M1911 occasional ftf
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M1911 occasional ftf
My brother's PT1911 fails to fire on occasion. When this happens the chambered round will have a light primer strike. Typically however, the firing pin strikes primers normally. I disassembled the firearm and cleaned both the firing pin and the hole it lives in. It seemed to improve but then again, perhaps that was just my imagination.
As I said above, this only happens on occasion, say maybe once in 50 rds or so. Any ideas?
Y
As I said above, this only happens on occasion, say maybe once in 50 rds or so. Any ideas?
Y
- blue68f100
- Master contributor
- Posts: 1997
- Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: Piney Woods of East Texas
Are you shooting reloads or factory ammo? A primmer that is not fully seated can be hit and not go off. If you run it back through it normally fires.
How may rounds through the gun?
When was the last time the spring(s) were replaced? Hammer spring weak...
How may rounds through the gun?
When was the last time the spring(s) were replaced? Hammer spring weak...
David
SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911
SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911
I did clean the hole Bullseye and the pin does move freely.
Blue, I did wonder about the hammer spring but I would think if that were the culprit that it would cause light strikes more frequently.
I'd have to guess at the round count, but I doubt that it has had more than perhap 2000 rds through the gun.
Yleefox
Blue, I did wonder about the hammer spring but I would think if that were the culprit that it would cause light strikes more frequently.
I'd have to guess at the round count, but I doubt that it has had more than perhap 2000 rds through the gun.
Yleefox
- bigfatdave
- Master contributor
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:22 am
- Location: near Camp Perry
I'm no expert, but could you have ran through a bad batch of primers?
I've seen a PT1911 go "BANG BANG click" once per mag, the owner claims that cleaning up the firing pin's channel eliminated the issues (scary thing is it was me figuring out how to get the FP out!) but I haven't had a chance to see it in person since, we haven't been able to hit the range at the same time for a while.
But that was factory ammo in a gun that has seen minimal maintenance, probably not the same issues you're having.
Does the issue persist with factory ammo?
I've seen a PT1911 go "BANG BANG click" once per mag, the owner claims that cleaning up the firing pin's channel eliminated the issues (scary thing is it was me figuring out how to get the FP out!) but I haven't had a chance to see it in person since, we haven't been able to hit the range at the same time for a while.
But that was factory ammo in a gun that has seen minimal maintenance, probably not the same issues you're having.
Does the issue persist with factory ammo?
failure to fire
Yleefox,
Are you taper crimping your rounds as a final step of the reloading process?
Are you taper crimping the finished round to at least .470, and preferred .468 (when measured at the mouth of the case).
This is only my opinion, but I had similar problems before I started taper crimping as the final step in the reloading steps.
What happened was the slide would fail to close that last 1/16" and keep the firing pin from fully hitting the firing pin, very faint firing pin marks were always evident. This only happened maybe once out of 100-200 rounds (of course always during a timed or rapid fire sequence), so it was very frustrating. Then a fellow Bullseye shooter asked me if I was taper crimping my rounds. I'd never heard of it before.
Try to pay attention as you're firing and the next time it happens, look at the rear of the slide. Is it fully seated or jutting out a bit. If it's protruding a bit, invest in a taper crimp die. If you already have one, give it a few thousandths more crimp. Your chamber may be a bit larger than his, hence they function great in your 45 but not in his.
As always YMMV,
FWIW
Are you taper crimping your rounds as a final step of the reloading process?
Are you taper crimping the finished round to at least .470, and preferred .468 (when measured at the mouth of the case).
This is only my opinion, but I had similar problems before I started taper crimping as the final step in the reloading steps.
What happened was the slide would fail to close that last 1/16" and keep the firing pin from fully hitting the firing pin, very faint firing pin marks were always evident. This only happened maybe once out of 100-200 rounds (of course always during a timed or rapid fire sequence), so it was very frustrating. Then a fellow Bullseye shooter asked me if I was taper crimping my rounds. I'd never heard of it before.
Try to pay attention as you're firing and the next time it happens, look at the rear of the slide. Is it fully seated or jutting out a bit. If it's protruding a bit, invest in a taper crimp die. If you already have one, give it a few thousandths more crimp. Your chamber may be a bit larger than his, hence they function great in your 45 but not in his.
As always YMMV,
FWIW
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” – George Washington
BFD,
I haven't tried factory ammo in it, but I would doubt that it is a primer issue simply because I have used reloads with primers made by various companies, with the same results.
Stork,
I do taper crimp my 45 acp rounds ( I measured three at random and they were all .469) and I have examined the slide's position on previous occasions and each time the gun was completely in battery.
I went to the range today and fired 50rds through it without so much as a hiccup. Go figure. Of course, it could have been an issue with the very next shot had I had more ammo with me.
Y
I haven't tried factory ammo in it, but I would doubt that it is a primer issue simply because I have used reloads with primers made by various companies, with the same results.
Stork,
I do taper crimp my 45 acp rounds ( I measured three at random and they were all .469) and I have examined the slide's position on previous occasions and each time the gun was completely in battery.
I went to the range today and fired 50rds through it without so much as a hiccup. Go figure. Of course, it could have been an issue with the very next shot had I had more ammo with me.
Y