NIB vintage 1911 series 70 9mm issues...

[Minnesota Shooter]

So, I just got back from OIF a month or two ago, and while home on leave I inadvertantly stumbled on a NIB series 70. Turns out the guy I got it from bought it in 1978 and just stuffed it and forgot about it. it has all the origional manuals in 1970s font and colors and everything. The best part about it is the man had no idea how much it was worth and just wanted to get rid of it. 100 dollars out the door, said it was my christmass present.

This gun is in beautiful condition.

So after I got it I disassembled it and cleaned off about 30 years of collected grime and lubed it up. It functioned perfectly.

I took it to the range yesterday, which is where the problems started.

It has a single stack 9 shot magazine. I fed the weapon with 115 gr. federals I want to say, not sure what brand they were, I know it wasnt + or anything.

Within the first 5 shots I had a failure to eject. The round fired, but wouldnt get out.

I had to tap rack and bang it.

it always happened at the 4th to 6th round, but sometimes at the third.
Now, heres my theory on it. its a heavy piece. Im thinking that the rounds I was shooting didnt have enough force recoil wise to blow the slide back enough to engage an ejection. Im going to come back with + or +P and run some through it to see.

My buddies idea was that the recoil spring was too strong and that I should order a weaker one that could work better with the 9 mm

Honestly Im at a loss, Its new, so Im kinda frustrated with it.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I would go with a heavier bullet. I have not found 115g to be stout enough, or producing enough recoil to cycle most actions on my 9's.

 

[HorseSoldier]

100 dollars out the door, said it was my christmass present.

Damn Now that's a deal.

As for the problem, I'd also try a heavier/hotter load and see if that solves it. M882 ball runs real, real well in 9mm 1911s.

 

[Minnesota Shooter]

Yeah, 100 dollars for a gun that I saw on Gunbroker going for 1500 dollars, Im pretty happy with it.

Im pretty excited, got my handgun permit today, which is also military payday, what a coincidence. I'll hit the range up ina day or two and post some results.

So any ideas on the whole idea of a weaker spring? Im gonna try the heavier rounds first, then if it still goes bad, I'll go for a new spring.

 

[schmeky]

What Grandpa shooter said.

Go to a heavier bullet, 124 or 147 grain, or change the recoil spring to a lighter weight. I base this on a 1911/9mm I am having built by Bob Serva of Fusion Arms. He is including a light weight Wolf recoil spring for 115 gn, 9mm bullets. He indicated there will most likely be some failures to properly eject with the installed spring (for heavier bullets) if I shoot 115 gn bullets.

$100.00 for Colt. . . . . man, I hate people that get deals like that:banghead:

 

[rcmodel]

Go with 124 or 147 grain ammo.
Don't even consider changing the spring until you have put enough rounds through it to break the gun in with heavier bullet weights.

The factory 9mm & .38 Super Colt spring is a 14 pound.

The Factory .45 ACP spring is 16 pound.

As you can see, Colt already allowed for the reduced recoil of the 9mm.

BTW: Way back in 1970, there were very few light bullet 9mm loads, no 147 grain sub-sonic loads, and almost no JHP loads of any weight.

124 grain FMJ was what the gun was designed to shoot.


rcmodel

 

[DMK]

Try some European made ammo such as Fiocci, S&B or Geco, if you can get it. I've found these brands to be noticeably hotter than wimpy American made range ammo.

I'd also run it a little wet too until it got broken in. Lube inside the barrel bushing and slide rails really well. Don't forget to put a spot of lube under the slide where it rides the hammer.

 

[Shear_stress]

$100? Wanna double your money? Seriously.

Anyway, I've got the same gun and it runs fine with bargain-basement WWB 115 grainers. I can echo what others have about break-in. Definatey don't play with the springs until you've put a couple of hundred rounds down range.

What a privilage to be able to break-in an old Colt.

 

[Jim Watson]

There is some chance that it is extractor fit.

My 1991A1 9mm will function with ammo loaded down to Makarov ballistics. You don't need to kick the gun into submission.

 

[bannockburn]

Minnesota Shooter

I used to shoot a Commander that was a Super 38/9mm. convertible. I shot mainly 124 gr. FMJ out of it and never had a problem. If you're going to use lighter weight bullets, like the 90 gr. or the 115 gr., they really should be high velocity loads, in order to help cycle the slide reliably. You might also want to look into a couple more magazines, to see if that has any effect on the gun's reliability.

 

[Walkalong]

So, I just got back from OIF a month or two ago, and while home on leave I inadvertantly stumbled on a NIB series 70. Turns out the guy I got it from bought it in 1978 and just stuffed it and forgot about it. it has all the origional manuals in 1970s font and colors and everything. The best part about it is the man had no idea how much it was worth and just wanted to get rid of it. 100 dollars out the door, said it was my christmass present.

Holy S***

Awesome deal. I am sure you will work out the bugs, but if you can't I will trade you my Kimber 1911 9MM straight up.