1911 guru's...I need your insight.

Painkillers

Painkillers

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Sunday was range day and I brought a couple of 1911's with me for someone who doesn't own handguns (thanks Trudeau).

Stock Ruger SR1911...ran like a champ, as always.

Norinco 1911 Commander...*the issue

I was also shooting a new cartridge for me. Cheap-ish Blazer aluminum cased ammo.

The Commander internally is Nighthawk aside from the stock chinese barrel and link. While I don't shoot this gun often, I've had it for years and never had an issue after I fixed all the Nighthawk fitment bugs. It's been running like a champ for at least 10 years, maybe 15.

Anyhow, range day it was running fine for 3 or 4 magazines, then a stoppage (fail to feed). Cleared it, fired...stoppage (fail to feed). I looked and the ammo cartridge (230 ball) is stuck on the feed ramp!? The center of the bullet tip is marked where it caught the barrel edge!?

The gun then ran a few more magazines worth no problems, then more stoppages as before and I notice this all happens with the same Chinese original mag. I condemned the magazine. Then the gun started to fail to feed with the other magazines. Not that it needed it, but we oiled it and no difference across now 4 different magazine types.

I then ran the Chinese mag through the Ruger, no problems...it's not the mag after all.

When I run my pinky finger across the feed ramps on both guns, both are as smooth as the other. The only discernible difference is a very slight gap on the Commander between the barrel and frame. Very slight, like only thousands of an inch.

Guys, if this was you, where would you start?
Is it possible that the aluminum cases induces too much friction on each other slowing down the slide?
 
I had the same issue with blazer cheap ammo a few months ago except it jammed up my CZ 75 so bad I had to bring it home to clear it. Turned out the round had the bullet slightly off center and it hit the top of the chamber at just the right angle. I'll see if I can find the picture. This older CZ normally digests everything no matter what.
 
That ammo has a very poor track record...start with changing ammo

1911s require a well designed quality magazine.....just because that suspect mag works in a different gun doesnt mean its not part of or the problem in the Commander.

Is the recoil spring fresh?? If the gun has started to fail to feed and or go into battery it is often a weak spring...try a fresh one.

It is possible your gun has sustained a internal problem like a crack or broken part.....


In my experience Commander length 1911s can be a fussy animal...the reduced slide length and other geometry wasnt as originally designed ...
Before a bunch of commander fans start flaming....Im not syaing the commander length guns dont work....but my experience with several has been spotty......
 
I was happy to condemn the chinese mag, but then the same stoppage began occurring in Mec Gar, and brand new stainless Ruger (that I think Mec gar makes?)...all 7 round mags.

The recoil spring is new-ish, but certainly nowhere near the 27 lbs Ruger. Just working the slide, I'd estimate 1/2 that spring pressure.

I'll pull the gun down for a cleaning, check the link and report back. Thanks guys!

I'm now suspecting either tired spring or ammo, or perhaps the combination of the two?
 
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johnl said:
Norinco with Nighthawk parts, nothing wrong with that, nice set up btw. Get a box of Federal .230 gr ball, I bet your issues will go away.
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When it's running, it's a fun gun. I had every intent to bobtail it.
After a few mags of fireballs, the purple-ish slide, that's made out of some c ock hard chinesium, turns to a really cool hickey colour around the muzzle. I should give it more love and range time than I do. The trigger is nothing short of amazing.
 
Hey Painsy what Nighthawk parts? They make a sweet drop in trigger system. Price seems high but if you factor in getting the parts separately and paying a gunsmith I think I might go that way for my Colt Commander.
 
johnl said:
Hey Painsy what Nighthawk parts? They make a sweet drop in trigger system. Price seems high but if you factor in getting the parts separately and paying a gunsmith I think I might go that way for my Colt Commander.
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Everything aside from barrel and link. and all parts needed some fitting John. While things may "drop in", they won't work well with one another until fitted. Fine emery stone and a tonne of patience is required.

On my Commander, safeties, trigger, hammer, sear, slide stop, extractor, all springs, are all Nighthawk fitted parts. I don't think the hammer spring housing is Nighthawk though? I changed it out to a humped one but i don't recall where I got it from.

I've been fence sitting about the bob job. I really like the 1911 grip and rake. It's perfect and when motivated and focused I can shoot 1911's single handed like a house on fire. Given that the only reason to "bob" a 1911 is for conceal carry, and that we can't legally do that, it'd just be a novelty gun. An olde school, full horsepower, cc...which is cool, right?
Problem is, that little corner at the bottom of the hand is really important for control...chop it off and I might be left with a gun that used to be great, that I hate. I don't own one birdshead revolver quite intentionally...they suck.

Wish I had access to a "bobbed" 1911 Commander. Within 1 magazine I'd know whether I liked it or not.

...and yes, that ammo was cheap. We shot 300+ rounds Sunday, but I think I bought 2K of it when it was on sale some time ago. At least I know the Ruger can shoot it. :D
 
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