1911 Magazine Problem ???

[eric.cartman]

Every time I load the magazine and put it in the gun, it fails to feed. I either release the slide using the slide catch, or by pulling it back a bit and releasing.

The round chambers about half way in, then jams. Most of the time, when I release the magazine while the round is jammed, it will snap right into battery. Sometimes it will not, and I have to pull it out and repeat the whole thing.

Is this a magazine problem? I've put at least 2000 rounds through the gun, so it's well past "break in" period. It's well oiled and cleaned.

WTH ??? $1000 gun and jams every time i take it to the range.

 

[Snubster]

Do you have another magazine you could try?

 

[SRT1]

Try loading the magazine two or three rounds short of maximum capacity. If you still have a problem, it's more than likely not the mag, but if it clears up, it's more than likely the mag. I had a .45 that did that for awhile when the mag was loaded to capacity. Turns out the force it took to strip the first one under all that tension was enough to not let the gun go into full battery. Short loading and eventually changing mags fixed it for me.
Good luck!

 

[cdrt]

Try another magazine. It may be an extractor problem and not the mag.

 

[possum]

what an ammo are you using? reloads or factory, and if factory what kind?

sounds like a mag problem to me though!

 

[eric.cartman]

WWB 230gr FMJ.
Happens more with one mag than with the other though.
Both are factory mags that came with the gun.

 

[10X]

What manufacture of gun? Any modifications from factory? What manufacture of mag? 7 or 8 round?

 

[eric.cartman]

Here's the gun: http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=19

Factory, 7 round mags. No modifications.

 

[10X]

This is the first round only? and not others in the mag?

Has it always done this ?

Right now I am leaning toward weak mag springs that don't provide enough force to the rear of the round and perhaps the need for different feeds lips (hybrid vs wadcutter) that will help first round feeding.

 

[eric.cartman]

First round mostly.
Sometimes when shooting 2nd, 3rd, 4th round...

 

[strat81]

Is this problem new? You mention the gun has 2K rounds through it. Did the problem just surface?

Have you done anything else to the gun? Change recoil springs? Adjust extractor? Use a Dremel? Swap barrels?

If you can, try another mag. Checkmate Industries or a factory Colt 7-rounder from Brownells are quality mags and should work. (Beware of bogus "colt" mags!)

 

[eric.cartman]

No, this happened from the first round through the gun.

 

[10X]

You have more tolerance than I do. I could not have waited 2,000 rounds to solve that problem.

A magazine with hybrid feed lips should help you.

These are:
Genuine Colt 7 rounders (not the 8 rounders) from Brownells (don't use any other supplier). These cost $26 each for the blue 7 rounders and $25 for SS.
Checkmate industries 7 rounders with hybrid feed lips. These are about $18. Checkmate is a government contractor for mags and also is a subcontractor that makes some of Colt's mags.

The Springfield mags have wadcutter feed lips, I believe. (Straight lips then a radical flair) The hybrid feed lips are a taper open to a slight flair. The hybrid feed lips allow the rounds to rise higher and sooner. I have a gun or two that would have the type of jams you described. The hybrids made a big difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One other test you can try to see if your extractor tension is too high.
Take out the extractor and try to cycle a full mag through the gun by hand. (stay away from the trigger). If they cycle fine, then you have too much extractor tension.
If that is the case, come back on this thread for further discussion.

 

[AZAndy]

My Springfield GI did the same thing. Turned out to be the extractor-- the hook end was ever so slightly too long. Threw a different kind in it (Wilson, I think, maybe Ed Brown) and it's been fine since. 10X's suggestion of removing the extractor and seeing if a round will chamber is a good test.

Andy

 

[jpwilly]

Yea, check out the extractor. Also will a slap from the back of the slide allow the round to go into battery?