
3-point jam.

If these things check out okay...Beg, borrow steal, or buy a known good magazine and try it. If that doesn't help, remove the extractor and clean
it and its channel, and pay particular attention to the breechface where the
hook protrudes through.

Standin' by...

Tuner

[wichaka]

Does that mean it will not fit in my standard hole?

John is not too good at all the flavors of slide stops. John just wants a checkered slide stop. John is to sleepy, with too little caffeine in his system. John has to go now.

JOHN IS PUZZLED!

LoL


Whoa John, yes it will fit, it means there will be less slop on the link in that area.

[1911Tuner]

Whoa John, yes it will fit, it means there will be less slop on the link in that area.

The max dimension pin will also provide tighter vertical lockup at the rear of the barrel, and slightly earlier unlock timing. The difference that it would make between a .195 pin and a .200 pin would be small, but everything means something.

Generally speaking, tighter vertical lockup is a good thing, if the barrel isn't
already standing on the link. If the link is locking the barrel, it could cause
problems. The good news is that the top of the link's pin hole can be elongated a few thousandths to offset the difference without losing the benefits

Luck!

Tuner

[John]

OK, you got me worried there, for a moment.

Now, if I get the chance, I'll snap some pictures of the barrel in my .45, I need your opinion on that.

Let me go and do some ... artistic work.

Tnx and rgds

[wichaka]

If that doesn't help, remove the extractor and clean
it and its channel, and pay particular attention to the breechface where the
hook protrudes through.

Standin' by...

Tuner


Ah! forgot about the extractor, I can count on you to watch my 6!

[1911Tuner]

Ah! forgot about the extractor, I can count on you to watch my 6!

:cool: I'll watch yours if you'll watch mine! Gettin' old here...I tends ta fergit
a lotta stuff.

[John]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but here are my two favorite remote-diagnostic-specialists.

Gents, have a look at http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?p=3228#post3228

Rgds and tnx

[wichaka]

Okay......hopefully I'm viewing the pics right. But there may be something I'm missing due to the angles of the shots.......

How old is the gun? I've not seen a barrel that shiny in awhile.

Pic-1 & 2; Indents on the back side of the lugs? or bad pic? If they're indents, that's what we call in the Law Enforcement biz " a clue ".

Pic-3 Again either a bad pic, or the lugs are uneven where the slide stop pin rides.

Pic-4 Like Tuner said, the sides are not a concern as long as the barrel freely moves. Most factory barrels I see have some machining marks on them.

Pic-6, Ya I see the same thing. Need to dress some areas there, especially on the left side (right side on the pic)

Pic-7 ok

Pic-8, 9 & 10; Ugh! I'm going to take a stab at this Tuner, but a link problem coupled with the barrel lugs. The hood is not linking down far enough when unlocked especially in pic-10. Unless the pic is mis-leading, the barrel should be down at that point, but it appears that something is holding it up?
Me thinks, that the barrel lugs and/or a link has caused the problem. Yes, I'd like a view of the barrel and slide lugs John. If they show what Tuners talking about, then there's your culprit.

I don't have my 1911 manuals handy, but doing some quick measurements will solve the crime.

That's my first take on it. I'll look the pics over a few more times. Its one of those things where I may see new things everytime I look.

[1911Tuner]

Wichaka said:

Pic-3 Again either a bad pic, or the lugs are uneven where the slide stop pin rides.

Yep..I saw that too...Gotta wonder who smithed it after the tiggin' was done...and why the flats were filed in front of the radius...and who gave
him a file??? <-----Kiddin'. :D


Not to worry, Commandante...Tunerlock Holmes and Dr. Wichaka are on the case.

Too bad he's clean across the big pond, hey Doc? If he was in North Carolina,
I'd like ta have a crack at that ol' slabsides. :cool:

[morpheus]

Wow, thanks for all the info guys. I will try to see if I can find the problem with all the info you gave me. Thanks

morpheus

[wichaka]

Tuner, what was your take on pic-10?
It appears that the slide is back far enough, the barrel has unlocked and should be linked down farther than it is? Or is it the pic?

[John]

Guys (Tuner and Wichaka) , please take your posts at the other thread I've started.

This one : http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?p=3228#post3228

[1911Tuner]

Whoops! Sorry John. Go ahead and move'em if you want to.

Hard to say on #10 wichaka..Waitin' for John to do the check....but it looks
like you're right.