SA 1911 won't eject unfired rounds very well

[0to60]

I'm loading MBC's 200 grain SWC to an OAL of 1.233 or so. It feeds just fine, and spent cases eject great. But if I try to cycle through a magazine of live ammo, it just can't seem to eject them.

Any suggestions?

 

[MICHAEL T]

Their no need to cycle real ammo by hand. If it shoot fine the leave it alone. Could be your over all length . To long to eject out of election port. This common on some small pocket pistols

 

[0to60]

There actually is a need to cycle live ammo through. One example would be a soft-strike during an IDPA match (or worse). You'd pull the trigger and nothing happens. You'll need to cycle the slide to get a new round chambered as quickly as possible.

I can cycle round nose ammo just fine, its just my SWC's that I'm having trouble with.

 

[MCMXI]

Have you checked to see if the bullet is being forced into the lands? The lack of taper on WC and SWC bullets can result in the bullet contacting the lands even with very short OALs. If that's the case, you'll have to separate the bullet from the lands as you pull the slide back and this could give you some trouble. The problem would be worse with lead bullets rather than jacketed or plated.

 

[JTQ]

Is this a GI model with the classic sized small ejection port? Is there an extended ejector in the pistol.

Here is what Colt is doing to help with the ejection of live rounds.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=319801

 

[Drail]

If you have any sort of extended ejector it will generally hang up chucking full rounds or if the rounds are a little overlength. You see this a lot on older Colts before they started relieving the front of the port to allow a round nose bullet to swing around it. Your extractor my be hanging onto the round just a little too long and not releasing it in time to get out of the port.

 

[MCMXI]

If you have any sort of extended ejector it will generally hang up chucking full rounds or if the rounds are a little overlength. You see this a lot on older Colts before they started relieving the front of the port to allow a round nose bullet to swing around it. Your extractor my be hanging onto the round just a little too long and not releasing it in time to get out of the port.

That's odd. I load 200gr LRNFP to 1.190", 185gr LSWC to 1.150" and 230gr FMJ to 1.280" and all of my 1911s have Ed Brown extended ejectors. They all eject those loads (live rounds) without any problems at all. I'm always having to show clear at matches with the 200gr LRNFP loads and I've never had a problem ejecting live rounds. I typically catch the round in the air after it's been ejected rather than have to dig around in the dust/dirt to find it.

 

[thump_rrr]

The extractor may need a little tweaking.

Remove the slide and insert a spent shell casing so that it is sitting against the breech face held in place by the extractor.
It should be able to stay in place even when you shake the slide vigorously.
Now do the same test with a live round.
It should fall out when shaken vigorously but not when shaken mildly.
Do a google search and you will see how you can add or remove extractor tension.

 

[EAJ]

The extractor may need a little tweaking.

Experienced the same issue with one of my SA 1911. The extractor was a little to tight. Called SA, returned the pistol and they had in back to me within two weeks. Warranty repair, no charges and no reoccurrence of problem. (If you decide to call SA, make sure to test the pistol with a manufactured round. If the issue only occurs with hand-loaded round you’re probably going to be on your own.)

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Is this a GI model with the classic sized small ejection port? Is there an extended ejector in the pistol.

This would be most relevant. GI ports won't always eject unfired rounds.

 

[0to60]

No, its has the lowered ejection port.

I'm going to try seating my bullets a tad deeper, to 1.200 or 1.990 and we'll see if that does it at all.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Hows the crimp? If you drop a round into the barrel and then turn the barrel upside down does it fall out without any help or does it stick a little?

 

[tnek13]

Sounds like the extractor. Google How to adjust extractor on a 1911, there are videos that show you what you need to know. Actually even if you send the gun in for adjustment it is a good thing to know.