Hello all,

I am a new Auto Ordnance 1911 owner. It is brand new. The packaging says deluxe model, but it looks like a plane jane GI to me, except for a differing hammer, and grip safety but the correct mainspring housing.

Anyways I will post pics up here by Wed, (have to work tonight and tmrw). Right now, the pistol is all field stripped and soaking up oil. Once the kitchen is clear it will go in the oven for a bit... Anyways the parked coat really shows lots of scratches. So, hopefully after soaking up grease in the oven it will look better. Actually I will probably do oil in the oven first then put grease on in oven after I shoot it and confirm it works, so I can leave it leech the extra for awhile. It cycled rounds and ejected reliably, while testing.

Hey there is one problem though, the magazine doesn't fall freely? I press mag release and it drops an inch and then it needs to be pulled out. Even with 2 rounds in mag (to function check) it didn't. I bought a chip mcormick shooting star mag, and that doesn't even drop at all. I have to pull it out!!!

So, if anyone could give input on the mag problem that would be great! (I am worried but could it be just tight because its new?)

Let me know some fixes for the scratches, its not a safe queen so I don't care, just like it to look okay. Yes, I know park is hard to cover up scratches, but it came with the scratches from being handled by people looking at it, mostly from racking the action.


Later,
Paul

AO pistols are a pretty good deal. I did a review on the 1911A1 Model last year and I liked it enough to buy it from Kahr.
I would check the stock screw bushings to see if they are sticking through the received enough to cause the magazine to drag.
If not take a look inside and see what it could be dragging on.
Why is it you are putting it in the oven?
The scratches are an eye sore but I have learned to live with them on my carry pistols, I tell myself they are character.
Welcome to the forum.

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Thanks hunter,

I will check the bushings, I have attempted to see what it was. Its the last inch or so the mag really drags up there. Pushing them with little effort from the slide locked back on the follower, makes them drop clean, so it can't be much holding them.


I am putting it in the oven to absorb oil. Its absorbed enough right now to be okay to fire. You see parkerizing is an incomplete finish. It needs oil and grease to finish it. I didn't put it in the oven today yet. The military firearms had cosmoline on them and were put over time in warehouses. The cosmoline leeched into the parkerizing. This gave a great rust-free finish. So, to duplicate that, I have done some research and you can put it in the oven to speed up the process and open up the parkerizing pores to accept oil/grease. Some have reported this phenomenon in AZ where our temps are hot, oiling the metal surfaces really helps after cleaning where we strip all oil off. If in the midwest/rust belt this cleaning without oiling the metal or pre-protecting it like with an oven can and will cause rust. I will try and find a few links on it, its a neat process

Later, and much thanks!
Paul

Concerning the Magazine not falling free, I'd also check that the sear spring isn't protruding through it's slot in the lower frame where it anchors behind the mainspring housing. If it is, remove it and file it until it fits flush.

Best of luck, and happy shooting!

+1 on the sear spring.Look on the back of your mags to see if there are deep scratches.I had this problem and after changing the sear spring the mags started dropping out.

as I just got a new WWII 1911 from AO and the mag catch sticks in the open position due to mold seams on the parts thet werent properly blended before finishing, but thats the start of the laundry list of things that convinced me that I should have spent my money on a Springfield or a Dan Wesson.

RedRiver6

Do not be discouraged with your purchase. I have an AO with 4500 rounds by me I bought it used. Some may take a little tweaking to get them right. But for the money there is nothing better on the market. I have had my Deluxe model for three years and have not had any major issues. I did have to retention the extractor a couple of week ago but nothing else besides a good cleaning now and then.

Mike

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I love my Kahr AO. Besides throwing brass at my nugget, the only problem I had was with the factory mag catch shattering. No biggie, I was looking at and did get an extended one from brownells anyway. IMHO, every GI model is a project gun anyway, and all you really need is a good frame and slide. For under $500 you cant beat that. Also, dont let the "newness" discourage you. Put a few thousand rounds through it, let it work out its own kinks, and youll have a nice, reliable pistol. If your having serious problems with your new AO, their CS is GREAT in my experiences. And on closing: The one thing Ive learned from this website is that there are always gonna be problems with any company, and all you can ask for is good CS.

Had a few good friends with 1911 experience take a look, one said for sure its the mag release, the other didn't know but both said take it and shoot it and it should be allright. After putting the mag in and out for awhile the mags are easier to take out and stuff, still not dropping but better. Anyways here are some pics. I am still going through them to get some good ones. Its hard to take good ones to show the scratches on the mags.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/...1er/1911013.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/...1er/1911012.jpg


The scratches are on both sides some run down the whole thing, the one is parallel with the mag release. Hopefully I will get to shoot it soon. Just have to find time.

Later,
Paul


Sorry on a comp that doesn't have image editing so couldnt make it smaller. Will get a good one of it all assembled and looking pretty and 800x600 soon....

I think all it needs is wear. I think mine was pretty stiff like that too. Just keep working it in and out, or let it sort itself out.