Failure to Feed

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hi All,

Got a quick question:

I was doing some dry fire practice with my 1911 last night. When I was done, I went to reload.

Using the slingshot method, utilizing the recoil spring and not hanging on to the slide, the first Hydra-Shok hanged on the ramp.

I cleared it and tried it again. Same result.

Tried another magazine. Same result. Different round. Same result.

I had not messed with anything at all, and it shot the Hydra-Shok fine when I test fired it. Hand fed fine too.

I very lightly, so as not to change any angles, gave the ramp a couple swipes with a piece of very fine sandpaper, then cleaned the gun extremely well. (It was already clean.)

It's feeding slick as snot again.

This is the first time it's failed to feed anything, and it concerns me because I can't figure out what happened. I'd been carrying it on my side for about a week, probably like this.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe there's always been a very thin film of lube on the ramp (though I wipe it down very well with a dry cloth after cleaning it, so as not to contaminate the primers) and maybe it needs that to function.

There were no burrs on the feed ramp I could detect. The mags are Wilson 47, no D. Recoil spring is in good shape and should need changed for a while yet. It's an 18# spring, and a swap to a new 16# I had laying around didn't change anything.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Josh <><

 

[Mad Magyar]

It appears that you've isolated the feed ramp. I'm assuming that std FMJ is a non-issue. Like you, I try to keep that area extremely shiny & I also use a quick swipe of oil. Not sure I'd use sand-paper, I like to go "Bubba" with my Dremel tool for polishing...
What kind of 1911 do you have?
BTW, I like your link....Hope to be a member...

 

[Spartacus451]

Does it feed with the extractor removed? Tr a Colt 7-round mag or a Checkmate 7 round hybrid style mag.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hi Folks,

It would run straight into the frame's feed ramp and stop.

Right after I posted this, I took some rubbing compound on a rag and really polished it to a mirror finish. Figured it couldn't hurt - the rubbing/polishing compound isn't enough to change the angles unless it's on a Dremel or something (and I figure even then it's doubtful...)

After shining up, it feeds slicker than I ever thought possible, lubed or dry. I guess maybe there was something it was hanging on that I couldn't see. The ramp was somewhat dinged up prior to polishing.

Problem found and solved.

Thanks folks.

Josh <><