Constant Jamming Issue

[randyt]

I am new to the forum, so I am not sure what has gone before and I ask forgiveness if there has already been a thread on this subject. I have a Colt, Model 4, Series 70. I purchased the pistol from a friend of mine who had grown tired of chasing a jamming problem the has had since new. The pistol had been accurized (sp?) and an ambidextrous safety manufactured and/or added by A. G. Swenson of Fall Brook, California prior to my purchase. The weapon is a beautiful piece of work.
 
Anyway, I figured, How bad can it jam? I never had any issues with my 45 I carried while on my little SE Asia adventure. The answer was, a lot. Frustrated by the guns ability to jam as a round was feeding into the chamber on every magazine, I changed magazines, to on avail. Then I sent it to Robar Companies in Phoenix based on a recommendation of a policeman friend and instructed Robar to add a NP3 finish and check for jamming. I did not jam based on their report.  They fired Federal American Eagle 230 Grain FMJ.
 
This spring my son took the weapon over to Eastern Oregon and had the same jamming issues as before. Upon his return, I inspected the pistol prior to cleaning and noted a significant trail of brass markings where the rounds had traveled up the ramp to the chamber, or tried to. As instructed, my son used multiple types of ammunition and several different magazines and it still jammed.
 
I would appreciate some assistance on correcting this problem. I am not that familiar with the terminology associated with the fix on this piece so please be as clear as possible, I am not that bright!
Randy

[Buford]

Randy, I would suggest taking it to someone that REALLY knows 1911's and make sure it is throated correctly.  I have two accuraized .45's that will feed darn near anything that fits in the magazines.  Unless it has been really messed up along the way - it can be fixed.  Drop me a pm if I can be of any help.

[WhelenMan]

I'll agree with buford, you should send it to a good gunsmith.

If you're seeing a lot of copper on the barrel/frame ramp it likely needs some  work in that area.  If you have not tried any Wilson Combat magazines, you should.  Those magazines have fixed many problem pistols, or what I thought where problem pistols.  Another thing to check/replace is the recoil spring.  These springs DO need to be replaced occasionally and they WILL have an effect on feeding if worn out or of the improper specification.  The extractor is another area to check for problems, if it is not fitted properly or is burred, the pistol will not work reliably.

[Buford]

'here's a link: http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/

[1911crazy]

First what bullets are you shooting??  Now I found out the biggest feeding problems with my 1911's has been with the feeding ramp.  I have ended up polishing every feeding ramp on all my 1911's.  If its blued polish it till the bluing is gone then buff it to a mirror finish.  If its nickle plated I polish it till the nickle is gone again then buff it to a mirror finish too.  If you still have a feeding problem I would scrib the top of the ramp where the edge of the barrel throat is then i move the feeding ramp forward almost to the scribed line.  You have to angle the feed ramp forward towards the barrel throat.  Thats all i do to 1911's to get them to feed properly.  I do not throat the barrel at all.                       BigBill

[Mikey]

randyt:  you never said what amunition you were firing or what kind of a jamming problem you have had.  You also remarked this pistol had been 'accurized' - what does that mean?  

Most Colt 45s will shoot factory or mil-spec ball ammo without a hitch - if it is wadcutters or flying ashtrays you are shootiong they may be the problem.  If the recoil spring has been replaced, that may also be a problem.   If your feedramp is not smooth that may be a problem as well as the other possible causes.  

First, we need to know more about the ammo and the jams before we can really opine on your problems but most all of us will suggest you find a competent 1911 gunsmith in your area and seek his advice.

My only concern is that if the previous owner had worked on the feedramp to handle just one kind of bullet that may have caused the problems for the other types of bullets - get a good 1911 gunsmith to check it over.  HTH.  Mikey.

[jakes10mm]

Agree with more "definition" of the jamming problem.  I have a new Colt 1991 Government that fed the rounds but stopped short of fully chambered.  In the end, it was poor reloading on my part.  Switched over the a Lee Factory Crimp Die and its 100%.  The "poor" rounds would chamber and shoot in a S&W 1911 and Springfield 1911, but not the Colt.  For the minor cost of another die and a fourth reloading station, I gained a very accurate "factor" gun.  

You have a few items that could be causing or contributing to the feed malfunctions, including the frame feed ramp, barrel throating, recoil spring, chamber dimensions, cartridge dimesions, bullet design, magazine feeding angle, magazine spring condition, etc, etc.  

A "1911" Gunsmith may be the best choice.  Many years ago, I sold a first generation Springfield Armory 1911A1 for failing to feed hollowpoints.  Now days, I know better, but so do most gun manufacturers.

Good luck.

[Iowegan]

The feed ramp and chamber throats get falsely blamed for jams. When a variety of ammo jams, the problem is usually the breach face or an extractor problem.

Inspect the breach face. It should be clean and smooth enough to allow the case head to slide into position. Sometimes the firing pin hole gets pushed out or there may be some other obstruction. The extractor must allow the rim of the case to position properly. If the extractor is arched too much, it may be too tight to allow the case rim to seat.

[TScottO]

The company you sent the gun to for testing, did they hand shoot your gun or fire it from a mechanical rest of some sort? Your gun may just be tempermental when the gun is fired from someones hand. If this is the case it should be an easy fix.

Either way I would pay the money to have a professional look it over.

Take Care,
Scott

[randyt]

Thank you all for your input. I have had some computer issues, so I have not had access to the NET, hence the late response on my part. Here are some answers to some of your questions: Ammo=They fired Federal American Eagle 230 Grain FMJ at Robar Industries with no jamming with all the magazines, I shot the same stuff and it jammed. All other ammunition was good also, no junk. Defination of jamming= the slide closes before the round is fully chambered. I'll do some research on what was "accurized" on the gun and post the information.
Thanks again,
Randy

[Savage]

Sounds like you need a new recoil spring, a little high grade synthetic grease on the rails---------AND THROW THAT "AMERICAN EAGLE" CRAP IN A DEEP RIVER!!!! I have never seen more inconsistant case web diamaters than with that ammo. Some guns won't even chamber the stuff. I picked up some of the brass by mistake. Only about one out of five would even chamber in my "Classic Target Kimber". The other range brass loaded in the same cycle functioned flawlessly. The malfunction you are describing is "failure to go into battery".  If you use a fresh recoil spring, clean and polish the chamber and breech face (if required) lube properly, and use decent ammo, your problem will go away. Simple as that!
Savage

[1911WB]

Try these things (one at a time) to correct your 1911's failures to feed (FTF's): new Wolff 16# recoil spring; remove any sharp edges from barrel chamber top & bottom with fine stone & emory cloth; use Wilson 7 rd. mag, Metalform 7 rd., or CMC Powermag; replace extractor with Wilson "Bulletproof". Good luck & report your results.

[glenn asher]

Back around 1980, when I was in the Army, a buddy of mine bought a satin nickeled Combat Commander (remember those?) in , he thought, .45ACP. The slide was marked .45, it had a .45 barrel in it, the slide stop was correct, but the breech face was milled for the 9mm/.38Super. Needless to say, it wouldn't work well. His father's buddy, and his father, too, were somewhat kitchen table gunsmiths, and they finally figured out what was wrong, and corrected the situation. It turned into a pretty good gun, but there was some serious headscratching going on for quite awhile. As noted earlier, I would sure look at the breechface, and maybe, the extractor, which might be the wrong size, and see what that does for you. A very firm grip might also help!

[randyt]

Savage,
What ammunition would you recommend for the casual shooter that doesn't like jamming? In previous life, I used to go out to the perimeter and fire a dozen or more magazines a day for practice, I never had a jam. Nor did I have any jams when I wasn't practicing. So, I guess it is better that my 45 is acting up now, rather than then. Thank you for your assistance.
Randy

[IntrepidWizard]

Some good advice,I shine the throat also,but in your case it sounds like the spring is weak----unless the brass is from Ball Ammo.

[Savage]

randyt,
Sorry to take so long getting back to you. I shoot mostly reloads in my 1911s, but I recently took a class that required more ammo than I had loaded. I bought a 1000 rds of the polymer coated "Wolff", and 400 rds of the "Blazer" ammo. All ran flawlessly in my Kimber and Glock 21. The "American" brand of ammo that I have tried, and seen used at our matches, caused nothing but problems due to it's out of spec dimensions.
Many of the factory new rounds could not be chambered. I have also seen good results with the "Winchester White Box" value packs from Wal Mart. I think any good quality factory ammo should work well for you. Add that new recoil spring and some synthetic grease on the rails, and I wouldn't be surprised if your problem goes away.
Savage