NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, I finally got some time to go to the range. I loaded up five rounds each in my brand new, never used, and never cleaned Wilson magazines. Put the first mag in the Kimber Custom II and shot all five rounds. Put the second mag in the pistol and the pistol wouldn't eject the second to last spent case.

Tried again and again. Sometimes there was no problem at all, sometimes the problem would recur. Always with the next-to-last round. Always in that particular magazine.

I know the magazine doesn't have any effect on how the ejector works, but it sure is a big conicidence. The other possibility is that I'm a limp-wristed fairy. You can discount the possibilty of a dirty pistol. I learned how to clean weapons in the Marine Corps and I am thorough.

Any comments Whispering Legs?

Okay, I finally got some time to go to the range. I loaded up five rounds each in my brand new, never used, and never cleaned Wilson magazines. Put the first mag in the Kimber Custom II and shot all five rounds. Put the second mag in the pistol and the pistol wouldn't eject the second to last spent case.

Tried again and again. Sometimes there was no problem at all, sometimes the problem would recur. Always with the next-to-last round. Always in that particular magazine.

I know the magazine doesn't have any effect on how the ejector works, but it sure is a big conicidence. The other possibility is that I'm a limp-wristed fairy. You can discount the possibilty of a dirty pistol. I learned how to clean weapons in the Marine Corps and I am thorough.

Any comments Whispering Legs?

While you're waiting for WL, I would suggest you inspect the magazine feed lips and internal body for burring. Th 1911 extractor is a hook-type, and damaged case rims can cause failure-to-extract problems, a burr on the inside of the magazine at the point where your sixth round sits (Presuming 7 round mags) could damage case-rims and cause your extraction failure. That's one possibility. Another, is that you may have interference problems between the magazine and the slide caused by loose tolerances, remember your mags are sheet-metal, and it could be that the only reason it's not the last round, is that the interference is relieved by passage of the last shell. Try loading one less in the mag, if it doesn't fail, you've got an out-of-spec magazine that's deforming as the follower rises.
(also investigate to see if this is happening with other brands, other quantitiies of shells-ie if you load four, and it's still failing to extract on the third round...)

if extraction isn't the cause of your problem, but ejection is, remember that the 1911 uses the force of the slide going back to slam your brass against a fixed block in the frame. You could be subconsciously "Limp-Wristing" after five shots-weirder habits have been observed, though I doubt that's the source of your problem.

Since this phenomena only happens with the one magazine, it's probably a good bet that the mag is your problem. If you bought it aftermarket...well, Aftermarket magazines are very much Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). If you bought it new with the gun from Kimber, you should still be covered under their warranty.

Okay, I finally got some time to go to the range. I loaded up five rounds each in my brand new, never used, and never cleaned Wilson magazines. Put the first mag in the Kimber Custom II and shot all five rounds. Put the second mag in the pistol and the pistol wouldn't eject the second to last spent case.

Tried again and again. Sometimes there was no problem at all, sometimes the problem would recur. Always with the next-to-last round. Always in that particular magazine.

I know the magazine doesn't have any effect on how the ejector works, but it sure is a big conicidence. The other possibility is that I'm a limp-wristed fairy. You can discount the possibilty of a dirty pistol. I learned how to clean weapons in the Marine Corps and I am thorough.

Any comments Whispering Legs?
Did it stovepipe the last round or just butt-slam the bullet into the primer of the empty?

While you're waiting for WL, I would suggest you inspect the magazine feed lips and internal body for burring. Th 1911 extractor is a hook-type, and damaged case rims can cause failure-to-extract problems, a burr on the inside of the magazine at the point where your sixth round sits (Presuming 7 round mags) could damage case-rims and cause your extraction failure. That's one possibility. Another, is that you may have interference problems between the magazine and the slide caused by loose tolerances, remember your mags are sheet-metal, and it could be that the only reason it's not the last round, is that the interference is relieved by passage of the last shell. Try loading one less in the mag, if it doesn't fail, you've got an out-of-spec magazine that's deforming as the follower rises.
(also investigate to see if this is happening with other brands, other quantitiies of shells-ie if you load four, and it's still failing to extract on the third round...)

if extraction isn't the cause of your problem, but ejection is, remember that the 1911 uses the force of the slide going back to slam your brass against a fixed block in the frame. You could be subconsciously "Limp-Wristing" after five shots-weirder habits have been observed, though I doubt that's the source of your problem.

Since this phenomena only happens with the one magazine, it's probably a good bet that the mag is your problem. If you bought it aftermarket...well, Aftermarket magazines are very much Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). If you bought it new with the gun from Kimber, you should still be covered under their warranty.
Damnit Gauge... stop stealing my thunder. pthblth :p

While you're waiting for WL, I would suggest you inspect the magazine feed lips and internal body for burring. Th 1911 extractor is a hook-type, and damaged case rims can cause failure-to-extract problems, a burr on the inside of the magazine at the point where your sixth round sits (Presuming 7 round mags) could damage case-rims and cause your extraction failure. That's one possibility. Another, is that you may have interference problems between the magazine and the slide caused by loose tolerances, remember your mags are sheet-metal, and it could be that the only reason it's not the last round, is that the interference is relieved by passage of the last shell. Try loading one less in the mag, if it doesn't fail, you've got an out-of-spec magazine that's deforming as the follower rises.
(also investigate to see if this is happening with other brands, other quantitiies of shells-ie if you load four, and it's still failing to extract on the third round...)

if extraction isn't the cause of your problem, but ejection is, remember that the 1911 uses the force of the slide going back to slam your brass against a fixed block in the frame. You could be subconsciously "Limp-Wristing" after five shots-weirder habits have been observed, though I doubt that's the source of your problem.

Since this phenomena only happens with the one magazine, it's probably a good bet that the mag is your problem. If you bought it aftermarket...well, Aftermarket magazines are very much Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). If you bought it new with the gun from Kimber, you should still be covered under their warranty.

The new magazines are Wilson Combat and they look like they are made well. Certainly better than the OEM mag that came with the pistol. Alas, I haven't had trouble with the Kimber magazine.

The spent case ends up jammed in the rear part of the slide, then when the slide starts forward to chamber another round, it jams the spent casing against the unchambered round that is still in the magazine. Is that what you meant by stovepipe Syniks?

While I was still at the range, I took the magazine apart and wiped some Breakfree on the follower and the spring. I also ran a rag through the magazine. It didn't seem to make much difference. To put some numbers to the situation, I'd say this failure happens maybe one out of every ten loads.

Did it stovepipe the last round or just butt-slam the bullet into the primer of the empty?

Thanks for the help.

Hmmm... you're stovepiping. check the breechface for burring, and send the problem magazine back to wilson (they have a pretty good return-policy), you've either got a burred extractor, or the spring-rate in the mag is off-slowing the extraction stroke so that the round doesn't clear (Probably interference-the nose of the last round is slowing your slide's back-stroke just enough to prevent a solid ejection.)

Fixes to prevent it in the future may include having the weapon "Ported" (that's removing excess material from the ejection port to allow weak-stroke ejections to still clear the breechface, not the barrel work seen on comp-guns), and having the extractor polished and deburred.

Hmmm... you're stovepiping. check the breechface for burring, and send the problem magazine back to wilson (they have a pretty good return-policy), you've either got a burred extractor, or the spring-rate in the mag is off-slowing the extraction stroke so that the round doesn't clear (Probably interference-the nose of the last round is slowing your slide's back-stroke just enough to prevent a solid ejection.)

Fixes to prevent it in the future may include having the weapon "Ported" (that's removing excess material from the ejection port to allow weak-stroke ejections to still clear the breechface, not the barrel work seen on comp-guns), and having the extractor polished and deburred.The Kimber should already be ported... IIRC that's a "standard feature", but I may be wrong...
Since it doesn't do it for other mags, I'd have to say the spring-rate OR the follower in that mag is deformed - causing the same problem.

Call Wilson.
4 Product Purchased Through A Dealer/Distributor: Any defective Wilson Combat® brand product purchased through any of our dealers or distributors may be returned direct to us for repair, replacement or exchange for other product. If you require a refund, you must return the product to the company you originally purchased it from, they in turn will send it to us for adjustment.

#5 Miscellaneous: Items that do not fall into the above categories are not normally accepted for return. If such items are accepted at the discretion of Wilson Combat®, a 10% restocking fee will be charged.

#6 Return Authorization: To guarantee prompt processing of your return, a return authorization number should be put on the outside of the package. Please call a Customer Satisfaction Representative at : 1-800-955-4856 for this authorization number prior to shipment. Send all returns to : Wilson Combat®, 2234 CR 719, Berryville, AR, 72616-4573 prepaid and insured.

Gents,
Thanks again for the advice. I figured a call to Wilson was in order, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking something really obvious. The weak grip thing might be a problem, but I'd expect it to have happened before and on other mags. Honest, this never happened to me before!:)

And look what else happened. I've found two more experts that I can turn to.