SW 1911 Feeding Problems

jkelly said:
drumenigma,
Is what you are experiencing with your S&W1911 like what I describe in the first three paragraphs of the first post in this thread?

http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22155

Respectfully,

jkelly
Click to expand...

That is exactly what was happening with my 1911. I'm not so sure that the extractor was the issue as each time it jammed it was against the slide and the mag. Judging by the way the lips of the mags were designed they almost seemed to be made to jam. I picked up some Wilson mags and I'm going to see if that solves the problem. The lips on them seem to be made with a little more common sense. They have a nice curved lip that should deflect the rounds better than the Triple K mags and the one military contract mag I have. The triple K mags have this pointed lip that ends up right behind the shell as it's being extracted. They also seem to fit a lot better in the gun as with the other mags I would have to fiddle with the mag release sometimes to get them out or in while these slide right in and out with no fuss. If that doesn't solve it (but lord I hope it does since I bought 5 of the wilson mags) I will probably look in to the extractor or a spring possibly being the problem.

And +1 for giving the link to that thread, lot's of good info there.
 
And +1 for giving the link to that thread, lot's of good info there.---drumenigma
Click to expand...
The thread is not complete and nothing there solved the jamming problems that my 1st S&W 1911 had. I am going to post a follow up after I have a few more rounds through the gun and I’m sure of the results.

When I sent my S&W 1911 back to Smith and Wesson the 2nd time I sent it back with the gun still jammed, but unloaded other wise, requested that they replace both the extractor and the ejector and to do what was else was necessary to fix the gun on my dime. The replace those two items free of charge and sent the gun back to me.

The gun would still crush some cases but ejected most of them. When it finally jammed tight I returned it still jammed, with a dozen of so crushed case, and explained that the gun was useless to me in this condition and asked them what they could and how much it would cost me to have it done.

They replaced the slide assembly but used my barrel and custom front sight. I’ve tested the gun by shooting about 50 rounds while loading just a single round in the magazine at a time. I’ve experienced no jams and no ejected crushed cases either. I think that’s an important indicator.

My thoughts on Wilson magazines:
I like them and have had good experiences with them but Wilson has redesigned them moving the viewing slots from the middle to the rear and numbering them.

I’ve read somewhere that Wilson says moving the slots makes them less likely to bulge. The jam you are experiencing with your S&W 1911 jams the case into the magazine and damages them. The jams occurred in my S&W 1911 with both Wilson and Chip McCormick magazines.


Respectfully,

jkelly
 
I guess I'll let you know what happens. I haven't had a chance to bring it out since I got the Wilson mags. I'll probably do the same thing you were doing in regards to only loading 1-3 rounds in the mag to see if the issue persists with the last round.

And actually the Wilson mags I got seem to be an older model then. I picked them up quite cheap at Northeast trading ($22 each). They must have been sitting around for a while. They are not numbered and the viewing slots are offset from each other. I don't know how much that will matter but I guess I will see once I take it out again.
 
FTF

i'm having a problem with my new 1911DK. It does not like SWC ammo,
don't care if its reloads or factory. However it does like ball, either
reloads or factory.

It just will not load the SWC ammo, it plain fails to load it.

I have 2 new smith mags and one Wilson new design, same with
either.

i have not done anything to the gun, i might have just a bit less than
100 rounds thru it.

I have 2 other smiths autos

in 45 acp, and they will shoot either
SWC or Ball...

any thoughts on this???

JimB
 
JimB said:
i'm having a problem with my new 1911DK. It does not like SWC ammo,
don't care if its reloads or factory. However it does like ball, either
reloads or factory.

It just will not load the SWC ammo, it plain fails to load it.

I have 2 new smith mags and one Wilson new design, same with
either.

i have not done anything to the gun, i might have just a bit less than
100 rounds thru it.

I have 2 other smiths autos

in 45 acp, and they will shoot either
SWC or Ball...

any thoughts on this???

JimB
Click to expand...

Shoot ball ammo. Seriously.
 
Jim,
I'm with Dave on the Ball ammo and I don't have any experience with SWC ammo, but you might try playing with OAL being sure NOT to cause over pressure.


Respectfully,

jkelly
 
Finally, three years after I got my S&W 1911, it now runs perfectly. It sat in my safe until I finally brought it to S&W a couple months ago. Today was the first day that (a) I had .45 ammo to burn and (b) I had time so I ran 50 rounds thorough it at the range. Flawless. S&W replaced the extractor so that must've been the problem.

What a fun gun, and seriously accurate. I was consistently putting 8-shots into a half-dollar-sized ragged hole at 10 years. Tonight I'm going to give it a good cleaning, and next time I'll try some hollow points.

So nice to finally have this firearm working the way it is supposed to.
 
Glad to hear your S&W 1911 is up and running. I had to send mine back three times before it was finally fixed (slide replaced), but it's working now!

Respectfully,
jkelly
 
Last edited:
drumenigma said:
I had a problem myself the other day at the range. I'm quite sure that it's a mag problem but i just wonder how many other people have had the same problem. Basically on the last round of my mags after firing the case would get stuck/crushed between the mag and the back of the barrel/slide opening. In some instances I was able to just pop the mag out and the case would drop through the mag well while in others it was so jammed in there I had to take a screw driver and basically pry it out.
Click to expand...

This problem is often caused by insufficient extractor tension. The earlier rounds eject reliably because they are supported by the round below them. The last round doesn't have this support and can slip off of the extractor enough to compromise ejection. Applying more tension to an extractor may look simple but can give you fits if you don't know the proper procedure. This may be a job for a gunsmith.
 
Gammon said:
Applying more tension to an extractor may look simple but can give you fits if you don't know the proper procedure. This may be a job for a gunsmith.
Click to expand...

Doesn't the SW1911 have an external extractor, where the tension is controlled by a spring, rather than by bending the extractor?
 
Same here. I picked up a SW1911 in trade not too long ago, and it's been 100% with all types of ammo.

I was a little sceptical about the external extractor at first. I've always been a purist when it came to the 1911. Before I took the Smith in trade, Greg Derr had told me the external extractor is actually a better design. There's really no adjustment for it; it just needs a good spring behind it and should service well.

MIM parts were another issue I was apprehensive about, but I've gotten over that as well.
 
The only thing I did to my S&W 1911's is I dumped the factory weight recoil spring for an 18.5 HD recoil spring (which I have always done). And I run them well lubed and I use quality mags... CMC, Ed Brown, WC, and Tripp.

While I haven't had any problems with mine, I like to nitpick... I'd like to see S&W dump the FPS and the MIM parts and go with the larger PC external extractor... that'd be the perfect 1911 in my eyes.
 
Sorry, guys I completely forgot that the S&W had a new style external extractor.

An 18 lb recoil spring is overkill unless you are using extremely hot loads. The stock 1911 comes with a 16 lb spring which is all you need. Excessive spring pressure can cuase functioning problems and actually increase muzzle flip.
 
Never heard that before... experts on the topic like Larry Vickers (Hilton Yam and others) suggest heavier (17, LV suggests a 18) springs for increased reliability in feed and function. Most custom guns (not target) run heavier springs. The USMC MEU 1911's run 18's as do some LE agencies. The LAPD Kimber SIS runs 18's.
 

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