New Combat Commander - problems

[macosxuser]

About 2 years ago, I bought a brand new Combat Commander. This was my first handgun when I turned 21, and I choose it because:

1. I had wanted a 1911 forever
2. Colt seemed like the logical choice for best quality
3. I got what I considered a screamin deal on it ($630 new)

I had a ton of issues with feed initially, to which all my 1911 buddies chalked up to being a new, tight gun. I put 500 rounds through it, without much improvement, fully broke it down and cleaned/lubed the whole thing with a knowledgeable person looking over my shoulder. Still missfeeding all the time.

I then started paying close attention to what brands of ammo were miss feeding. Winchester won't feed at all, about 10% of cartridges load. Remington round nose seem to have about a 90% success rate. Still not at all acceptable...

Two years and... 1500 rounds or so in and it still misfeeds. It seems to have something to do with cartridge overall length varying a few thousandths. Too short, and the nose of the cartridge drops and hits the bottom of the feed ramp, jamming it.

Anyone have any solutions that I can try? I'm wiling to take it to a gunsmith and have it fixed... if there is one I can trust locally, but in socal I don't know of a 1911 expert.

I've considered shipping it to Springfield custom shop for some work, maybe have them look at it.

I love the gun, but i'm insanely jealous of my buddies Kimber that has been flawless out of the box...

[M203Sniper]

http://www.novaksights.com/1911.htm#Function_&_Reliability_

Novak Function & Reliability Package
Reliability Package
Crown Barrel
Two Novak Magazines (8rds)
Replace All Springs (Recoil, Firing Pin, Main, Sear, & Plunger Tube Springs) Inspection of all Components for Serviceability
Test Fire with 50 rounds
$ 295.00 + Shipping

or something similar from a smith of your choosing.

[lksstbls]

I have a 30 year old CC (pre-80 Series) that I bought a year or so ago and gave to a local 1911 smith with the direction to "make it eat anything" which he did. Round nose, hollow point, wad cutter, whatever from any magazine that I own.

Sounds like you have a fundamental problem with the pistol, not ammo. I'm sure that someone more knowledgeable than I can give you some specific advice on steps to take. Round nose fmj factory ammo ought to be no problem for any properly manufactured 1911.

Edited to add: From a thread on the 10-8 forum (can't get the link to work) Hilton Yam, a 1911 guy of some reputation, lists the possible causes of your problem as:

(1) rough breech face
(2) burred firing pin hole
(3) excessive extractor tension
(4) inappropriate extractor geometry
(5) issues with the geometry and surface finish of the feed ramp and barrel

The accompanying photo shows a round nose bullet, parallel to the bore but about a quarter inch below the bore axis, with the nose of the bullet jammed against the barrel throat. Hope this helps.

[macosxuser]

If you can describe more precisely the failure-to-feed, those more knowledgeable than I can probably give you some specific advice. Round nose fmj factory ammo ought to be no problem for any properly manufactured 1911.

The typical failure to feed is that the nose of the cartridge drops enough that it gets caught where the barrel and the feed ramp come together. That keeps the cartridge from entering the chamber at all, and ends up jammed with the cartridge 'all askew'...

The Novak package is the closest i've seen to what I want to do, I really don't want to ship it out, but will if I have to.

[Hawkmoon]

I've considered shipping it to Springfield custom shop for some work, maybe have them look at it.
Why would you send a Colt to the Springfield Armory custom shop? Send the gun back to Colt and they'll fix it for free.

Sounds to me like either weak magazine springs, or an out-of-spec slide stop that sticks too far into the mag well and impinges on the ogive of the next round's bullet as the cartridge comes up out of the magazine. Take the gun to the range again, and take a good flashlight. When the stoppage occurs, take a close look and see if the side of the bullet is wedged under the lug of the slide stop.

If so, a replacement slide stop might be all you need ... or just a light touch with a half-round jeweler's file.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/AguilaBlanca/M1911-ORG/SlideStop.jpg

[Bluffton45]

Maco,
Listen to Hawkmoon. An excellent drawing & instructions. You have a the gun you always wanted and it is a good gun. You have lived with a minor problem for way too long. Nothing wrong w/ Kimber but it's not a Colt!

I assume you have tried other magazines. If not, do so. By all means send the gun to Colt if it isn't running after above.

Good shooting!!
Ron

[wichaka]

PM sent.......

[macosxuser]

Maco,
Listen to Hawkmoon. An excellent drawing & instructions. You have a the gun you always wanted and it is a good gun. You have lived with a minor problem for way too long. Nothing wrong w/ Kimber but it's not a Colt!

I assume you have tried other magazines. If not, do so. By all means send the gun to Colt if it isn't running after above.

Good shooting!!
Ron

Will do. I've tried every Magazine i've gotten my hands on, including Chip McCormick, Wilson, Colt, cheapo, Novak... Novak seemed to work best, followed by the Colt factory. I guess I'll go buy some Winchester and see how it jams, maybe take some pics.

[roach4047]

Man your telling my exact story. I too got a screamin deal on my first ever gun purchase. A 70 series Combat Commander over 20 years old never fired and in it's original box that did exactly what you speak of. Don't make the mistake that I did and sell it off thinking that you must rid yourself of a problematic gun before you get stuck with a dud on your hands. That would be a HUGE mistake on your part. Even if it cost a little bit of money you'll be glad with your decision once it's in good working order and in no time the little bit of money that was spent on making the pistol right will mean nothing. They guy that I sold my Colt to practically stole it from me and he put something like $70.00 total into it and said that it shot like a dream. He turned around and sold it for a profit before I ever had the chance to buy it back. I've always regretted having sold it.

Roach

[AJD]

Send it to Colt, they will be able to fix it and will probably to it for free.

[macosxuser]

I've always regretted having sold it.

Roach

Yeah, in California we learn early... never sell a gun. Tomorrow it may be illegal.

[makemine.45]

Had a lot of problems with mine too, primarily 3-point jams. I wound up replacing magazine springs with extra-power Wolff springs, dropping in a new 18lb recoil spring, giving the breech face a light polish, and adjusting the extractor tension. Runs 100% with Wilson and Act Mag magazines, still acts up with the factory mags, and I haven't had a chance to try my new Mec-Gar mags yet. It can be sensitive to ammo that is out of spec, but has never failed to function with Federal Hydrashock or Remington Golden Saber with any of my magazines.

[John]

It's impossible to diagnose a problem without a detailed description of the condition of the pistol when the stoppage occurs.

When does the stoppage happens? While firing? While loading the round manually from the magazine? When the stoppage occurs, where is the nose of the jammed round? Is it inside the barrel's chamber or is it wedged against the frame's feeding ramp? Where is the rim of the round when the stoppage occurs? Is it wedged by the slide? Is the rim under the extractor claw or below it?

Give us more details, if you want us to help you out.

[daveohno]

macosxuser, Welcome to the forum! :wc:

If you feel handy, I'm sure Wichaka, Hawks and others suggestions will help. If you don't want to tinker with things, call Colt and arrange for the factory to take a look at it for you. You are the original owner and you haven't had a gunsmith or a bubba smith work it over, so they'll most likely fix it for free. 2 things to remember, if you take this course of action, first, remember to let the customer service people know you want to be reimbursed for shipping and second, give them a detailed, precise description of what it is doing wrong. Colt is an old fashioned company, they'll fix it within the 30 days they usually promise to and they'll send it back to you without letting you know it's done. For some reason, they don't utilize email very much. But they do fix the pistol, which is what you need.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Hi -

I had a similar problem, and here in SoCal I also did not know of a good smith. Lots of good info here - you already have some great advice above. I would suggest that you do the easiest, least expensive "fix" attempts first - especially those that do not alter the pistol. First, check extractor tension (go to tech section - there's info). Second, get some Wolff 11# mag springs and change springs in factory mag (I'm assuming they're seven rounders - if they are 8 round factory mags, get some seven rounders from Checkmate). Document all failures to feed (are they FTRB, or FTF? there is a difference).

Don't get frustrated - this is a great learning opportunity, and you will get the pistol to run properly. Remember, there is the option of sending back to Colt for free fix. However, it may be something relatively simple.

Good luck!

[egumpher]

Sounds to me like either weak magazine springs, or an out-of-spec slide stop that sticks too far into the mag well and impinges on the ogive of the next round's bullet as the cartridge comes up out of the magazine. Take the gun to the range again, and take a good flashlight. When the stoppage occurs, take a close look and see if the side of the bullet is wedged under the lug of the slide stop.

If so, a replacement slide stop might be all you need ... or just a light touch with a half-round jeweler's file.


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/AguilaBlanca/M1911-ORG/SlideStop.jpg

Thank you Hawkmoon!

I own a Commander that doesn’t feed some ammo properly creating a three point jam. I just cycled the problem ammo and noticed that the bullet would move foreword then move to the right as it tried to enter the chamber.

I filled my slide stop as you suggested and the problem disappeared. Now I can't wait to try more ammo. Thank you.

Rgds
Eric

[macosxuser]

Thanks for all the help so far guys, looks like I have a plan of action now, and just have to find the time to implement it. The helpfulness and generosity of the forum has already impressed me greatly.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Mac -

By the way, welcome to the Forum. Where in SoCal are you?

[Archie]

Sounds like a bad feed ramp. It needs finished, in real terms. Colt should have done this in the manufacturing process, and seem to have missed it. Normally 1911s are finished to feed hardball. Usually they will feed other shapes close to hardball, but not always. Yours sounds one step down from feeding hardball. It isn't right; but you knew that.

Please don't think I don't like Colts, I have have five or six 1911 pistols and the only one that isn't a Colt is a 1918 Remington UMC war gun.

Talk to Colt first and then send it to them. If they can't - or you don't agree with what they want you to do - Alan Tanaka in Gardena can make a 1911 do anything reasonable, and perhaps not so reasonable, too.

[VFRpilotJim]

I like the "send it to Colt" idea. Any 1911-type gun that won't feed hardball has a problem; and since that is obviously the case, Colt will fix it free. They may even examine your magazines if you send them with the gun.

Jim

[dogdollar]

I would most definitely give Colt a shot at fixing it first. It sounds like something that will be very obvious to a gunsmith.

If, for some reason, that prospect doesn't appeal to you, then I would send it to John Harrison at Harrison Custom in Kennesaw, Georgia. He used to do a full evaluation for the gun (Reliability Package) for $85 (Ask about current pricing) and he will tell you everything he finds that needs correcting. Then you two can work out what you want done. He is fair, relatively fast, and of unquestionable reputation. One bonus of this option is that you also get to know one of the finest pistolsmiths working today, which might come in handy for your future needs.
Whichever option you like, you will probably be on the hook for the shipping both ways ($120-150), so the only difference is the $85.
Tell him DogDollar sent ya !!!
Let us know how it goes.
DD

[DuckRyder]

Definitely cannot argue with John Harrison he is fantastic,

However,

It the pistol is under warranty, Colt will pay the shipping. You will have to pay it upfront, but they will reimburse you if you mail a copy of the receipt to them and ship it back on their dime.

Additionally, if there is something serious wrong and you send it to Colt there can be no question as to the origin of the offending work.

BTW, don't touch the feed ramp, more than one 1911 has been destroyed by non professional feed ramp improvements...

[wichaka]

BTW, don't touch the feed ramp, more than one 1911 has been destroyed by non professional feed ramp improvements...


Hmmmm, interesting statement.

macosxuser sent me the entire top end to look over. Thinking it would be a quick fix, and in most cases it is, thought I'd do the M1911.org neighborly thing and help him out.

I looked over the top end, the extractor clocks, not tensioned or prepped properly.....but the main problem...the feed ramp of the barrel had been over polished to the point where it took off metal, changing the ramp angle.
Thus when the a round tried to feed, it ends nose up into the top of the chamber.

With some of the ramp missing, and the danger of exposing the case head too much, I tried to change the ramp angle, but couldn't do much with it.

I put it on one of my Commander frames, and got it to run 98% of the time......it may run different on his frame. It's been sent back to him, will see how it goes.

Here's a pic of the barrel ramp....

http://w3.gorge.net/scshields/barrelramp.jpg

[EchoBravoKilo]

Hmmm - was this a new, from the factory pistol (i.e., not worked on by someone else)? If so, that is quite interesting. Hey, everyone (even Colt) is allowed to let one slip past now and then.

In any event, if this is new pistol, I'd send it Colt - they'll make it right.

[DuckRyder]

Hmmm - was this a new, from the factory pistol (i.e., not worked on by someone else)? If so, that is quite interesting. ....In any event, if this is new pistol, I'd send it Colt - they'll make it right.

I agree on all points, that barrel ramp looks pretty rough.

[wichaka]

This is not a from the factory barrel...someone had done some work on it. A bit too much work.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Ah, that explains it (the WECSOG strikes again)...

[macosxuser]

Ah, that explains it (the WECSOG strikes again)...

Just to be clear, I purchased the gun "New" from a local gun shop, with NOTHING to indicate to me that it had ever been fired, much less worked on after it left the factory. Not knowing enough about the shape the ramp should be, I had/have no clue what it should look like. I did polish the ramp on the FRAME a little, but only with fine emery cloth, and not enough to remove material. In the last 2 years I've owned it, no one has touched the barrel.

Many thanks go to wichaka for taking all the time to fiddle/fix with it, and continuing help with recommending course of action. My inclination right now is to have a Wilson match barrel/bushing combo in.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Sorry to hear about the situation. I hope it gets resolved quickly so you can enjoy your Colt.

[vashooter]

Just to be clear, I purchased the gun "New" from a local gun shop, with NOTHING to indicate to me that it had ever been fired, much less worked on after it left the factory. Not knowing enough about the shape the ramp should be, I had/have no clue what it should look like. I did polish the ramp on the FRAME a little, but only with fine emery cloth, and not enough to remove material. In the last 2 years I've owned it, no one has touched the barrel.

Many thanks go to wichaka for taking all the time to fiddle/fix with it, and continuing help with recommending course of action. My inclination right now is to have a Wilson match barrel/bushing combo in.
Wichaka was giving you great advice on the slide stop. It will actually cause a round to hang up. Wilson Combat will also make the gun very right with a little cash on your part. :D Hope to hear you have this resolved and let us know how she shoots after her transformation. I for one am very interested to see and hear how she does after a trip to Bill Wilson.. Welcome to the forum :appld: Floyd