1911 troubleshooting

What he's saying is they don't like to run "dry". Meaning in this case not adequately lubricated.
Yeah, I got the lubed up part, just don't know what hooks and lugs and whatever else means. Lol.
 
I just had a burst of brilliance. Maybe I should let my coach have the 9mm for a few days, and he can shoot it when he has time in his schedule....I don't know when, he's a busy guy, but maybe he can go shoot a few rounds in odd moments and see what it does for him? Might this be a good idea? I figure it can't hurt, right? I can leave it with him after I shoot in the morning.
 
How coincidental that I just received a 1911 in 9mm back from the manufacturer today due to misbehavior. In this case it is a misbehavior of a different variety. (lousy ejection)
 
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Anybody know if simple green is enough to get a 1911 completely "dry" or would i have to use brake cleaner?
 
How coincidental that I just received a 1911 in 9mm back from the manufacturer today due to misbehavior. In this case it is a misbehavior of a different variety. (lousy ejection)
I'm sorry yours had issues, and I really hope it's now and forever issue-free! Lol.
 
Anybody know if simple green is enough to get a 1911 completely "dry" or would i have to use brake cleaner?
The videos I saw used mineral spirits to clean them....eeewwwww.....
 
Big NO to the mineral spirits, and YES to the lubrication! If you let someone other than the manufacturer work on the pistol it will VOID the warranty.
:)
 
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Millie suddenly remembers about the feed ramp getting polished. Then rehearses the line, "It was that way when I got it."

Don't worry Millie, it a 1911. We'll get it to run smoothly. Incidentally, on the grip... I know you said you were gripping firmly, but how extended are your arms when shooting it? If your elbows are fairly bent, you'll have a weaker wrist lock. With straighter arms, your wrist strength will be increased. I'm not saying lock your elbows out straight, but straighter would be better. Just a thought.

BTW, with the quantity you're shooting, are you by chance picking up and saving your brass? I know someone that would be interested in getting that from you if you are, or should you decide to do so. ;)
 
Except today, I shot 100 rounds and the gun did as perfectly as it did the first 2 weeks! I just don't get it!


With such a narrow window of opportunity, your results could be as simple as a small variation in the ammunition...dimensionally as well as ballistically. I've seen thast happen pretty often with the chopped down variants. Ammunition varies from one manufacturer to another, and sometimes within different lots from the same manufacturer.

Although I doubt that your grip is to blame since the gun is correctly sprung, it wouldn't be a bad idea to let someone else whoot it to see if they have the same problems.
 
With such a narrow window of opportunity, your results could be as simple as a small variation in the ammunition...dimensionally as well as ballistically. I've seen thast happen pretty often with the chopped down variants. Ammunition varies from one manufacturer to another, and sometimes within different lots from the same manufacturer.

Although I doubt that your grip is to blame since the gun is correctly sprung, it wouldn't be a bad idea to let someone else whoot it to see if they have the same problems.
I've asked my long-suffering trainer to keep the gun and shoot it when he can, to see when it starts having issues again, and I'll borrow it when I want to shoot and then give it back to him.
He very kindly agreed to do this for me for a while, and has it now. Maybe he can get some insight.

Maybe the gun just needs to go on a road trip to shoot at some steel targets, and it will be heading out soon! Lol.

I have to add that today I shot 4 boxes of 115 gr. ammo and it was fine, and 2 boxes of same brand 124 gr, and had a stovepipe near the end of box 2. Other than that tiny hiccup it was fine.
 
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Big NO to the mineral spirits, and YES to the lubrication! If you let someone other than the manufacturer work on the pistol it will VOID the warranty.
:)
I didn't plan on using the mineral spirits, just something I saw. Lol. I watch lots of how-to youtube things.

I've asked my instructor not to do anything to the gun that might "change" it and void the warranty. I've asked him not to let anyone mess with it in any way. Lol.

I just want to see if it will do to him what it's been doing to me, to get another piece of information that may help sort this thing out.
 
Millie suddenly remembers about the feed ramp getting polished. Then rehearses the line, "It was that way when I got it."

Don't worry Millie, it a 1911. We'll get it to run smoothly. Incidentally, on the grip... I know you said you were gripping firmly, but how extended are your arms when shooting it? If your elbows are fairly bent, you'll have a weaker wrist lock. With straighter arms, your wrist strength will be increased. I'm not saying lock your elbows out straight, but straighter would be better. Just a thought.

BTW, with the quantity you're shooting, are you by chance picking up and saving your brass? I know someone that would be interested in getting that from you if you are, or should you decide to do so. ;)
Yeah, I had forgotten all about the feed ramp...lol.

And I'm going to start picking up the brass, as it does seem that somebody might want some brass! Lol. I'll start that tomorrow! Putting some baggies in the range bag right now, in fact!

Elbows: We're taught in choir not to lock our knees when standing on the risers, as bad things can happen if we do!
And so no, I don't lock my elbows, but get them as straight as I can without locking.
When I begin to notice my arms are starting to bend more, that's when I know it's almost time to stop for the day. Lol. If I have to constantly straighten them, I'm done.
 
Yeah, I had forgotten all about the feed ramp...lol.

And I'm going to start picking up the brass, as it does seem that somebody might want some brass! Lol. I'll start that tomorrow! Putting some baggies in the range bag right now, in fact!

Elbows: We're taught in choir not to lock our knees when standing on the risers, as bad things can happen if we do!
And so no, I don't lock my elbows, but get them as straight as I can without locking.
When I begin to notice my arms are starting to bend more, that's when I know it's almost time to stop for the day. Lol. If I have to constantly straighten them, I'm done.
Ok, sounds good. Just thinking of the little things that might make a difference. You are still in the break in period.
 
Ok, sounds good. Just thinking of the little things that might make a difference. You are still in the break in period.
Any little nugget you have, I'll take! Lol.

And how long is the break-in period? Surely over 1,000 rounds it should be broken in by now?
 
Any little nugget you have, I'll take! Lol.

And how long is the break-in period? Surely over 1,000 rounds it should be broken in by now?
Oh, yeah. You've been cranking through some rounds. Yes, normally, a few hundred should do it. We'll figure it out. 1911's have infinite ways to be modified and tweaked.
 
Oh, yeah. You've been cranking through some rounds. Yes, normally, a few hundred should do it. We'll figure it out. 1911's have infinite ways to be modified and tweaked.
But I don't want modifications and tweakage....I just want my gun to work as it's supposed to! LOL. Tweakage sounds baaaaddd.....
As for "We'll figure it out," that's what my coach said! I'm confident that between all the gun brains here and at the range, I'll get my gun properly sorted.
 
But I don't want modifications and tweakage....I just want my gun to work as it's supposed to! LOL. Tweakage sounds baaaaddd.....
As for "We'll figure it out," that's what my coach said! I'm confident that between all the gun brains here and at the range, I'll get my gun properly sorted.
Here's the reality. The gun you have is not a good choice for carry gun as demonstrated by its behavior. I wouldn't carry a 1911 in 9mm unless it was made and tuned by one of the semi-custom builders. Some of them have figured it out. I'm talking Wilson, Nighthawk, Guncrafters, etc

I've had too much trouble with 1911's in 9mm from Dan Wesson on down, and anyone who says otherwise hasn't shot enough of them. They are too hit or miss in that caliber.

Carry a 1911 in 45, or carry another pistol.

EDIT: Let me add that upon reflection I realize my words might seem harsh. I'm not a .45 acp snob. I carry a G43. I've just had some serious frustrations and disappointments with the 1911 platform in 9mm with multiple makers.
 
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But I don't want modifications and tweakage....I just want my gun to work as it's supposed to! LOL. Tweakage sounds baaaaddd.....
As for "We'll figure it out," that's what my coach said! I'm confident that between all the gun brains here and at the range, I'll get my gun properly sorted.
I don't own anything that's not been modified or tweaked in some way. Makes it mine.:D Tweaking is just a minor adjustment, a different spring, a little bend, a little polishing, etc. Factory is boring.
 
Here's the reality. The gun you have is not a good choice for carry gun as demonstrated by its behavior. I wouldn't carry a 1911 in 9mm unless it was made and tuned by one of the semi-custom builders. Some of them have figured it out. I'm talking Wilson, Nighthawk, Guncrafters, etc

I've had too much trouble with 1911's in 9mm from Dan Wesson on down, and anyone who says otherwise hasn't shot enough of them. They are too hit or miss in that caliber.

Carry a 1911 in 45, or carry another pistol.
Well, right now I'm back with the p238. As soon as I have the money, I'll get my .45 1911 out of layaway "jail," and carry it after shooting it for a while.

Problem solved, kind of. Lol.
 
I don't own anything that's not been modified or tweaked in some way. Makes it mine.:D Tweaking is just a minor adjustment, a different spring, a little bend, a little polishing, etc. Factory is boring.
Not sure I can afford tweakage, and the .45 will be mine soon...I hope it goes ok and I can carry that!
 
Here's the reality. The gun you have is not a good choice for carry gun as demonstrated by its behavior. I wouldn't carry a 1911 in 9mm unless it was made and tuned by one of the semi-custom builders. Some of them have figured it out. I'm talking Wilson, Nighthawk, Guncrafters, etc

I've had too much trouble with 1911's in 9mm from Dan Wesson on down, and anyone who says otherwise hasn't shot enough of them. They are too hit or miss in that caliber.

Carry a 1911 in 45, or carry another pistol.

And 30 years ago they said the same thing about 45 acp 1911s with hollow point ammo "they will not work you must shoot 230 grain Ball ammo" I have 6 1911 9mms and have not had any trouble with any of them
 
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...I have 6 1911 9mms and have not had any trouble with any of them
I would be interested to know which ones. Seriously. Not a challenge but a request.
And describe under what conditions you shoot them, and if you trust them to carry for defense
I've bent the ejectors on two new Colts, had a new Dan Wesson Valor that wouldn't run right after break-in, and had issues with a Fusion that I've been able to correct.

I've run them all in matches and their performance was not encouraging, except for the Fusion, which I think I've been lucky with.
 
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And 30 years ago they said the same thing about 45 acp 1911s with hollow point ammo

Whoever said that has probably only tried one or two pistols and drew their conclusions based on that experience. I have several unaltered USGI pistols from both wars that do just fine with hollowpoint and even 200 grain cast SWCs fed from the old "hardball" magazines.


" I have 6 1911 9mms and have not had any trouble with any of them

And we're all real happy for ya. Truly we are.

But that doesn't change the fact that too many of them do have problems, and those problems can be a real PITA to cure. Go ahead and ask me how I know about that.


I have to add that today I shot 4 boxes of 115 gr. ammo and it was fine, and 2 boxes of same brand 124 gr, and had a stovepipe near the end of box 2. Other than that tiny hiccup it was fine.

That comes back to the extractor and the problems inherent to the caliber in the 1911 pistol. i.e. an extractor that was designed to work with the .45 Auto cartridge having to be heavily modifed to be compatible with 9mm.

Anyway...I think I'll jump outta this one. Good luck with it, Millie. Hope you can find a wrench willing to work on it...one that doesn't think that polishing the feed ramp is the cure for all 1911 ills.
 
I would be interested to know which ones. Seriously. Not a challenge but a request.
And describe under what conditions you shoot them, and if you trust them to carry for defense
I've bent the ejectors on two new Colts, had a new Dan Wesson Valor that wouldn't run right after break-in, and had issues with a Fusion that I've been able to correct.

I've run them all in matches and their performance was not encouraging, except for the Fusion, which I think I've been lucky with.


RIA ultra fullsize , RIA tactical FS, STI Spartan V, STI Trojan, Springfield RO FS 9mm, RIA 22tcm/9mm and my carry gun a RIA Tactical CS The RIA ultra fullsize , STI Trojan and my carry gun each get 200+ rounds a month and have for the last 4-5 years most of that ammo is my 115 grain cast round nose reloads (bullets from Summers enterprise) I have now gone to a Hi tek coating on the same bullets they all work with various mags including the mags from my 38super (ask me how I know this)
 
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@Millie

It's worth mentioning that my comment last night about not carrying your 1911 in 9mm for defense is not an indictment of your particular pistol. I am a big advocate of RIA's based on everything I have ever read about them, which is a lot, and especially at their price point.

Currently, I shoot my one remaining 9mm 1911 more than anything else I own. I run it in nearly every match because the weight minimizes recoil so well for follow up shots, and it is just a pleasure to shoot the way I have it set up. But I'm not sure if I would buy another one like it. Some of what this gun is now I did myself, and I have heard of others having trouble with theirs.

From my own limited experience, and the words above by someone way more experienced than me, it's my *opinion* that unlike JMB's design for the 1911 chambered in 45, the 1911 in 9mm always seems to be a work in progress. Some come from the factory that will run, some will even run great, some folks have had a lot luck with theirs as posted just above, and some just won't run. Many folks will take them to the range occasionally and never have a minute's trouble, but once they start to put a lot of ammo through them, or in my case run them in competitions where Murphy's law reigns supreme regarding your gun, your ammo, your gear, and even you, then all sorts of things start to creep out of the woodwork.

To me this platform in this caliber is a little like race car. If everything isn't just right it won't run right. When it IS right it is glorious. When I spend any time on 1911 specific forums I read about folks who have a passel of 1911's in 9mm that all seem to run, but I find they are often semi-customs or full custom builds where significant sums of money have been spent upfront to build a finally tuned handgun that will run correctly. ($3,000 up to however much you want to spend). Or they are owners who shoot the gun at the range occasionally, and haven't ever really "put them through their paces". I could be wrong about that and it is just an assumption, but my experience has just been way different with $800-$1700 1911's in 9mm.

For defense there are just so many options to carry 10+1 in 9mm that are rock solid reliable. As for your RIA, I actually enjoy the journey of getting a gun like that to run (until I don't). But once a gun stumbles a few times, if it is an easily identifiable and well known fix, then I say fix it and carry it with confidence, but if it is one of the mysterious gremlins that befall this platform in this caliber, I just wouldn't personally trust it as a defense weapon.
 
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RIA ultra fullsize , RIA tactical FS, STI Spartan V, STI Trojan, Springfield RO FS 9mm, RIA 22tcm/9mm and my carry gun a RIA Tactical CS The RIA ultra fullsize , STI Trojan and my carry gun each get 200+ rounds a month and have for the last 4-5 years most of that ammo is my 115 grain cast round nose reloads (bullets from Summers enterprise) I have now gone to a Hi tek coating on the same bullets they all work with various mags including the mags from my 38super (ask me how I know this)
I was very close to buying an RIA Ultra in 9mm. Read lots of great stuff about them, and also seriously considered buying one of Dawson's remaining STI single stacks if STI's didn't have rear target sights, which are just not my personal preference. I think these are all great choices for any 1911, although I have no personal experience with them.

That said, I still would not recommend the 1911 for defense to a newer shooter, and particularly in 9mm.
 
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I was very close to buying an RIA Ultra in 9mm. Read lots of great stuff about them, and also seriously considered buying one of Dawson's remaining STI single stacks if STI's didn't have rear target sights, which are just not my personal preference. I think these are all great choices for any 1911, although I have no personal experience with them.

That said, I still would not recommend the 1911 for defense to a newer shooter, and particularly in 9mm.

The STI Spartan is the gun that got me wanting the STI Trojan the Spartan was the Budget STI it was made by Armscor (RIA) using a Armscor frame and slide with STI internals My Ultra is the most accurate 9mm I own this $600 1911 is more accurate than the $1400 STI (The Trojan is accurate but the ultra is crazy accurate) Maybe if I was using a lot of different types of ammo I would have issues but I have had great luck with mine the RIA tactical had a issue with not locking open at 1st but a call to RIA and a new slide stop (RIA mailed it with no charges or issues) fixed it
 
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@Millie

It's worth mentioning that my comment last night about not carrying your 1911 in 9mm for defense is not an indictment of your particular pistol. I am a big advocate of RIA's based on everything I have ever read about them, which is a lot, and especially at their price point.

Currently, I shoot my one remaining 9mm 1911 more than anything else I own. I run it in nearly every match because the weight minimizes recoil so well for follow up shots, and it is just a pleasure to shoot the way I have it set up. But I'm not sure if I would buy another one like it. Some of what this gun is now I did myself, and I have heard of others having trouble with theirs.

From my own limited experience, and the words above by someone way more experienced than me, it's my *opinion* that unlike JMB's design for the 1911 chambered in 45, the 1911 in 9mm always seems to be a work in progress. Some come from the factory that will run, some will even run great, some folks have had a lot luck with theirs as posted just above, and some just won't run. Many folks will take them to the range occasionally and never have a minute's trouble, but once they start to put a lot of ammo through them, or in my case run them in competitions where Murphy's law reigns supreme regarding your gun, your ammo, your gear, and even you, then all sorts of things start to creep out of the woodwork.

To me this platform in this caliber is a little like race car. If everything isn't just right it won't run right. When it IS right it is glorious. When I spend any time on 1911 specific forums I read about folks who have a passel of 1911's in 9mm that all seem to run, but I find they are often semi-customs or full custom builds where significant sums of money have been spent upfront to build a finally tuned handgun that will run correctly. ($3,000 up to however much you want to spend). Or they are owners who shoot the gun at the range occasionally, and haven't ever really "put them through their paces". I could be wrong about that and it is just an assumption, but my experience has just been way different with $800-$1700 1911's in 9mm.

For defense there are just so many options to carry 10+1 in 9mm that are rock solid reliable. As for your RIA, I actually enjoy the journey of getting a gun like that to run (until I don't). But once a gun stumbles a few times, if it is an easily identifiable and well known fix, then I say fix it and carry it with confidence, but if it is one of the mysterious gremlins that befall this platform in this caliber, I just wouldn't personally trust it as a defense weapon.

I have NEVER had any luck with a COLT 1911 in any caliber I know they have to make some good guns but I cant seem to get one. My dan wessons are great but they are a model 15 pistol pac and a 22lr pistol pac not a 1911 and not CZ dan wessons
 
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Millie, if you go back to @John Travis first post he is expressing a fundamental truth for all things mechanical, and not just firearms. To function reliably requires that a number of things work correctly. In the original 1911’s this sweet spot was quite large, not as large as say it is in a full size glock, but large enough for the mil. With the 9mm 1911 the sweet spot is smaller. To be fair, current 1911’s are build more tightly than older ones, so even in .45acp the sweet spot is smaller than it once was. If your gun isn’t functioning it could be one thing out of whack or several things just slightly out of wack, the smaller the sweet spot the harder it is to diagnose.

Trying new magazine is a good first thing, even mag springs can make a world of difference.
Cleaning and lbricating is critical, learn to do it well.
147g ammo is another thing to try, recoil will feel different, but not worse. I view this as making the sweet spot larger.
Recoil spring, the long spring in the slide, is another easy variable to play with.

By now I think you know that polishing was not a good choice, your “gunsmith” doesn’t know the 1911 platform, that’s okay, nobody knows everything.

FWIW, I have 1911’s in .45acp, 38super and 9mm, they are all reliable. My nightstand gun is a sig only because it is suppressed.
 
@Millie

It's worth mentioning that my comment last night about not carrying your 1911 in 9mm for defense is not an indictment of your particular pistol. I am a big advocate of RIA's based on everything I have ever read about them, which is a lot, and especially at their price point.

Currently, I shoot my one remaining 9mm 1911 more than anything else I own. I run it in nearly every match because the weight minimizes recoil so well for follow up shots, and it is just a pleasure to shoot the way I have it set up. But I'm not sure if I would buy another one like it. Some of what this gun is now I did myself, and I have heard of others having trouble with theirs.

From my own limited experience, and the words above by someone way more experienced than me, it's my *opinion* that unlike JMB's design for the 1911 chambered in 45, the 1911 in 9mm always seems to be a work in progress. Some come from the factory that will run, some will even run great, some folks have had a lot luck with theirs as posted just above, and some just won't run. Many folks will take them to the range occasionally and never have a minute's trouble, but once they start to put a lot of ammo through them, or in my case run them in competitions where Murphy's law reigns supreme regarding your gun, your ammo, your gear, and even you, then all sorts of things start to creep out of the woodwork.

To me this platform in this caliber is a little like race car. If everything isn't just right it won't run right. When it IS right it is glorious. When I spend any time on 1911 specific forums I read about folks who have a passel of 1911's in 9mm that all seem to run, but I find they are often semi-customs or full custom builds where significant sums of money have been spent upfront to build a finally tuned handgun that will run correctly. ($3,000 up to however much you want to spend). Or they are owners who shoot the gun at the range occasionally, and haven't ever really "put them through their paces". I could be wrong about that and it is just an assumption, but my experience has just been way different with $800-$1700 1911's in 9mm.

For defense there are just so many options to carry 10+1 in 9mm that are rock solid reliable. As for your RIA, I actually enjoy the journey of getting a gun like that to run (until I don't). But once a gun stumbles a few times, if it is an easily identifiable and well known fix, then I say fix it and carry it with confidence, but if it is one of the mysterious gremlins that befall this platform in this caliber, I just wouldn't personally trust it as a defense weapon.
I understood what you were saying. I've gone back to carrying the Sig, as I'm not confident in the 9mm...at the moment.

However, I did shoot 100 rounds with it today at a new friend's outdoor range, and it did perfectly! LOL. I turned it back in to my trainer on the way home, and he'll shoot it when he can.

It was nice to hear the steel go ding with my new gun, and I did it from about 66 feet! I'm happy about that.
 
Millie, if you go back to @John Travis first post he is expressing a fundamental truth for all things mechanical, and not just firearms. To function reliably requires that a number of things work correctly. In the original 1911’s this sweet spot was quite large, not as large as say it is in a full size glock, but large enough for the mil. With the 9mm 1911 the sweet spot is smaller. To be fair, current 1911’s are build more tightly than older ones, so even in .45acp the sweet spot is smaller than it once was. If your gun isn’t functioning it could be one thing out of whack or several things just slightly out of wack, the smaller the sweet spot the harder it is to diagnose.

Trying new magazine is a good first thing, even mag springs can make a world of difference.
Cleaning and lbricating is critical, learn to do it well.
147g ammo is another thing to try, recoil will feel different, but not worse. I view this as making the sweet spot larger.
Recoil spring, the long spring in the slide, is another easy variable to play with.

By now I think you know that polishing was not a good choice, your “gunsmith” doesn’t know the 1911 platform, that’s okay, nobody knows everything.

FWIW, I have 1911’s in .45acp, 38super and 9mm, they are all reliable. My nightstand gun is a sig only because it is suppressed.
I did try some 124 (?) grain ammo the other day. I'll see what else they have at the range to try. It does seem to love the 115 gr. Blazer Brass though.

Today the gun did perfectly thru 100 rounds....go figure! Shooting at the steel target was fun!
 
I was very close to buying an RIA Ultra in 9mm. Read lots of great stuff about them, and also seriously considered buying one of Dawson's remaining STI single stacks if STI's didn't have rear target sights, which are just not my personal preference. I think these are all great choices for any 1911, although I have no personal experience with them.

That said, I still would not recommend the 1911 for defense to a newer shooter, and particularly in 9mm.
Well, the 9mm is not being carried, sadly. I'm back to the p238, which I also love. Maybe the .45 1911 will be my good luck gun!
 
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