r/1911•
peppermg

New SR1911 Issues

Took my new SR1911, my first 1911 out to the range this weekend and had a few issues with it. When I first got it I striped it cleaned it up oiled and reassembled it. Took it to the range and on the first 3 mags I put through it the slide would get stuck back when attempting to chamber the next round (really stuck, took a considerable amount of force to free it). This happened once on each of the first 3 mags and it seemed to loosen up and performed flawlessly thereafter, put about 75 rounds through it.

So my question is, what did I screw up? I assume perhaps I did not oil it enough, being my first 1911 I am not sure. Any ideas?

Posted Jun 2, 2014, 12:57 PM UTC · edited

1227
[deleted]•

When I got my SR1911 the disconnector was extremely tight. Like, if I racked the slide back the slide would get caught on the return trip. Like you said, I have about 100 or 200 rounds through it and now it is flawless.

5
peppermgOP•

I honestly don't even know what a disconnector is, but I like this explanation. Blame the disconnector!

4
[deleted]•

Pull your slide all the way back, look at where your firing pin is, and then look right below it. There should be a hole, and the disconnector should be sticking up.

This is what the problem looks like.

Here's a diagram of parts.

And another.

Ooooh.

3
peppermgOP•

There is definitely a noticeable catch/hang when the slide hits the disconnector.

2
[deleted]•

Just keep shooting, it'll smooth out!

2
ChopBeef•

I had this exact situation. I also had an extremely tight slide:frame fit. My SR1911 has been perfectly reliable though (with about 10 different kinds of ammo).

3
[deleted]•

Yup, same here. I only ever had the issue when I would manually cycle it.

1
therevenantrising•

Buy some quality magazines and shoot the shit out of it. Things should smooth out after about 500 rounds tops.

I'd reccomend Wilson Combat, Chip McCormick, or Tripp magazines.

3
kthehun89•

Welcome to 1911 ownership. Break that sucker in!

3
armedliberalinmo•

I personally wouldn't sweat any stoppages that are not actual mechanical failures for the first 750-1000 rounds. Or, you can take it to a decent 1911 gunsmith and spend the same amount of money on a 'detail conditioning'. Honestly, the shooting method is more fun and safer than taking a power tool to your frame.

2
James_JohnsonLes Baer Premier II•

So the slide itself was stuck back, or did a round nose-dive into the feed ramp? If it's the former, it sounds like the tight disconnector problem others have mentioned. Otherwise it's a magazine or feed ramp geometry issue.

A cheap way to get all the parts to wear in is to just rack the slide while watching TV or something.

2
peppermgOP•

The previous case ejected smoothly and as the slide came forward it stuck. Failure to go into battery. The first time it stuck I wasn't sure I was ever going to get it free, its was really frozen. This was using both the stock Ruger mags and some Wilson Combat ETM 8rds I picked up. After the first 3 mags it never happened again.

1
j-mtATI FX45GI Commander•

Did you load the magazines the first time or someone else?

2
peppermgOP•

I loaded all of them.

1
GSR_b17•

Once I read this I just had to go shot mine just to see if I had that problem and it works just fine. The only time it jams up on me is on winchester ammo

2
Tardis79•

I had about 15 Failure to feed issues in my first 50 rounds. I also had 20 Failure to eject rounds. The rounds that were coming out were coming at my face. I was really worried. I read online about the mags being really stiff when new. So I filled the mags and left them there 2-3 weeks to keep the springs in tension. This worked as I have never had a failure to feed since then (I'm at around 750 now). The failure to extract solution I found online as well. My extractor was maybe 1/4-1/2mm too far inwards at the casing. I released the extractor and pulled it out about 2/3 of the way and put pressure in the direction I needed a small bend to correct it. The bend is not visible but it worked. Extraction has been perfect since and rounds go up and right of the chamber as they should.

2
onlyforaminute•

springs in compression

1
specter800Springfield MC Operator, RIA GI•

You need Wilson Combat magazines.

The 1911 has a tendency to nosedive bullets into the feed ramp if the magazine is less than perfect. I'm guessing the Ruger model has less-than-perfect magazines and sticks to the original polished frame and throated barrel rather than having a ramped barrel. If those don't mate properly during the cycling of the pistol, you may have an inconsistent feed ramp which can cause jamming.

What I suggest is:

  • When you load magazines, make sure the nose of the rounds are as far "up" as possible where "up" is the direction of the top of the pistol. This can be done easiest by pressing down (towards the magazine floorplate) on the rim of the case of each round as it is loaded. This ensures the base of the case is lowest in the magazine and the nose is highest.

  • Polishing your feed ramp with a dremmel and fine polishing compound. This is a very simple job and can be done without much experience. Just maintain the angle of the feed ramp and barrel throat and remember you are not attempting to remove material, you are attempting to smooth the tiny ridges that occur in the feed ramps of mass produced 1911s.

1
NoxiousDogCloud•

I've run a lot of rounds through my Ruger with different mags and not had any problems. Even some cheap steel GI mags fed flawlessly.

5
James_JohnsonLes Baer Premier II•

You need Wilson Combat magazines.

WC mags are a band-aid over the real problem. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but people should be aware of it. Also Wilson mags cost $texas compared to regular 1911 magazines.

Polishing your feed ramp with a dremmel and fine polishing compound. This is a very simple job and can be done without much experience. Just maintain the angle of the feed ramp and barrel throat and remember you are not attempting to remove material, you are attempting to smooth the tiny ridges that occur in the feed ramps of mass produced 1911s.

Yeah, telling a newbie to take a Dremel to the frame is a GREAT idea. If you must polish it, don't use power tools.

3
specter800Springfield MC Operator, RIA GI•

A dremmel with a polishing wheel and some polishing compound is hardly a blowtorch. Anyone with some exposure to working with tools and a little common sense can put a dremmel to a 1911. Ive done this to all my 1911s without incident.

2
peppermgOP•

The first thing I bought were a couple of Wilson Combat ETM 8rd mags. One of the failures occurred using the WC mags, though I was using some crap Tul ammo. Each failure occurred on a different mag using different ammo so I kind of ruled out the issue being ammo or mag related.

Thanks for the advice, Ill definitely pay attention when I am loading the magazines and will check out the feed ramp.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
VapingJoe•

try getting a wilson combat mag and also break in the gun at lest 500-800 rounds then clean it. After that she should be flawless!

1
Cantonious•

Sounds like a new 1911 that needs some break-in. Give it 500-750 rounds and see how it does. Should be nice and smooth by then.

1
Veyr0n•

I had issues when I first got my ati commander size with threaded barrel, specifically with a Bosnian brand of ammo I bought almost took all the fun away from shooting it, shot it some more with about 250 - 300 Winchester rounds and got perfect, then I bought 500 factory reloads and shot those with hardly any issues.

Do your shells look a big squished after you shot them? Mine did when it was shooting shitty then the issue went away.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-12
therevenantrising•

Least helpful comment of the thread goes to...

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-2
onlyforaminute•

You reek of personality.

2