New Defender Troubles

[Hank Dodge]

I'm looking for some input here. I've got a Defender that I bought new a couple of months ago. It has had a consistent problem of intermittently not fully chambering rounds. When I first got the pistol, working the slide and letting it go forward, unloaded and without a magazine inserted, it would hang-up just as the slide was about to return to battery. The slide could not be pushed forward, and would have to be drawn rearward and then released to return to battery. This has been a recurring problem with this pistol throughout the 700+ rounds that I've put through the gun. In use, it continues to hang-up with great regularity just as a round gets about half-way into the chamber. The only way to get it unjammed is to draw the slide to the rear and release it again. I've taken it apart and see no obvious problems with assembly. Also, I have purchased and am using the recommended Wilson magazines.

Any input in resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated.

[Bud White]

So its hanging the round between the breechface/mag/barrel hood or chamber? ya got new mags and same thing.. check the breechface for roughness .. Extractor for to much tension ..

Another thing to do but make sure your extremely careful (barrel pointed downrange.. no part of you in front of it etc etc)is to tap the end of the barrel with a piece of wood and see if it finish's chambering .. or push it on the bench at the range if it wont mess up the muzzle.

If it chambers then ya need to check ramp angle.. and there something else im forgetting ..


also send it to colt before ya really do anything .. your way past any lame break in # they should come up with

[DENDEN]

Don't forget that Colt will take care of this for you. There customer service is normally exceptional.

[Hank Dodge]

When it was new (no rounds ever fired) it would hang-up with the gun unloaded. I had forgotten, but...yes, tapping back on the face of the barrel would allow the slide to return to battery. Tapping on the rear did nothing, it was locked up solid. Now, after repeatedly working the slide manually and shooting it a bit, it does not hang-up empty any longer.... just when shooting it. I am using quality new FMJ ammunition as well. Do you think it will eventually get past this?

[daveohno]

It might, but 700 rounds should have been more than enough to tell if it would work itself out. Call Colt and have them service it. I've sent a couple of pistols back to them and they've been very good by me.

[Agent 45]

If it hangs up without the mag then obviously it isn't a mag related issue. The frame might be out of spec, and not aligned correctly. As Bud said.... might be a ramp issue as well. If tapping on the barrel returned it to battery, the barrel might be catching the slide at some point...

At this point, it sounds like you have an issue that Colt needs to address. Best of luck, and rest assured that Colt will correct it for you.

[Bud White]

I wouldn't Expect it to get past this Back to colt it should go ..

[1911Tuner]

That's a classic 3-Point Jam. Magazine may be a factor, but it's usually feed and barrel ramp geometry. The search button will help. Posting functional issues on the board titled "Gunsmithing and Troubleshooting" will get quicker answers.

Cheers!