Author Topic: Can the way I grip my pistol cause jams? (Read 808 times)

ZANARDI · « **on:** December 28, 2005, 05:55:11 AM »

I have a Springfield fullsized GI I bought new. After about 500 - 600 factory rounds of 230 grain FMJ it has turned into a jammer. It started with the last round typically jamming. Now it is about every third or fourth round. This is with 4 different brands of ammo. It even jams now when I manually chamber a round from the magazine. I keep the pistol as clean as can be and properly lubricated. I see no rough areas on the ramp, or in the chamber. In fact the chamber appears to be quite smooth and polished.

By "jam" I mean the round will go fairly far (maybe 1/3 - 1/2 way) into the chamber then hang up on something preventing the gun from going to battery. It jams hard. Pushing on the slide will not chamber the round. I generally have to clear the round with a hard pull on the slide.

I called Springfield. They were very good about it and it is going back to the factory for a check up. During our conversation, the customer service rep. asked if I was keeping my wrist straight while shooting. She said not doing so can lead to jams.

Does this make sense to anyone? The 1911 was designed as a combat pistol. It seems hard to believe it would be so sensitive to grip angle that it will jam if not held properly when firing.

Please share your thoughts.

jimster · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2005, 11:04:32 AM »

I think if it were mine, and I already got 600 rds through it without a problem, then it started feed jamming, I'd check the magazine out first.
You didn't say if you tried other mags or not, if you didn't, try that first.
The comment on "locked wrist"....there is something that some call "limp risting"...holding the gun real loose will cause the spent shells to possibly fly in another direction, and has on occasion been blamed for reliability problems. It makes some sense. The slide needs to travel back at a certain speed, and if your hands and arms are moving back with the gun while holding it real loose. it does seem possible you could be interfering with the operation of the pistol. Someone else on this site could explain that much better than I can. That being said, I have practiced shooting from lots of different positions and also with one hand, and I'd expect if I had a slightly different grip sometimes while rolling in the dirt and coming up shooting, the gun...I hope, would still work.
So maybe, some guns are more picky about keeping a firm grip and locking the gun into place (which I do most of the time anyway).
And maybe, guns can be less finicky by playing with the recoil spring pounds...ect...but then again, there are people on this site that have a much more in depth knowledge of these details.

If other mags are still giving you feed jams, then it might be time to send your gun to springfield, it should be free if you just got it. If they don't satisfy you, then it might be time to see a smith, but I'd let Springfield attempt the job first. ($$)
I have a mil-spec, so far no problems, but just ordered a Ed Brown Extractor and slide stop anyway, I have enough rounds through it now where I know I got a good one, and I'm going to be replacing some parts a few at a time, just to get some higher quality in the gun. But so far, I have no complaints on the SA Mil-spec, for the money, I got a good tight pistol I can do anything I want with.

Good luck on that feed jam...and let us know what you find out later, I more I read on here the smarter I get.

Jimster

williamlayton · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2005, 01:01:20 AM »

I would concur with the mags as a first look.
Blessings

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2005, 02:23:26 AM »

The way you grip can cause a 1911 to jam. If you are loosening your grip at the moment of firing, the gun may jam. If the gun jams while you have a firm grip, the problem is not with your grip.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2005, 11:41:10 AM »

ZANARDI - check your mags. Jimster has good advice. If it is just your factory mag(s) then get new ones - Chip McCormicks are totally reliable in my Springfield. You may also wish to inspect your extractor to see if it has broken on any of the grabbing edge that graspes the extractor groove on the case.

Something is dragging on those last shells. When you said 4 different brands of ammo, you didn't say which ones - there is a lot of crap out there not worth shooting. If it doesn't turn out to be mags or the extractor it may be a weak recoil spring.

When you check your magazines, dismantle them completely and check to see if the springs are properly inserted. You may have a burr on one of your magazine followers or some 'stuff' that is impeding the smooth function of that (those) magazines. HTH. Mikey.

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2005, 11:42:15 AM »

ZANARDI - check your mags. Jimster has good advice. If it is just your factory mag(s) then get new ones - Chip McCormicks are totally reliable in my Springfield. You may also wish to inspect your extractor to see if it has broken on any of the grabbing edge that graspes the extractor groove on the case.

Something is dragging on those last shells. When you said 4 different brands of ammo, you didn't say which ones - there is a lot of crap out there not worth shooting. If it doesn't turn out to be mags or the extractor it may be a weak recoil spring.

When you check your magazines, dismantle them completely and check to see if the springs are properly inserted. You may have a burr on one of your magazine followers or some 'stuff' that is impeding the smooth function of that (those) magazines. HTH. Mikey.

RJM · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2006, 03:19:17 PM »

From what you are describing the round is coming off the magazine ok but then binding as it enters the chamber...my guess would be an extractor that has gone south.

My girlfriend's Defender was doing the same thing. Recut the hook, beveled and edge and retuned it and it has run fine ever since...about 8 years and 6K rounds worth.

Bob

X-man · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2006, 05:36:06 AM »

I'd have to go with the other guys and say check your mags. You might have a bad spring, bent feed lips, etc....mark your current mags and see if its happening with all of them or just one particular mag. It wouldn't hurt to go and pick up some extra quality mags...either Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick, preferably the former.

Unless you've been shooting a lot of full-house loads that may have caused you to develop some bad shooting habits or a flinch, I don't think limp wristing would suddenly become an issue for you...after all, you say you fired 600+ rounds before without a hiccup?

It would hurt to break down your pistol and check out the extractor, it may have hardness issues, etc...that may've caused premature wearing. I do all of the above first...before sending the pistol back to the factory...you may end up waiting weeks to get it back.

kyote · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2006, 02:55:02 PM »

Yes, the way you hold a 1911 will effect the operation of the pistol.But it does not sound like that is the problem.
you said you tried differnt types of ammo,is this reloaded ammo?If it is I would try a chamber gauge with the ammo and see if the ammo will plunk in are have to be pushed in.Could be some over sized bullets.the next thing I would look at is the breech face.may have a burr are just plan out of spec.have that polished.seems you would have more then one mag.if it is happenin with all the mags.well it's not the mags I would venture to guess.and some times you can have a slice of lead come off in the chamber and it will polish up and can be hard to see even a piece of ole nickel from a nickel case that comes off will really FUBAR the chamber.sounds like you have a tight fully supported chamber to begin with.let us know what the problem was.