Defender ammo vs. slide speed reliability question...

[Pokem]

So, I've read the Defender reliability threads but need to ask a more specific question to Defender owners that have had reliability problems before. I know many of you have Defenders that will eat anything so this question may not apply to you unless you have had to deal with this question in the past as well.

First, a little background. My Defender was purchased new by me less than a year ago. I shot it a couple of times (reliable with ball ammo only) and then sent it to my gunsmith (good reputation) for the usual minor changes plus a reliability job (throated, actually opened up the ejection port too, what else? Polished? I forget offhand, sorry). It shoots good with ball but not with hollow points yet. My next session I'll try a new recoil spring assembly and some Corbon 165 gr. Powerball ammo. My usual 185 gr. Winchester Golden Sabers are catching at various times (2nd round, 5th round, last round, etc. ie: at any point) on the feed ramp (thus I'll attempt to see what a new recoil spring will do). I will also pick up some new Wilson seven round magazines to eliminate the possibility that my mag spring tensions are too low for this gun. My mags work fine in my like new (less than 300 rounds since new Colt CCO). My Colt mags (with the orange plastic follower) function the same as the Wilsons; good in my CCO and Kimber Compact but not great in the Defender. The Defender may be pickier due to slide speed / short slide syndrome, thus, I'll get some fresh magazines (I do not have the time these days to order and change mag springs and I want some more plastic follower type mags anyhow for the CCO and Defender).

Sorry for the long winded post but I know the background info is important and it will save the 20 questions game.

My reason for this post is: Corbon Powerball ammo has the round nose and is reputed to help reliability while still giving the advantage of good expansion. I understand that the Powerball's penetration is disputed but that is another issue.
My question is: Wouldn't the 165 gr Powerball contribute to the faster slide speed which is not desirable in a short barreled 1911?

Note: When I troubleshoot I know to make one change at a time to see what works.

Thanks for your input!

[ranburr]

If it works with ball, have you considered using a 230 HP that mimicks that load? I have zero problems with my Defender.

ranburr

[Pokem]

My 230gr HP Golden Sabers would not feed well. 230gr Hydra Shocks would not feed well either. Can't remember if I tried any other 230 HPs.

185gr Hornady and 185gr Golden Sabers would not feed reliably either.

[dakota1911]

I have found my Defender to be the most forgiving of differnt types of ammo of any little .45 ACP auto and that includes non-1911 .45 autos like the Glock36.

I guess it depends on what you want. If you want a HP that works then the 230 gr. would make sense as ranburr suggests.

Years ago (mid 80's) I used a little Detonics as a backup to a full size Colt Gov. The full length Colt mags had to work in both guns even though they stuck out the bottom a of the Detontics a bit and the ammo had to work in both guns. Even then I remember the 230gr Hollowpoints were about the best with both guns. I think Winchester used to make a 185 gr. that was good too.

Of course for practice, if you handloaded, you could play all you wanted, but that is another part of the forum I think.

[Old Grump]

But reading your post and the troubles with the different kinds of ammo and the inconsistency which it hangs up it either needs a better polishing job,(unlikely), or you are having magazine problems. See if your gunsmith has the jig to adjust the lips of your magazine/s. I have seen to many people with needle nose pliers at the range cussin and fussin with their magazines, never with success.

[Pokem]

Thanks for the info folks, I appreciate it!

[michael t]

Mine works with all ammo Ive tried I carry the Corbon 185DPX +P It only runs mid 900'sFPS from Defender and recoil is min.

[Hawkmoon]

Have you tried Colt 6-round factory Officers ACP magazines?

A Defender should work with any ammo. And Remington's Golden Saber has a bullet shape that's not very different from FMJ, so it should feed in almost any pistol. I am worried by the fact that you said your 'smith throated the barrel, because I really don't think the barrel needed to be throated. That may be contributing to the problem, and unfortunately you now can't ask Colt to fix it (at least, not on their nickel) because it's no longer in OEM condition/configuration.

Can you post a photo of the chamber and ramp area -- in the pistol?

As to the question:

My question is: Wouldn't the 165 gr Powerball contribute to the faster slide speed which is not desirable in a short barreled 1911?

Why would it? Assuming a load similar to a "standard" 230-grain FMJ load, you have the same amount of expanding gas pushing a lighter bullet forward and pushing the same slide and barrel mass backward. Seems to me if anything it would make the slide move slower.

[safd]

+1 on having your smith look at it again. If you had some sort of reliability package done to it, I would think it would eat anything.

[Pokem]

Yes, I will take this pistol back to the gunsmith for another look. I have cleaned and lubed it since my last outing and I would like to shoot it again this way prior to returning to the gunsmith. I would also like to try some different magazines (new Wilsons and the Colt six rounders sounds like a good idea as well).

Thanks again for the input.