Kimber Custom TLE II FTF

[dqbsl]

Hi, looking to see if anyone is having the same issue.

Went to the range on Sunday and was shooting my Kimber Custom TLE II when I began to get an FTF on the 1st round of the magazine. I've gone through the break in period (approx 600 rounds) without any issues until now. Clean and lubed my gun after every previous range trip. Three different magazines (2 Wilson Combat 8 rounders, and 1 Kimber 7 rounder it came with), and the FTF was happening periodically on all three and always only on the first round of the magazine.

What I did notice was that this began happening when I was shooting Winchester White Box (FMJ, 230 Grain) Ammo through my gun. While shooting the WWB I did notice that there was a larger and denser cloud of smoke after each shot in comparison to the Blazer Brass and Federal Champion Ammo I was shooting that day as well. The FTF did not happen earlier in the range trip until I started on the WWB. After that, even loading the Federal Champion it starting FTF on the first round (although it was less frequent than when I was using the WWB).

Could it just be that my gun got way too dirty while using the WWB and therefore continued afterwards as well?

Came home and cleaned and lubed the gun (Gun was very dirty inside). Going back to the range on Saturday hoping that it just needed some TLC.

Anyone notice this happening while using WWB .45 FMJ's?

[tacticalcity]

Just guessing...maybe the magazine was not fully seated because of too much spring pressure? Try downloading by 1 round and see if it keeps happening. I say 1 round because 1911s have so few to begin with. On a double stack gun I would advise downloading by 2-3 rounds as standard operating proceedure. People have trouble accepting this, but fully loaded magazines do not always seat properly. Can happen to any semi-auto pistol.

[dqbsl]

Just guessing...maybe the magazine was not fully seated because of too much spring pressure? Try downloading by 1 round and see if it keeps happening. I say 1 round because 1911s have so few to begin with. On a double stack gun I would advise downloading by 2-3 rounds as standard operating proceedure. People have trouble accepting this, but fully loaded magazines do not always seat properly. Can happen to any semi-auto pistol.

I will try it out. However, I had shot approx 600 rounds through the gun with the same magazines without having the issue before.

[2euro]

If the cleaning didnt help. I heard if you shoot your 1911 often, the recoil spring needs to get replaced. But being that you only have 600+ rounds through it; doesn't sounds like a recoil spring.

[INFAMOUS762X39]

I love my one month old Kimber TLE II, roughly 300rds through her using: 7rd stock mag, 2 8rd Chip PowerMags. Very Accurate, a pleasure to plink with.

Recently at the range, on my 2nd to last magazine of the day. I had a FTF on my last round on my high quality Chip McCormick 8rd mag, I think it was just a bad round "Winchester WBox" which happens. Don't get me wrong Chip mags are superb but I just need more range time with them for a better opinion!


Your Issue sounds like a recoil spring problem or try polishing your feed ramp. I did and racking a whole mag is much more buttery and smooth now.

[stevec223]

slide

you loading the first round by using slide release or racking slide ? dirty chamber sometimes wont let bullet chamber all the way when using slide release.....if probs continue reload and rack slide and see if prob goes away...change ammo and ck if theres a prob with it both ways too...cheers...

[dqbsl]

you loading the first round by using slide release or racking slide ? dirty chamber sometimes wont let bullet chamber all the way when using slide release.....if probs continue reload and rack slide and see if prob goes away...change ammo and ck if theres a prob with it both ways too...cheers...

i use the slide release to load the first round. I will try racking the slide instead this saturday.

[Mr.1904]

Failure to feed. or fire?

i use the slide release to load the first round. I will try racking the slide instead this saturday.

I'm assuming FTFeed. Touching on the above post. 1911's don't like to be *****footed. When chambering a round be meaningful. Don't be nice. RACK the slide home.

[ns3v3n]

i use the slide release to load the first round. I will try racking the slide instead this saturday.

Dont use the slide lock to load the first round, rack the slide like you mean it. In fact, try to rip that sucker off while doing so, you wont be able to, but it'll definitely help load a round in the chamber.

[XVIga_Rob]

Problem with loading/chambering the 1st round of a fresh mag after shooting for awhile, does not sound like a recoil spring issue. Sounds more like a cleaning issue or possible feed ramp polishing issue.

I'd be interested to know how it's performing after a good cleaning. I have a TLE with 400 rounds through her and no issues.

[redcliff]

1st round of the magazine is the hardest for a 1911 to feed due to added friction on the top round against the follower/feed lips because of the heavily compressed magazine spring.

Add in a dirty chamber, lack of lubrication, or over-sized ammunition or weakened recoil spring and you can have a failure to feed. Theres only so much energy stored in the recoil spring. A properly polished feed ramp helps reduce the energy needed to chamber the round.

The job of the recoil spring on a 1911 is actually to ensure positive feeding, not mitigate recoil. While we refer to it as a "recoil" spring, JMB calls it a "reaction" spring in his patent. If you consistently have failure to feeds with a clean well-lubed pistol shooting factory in-spec ammunition you may need to go up to the next highest recoil spring, at least until your pistol gets more broken in. A well-fitted 1911 will run properlly with quite a large variance in recoil spring weight with no ill-effects.

[dqbsl]

Went to the range again on Saturday. Cleaned the gun and really cleaned up the feed ramp a little extra before going. Racked the slide and used the slide release throughout the range trip.

Zero FTF's on any of the three magazines. I did not use any Winchester White boxes this time though. Used just Federal Champions this time around.

Thanks for all the replies and help! Much appreciated.

[scglock]

good to hear its running 100% now

[XVIga_Rob]

good to hear its running 100% now

Echo that!

[negolien]

It's funny how a differant brand of FMJ can be that big an issue. Just goes to show you should shoot a box of whatever you're running for PD to ensure proper feeding.