Round loading problem

[cliff7535]

Hi: First; I have a pxt45e/ssp, single stack. I am a new gun owner so please excuse my lack of technical terms. My problem is that when I load seven rounds into either clip, the last or seventh round will not load into the chamber. the round looks like it jams on the ramp. When I load six rounds there is no problem. At this time I have run almost a thousand rounds thru the gun, about two hundred ball loads and the rest reloads. Thanks for any suggestions: Cliff

[Hunter]

Have you changed magazines to see if that could be the problem? Could be a weak magazine spring. When is the last time you field stripped and cleaned it? What sort of ammunition is giving you the trouble? Have you tried some different ammunition as well?

[stans]

And when you load, are you letting the slide go forward under it's own weight and spring pressure or are you keeping your hand on the slide and slowing it? It's called "riding the slide" and is not recommended as it will often cause a feeding jam.

[cliff7535]

Hi, Hunter and Stan; First, I have a friend who is going to loan me some extra clips to try. Next; I have field cleaned the gun, but not field striped it to clean. I have used different types of amo, and all of them jam at the last or seventh round. Last, at first I was "riding the slide, but then I was taught to let it go properly. I asked one of the guys at turners sporting goods, where I baught the gun, and was told that it sounds like a ramp problem, and I should take it to a good gunsmith and have the ramp polished. Anyway thanks again for the advice. Cliff

[John]

Somehow I do not believe there is something wrong with the ramp of the pistol. If it was, then most probably it wouldn't choke only on the last round in the magazine. Try some other magazines first, I think you have a magazine problem.

[cliff7535]

Hi John: Since posting here there have been several long time gun owners who all agree that my problem sounds like a clip problem. The only thing that bothers me is that the two clips that came with my gun, both have the same problem. Incidently: I e-mailed PARA about my problem and Iamb afraid that I did not state the condition properly, and I received somewhat of a sacastic reply. So much for the great Para tech service. Anyway, thanks for your suggestions. Cliff

[SMMAssociates]

Cliff:

I'm a little unsure what's happening.... :confused:

Is the top round in the magazine refusing to go into the chamber as you try to shoot the gun - when you work the slide?

Or is it the bottom round doing that as you fire the gun and empty the magazine?

I can't think of a good reason for the first possibility, but feed ramp or handling issues would be worth a look, as well as lubrication problems. I've got a .22 here that's a jam-o-matic but actually seems to shoot better when it's so dirty that I can't move the slide manually.

The second possibility is usually caused by a defective magazine or a weak magazine spring. Ammunition issues can get into the act, too, but if you're shooting "round nose" lead or jacketed ammo, that shouldn't be a problem. Try some other magazines if possible and see how that works. Wolff Gunsprings has all kinds of replacement springs, and aren't very expensive. Tripp conversion kits are also inexpensive. This is one of those "all night discussion" issues - everybody's got a favorite magazine, although Para mags seem to work better in Para double-stackers.... You sort of pick something that works and run with it.... I think the Tripp magazines are super, but haven't actually tried them! (The principle is sound, IMHO, and the conversion magazines work well. I think the full Tripp magazines ought to be extremely reliable. But I've been wrong before. I think it was in 1967.... :D )

About terminology: The top round in a magazine is called the "top" or "first", and the bottom one is called the "last".... (I'm not trying to be insulting - we don't count 'em by the order in which they're inserted; rather, by the order they're in when sitting there in the magazine.)

A "clip" is usually used to describe the little metal holder that's used to insert ammunition into a gun with a fixed magazine - generally in groups of six or more rounds. (Or the thing that holds rimless rounds for use in a revolver.)

A "magazine" is the thing (sometimes detachable) that the ammunition is in when ready to use. Common usuage makes them interchangeable, but "we" tend to try for the above definitions.

Fortunately, nobody here is really going to care :D .

Welcome aboard!

FWIW, everybody tells me to not use Kimber mags. I've got four of them for a Kimber "Custom Carry" - "Officer's" style .45, and they're fine. I have some GI mags that grew Tripp conversions when my favorite dealer sold me a bunch of semi-wadcutters (sort of a conical bullet) that my Colt Commander didn't like. The conversions dropped the failure rate to "merely annoying" for those, and round-nose lead reloads to just under 100%. The GI mags were fine with ball before that anyway....

Reloads, btw, unless you're extremely anal about the brass and the project in general, tend to demonstrate every know mode of failure possible, and a few that nobody ever heard of. Really good results with good quality reloads should give you 100% with virgin factory loads. If not, put those magazines aside for "range only"....

Welcome to the group. There are a lot of seriously compentent folk hanging about here. And me.... ;)

Regards,

[John]

What sort of magazines are they? Please describe the follower to us. Is there a dimple in the follower or not, right in the middle of the follower shelf. Try emailing PO again and describe the exact problem and where the stuck round ends at.

Their service is exemplary and I am sure if they will do everything to help you out.

[SMMAssociates]

John:

Forgot about the dimples.... Theres's a "sticky" thread on that from Tuner here someplace, too....

Funny thing - those Kimber mags don't have them! They're 7-round, but "Officer's" length. The follower compresses to allow the seventh round to fit....

I think, even with the goofy follower, the six-round short magazine may behave well enough either way. During the gun's break-in period, I used those GI magazines with the Tripp conversion, too. Worked fine. Downside is you don't slam one of those home with the slide open.

Regards,

[John]

LoL, yes, it's not good to slam a longer magazine home, with the slide open. Not that I have this problem, both my pistols are the Gov. length, the only thing I have to watch out for, is that I do not use a 9mm mag in the .45 pistol and vice versa. Even I, ain't that stupid though! :)

[SMMAssociates]

John:

That would be kind of funny.... As the slide comes to battery, the first round flies across the room. Casing and all....

(I don't think it'd do that, but....)

I was shooting .380's and 9mm's one night and managed to put .380's into the 9mm magazine. The first round stripped off the magazine properly (in the 9mm gun) and fired normally. But wouldn't extract. That's when I figured out what I'd done.

Ruptured the case, but no damage done. S&W M39.... Alloy frame, but if you've not run into one, it's the same size as a Commander, so you can imagine the abuse it can take in the smaller caliber.

Regards,

[cliff7535]

Hi guys! I just talked to a Mr George Wedge at Para-ordinance, and do I feel foolish. It appears that the 250 semi wad cutters that I fired when I broke the gun in, may have slightly damaged the top of the slides, which may be the cause of the failure of the last round in the mags. to not load. those of you who suspected the magazines are very likely right. Anyway! thanks for all your great replies, and I am going to try a couple of new mags. Cliff

[cliff7535]

One for thing from me. Mr Wedge also clued me in to the difference between a clip and a magazine. My nomanclature comes from my army days back in 1947 and carrying a carbine. once again Thanks for all the great advice! Cliff