1911 Malfunctions & solutions

[Sprocket]

I picked up a S&W 1911 in 9mm and have run approx 500 rounds through it.

I consistently have to deal with F.T.Extract malfunctions. This has been with various types of commercially loaded ammo and reloads.

Solution so far has been to lock the slide, drop mag, drop the slide and clear the chamber in the usual fashion.

At first I thought it might be the mags but it's not a feed issue - it's an extraction issue.

What signs mechanically can I look for on the pistol to indicate the problem? Cases inspected so far do not yield any tell tale signs of the problem.

Thanks

 

[TheRoland]

To be clear, you're getting a case left in the chamber and feeding another round on top of it; an apparent "double-feed" that's actually a failure to extract.

If so, insufficient extractor tension, undersized case rims or serious chamber damage.

If you can easily remove the case with a fingernail, or if no obvious burrs or dings are visible on the inside of the chamber, it's not chamber damage.

It's probably a broken or insufficiently tensioned extractor. S&W uses a external extractor that prevents this malfunction when not broken. S&W should fix it. They should know what "frequent failure to extract" means and will probably want to replace the extractor itself and its springs.

Solution so far has been to lock the slide, drop mag, drop the slide and clear the chamber in the usual fashion.

Do not do this on a 1911, except when time is an issue. The extractor is designed to feed from the bottom, not the back. This can, ironically, break the extractor. If you're not on the clock, remove the case with your finger.

9mm

I don't know if S&W has a good reputation fixing these. They're finicky to begin with. It sounds like you really need a extractor replacement and stronger extractor spring.

 

[Sprocket]

Correct - "Double feed"/Failure to Extract

To clarify - this pistol was bought new by me and these are the first 500 rounds through it

Call going into S&W later today to discuss options.

Thanks All for the replies & PM's

 

[Greg Derr]

The 1911 with either the internal or external extractor is not designed to bump/slip over a chambered round. Doing so could damage the extractor. Regulating spring tension on the internal extractor is hard, it may very well be shape. Are you shooting factory loads?

 

[Sprocket]

Greg - so far I've shot WWB, Remington (not UMC), reloads, American Eagle, some M&M reloads, I think there may be another brand in there too.

I've had it out about 4 times - each time it's done it. At first I thought it was mag related so I marked the mags to differentiate - no difference.

This is a Pro Series S&W 9mm that is less than 2 weeks old.
Thanks

 

[Keystone]

The 1911 with either the internal or external extractor is not designed to bump/slip over a chambered round. Doing so could damage the extractor. Regulating spring tension on the internal extractor is hard, it may very well be shape. Are you shooting factory loads?

I did not know that. Good to know.

 

[drgrant]

Hmm, this isn't the first time I've heard of issues with the 9mm Pros.... Nice gun but apparently some of them need help. [sad2]

-Mike

 

[dans]

Wow! My wife picked up one of these recently and had a problem at the range. She locked back the slide and had to pull the magazine out. The spent casing she got out by hand.

She had no issues after that one failure. Is there a way to check the extractor to see if it was damaged? Only that one cartridge got stuck.

 

[Greg Derr]

I would not worry about one instance. What a gunsmith looks for is some common cause for failures. Is the issue with one ammo? Is it one mag, all mags should me numbered in some way. It's like the old car joke, it did it right up to the time I left it with the mechanic. So finding the source of failures when they happen in much better, and cheaper than having a smith shoot a few hundred rounds. For the OP, S&W has a very good service department, on a gun that is new, I would send it to them. They will send you a shipping label and turn it around quickly.

 

[JimB]

send it back..