Feeding problem

[SATM]

I’m having a feeding problem. The gun is a Springfield Trophy match 45.

I’ve shot more than 800 rounds, usually about 200 during a session. It consistently jams about 10 times during a session of 200 rounds. It occurs when firing as well as just dropping the slide on a full magazine. (using only 230 grain FMJ)

I talked to Springfield and they said send it back. They did the following; polished the feed ramp, reamed the barrel, and refit the barrel.
After getting it back I shot another 200 rounds, same thing, the only difference is that the jams are not as tight and most of the time and I can push on the back of the slide and it will go into battery, then I can continue.

I talked to Springfield again and they ask me to go shoot another 200 rounds and see if it gets better. Same thing happened. During my most recent outing, 3 jams while dropping slide on full magazine, and 6 jams while shooting.

Is it possible I could be doing something to cause this?
Or what might be causing this?

I would appreciate any input, and let me say this forum is great!

[brownie]

Hi SATM,

Since you can get it to go into battery by pushing on the back of the slide, I'd guess you're having a failure to return to battery. This is often caused by excessive extractor tension, less often by insufficient mag spring tension.

Try removing the extractor and hand cycling it. If it feeds smoothly, then extractor tension is at least part of the problem. Adjusting it is pretty straight-forward and there are a number of posts in this forum that will tell you how to do it. Do a search on "extractor tension" or "adjusting extractor".

[1911Tuner]

When ya hit the slidestop on a full mag...does it go "Ker-Chunk"...?

[SATM]

When ya hit the slidestop on a full mag...does it go "Ker-Chunk"...?

Yes, it does sound like there are two distinct sounds.

[1911Tuner]

3-Point Jam. Excess extractor tension can make the rtendency worse, but isn;t the root cause. The issue is that the bullet nose is hitting the barrel ramp and pusing it forward...advancing its timing into the slide.

Likely a feed ramp angle problem...or the barrel ramp angle...or a combination of both.

Lay the barrel in the frame bed...slidestop pin through the link...and push it all the way rearward. There should be a gap between the top of the frame ramp and the lower edge of the barrel ramp. This gap should be a 32nd inch or a little more...but not a lot more. less than a 32nd isn't good.

If it's the frame ramp angle, it can be hard to fix for an inexperienced hand...and a little trcky for an old salt like moi...and sometimes impossible without major surgery.

Likely the reason that Springfield didn't get it fixed is because they don't recognize the problem for what it is, and for what causes it.

[SATM]

This gap should be a 32nd inch or a little more...but not a lot more. less than a 32nd isn't good.

It seems to be a little more, almost a 16th.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/dvdwlls/p51808e.jpg

[Ridgerunner665]

WOW...I don't know much ...but that appears to be waaaay too much.

[Ridgerunner665]

Did you push it towards the grip (rearward)???
Just makin sure...

[niemi24s]

Hi SATM:

Excellent picture! I can plainly see the marked area on the frame's ramp where the noses of the FMJ bullet have been hitting.

However, I think I can see a similarly marked area on the barrel ramp - but my old eyes may be playing tricks on me. Bullets hitting the barrel ramp are certain to cause problems.

Can you see any evidence of bullet nose contact on the barrel ramp?

Is the ammo you're using CCI Blazer Brass?

[SATM]

Can you see any evidence of bullet nose contact on the barrel ramp?

Is the ammo you're using CCI Blazer Brass?
There is contact on the barrel ramp. I'm using Winchester 230 FMJ.

Did you push it towards the grip (rearward)???

I did have the barrel pushed back toward the grip

[52dragon1911]

It seems to be a little more, almost a 16th.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/dvdwlls/p51808e.jpg

here's mine(feeds 100%)

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f195/52dragon/Picture247.jpg

[1911Tuner]

That's way YONDER too much gap. The cartridge is breaking over to horizontal, and straight into the barrel ramp.

From here, it's hard to make a call on why the ramp is so far forward. Could be the ramp...could be the lower barrel lug is mislocated...could be the frame ramp is out of spec, front to rear. I'd suggest having a pro take a look at it.

[dsonyay]

Why wouldn't the warranty shop have caught that? Seems they checked over that area seeing how they polished up the ramp. Seems like a big gap to me too.

I would think when a 1911 goes back to the manufacturer they would measure angles, dimensions, and all the basics to rule out an out of spec frame, slide, or barrel.

[1911Tuner]

would think when a 1911 goes back to the manufacturer they would measure angles, dimensions, and all the basics to rule out an out of spec frame, slide, or barrel.

I couldn't agree more, but...sadly...from some of the work that I've seen come from warranty stations...this doesn't seem to be the case any more. At least, not across the board on all guns returned.

[dsonyay]

I couldn't agree more, but...sadly...from some of the work that I've seen come from warranty stations...this doesn't seem to be the case any more. At least, not across the board on all guns returned.

I've read a bunch of your posts over the past week and with as much as you know about the 1911, I would expect employees at the SA shop to know at least what you do. That's not good if they are not as knowledgeable as they should be. Kinda makes me wonder how good these folks really are when they build the high end stuff like the Professional. Or is that a whole different pool of people?

[1911Tuner]

I would expect employees at the SA shop to know at least what you do.

Would ya now?

:)

I guess I've been imagining things with all the pistols I've gotten to run after sometimes 2 and even 3 times back to various factories...and most of the time...it was somethin' so simple that even a caveman woulda seen it. In a couple of the more sinister, stubborn cases...my work would have been simpler if I'd gotten the gun before the hack worked on it. Like the Smith & Wesson 1911 clone that belongs to member Tony Bob. I won't name names. You can search for the thread if you wanna see the details. Or...just shoot him a PM. He's disgusted enough with'em to tell ya the whole, sordid story.

But...that's meat for another thread.