Bad 1911 Mag??!?!

[BlackonBlack]

Took my brand new Springer 1911 to the range today. Shot 100 rounds through it will all but one problem. On one round it extracted and loaded the round fine but it didn't slam all the way in to battery. It needed a little nudge to go forward. This occurred right in the middle of the 100 rounds went through it. I have limited experience with 1911's and I heard they can take a minute to break in, so I am dismissing it as just that, although I've never seen a gun extract and load a round and nut shut properly, I had it thoroughly lubed with Wilson Combat Gun Grease.Anyways...

So when I got home cleaned the gun, left the slide OPEN, loaded a mag with 6 - not seven rounds, put the mag in the gun and hit the the slide release and JAM. The stripped round was still almost entirely in the mag but it just slammed and got stuck with the bullet wedged from the mag in to the feedram. I couldn't eject the mag so I locked the slide back pushed the round back in to the mag and then was able to eject. So i do the exact same thing again and JAM again. Same exact thing...3 Times. I grabbed another mag and it loaded fine. It is a very old pacmayer magazine. Same type that I used at the range today with no mag related failures.

[tuna quesadilla]

The first malfunction you described is nothing to worry about. I've had that happen while breaking in my 1911. Just make sure your extractor is properly tuned and it won't happen again. As for the second malfunction... That's a textbook magazine failure. Your mag spring is too weak. The only exception is if you were using hollowpoints. A lot of Springfields don't seem to like feeding certain brands of hollowpoint ammo.

BTW what kind of Springfield is it?

[walter]

this is why 1911's should only be for fondling, taking pictures, showing off, and range use.

[turbochris]

this is why 1911's should only be for fondling, taking pictures, showing off, and range use.

what exactly is this suppose to mean? are you saying 1911's are only good for the cool factor?

[walter]

what exactly is this suppose to mean? are you saying 1911's are only good for the cool factor?

yes.

[turbochris]

yes.

would have to highly disagree. a 1911 can be as versatile as any handgun. sorry but I have to defend the ones I love lol. maybe not a first choice for a everyday carry but it can be done

[tuna quesadilla]

The 1911 is a great pistol, perhaps one of the best out there... but a good combat 1911 is EXPENSIVE as all get out. Take a Springfield Loaded, send it in to get Cerakoted/Melonited/NP3ed/etc for corrosion resistance, get night sights put on it, have the inner workings smoothed out and the barrel throated so it'll actually feed hollowpoints, and you're looking at a $1200 pistol. You can get exactly the same corrosion resistance, night sights, and feed reliability from a Glock/XD/M&P for $600. Hmmm...

[turbochris]

The 1911 is a great pistol, perhaps one of the best out there... but a good combat 1911 is EXPENSIVE as all get out. Take a Springfield Loaded, send it in to get Cerakoted/Melonited/NP3ed/etc for corrosion resistance, get night sights put on it, have the inner workings smoothed out and the barrel throated so it'll actually feed hollowpoints, and you're looking at a $1200 pistol. You can get exactly the same corrosion resistance, night sights, and feed reliability from a Glock/XD/M&P for $600. Hmmm...

its all about how much your willing to pay for what you want. I rather pay extra for that steel gun. dont get me wrong I own glocks and xd's but I prefer the 1911's

[BlackonBlack]

Tuna thanks for your input, I was using fmj ammo blazer brass branded.

It didn't sound or look good when It jammed.

Should replacing mag spring fix this issue?

[BlackonBlack]

Forgot to add, it's a loaded champion model in 45

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

The 1911 is a great pistol, perhaps one of the best out there... but a good combat 1911 is EXPENSIVE as all get out. Take a Springfield Loaded, send it in to get Cerakoted/Melonited/NP3ed/etc for corrosion resistance, get night sights put on it, have the inner workings smoothed out and the barrel throated so it'll actually feed hollowpoints, and you're looking at a $1200 pistol. You can get exactly the same corrosion resistance, night sights, and feed reliability from a Glock/XD/M&P for $600. Hmmm...

dont know what your talking about not feeding hollow points. my $500 rock island armory feeds them no problem. the only times it has failed was when my gf was shooting it and limp wristed it.

Tuna thanks for your input, I was using fmj ammo blazer brass branded.

It didn't sound or look good when It jammed.

Should replacing mag spring fix this issue?

it probably would, dont know where they sell rebuild kits though. try other brands of magazines as well.

[loditt]

To the OP: I've had the same problems when I first picked up my Kimber. Chucked them and got some Wilson Combat 47Ds. Not a hiccup since.

[tuna quesadilla]

http://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html

For $8.95 there you can get the "Super 7" Rebuild kit... comes with a brand new spring and follower. Or if you want you can just buy some magazines from that website. Tripp magazines are considered some of the best magazines out there for 1911s.

dont know what your talking about not feeding hollow points. my $500 rock island armory feeds them no problem. the only times it has failed was when my gf was shooting it and limp wristed it.

It's a known and documented problem that a lot of 1911s are picky about hollowpoints. Certain hollowpoint designs feed better than others, and some not at all.

[lazs]

I think what the guy means by only good for the range and to look at is that it doesn't have a crap trigger like the plastic guns and that you can actually have pride of ownership with one..

Oh.. and they work pretty good too if you like autoshuckers.

My kids springfield jammed like mad.. we used my kimber mag and it was fine. I don't know who makes their mags but I use CM or wilson.

[wamphyri13]

I'll add my two cents. Yes, 1911's sometimes have a problem feeding hollowpoints. They were designed for ball ammo, or if you prefer, 230gr FMJ, same thing. Ramp polishing and barrel throating are usually the best fix. Not too expensive, but should be done by a competent smith. Or if the gun is new, get at least 500 rounds through it. If it then will still not feed HP's, contact Springfield and request an RMA to send it back. Springfield has some of the best customer service.

Sounds like a bad mag spring to me, too. Midway and Brownell's also have spring kits available. If the mag is very old, replace the spring. But do try other brand mags as well. CMC and Wilson are also very popular aftermarket mags. I would also suggest purchasing some dummy rounds or snap caps while you're at it. If feeding issues are as you describe, you don't want a live round getting pinched in the wrong place when testing AT HOME. Better safe than sorry.

And the remark about 1911's should just be looked at, admired, and fondled, is, in my opinion, just crap. I could make a similar remark about poly guns are all destined to go kaboom for the simple fact that they are not steel. I would rather have a steel gun in my hand than plastic. My preference. I had a Glock 22, and sold it. It just didn't feel the same as my 1911's. And I own several.

That's my advice. Take what you want and discard the rest.
Ryan