jogan Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Hey guys, was wondering if anyone had any insight on my buddies 1911 problem. With anything more than 5 rounds in his mags, the bullet fails to feed. Ends up jammed below the feed ramp. Of course, every time this happens, his bullet o.a.l. gets a bit shorter! When he gets down to around 4 or 5 rounds, they feed no problem. When I took his mag out, I tried to "strip" a bullet off the top with the mag loaded. Just by pushing the bullet forward with my finger, I noticed the bullet nose-dives. It doesn't strip off "nose-up" like it's aligned in the mag, leading it to jam into the gun below the barrel. Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddriver Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 sounds like it could be as simple as trying different mags. I had similar problems till i tried tripps cobra research mags. now the only problems i get is when my mags get dirty. (fredericksburg sand has bitten me a couple times ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Lots and lots of things could be going on. What is the make and caliber of the pistol? Ramped or unramped barrel? Mags are most likely the issue.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianQ Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 1352427332[/url'>' post='1811945']Lots and lots of things could be going on. What is the make and caliber of the pistol? Ramped or unramped barrel? Mags are most likely the issue.. +1 mags. See if followers are dragging on the sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Mag might be assembled with the spring in backwards. Or could be bent in toward the front enough for the follower to drag. Suggest taking mag apart and inspecting closely. Agree with the above, probably the mag. Try a few others and see if the problem remains with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Check the feed lips on the mags they could be set to close and with full spring tension the rounds bind coming out. Sounds like the rounds could be to long also. What is the OAL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jogan Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 well, looks like it was the mags. He swapped out a few and the problems stopped. Thanks guys. Quick reply/fix as always! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Good thing you got the problem solved. But you may have a more serious issue to deal with. If the rounds are getting shorter when they bump the feed ramp, that's not good. You need to check the sizing die and make sure the inside diameter of the sized brass is at least a couple of thousandths smaller than the bullet OD. This is a common problem with .40 SW and some people think you can fix it by adding more crimp. That doesn't work. If you leave it as is, chances are you'll get a very unpleasant surprise somewhere down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Or, to get more case grip on the bullet, polish the powder funnel and remove a couple of thousandths. This will enable the case to more tightly hold the bullet. Then, don't crimp, only remove the flare in the case mouth. Make the sides of the case parallel only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polizei1 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Glad you got it fixed. Quality mags are MANDATORY for 1911's to properly run, something you really should put your money into. Dawson mags have worked great for me, as have Mec-gar and Wilso ETM's. Tripp and CMC are also great mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Or, to get more case grip on the bullet, polish the powder funnel and remove a couple of thousandths. This will enable the case to more tightly hold the bullet. Then, don't crimp, only remove the flare in the case mouth. Make the sides of the case parallel only. This isn't going to help if the case isn't being sized down enough to start with, but it's a good idea to check both. The powder funnel shouldn't be expanding the case; it should only be belling the mouth a tiny bit to balance the bullet. If it is expanding the case, then you obviously need to fix that too. Crimp should match SAAMI spec, no more and no less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I assume the SAAMI spec is parallel sides, at least, all the factory ammo I have is that way. Is this incorrect?? If so, please post the SAAMI specifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 It's pretty darn close. 9mm = .3811 case, .3800 crimp; .40 S&W = .4231 case, .423 crimp; .45 ACP = .4732 case, .4730 crimp. Doubt most people can accurately measure in tenths even with a good with a caliper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Take an old single edge razor blade and hold it (edge) against side of case, easy way to see if the case wall is straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob DuBois Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Crimp only helps feed the bullet into the chamber, to much crimp accuracy may go away. Try setting crimp at .468 to .472, trying for .470. The first stage sizing die holds the bullet in the case. While I don't know which recoil spring comes into play but any 45 has a pretty good push closing the slide. A tight sizer is more critical. I'm a fan of Lee's sizing die design. It sizes closer to the extractor groove than other brands and a little tighter overall. Has an outstanding primer punch design that more times than not will just push up of something is in the case. I would try a carbide four die set. Midway runs them on sale several times a year and they are the cheapist dies out there. Lee's seating die has a turn knob on top that's simple to adjust for OAL. Odd shaped bullet, send Lee the bullet and they will cut a insert for your die that solves OAL problems. I use Lee's FCD die as a crimp die and not a full lenght last stage sizer. Cheap magazines in a 1911 and your asking for problems. I like Wilson 47D's but any quality magazine should work. Here is a place you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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