1911 troubleshooting

Millie

Millie

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My brand new 1911 9mm RIA is having issues. It was cleaned on Monday, and the issue of the slide locking back after each of the first 3-4 rounds seemed to be solved with a good feed ramp polishing on Wednesday.
I shot 6 boxes of 9mm today and things went well until about box #4, when the locking slide began again, and by box #6 I'd had one stovepipe and two rounds that I got out of the chamber which had the front end pushed in. (I had had one of these rounds during our lesson Wednesday, too.) I quit after box #6.
Alex looked at the magazine and said it seemed to be bent at the top front. He had Pete look at it, and he bent it back to where it needed to be, but it's still got a little divot. They didn't have any 9mm magazines for me to buy.

Once I got outside I put the full magazine in the gun and tried to rack the slide. It wouldn't go, so I pulled the magazine out and noticed that the round had a gash in the tip. No more 9mm as carry gun!

I'd like to know what y'all think may be the issue. Is the gun doing something to bend the magazine? Is the round coming up pushing the top of the magazine out because of the internals of the gun having an issue, or did I get a funky mag and it just took ~800-1,000 rounds to show up?
I plan to contact the company and ask for another magazine, and tell them what's going on and see what they have to say.

Any advice you have will be appreciated. I'm feeling awful that my (possible) new carry gun choice has an issue. The Sig is now back on my belt, and hasn't had any issues that would make me not trust it. I hope the 9mm will be as reliable once the issue is identified and dealt with.
 
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I bet you need to go with a softer recoil spring. I like 8 or 9lb springs with 9mm or 40 minor rounds in my 1911/2011s
 
Mags have contributed to the lion's share of my problems with 1911's in 9mm. Whose mag/s are you running?
 
Mike Overlay said:
I bet you need to go with a softer recoil spring. I like 8 or 9lb springs with 9mm or 40 minor rounds in my 1911/2011s
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Ok, this is a new term for me. And why would the factory put the heavier one in? Did they not know it might have issues?
Where is a recoil spring anyway??
And why is this cropping up all of a sudden? The gun has been perfectly fine till the last week or so, and now seems to be getting steadily worse issues.
 
Millie said:
Ok, this is a new term for me. And why would the factory put the heavier one in? Did they not know it might have issues?
Where is a recoil spring anyway??
And why is this cropping up all of a sudden? The gun has been perfectly fine till the last week or so, and now seems to be getting steadily worse issues.
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1911's in 9mm run different weight springs based on different variables. I think my Dan Wesson came with a 10lb recoil spring and wouldn't run very well. My Fusion is 12lbs and runs great. According to Wolff Springs the factory spec for Colts in 9mm is 14lbs, so they can be somewhat all over the board.

1911's in 9mm seem to be as much art as science. I am sure there are those who will disagree with that statement, but I have had four made by three different companies and they all have had their issues more so than any 1911's I've owned in 45 (for which they were designed by JMB)
 
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fieldgrade said:
Mags have contributed to the lion's share of my problems with 1911's in 9mm. Whose mag/s are you running?
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I got one with the gun, it's the only one I have. I assume the RIA people made it, but maybe not. There's a logo on it but no name.
 
Who polished the feedramp? And when you say "good" polishing I hope that doesn't mean dremel.

Some newer 9mm magazines are bent forward at the top to help with feeding...that divot was probably supposed to be there.

Here is an example https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog...mbat-releases-next-gen-etm-9mm-1911-magazine/

I'd have to look at it in person to actually troubleshoot it but the general rule is friends don't let friends homesmith their 1911s.

A good thing to check and probably a safer adjustment than polishing stuff is have someone qualified check the extractor tension. That is often the culprit for ejection issues/stovepipes. If too tight it can also hinder feeding. Trying a different magazine is also a good idea.
 
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fieldgrade said:
1911's in 9mm run different weight springs based on different variables. I think my Dan Wesson came with a 10lb spring and wouldn't run very well. My Fusion is 12 and runs great.

1911's in 9mm seem to be as much art as science. I am sure there are those who will disagree with that statement, but I have had four made by three different companies and they all have had their issues more so than any 1911's I've owned in 45 (for which they were designed to run by JMB)
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And I'm assuming the change of spring has solved the issues you had? Are these springs something I could change out myself? I need to google them, as I have no idea what a recoil spring even is. I only know the one in the slide on the rod....is that the one?
 
I'm sorry, but I have to ask a question. You describe the slide as "locking back" but your problem symptoms as described want to say that the slide is not locking back but rather may be failing to return to battery. Can you clarify that for me firstest? :)
 
Millie said:
And I'm assuming the change of spring has solved the issues you had? Are these springs something I could change out myself? I need to google them, as I have no idea what a recoil spring even is. I only know the one in the slide on the rod....is that the one?
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That's the recoil spring. I've not changed recoil spring weights in any of mine. My issues seemed to be related to mags.
 
Millie said:
I got one with the gun, it's the only one I have. I assume the RIA people made it, but maybe not. There's a logo on it but no name.
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You need more than one. No matter which I run, be they Wilsons, Tripps, Metalform/Dawson/Wessons it always seems I'll have one out of a half dozen that doesn't want to behave as well as the others. so I mark them so I know which one is now a spare, or Barney mag for matches.

And the only way I know to determine if you have a mag issue is to have another one to run to see if your problem repeats itself with a different mag.
 
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SC380 said:
Who polished the feedramp? And when you say "good" polishing I hope that doesn't mean dremel.

Some newer 9mm magazines are bent forward at the top to help with feeding...that divot was probably supposed to be there.

Here is an example https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog...mbat-releases-next-gen-etm-9mm-1911-magazine/

I'd have to look at it in person to actually troubleshoot it but the general rule is friends don't let friends homesmith their 1911s.
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The resident gunsmith did it, and I wasn't there in his space when he did it, so I have no idea how he did it, but he did say there were tool marks on it when he got hold of it.
I can't even see a divot in the link you sent, but thanks.
 
fieldgrade said:
You need more than one. No matter which I run, be they Wilsons, Tripps, Metalform/Dawson/Wessons it always seems I'll have one out of a half dozen that doesn't want to behave as well as the others. so I mark them so I know which one is now a spare, or Barney mag for matches.

And the only way I know to determine if you have a mag issue is to have another one to run to see if your problem repeats itself with a different mag.
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Good point. I'd hoped to get one or two at the range, they don't have any. But I go past a Gander each time I go, do they sell them?
 
Millie said:
The resident gunsmith did it, and I wasn't there in his space when he did it, so I have no idea how he did it, but he did say there were tool marks on it when he got hold of it.
I can't even see a divot in the link you sent, but thanks.
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If it fed fine for the 1st 1000 I doubt the tool marks were the issue.

Divot.JPG
 
Millie, to me the magazine is the weakest link in a semiauto mag fed firearm (handgun or long gun). For my SD and HD firearms I have my “golden mags” that have proven themselves, are treated with the utmost TLC ... inspection (feed lips, spring, follower, etc), cleaning and lubing. They see range work but are not used for the heavy drills and training type work. People kinda laugh but my HD carbine is staged with 2 20 round Colt GI mags that were manufactured in 1985 ... now they are freshened up with new springs and followers along with checking everything else inside and out. The old style anodized coating on the outer body is well worn but both of those mags fed perfect. My suggestion is look into Tripp Cobra or Wilson 47 mags (both great mag suppliers) because 9mm mags are kinda tricky and those 2 manufacturers are the ones I’d trust first ... now they are not cheap but quality ain’t cheap either. When you get a couple you know work 100% reliably mark them as your golden mags and buy more of the same kind. Honestly, mags are almost like ammo you can’t have enough ... 10 mags per firearm is just a start in my thoughts.
 
Millie said:
Good point. I'd hoped to get one or two at the range, they don't have any. But I go past a Gander each time I go, do they sell them?
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They closed all the Ganders around here.

I would order some of these if it were mine. I've run Wilson ETMs, Tripps Cobra mags, and my current favorites are Metalforms. Dawsons are made by Metalform and Dawson puts their metal basepad on them. FYI, Dan Wesson ships Metalforms with theirs also (but labeled Dan Wesson).

https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-precision-9mm-10-round-magazines-with-tactical-basepads/
 
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1911s chambered in 9mm are notorious for mag related issues even more than 1911s chambered in 45 ACP.

There will be some trial and error to find the ones that will run in your RIA. @fieldgrade is giving you spot on advice.

In the future do not let a “gunsmith” polish your feed ramp. More damage has been done with a dremel to a feed ranp than other modification.

My personal choice for 1911 9mm mags is Tripp research, folllowed my Metalform and then Wilson. If you can find another local 1911 in 9mm shooter they might be able to let you try some mags in your gun. Some guns will prefer one design over another. The tolerances for proper function are tight in 9mm 1911s. If you were closer to me I would give you 3 different brands to try for free.

The mag that ships with RIA is a Mecgar. I love mecgar mags except for their 1911 mags. I would start with Metalform. Get 3 from Dawson Percsion if they run you are set. If not sell them in the classifieds and someone like me will take them off your hands for what you paid and then try Tripp’s. Rinse and repeat until you find the ones that run the best in your gun.
 
Anybody know who makes the Brownell's 9mm 10 rd mags? Is that Metalform, Mecgar, or some other?
 
SC380 said:
Anybody know who makes the Brownell's 9mm 10 rd mags? Is that Metalform, Mecgar, or some other?
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I just read about five different threads from four different forums that are anywhere from 2-5 years old about these mags. It *appears* that they are Metalforms, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I just read about five different threads from four different forums that are anywhere from 2-5 years old about these mags. It *appears* that they are Metalforms
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Thanks for looking. That is the same thing I saw when I looked but nothing really definite. The lifetime guaranty and 20ish price tag makes those tempting but they do have a polymer base.
 
@Millie I am no expert on 1911's. I just seem to be able to make 1911's in 9mm misbehave in all kinds of peculiar ways so I have seen their failings and have identified *some* of their shortcomings.

Mags are just easy to rule out as a potential problem, and you need at least a couple more anyway, so I would acquire some, see if the gun continues to misbehave with the new or different mags, and go from there.

Also, what kind of ammo you are running? Be as specific as you can be, particularly regarding bullet style. i.e. FMJ (full metal jacket), JHP(jacketed hollow point), etc. Ammo is obviously another thing that is easy to change up, and you can run whatever 9mm you have left in some other gun if it has caused problems in your RIA.

I don't run Hornady in 1911's but I'm told that their polymer tip and 1911 feed ramps don't always play well together.
 
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Wow. This stinks. But in my experience I can offer a few thoughts:

9mm 1911’s are fickle beasts. I would not recommend them to a new shooter or a 1st time 1911 owner. Eapecialy an out of the box value 1911.

Mags, mags, mags. In 9mm Tripps always served me well. But this could be a whole new thread.

Do not ‘polish’ your feedramps unless you really know what you are doing. Many stories about that out there. Quick way to an unfixable problem.
 
Catfish said:
*cringe* what have you done!?
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I didn't do anything!!!
You guys always think I screwed up....which, given my many screw-ups, I suppose is ok, but not this time. LOL. The gunsmith at Jim's did it and got it all smooth and shiny.
 
CZfool68 said:
Wow. This stinks. But in my experience I can offer a few thoughts:

9mm 1911’s are fickle beasts. I would not recommend them to a new shooter or a 1st time 1911 owner. Eapecialy an out of the box value 1911.

Mags, mags, mags. In 9mm Tripps always served me well. But this could be a whole new thread.

Do not ‘polish’ your feedramps unless you really know what you are doing. Many stories about that out there. Quick way to an unfixable problem.
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I did NOT polish anything!!! I believe I said the gunsmith did!
 
Ok, guys, I was headed to Gander, where they said they had Kimber and CMC magazines, and would let me try them in the gun. On the way, I stopped off at my gun store on the off chance they might have any.....and they did. (Two trips to Fayetteville on one day might have tipped me over the edge of sanity!) Chris McCormick Custom, which I assume is the CMC I was recommended in chat? I have 2 new mags and I'll be headed back to Jim's first thing tomorrow to try them out. Maybe we can all relax then, and get on with our lives. Lol. Or at least one step in the problem will have been eliminated. I hope this is the only step I need to take.
And for the record: I did not polish the feed ramp, the gunsmith did!
 
Catfish said:
And because he did that we shall henceforth refer to him as "the gunsmith". We'll even use air quotes in conversation off forum.
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Or you can just call him Pete!!
Whatever blows your skirt up! Lol.
 
Millie said:
Ok, guys, I was headed to Gander, where they said they had Kimber and CMC magazines, and would let me try them in the gun. On the way, I stopped off at my gun store on the off chance they might have any.....and they did. (Two trips to Fayetteville on one day might have tipped me over the edge of sanity!) Chris McCormick Custom, which I assume is the CMC I was recommended in chat? I have 2 new mags and I'll be headed back to Jim's first thing tomorrow to try them out. Maybe we can all relax then, and get on with our lives. Lol. Or at least one step in the problem will have been eliminated. I hope this is the only step I need to take.
And for the record: I did not polish the feed ramp, the gunsmith did!
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Either way you should not allow a gunsmith to polish a feed ramp before properly trouble shooting the pistol IMHO. It is a sign of a gunsmith of low ability if their first inclination is to polish the feed ramp on a 1911 in 9mm without running multiple brands of magazines through the gun. "The Gunsmith's" name wouldn't happened to be Bubba would it? LMAO I don't know the guy but I would not let him touch one of my guns if that was his solution to the problem. Just because he calls himself a gunsmith does not mean he knows what he is doing.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I just read about five different threads from four different forums that are anywhere from 2-5 years old about these mags. It *appears* that they are Metalforms, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

Did anyone call Brownells to find out who their OEM is?
 
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CZfool68 said:
Wow. This stinks. But in my experience I can offer a few thoughts:

9mm 1911’s are fickle beasts. I would not recommend them to a new shooter or a 1st time 1911 owner. Eapecialy an out of the box value 1911.

Mags, mags, mags. In 9mm Tripps always served me well. But this could be a whole new thread.

Do not ‘polish’ your feedramps unless you really know what you are doing. Many stories about that out there. Quick way to an unfixable problem.
Click to expand...
Everybody said the Sig wasn't a good starter gun, and was fickle, and not for a new shooter....but that thing has done really well, except for some ammo it hated and a magazine being dirty issue. Lol. It has been used pretty hard and used pretty dirty, and has been really nice to me!

If the 9mm is as reliable once I get this issue solved, I'll be a happy old lady!
If it's not, then I go back to carrying the Sig, and life will go on! (Until I get a .45 I can carry...lol. And if I had $600+ tax to spare, I'd have bought the .45 Wednesday!)
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Buy Wilson 10 rounders and you can Eliminate your mag problems. Moreso..bring it here Now...or Tomorrow. We will get it sorted out.
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The only trouble with Wilsons is they stand a little "taller" than some of the other mags like Tripp's and Metalforms and can play havoc with Colt ejectors in 9mm. I've bent not one, but two, in two different Colts. Colt 9mm ejectors seem to be much longer than many others, but some other pistol mfg ejectors are not as short as others, even though they might be shorter than Colts, and the Wilson mags can contact the ejectors.

I do run WC ETMs in 45
 
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fieldgrade said:
@Millie I am no expert on 1911's. I just seem to be able to make 1911's in 9mm misbehave in all kinds of peculiar ways so I have seen their failings and have identified *some* of their shortcomings.

Mags are just easy to rule out as a potential problem, and you need at least a couple more anyway, so I would acquire some, see if the gun continues to misbehave with the new or different mags, and go from there.

Also, what kind of ammo you are running? Be as specific as you can be, particularly regarding bullet style. i.e. FMJ (full metal jacket), JHP(jacketed hollow point), etc. Ammo is obviously another thing that is easy to change up, and you can run whatever 9mm you have left in some other gun if it has caused problems in your RIA.

I don't run Hornady in 1911's but I'm told that their polymer tip and 1911 feed ramps don't always play well together.
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Ok, got 2 new magazines to try in the morning.

I've been using Blazer Brass 9mm Luger, 115 grain FMJ in it since I bought it. (Have never tried any kind of HP, as I was advised these guns were meant to use fmj.) I just ordered 1,000 more rounds of the same, so let us fervently pray that ammo is not the issue! It's been fine with it until about the last week, and all of a sudden it was having major issues....if this particular ammo is an issue, I'll have to see if I can trade it or sell it.
(And I have no other 9mm gun. Yet....lol.)

I will hit the range in the morning to try the new magazines. I'll let y'all know what happens....
 
Millie I can send you some new mags to try......in the meantime if you get FTF but not stovepipes, point the gun a safe direction, finger off the trigger, and slap up on the magazine in the well and usually it will feed. 9 times out of 10 it's the mag, the other .5 time its the ammo, and .5 is the recoil spring.
 
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