/ Register

Help! A couple of issues with my 1911 build:

Discussion in '1911 Gunsmithing' started by Firedude, Feb 24, 2019.

  1. Feb 24, 2019 #1
    Firedude

    Firedude Active Member

    58
    Sep 30, 2018
    I'm building a 1911 for my son for his graduation from the US Naval Academy in May. I have it pretty much done except for sight installation, engraving and cerakote finish. A couple of issues that I am having:

    (1) It has a Wilson Combat Bulletproof slide release. The slide release won't release on an empty magazine. With no mag in, it works fine. I swapped the slide release from my Kimber Warrior and it works fine. I assume it's just a matter of sanding/filing away a bit of material and it'll work as intended? I can't really tell from where.

    (2) I test fired it yesterday. Had about 5 failure to feeds (out of 4 magazines) and a couple of times it didn't go into full battery. All the parts on the pistol are Wilson Combat using a Caspian Recon Receiver and a unmarked Remington slide. I used Wilson Combat Elite Tactical mags and Kimber KimPro Tac-Mags. I'm using the Wilson Combat Full-size Shok-Buff Recoil System (Full length guide rod etc...). No idea why it's failing to feed or at times no going into full battery. I assume the slide stop could possibly be a cause of some of this.

    This is my first 1911 build. Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Firedude, Feb 24, 2019
    Firedude, Feb 24, 2019
  3. Feb 24, 2019 #2
    pistolwretch

    pistolwretch Dremel jockey Supporting Addict

    3,690
    Aug 26, 2011
    Failures to feed:
    Caspians often have very shallow feed ramps.

    Not going into full battery:
    Barrel chamber may need reaming.
    Extractor tension may be too high.
     
    pistolwretch, Feb 24, 2019
    pistolwretch, Feb 24, 2019
    rmac, 41 Charlie, Old Sea Dragon and 3 others like this.

  5. Feb 24, 2019 #3
    Integrity Arms

    Integrity Arms 1911 Pistol Smith

    8,911
    Mar 20, 2017
    i would suggest lose the shok buff. I have never seen any good come from those personally. I have seen those retard return at the most inopportune times. And as Chuck said if you didn't ream the chamber, then that is a good start as well. Not familiar with Caspian frames but, I am sure Chuck has done hundreds. Assume this is a FS Gov. 45acp..
     
    Integrity Arms, Feb 24, 2019
    Integrity Arms, Feb 24, 2019
    Johnny Johnston, rmac, 41 Charlie and 1 other person like this.
  6. Feb 24, 2019 #4
    Firedude

    Firedude Active Member

    58
    Sep 30, 2018
    I didn't have the Shok Buff in place, just the full size guide rod. It is a full size 1911, 45 ACP.
     
    Firedude, Feb 24, 2019
    Firedude, Feb 24, 2019
  7. Apr 2, 2019 #5
    Steve in Allentown

    Steve in Allentown Well-Known Member

    315
    Jan 19, 2013
    The magazine spring is exerting more upward force on the slide stop than you're able to exert downward force. Unlike Glocks this is the way 1911s are supposed to work.

    Also, you do not want to drop a 1911 slide unless you're loading a round from the magazine. Dropping a 1911 slide on an empty chamber can eventually damage the delicate sear / hammer interface. Plus it's bad 1911 etiquette.
     
    Steve in Allentown, Apr 2, 2019
    Steve in Allentown, Apr 2, 2019
    DHwreckage likes this.
  8. Apr 11, 2019 #6
    DHwreckage

    DHwreckage Member

    35
    Mar 13, 2019
    Steve, just curious here since I'm new to 1911's and wanted to function test my gun after installing a new trigger today, but isn't dropping the slide on an empty chamber part of checking sear engagement during function testing of a 1911? I was just following through the m1911 sites function testing page and saw this and other comments about not dropping the slide on an empty chamber.

    Cheers!
     
    DHwreckage, Apr 11, 2019
    DHwreckage, Apr 11, 2019
  9. Apr 11, 2019 #7
    azpoolguy

    azpoolguy Well-Known Member

    5,867
    Jul 4, 2013
    Yes. Dropping the slide on an empty chamber to check proper function, hammer and sear engagement and to make sure you don’t have hammer fallow a few times is a good idea.
     
    azpoolguy, Apr 11, 2019
    azpoolguy, Apr 11, 2019
    DHwreckage and gun_fan111 like this.
  10. Apr 11, 2019 #8
    Steve in Allentown

    Steve in Allentown Well-Known Member

    315
    Jan 19, 2013
    Like azpoolguy said dropping the slide on an empty chamber is normally done to check that your trigger job was done correctly.

    Just a few times but no more as it accelerates wear on the pistol especially the delicate surfaces of the sear that bear against the hammer.

    I actually perform this test during the process of running the Hilton Yam extractor test. Killing two birds with one stone.
     
    Steve in Allentown, Apr 11, 2019
    Steve in Allentown, Apr 11, 2019
    DHwreckage and azpoolguy like this.

You need 3 posts to add links to your posts! This is used to prevent spam.

Verification:
Draft saved Draft deleted