Posted: 4/27/2010 4:19:36 AM EDT
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One of my 1911s has started doing something wierd but only with Kimber mags.
Instead of ejecting the last empty, it seems to try to stuff it back into the mag and winds up wedged at a 45 degree angle. It feeds anything I put into it (JHP, FMJ), but this is wierd. It just started doing this, but only with the Kimbers. I have ACT-MAG and MecGar mags that work fine up to and including the last round. Granted, the Kimbers mags have a very different follower than the others, so that might be part of it, but again, this just started. Someone suggested a new spring so I put in a new Wolff recoil spring and the firing pin spring. No help. Extractor? Ejector? Something else? |
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I would suspect the extractor isn't holding onto the round; it's slipping out under the extractor and getting stuck in the mag. It would happen to me only on the last round because there was another round always propping up the case until it reached the ejector. Once I replaced the extractor and made sure it was set at the right tension, the problem went away. You can check one of two ways... 1) remove the slide from the frame, remove the barrel from the slide. With the slide upside-down, slide a round under the extractor so it sits on the breechface like it would if it were chambered (a dummy round please  ). Rotate the slide right-side up. If the round falls out...not enough tension. If it doesn't fall out, shake the slide around some. It shouldn't come out under light jostling, either.
Or 2) Chamber a dummy round from the magazine. Drop the mag, remove the recoil spring, and leave the hammer cocked. Slowly pull the slide back. If the round slips out and down the mag well...same result as above. Again, if it doesn't immediatly drop down, try shaking the gun a bit. Again, as above, it should stay pressed against the breechface under light jostling; if it comes out, time to adjust the extractor. As far as the dummy goes, those light plastic snapcaps are a bit light. I'd recommend that if you reload you just load up a dummy round with a 230gr ball. Yes, it'll be heavier than an empty piece of brass but it really should grip a loaded round and not let that go at all. Even the alumnium ones are a little light... YMMV, IANAL, all those other disclaimers.. |
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Sounds as if your extractor may not have enough tension to properly hold onto the case as the slide comes back. The case may be dropping down and hanging on the feed lips as a result. That a good description of what's happening. How hard is it to change the extractor? None of my 1911s have the external extractor that I have heard many people curse. 
Best place to get the part? |
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only one type of magazine causes your problem? If so, I know where I would look. Seriously, I would consider this. Replace the mag spring in the Kimber mag with a Wolff spring.... Charles.  I understand, but these mags work fine in 2 other 1911s and they are brand new Kimber mags, maybe a month or so old. They worked fine at first in all 3 then started this only in 1 of them. I guess the reason the other mags don't do it is the different follower designs. |
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Does the case mouth get FUBAR'd from the slide? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Yes, the case mouth gets all buggered up. I have a Loaded that did that. More extractor tension solved the problem. How do you give it more tension? I have figured out how to replace the firing pin spring but haven't gone any further. Still learning about the 1911.
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Brownells has a great write up on how to adjust the extractor tension by a guy named Jack Weigand. Better to adjust than to get a new one? Is that under the "Books and Videos"? Found it.
A lot cheaper to try and adjust it first It depends on the extractor; what kind of 1911 it is, if it's the stock extractor, etc. Some companies use MIM extractors in their basic models, others use castings, some use forgings. Extractor construction goes a long way into determining if it'll hold an adjustment or not. MIM and Cast may flat break, some forgings may bend but then bend back, etc.
Try bending it a little bit first, until it holds the cartridge snugly. If it loses it's bend over the next few range sessions....time to replace. If you do decide to go and replace, I'd suggest either a Wilson Combat Bulletproof extractor, or a C&S extractor. Wilson Bulletproof ones just work really well pretty much straight out of the bag (I have a couple in use), and C&S are made out of "original 1911 spec" spring steel, if you care about such things (again, I have a couple of these in use as well, but mine required a little bit of work to make 'em fit and run right). |
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Brownells has a great write up on how to adjust the extractor tension by a guy named Jack Weigand. Better to adjust than to get a new one? Is that under the "Books and Videos"? Found it.
A lot cheaper to try and adjust it first It depends on the extractor; what kind of 1911 it is, if it's the stock extractor, etc. Some companies use MIM extractors in their basic models, others use castings, some use forgings. Extractor construction goes a long way into determining if it'll hold an adjustment or not. MIM and Cast may flat break, some forgings may bend but then bend back, etc.
Try bending it a little bit first, until it holds the cartridge snugly. If it loses it's bend over the next few range sessions....time to replace. If you do decide to go and replace, I'd suggest either a Wilson Combat Bulletproof extractor, or a C&S extractor. Wilson Bulletproof ones just work really well pretty much straight out of the bag (I have a couple in use), and C&S are made out of "original 1911 spec" spring steel, if you care about such things (again, I have a couple of these in use as well, but mine required a little bit of work to make 'em fit and run right). It's a Norinco. Don't know how old, but given that we haven't been getting them here in what, 15 years or more, it's pretty old.
I saw the Wilson Combat Bulletproof at Brownells. The price ain't too bad. How do I get the extractor out? Got it out. Damn, that was too easy.
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I don't reload, so I took an empty and filled it with sand from the yard. Taped it up and washed it off with CLP, then dried it real well.
I would suspect the extractor isn't holding onto the round; it's slipping out under the extractor and getting stuck in the mag. It would happen to me only on the last round because there was another round always propping up the case until it reached the ejector. Once I replaced the extractor and made sure it was set at the right tension, the problem went away. You can check one of two ways... 1) remove the slide from the frame, remove the barrel from the slide. With the slide upside-down, slide a round under the extractor so it sits on the breechface like it would if it were chambered (a dummy round please ). Rotate the slide right-side up. If the round falls out...not enough tension. If it doesn't fall out, shake the slide around some. It shouldn't come out under light jostling, either.
Or 2) Chamber a dummy round from the magazine. Drop the mag, remove the recoil spring, and leave the hammer cocked. Slowly pull the slide back. If the round slips out and down the mag well...same result as above. Again, if it doesn't immediatly drop down, try shaking the gun a bit. Again, as above, it should stay pressed against the breechface under light jostling; if it comes out, time to adjust the extractor. As far as the dummy goes, those light plastic snapcaps are a bit light. I'd recommend that if you reload you just load up a dummy round with a 230gr ball. Yes, it'll be heavier than an empty piece of brass but it really should grip a loaded round and not let that go at all. Even the alumnium ones are a little light... YMMV, IANAL, all those other disclaimers.. At first, it fell out with a little shaking. Took out the ejector, bent it just a little to where it went back in but took a tiny bit of pressure, unlike when I took it out. It came out very easily. Well, the sand filled empty stayed right there, so I might have actually done some good.
I will try to check it out later this week. I didn't think to do the chambering test until after I adjusted it, but it stayed in place with that test until it encountered the ejector after I adjusted the extractor. |