Help with ACE problem

[Rugger]

I own a Colt ACE pistol S/N SM 343XX which was NIB a year ago, and which has been used about 10 times to date.
The pistol has always been used with new, good quality high speed ammunition, and has been thoroughly cleaned after each use. Only the original magazine has ever been used. At first the pistol functioned flawlessly even in rapid fire. At some point and for the last 4 times it has been used, the pistol began to experience failures to correctly chamber the rounds. Only the first 3 or four cartidges feed correctly out of each magazine load; after that cartidges get stuck at an angle and do not enter the chamber. Upon inspection of a fully loaded magazine, the cartiges in the first half (topmost) of the magazine are angled downwards instead of slightly (normally) upwards. Upon disassembly of the magazine, the magazine spring and all parts seem to be in normal condition. I have tried to re-assembly the magazine with its spring in its four possible positions without change in the angle of the cartidges or the occurrence of the failure to chamber correctly. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Best regards.

[kenhwind]

I had an ACE that was finicky, until I realized that the magazine was loose when being held by the mag catch. The gun was bought new and was a sweet Colt, but always jammed.
Well one day I insert a magazine in my .45 and noticed a difference. Put the ACE parts on the GM frame and went to the range and firied it flawlessly.
Had the mag catch welded and refit it, but evenyually replaced it.

If there is play when the magazine is in the gun that may be your issue.

They are tempermental though, but really cool when they work.

[dakota1911]

I know ACE mags are expensive, but maybe you could order another mag. The next guess is to try a new type of ammo you have not used so far. The third guess would be to take it apart and check everything again in the whole pistol.

[RickB]

I might suspect the mag spring, even if it looks OK. I have a .22 Conversion Unit and three Colt "factory" mags (at least one made by Metalform), two of them probably fifty or more years old, and have never had any feeding problems. I don't know if normal "1911" magazine springs will even work in the .22 magazines? You might try contacting Metalform.

[Rugger]

Thanks to all for your views. ¿Could anyone recomend where can I purchase 2 new magazines? I will give new mags. a try, although given that my pistol was manufactured around 1978 and it had never been fired, I would have never imagined my original mag. might be the issue. I wlll also check for play in the fit between mag. and frame.

Best regards,

[oldCop]

I have had similar issues with my Service Model Ace, and I have generally found it to be a result of a certain finickiness about ammo brand, or a lack of lubrication on the rails (mine wants a lot of CLP) which slows down the slide and results in failures to feed. Clean, wet, and it's preferred ammo brands make it perform very well. Good luck!

[DENDEN]

Rugger - if there are any gun shows in your area there are usually some "magazine guys". Occasionally you can find original Colt magazines new in the original bubble pak. Also try ebay and maybe some of the forums, including this one, in the want to buy area. Doubt if this is related to your current problem, but I have resorted to using a soft wire brush on a small bench grinder to clean the relief area on the floating chamber.

[lksstbls]

These guys http://metalformcompany.thomasnet.com/viewitems/pistol-magazines/0-22-caliber?&forward=1 make and sell Colt Ace magazines new, and sell on-line. They are also readily available on gunbroker.com (search Colt Ace). The going price for the gunbroker examples seems to be around $50 and I think the Metalforms are about the same.

I found Ace mags scrounging in old fashined gun shops. Paid $35 for the last one.

[oldCop]

Absolutely the recess on the floating chamber must be clean as Denden says...I have even used a dental pick. The Ace is a wonderful pistol, but it likes to be coddled for sure! After cleaning, a bit of CLP on the outside surface of the rear insert of the floating chamber helped mine.

[Rugger]

Thanks to all. I always fully clean my pistol, with particular attention to the floating chamber recess area. I took the pistol to the range yesterday. The first two mags. went well (using the same brand of high velocity ammo I have always used). On the third, FTFs begun as in the last times I had used the pistol. I dissasembled the magazine, took the verical metal bar (spring?) which is inserted from below into the body of the magazine, and pulled open a little more the raised bar which runs along the middle of the bar. This appears to have cured the problem and subsequently Y was able to fire 200 rnds. without a problem, even in rapid fire.

Best regards,

[oldCop]

Good news!

[GM4spd]

Thanks to all for your views. ¿Could anyone recomend where can I purchase 2 new magazines? I will give new mags. a try, although given that my pistol was manufactured around 1978 and it had never been fired, I would have never imagined my original mag. might be the issue. I wlll also check for play in the fit between mag. and frame.

Best regards,

I doubt if your mag is the issue,hopefully you can check out the areas people
have pointed out,I have had several Aces over the years and never had the
problem you described. You should be able to shoot a minimum BRICK at
one sitting before having any issues. They are usually very reliable,I find
that after 500 rds the barrel can become seriously leaded up and should be
cleaned(as well as the rest of the pistol). Here is mine with a WW2 mag that
has functioned flawlessly(I have never used the mag that came with the gun)
I guess I should check it! Pete

http://www.fototime.com/04153B1EBC04975/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/C228B63FCBDBE95/standard.jpg

[Rugger]

Thanks for the input. I am now using the original mag. together with one original ACE mag. and an original Service Model ACE mag. which I obtained NIB. The three of them work fairly well and I only get the ocasional FTF. These ocur in rapid fire, and I suspect either the trigger itself or my trigger control/technique in rapid fire. The feed lips on the two original NOS mags. appear to be rather closed thoug.

Best regards,

[GM4spd]

Thanks for the input. I am now using the original mag. together with one original ACE mag. and an original Service Model ACE mag. which I obtained NIB. The three of them work fairly well and I only get the ocasional FTF. These ocur in rapid fire, and I suspect either the trigger itself or my trigger control/technique in rapid fire. The feed lips on the two original NOS mags. appear to be rather closed thoug.

Best regards,

I don't believe a REGULAR Ace mag will work correctly,in a Service Model
Ace pistol. Are you referring to a pre WW2 ACE with a NON-floating
chamber barrel? If so dont use it in your SM Ace, Pete

[Rugger]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, it is an original pre-wwII, two-tone mag. marked only "ACE" in the base. Could you elaborate on why its use in my pistol is not advisable? Any harm to the pistol?

Best regards,

[GM4spd]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, it is an original pre-wwII, two-tone mag. marked only "ACE" in the base. Could you elaborate on why its use in my pistol is not advisable? Any harm to the pistol?

Best regards,

You may damage your slide stop and you could damage the follower tab
(in the mag)that hits the slide stop. The 2 tone prewar ACE mag is valuable and could
be sold for a good sum to a collector that needs it for an original Ace pistol.
Although--ONE caveat-- there were EARLY SM Ace mags that were NOT
marked "SERVICE MODEL" but again this is EVEN more Rare and should not
be used.Really need a good picture to determine what you have, Pete