RIA 1911 Nightmare!

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Panzerschwein

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It just keeps getting worse.

After replacing the faulty slide stop on my RIA Tac II Ultra with a Wilson Combat bulletproof slide stop, I found that cured my premature slide stop issues.

Now today at the range, I put 100 rounds of Magtech 230 grain ball through the gun. On the last (and only last) round of every single magazine (using Wilson Combat ETM mags), I had awful failures to eject. On every last shot, the spent case would wedge itself like this:

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So after firing all the rounds, I noticed that the feed lips on my magazines didn't look right:

20160509_192304_1.jpg

So now my awesome tactical Rock Island 1911 won't eject the last casing and jams up horribly, AND it ruined both of the feed lips on my expensive Wilson Combat magazines. The gun ran fine on every single round except the last round in each mag.

I'm about to drop this dud, sell it for a loss. What should I do?? Please help! :(
 
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Edit....

Take the slide off and check the extractor tension. Make sure its not too tight especially. Check the ejector too. One of them is likely your problem. I'd guess too much tension on the extractor.

The slide stop may not have been a problem all along.

While the slide is off load a round in a mag ( if you have one left) and slide it into the frame. Make sure nothing is in the way of feeding or nothing that will force the bullet to misalign such as a bent extractor.











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Were you having slide stop issues with the same magazines?

The fact that a spent case is hanging up in the gun every magazine tells me something else is not right. The slide stop should have done its job and locked to the rear on the last round, not let the slide attempt to return to battery.

Do you by chance drop the slide on a round you have placed in the chamber by hand? I ask because the 1911 will operate (if set up properly) without extractor or ejector. Except for the last round.

Without having the pistol in hand, I'd advise to first go back to known good mags. Even if the Wilsons were good before, they are questionable now.

Secondly, take a look at your ejector. The first six in the mag will be pushed clear of the gun by the round underneath, while the last has nothing to push it clear and usually gets caught.

Third, if you are in the habit of dropping a round into the chamber bu hand then dropping the slide, you may have damaged the extractor, causing the malfunction. Probably the least likely of the three.
 
Could be the extractor and /or the 18.5 lb recoil spring. I had one of my rocks that allowed the cases to be slammed by the hood. They usually ejected but not always. Mostly happened with the last round. Most folks, including me, thought the magazines were at fault. Swapped over to a 16 lb spring and never had the problem again.
 
If the extractor tension is too tight it will not feed. The over tensioned extractor won't allow the rim of the case to slide under the extractor claw. Looks like not enough tension.
 
I'd find a really good 1911 Smith who is willing to work on it without just throwing parts at it until it runs right.

If your willing to dump it real cheap shoot me a PM. I have a local 1911 Smith who could make it right.
 
I'd find a really good 1911 Smith who is willing to work on it without just throwing parts at it until it runs right.

If your willing to dump it real cheap shoot me a PM. I have a local 1911 Smith who could make it right.
No, I'm not trying to dump it "real cheap". Thanks though. :rolleyes:
 
Call RIA or send them an email. RIA has a great reputation for fixing or replacing products that are defective.
 
That ETM mag is junk now. The spent case was forced back into the feed lips, which is why they're bent.

I don't know if WC will replace it, can't hurt to ask.

I would check extractor tension, and see if the firing pin stop is poorly fitted allowing the extractor to rotate.

Like frogfurr said, it looks like it isn't enough tension. It looks like the extractor claw is letting go before it hits the ejector.
 
Sounds like the new slide stop might need a little fitting. Try some different magazines.

The stepped down part of the magazine follower should contact the slide stop and push it up. See if you can put an empty mag in and pull the slide back and it should lock open. Try the same with a dummy round or snap cap.

I had a similar problem with a few different mags.
 
Sorry to hear of your troubles, I personally believe you've joined the ranks of 1911 owners who will have problems with their gun that need to be rung out.
It may take 1 or 2 hundred dollars in parts or smithing to get it squared away or who knows how many trips back.
If it were me I'd try doing it myself. I'd also take a look at some of your preceding threads and consider the emotion and expectations that drive your purchases.

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Sounds like the new slide stop might need a little fitting. Try some different magazines.

The stepped down part of the magazine follower should contact the slide stop and push it up. See if you can put an empty mag in and pull the slide back and it should lock open. Try the same with a dummy round or snap cap.

I had a similar problem with a few different mags.
It did need fitting, so I sanded down the pin part and it snapped into place properly. I really don't think it's that part. It was working great, no premature slide lock like before.

I should also mention that I originally tried to file down the OEM slide stop as I read this will cure the premature slide lock... but I went a bit too far, so the Act mags wouldn't reliably lock open on an empty mag. So I bought the Wilson Combat part.

So, I guess I voided my warranty and RIA won't be able to help me now.

God, just kill me. :(
 
Put the gun back to its original configuration and contact Armscor. They WILL fix you up. When I had a problem, they paid for shipping both ways (UPS picked it up at my front door) and and they actually wound up giving me a brand new gun that they hand-selected and tested. Even more incredible, the reason it was unfixable wasn't even their fault; my body chemistry turned out to be incompatible with their nickel finish. If they fix or replace it, they will hand-select the parts and test it to ensure it works properly before you get it back. I cannot say enough good things about their customer service. The pistol I received to replace it (in Parkerized finish; my choice) is MUCH nicer in fit and finish than the original.
 
Put the gun back to its original configuration and contact Armscor. They WILL fix you up. When I had a problem, they paid for shipping both ways (UPS picked it up at my front door) and and they actually wound up giving me a brand new gun that they hand-selected and tested. Even more incredible, the reason it was unfixable wasn't even their fault; my body chemistry turned out to be incompatible with their nickel finish. If they fix or replace it, they will hand-select the parts and test it to ensure it works properly before you get it back. I cannot say enough good things about their customer service. The pistol I received to replace it (in Parkerized finish; my choice) is MUCH nicer in fit and finish than the original.
I filed a bit on the inside lug of the original slide stop... it would be obvious if they got it back and saw that I did that. I'm afraid they would reject it and send it back or something.
 
Thanks guys, somebody on a different forum is mailing me a RIA slide stop. I'll put it in and send the pistol back in it's original configuration, they'll never know.
 
As ljnowell said, don't make permanent alterations trying to fix a brand new firearm. If it doesn't run right, send it back. Armscor has the best customer service I've ever seen, and they will make it right. My original 1911 had accuracy issues; that was the real reason I sent it back. But after they got it, they discovered the finish issues. I thought it was just dirty and needed a deep cleaning, but they knew what was causing it and offered me a new gun in my choice of finishes. Any other manufacturer would have said "You should have known better before buying copper-based nickel", fixed the accuracy problem, and sent it back. But no, they made it more than right.
 
Your magazine follower is in backwards................



^^^^ Definitely this ^^^^
If you switch it around you may have success with the etm's even with the lips ding'd up. Give it a try before you send it in if not too late.

Edit: hmmmm... I will take a look at mine when I return home.
No it isn't. That is the proper orientation for a Wilson ETM.
 
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This is what it should look like. Notch oriented toward notch in mag.
 
That is correct. The Wilson ETM Magazines have a bullet shaped impression in the top of the follower that is oriented in the same direction as a bullet loaded into the magazine.
 
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