I think my Springfield Mil-Spec 1911-A1 needs a new extractor...

[D-Day]

This thing is giving me headaches like nothing else. I took it to the range today to see if it was still having problems after cleaning/lubing, and it did. It seems like the extractor doesn't fully grab the casing, and it doesn't always get pulled out of the chamber, and when the slide goes to load another round, it gets wedged up against the empty shell and the top of the slide.

I was using A-Merc and Federal Eagle*, granted, but I did this back in June with about 5 different boxes of ammo (Black Hills, Magtech, Sellier & Bellot, Remington), and another quality brand I forgot. I thought it was just picky about ammo, but it's doing it with nearly every FMJ.

Sometimes it'll fire a full mag with no problems, other times I have to clear the malf every 2nd round. I kept testing to 3 mags. One was the factory stainless 7rd mag, a regular cheap 7rd mag, and a Wilson 10 rounder. It didn't discriminate. Who needs snap caps to practice FTF/FTE's when you have this piece of training equipment?

I've been trying to narrow this problem down for a long time. Thought it was the quality of the mags, then maybe it needed a better kind of lube, perhaps a different brand of ammo, maybe this, maybe that...I'd also like to get a new recoil spring, if anyone has suggestions. Standard 5" mil-spec model.

But seeing what kind of malfunction it is, it seems like the extractor is not doing its job. Is there a better quality extractor I can get? Any suggestions? Or perhaps advice on tensioning the extractor?


* I used A-Merc and Federal Eagle in my Springfield Armory V-16 Long Slide, and it didn't malfunction once in over 300 rounds.

 

[EHL]

I think you're right about the extractor not doing it's job. Don't know if you need a new one though. Depends how many bullets you've fed your gun in it's lifetime. THe extractor just might need to get tuned. Any competent smithie can do that for you for a minimal charge. I did that to my extractor and it gave it a new lease on life! You may want to look at your ejector as a possibility too, or maybe a combination of the two?

 

[jim147]

My brothers GI model had similar problems with the extractor. Had to tune it up a little.
Go to gunsmithing and check stickys at the top of page.

 

[sniper7369]

I had exactly the same problem with my Auto Ordinance 1911. I dropped in a new extractor and recoil spring. Now it is no longer a FTF/FTE training tool.

 

[D-Day]

Hmm, good to know. I just wanna get this fixed. It's disconcerting.

 

[rcmodel]

You won't live long enough to wear out an extractor.

Take the slide off and see if it will hold a round on the breachface just from extractor spring tension.

If not, take out the extractor, and clean the hole with a .22 bore brush & solvent. Follow that up with pipe cleaners.

Now, stick the extractor halfway back in the hole, and bend more curve in it until it will hold a round on the breachface.

If it still won't work, you might have to file off just a tad of metal on the front pad where it contacts the inside of the slide hole to get more movement.

rcmodel

 

[XDKingslayer]

Now it is no longer a FTF/FTE training tool.

Sorry...but that's funny.

 

[kcshooter]

My MilSpec needed the extractor adjusted out of the box also, but mine was overly tight, not overly loose. You should be able to simply tweak it back into operation. If you want to replace it, there are several great ones out there, and my personal favorite is the Wilson bulletproof.

 

[AndyC]

Might also be the extractor clocking due to a loose firing-pin stop (clocking = turning as viewed from the rear).

 

[AK103K]

You won't live long enough to wear out an extractor.

Oh, really?

Early 1990's Springfield. First I've broke, but probably about the tenth I've had to deal with in some fashion. Mostly a tune was all that was needed, but I've replaced two others than this one. Why they dont tune them before they ship them is a wonderment.

 

[.45&TKD]

I know that SA was notorious for making/using bad extractors years back. I had a Loaded model with that problem. I learned to tune it and it still jammed. Replaced it with a Wilson Bullet Proof Extractor and that solved the problem.

 

[D-Day]

It's really unfortunate that that little steel stick can tarnish an otherwise decent name. What's even more unfortunate is that some people who are new to 1911's and get a piece like this might be quick to dismiss them as malf-o-matics, when it's a manufacturing flaw from the company, not the design itself.

It's funny, after I cleared the umpteenth malf, I had one round that dropped on the ground, and I put that single round in a mag. Tripped the slide release with one hand, and with one hand, fired at the target and it hit .3" above the bullseye X; dead-on nearly.

It's a great gun, just has a bad part.

 

[frank_1947]

I had that problem with a SA, try something get all the ammo you plan to shoot take the barrel out and put each round in the chamber they should drop in very easy and fall out if they don't then the chamber needs to be reamed I had this issue with SA if they do fall out then extractor

 

[D-Day]

Yeah, they go in and drop out easy. Even fired shell casings fell right out when I held the slide back and tipped the gun (like I had to do so many times...).

 

[frank_1947]

That is a good thing just adj the extractor

 

[AK103K]

It's really unfortunate that that little steel stick can tarnish an otherwise decent name. What's even more unfortunate is that some people who are new to 1911's and get a piece like this might be quick to dismiss them as malf-o-matics, when it's a manufacturing flaw from the company, not the design itself.

I've owned a bunch of 1911's over the years, and the only ones that were usually never a problem were my Colts. Then again, they are the originals and "tru-spec" guns. Everyone else is a wanna be.

The last 5 Springfields I bought were very problematic. My "Loaded" model wouldnt feed ball reliably out of the box, and even after a lot of work, still never worked right.

Springfield also has its own idea of what the specs should be, and that to causes problems. They also have a bunch of different frame configurations and you never know what your going to get. They are different enough that you can instantly feel the difference in your hand.

The early Springfields were pretty good, and very close to GI/Colt specs. I had a couple and sold them and I wish I hadnt, especially after what I went through with their latest and greatest.

Kimbers arent all that much better and cost a good bit more. Ddnt have good luck with them either.

One of the main reasons I quit bothering with the 1911's in general is because of the aggravation of the last 8 or so that I bought, and even Colt was beginging to annoy me with their plastic parts and all and having to replace them. The Colts always did work though, plastic or not. When I sold most all of mine off, I kept three, all Colts.

 

[ktd]

I have fixed a lot of guns by giving them a good cleaning, if you have not already, the first thing I would do is take the extractor out and scrape at it with a pokey thingy, you would be surprised at the gunk that comes out. The rest of the gun could be sanitary clean, but if you do not get under the extractor claw, it builds up. Then I would go through the tuning/replacing regimen.