Colt 1911 ejection issue

R

Rem5r

Member
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Having an ejection problem with my 1911. Gun is a Colt mkiv series 70 in .45. Ammo is X-metal, 230 gr.
All spent cases have dents in the case mouth which appears to be from hitting the slide under the ejection port. The failure happens about once every mag, and when it happens the case is extracted fine but not ejected then forced into the top of the barrel while a new round is being chambered. When this happens, the case is still held by the extractor. Any ideas on what's up? I'll try to run a box of American eagle through and see if it fails at all, but if anyone's experienced this and knows what's up it would be appreciated. Thanks
 
I had basically the same issue you have plus I was getting a tighter group in the forehead, than on the target down range. My gun is the same as yours & needed it's extractor adjusted for tension. Go to the Youtube channel & watch a few of those videos how to do it. It worked out great for me & your dinted brass should disappear as well.

The 1911 platform is a fantastic gun when it is in tune. Hope this helps you.....
 
I also owned a Colt Series 70 made around 1972 with exactly the problem that you describe.
The problem is that the extractor is applying insufficient spring pressure against the cartridge case when it is held in the breech face.

This video describes both the problem and the solution, and an easy way to correct the problem. (One of several videos)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENFoZPF2-FM
 
Should the case be held tight against the breech face by the extractor, or is there a gap between the case head and breech face?
 
So, quick update. I adjusted the extractor as the video said with no change. I tried federal American eagle ammo, and it was no different. When I got home I stripped it to see if I could see anything I had missed, that's when I noticed the recoil spring plug has a little indent in it. After messing with that for a bit I found that you have to screw the plug into the spring for it seat properly, otherwise the spring will not go past the indent, making the spring longer than it should be. I tried to push the spring past the indent to see if it could go by when being fired, and as hard as I tried I never got it to go past. I think this is what was causing my issue, but I won't be able to get to the range to test it for a few days now.
 
Rem5r said:
So, quick update. I adjusted the extractor as the video said with no change. I tried federal American eagle ammo, and it was no different. When I got home I stripped it to see if I could see anything I had missed, that's when I noticed the recoil spring plug has a little indent in it. After messing with that for a bit I found that you have to screw the plug into the spring for it seat properly, otherwise the spring will not go past the indent, making the spring longer than it should be. I tried to push the spring past the indent to see if it could go by when being fired, and as hard as I tried I never got it to go past. I think this is what was causing my issue, but I won't be able to get to the range to test it for a few days now.
Click to expand...

I don't think that this will make any difference. The amount that the spring will move forward might be a 1/4" and that won't alter the compressed length by any significant amount. So unless the slide isn't travelling all the way to the rear (unlikely) I don't think that this is the answer.

When the extractor is adjusted inward sufficiently, it should require some pressure from your thumb to push the case or cartridge into place with the slide removed. If the case slides in easilly, without resistance, it isn't enough.

Also look at your ejector to see if it is deformed where the case strikes it to eject.

Also, without seeing the extractor, it isn't possible to know if the hook itself is at fault.
But, if there are no other obvious things visible, perhaps a replacement might be the answer.
 
It is random in the mags, sometimes 2 or 3 times a mag. I'm using a factory colt mag and another one I just got, not sure what make it is. I will look into the extractor a bit more tomorrow. I can easily push a case into the slide/ extractor, but it will not shake out no matter how hard I try. Thanks for the input
 
Just got back from the range, no change with the recoil spring plug. I tweaked the extractor again and it fixed it. I ended up bending it a lot farther than I thought I should have to, but it's running perfect now. Thanks for the help guys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom