Posted: 1/30/2009 8:45:16 PM EDT
| I was wondering what sorts of modifications I could make to my MC Operator to make it "jam proof." As it is, it jams probably once every 60 rounds. |
|
Believe it or not most 1911s would benefit from some slight tuning out of the box. I don't know enough to cover it, but here's a link:
1911 resource Hilton Yam is not only a kick ass 1911 gunsmith, but also an active duty LEO (SWAT, I think). So, this guy has no time for BS mods. This guy knows what he is talking about. |
|
The Millenium aka AFTEC extractor. Most "practical" pistol competitors who use the 1911, and who shoot thousands of rounds a year, use this extractor. The extractor is the Achilles heal of the 1911. |
|
Quoted:
Send it back and the factory will fix it. This. Something is out of wack if you are having a 1:60 problem. Springfield will make it right. Skip the BS, save your time and $$. Send it back to Springfield. IMO, I have yet to come across a non-custom or semi-custom 1911 that does NOT need some tuning. Sad. |
|
Quoted:
The Millenium aka AFTEC extractor. Most "practical" pistol competitors who use the 1911, and who shoot thousands of rounds a year, use this extractor. The extractor is the Achilles heal of the 1911. I use the Aftec on my 9mm open gun and 40 ltd rig. A aftec is not really needed for a 45. Get a hardcore extractor (ed drown wilson) fitted correctly and you will be good to go. SA extractors are a little weak and loose tension in short order. |
|
Quoted:
So the best idea would be to get a better extractor? No, the best idea would be to send it back to SA! 1 failure in 60 rounds is bullshit! That is, unless you're running cheap ass horrible mags, and you're not lubricating the gun at all, and you've still yet to fire like 300 rounds through it  .
I'd give SA a call, they have great CS, they'll take care of you. Just curious though, what mags, lube, and ammo are you using? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
So the best idea would be to get a better extractor? No, the best idea would be to send it back to SA! 1 failure in 60 rounds is bullshit! That is, unless you're running cheap ass horrible mags, and you're not lubricating the gun at all, and you've still yet to fire like 300 rounds through it .
I'd give SA a call, they have great CS, they'll take care of you. Just curious though, what mags, lube, and ammo are you using? I'm using the factory Springfield mags. I use Tuf Glide and Marine Tuf cloth for lubrication. The ammo I use at the range is Winchester FMJ. (The 100 round value pack). And I've only put about 200 rounds through it. |
|
Quoted:
So the best idea would be to get a better extractor? Yes. 1911 extractors are the cause of most 1911 problems. The "AFTEC" is the best. This is proven by competition shooters who shoot way more than anyone else. Ask them what they run and chances are they'll tell you the AFTEC. Sure other extractors work too, but most who use those only shoot maybe 1,000 rnds/yr. The 1911 extractor design is not good. A straight bar of steel is not a good spring. That's why Highpowers and other designs use extractors with coiled springs. That's what the AFTEC uses. It's more complex, but rarely breaks or even needs to be removed. |
|
Magazines are the first bane of the 1911 system - feedway stoppages are still the most common stoppage.
Then come FTE related malfunctions - but correct function of the extractor, proper magazines, and lubrication will make any decent 1911 more reliable than its operator. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: So the best idea would be to get a better extractor? Yes. 1911 extractors are the cause of most 1911 problems. The "AFTEC" is the best. This is proven by competition shooters who shoot way more than anyone else. Ask them what they run and chances are they'll tell you the AFTEC. Sure other extractors work too, but most who use those only shoot maybe 1,000 rnds/yr. The 1911 extractor design is not good. A straight bar of steel is not a good spring. That's why Highpowers and other designs use extractors with coiled springs. That's what the AFTEC uses. It's more complex, but rarely breaks or even needs to be removed.  .......... must have missed those memo's. Can you provide proof or at least evidence to support such claims?PS ........... the original extractor design called for "spring steel"  |
|
Quoted:
I'm using the factory Springfield mags. I use Tuf Glide and Marine Tuf cloth for lubrication. The ammo I use at the range is Winchester FMJ. (The 100 round value pack). And I've only put about 200 rounds through it. First of all, number or mark your magazines in some way so you can possibly trace the problem to one mag. Secondly, just for the hell of it try another type of lube, your particular pistol may not like the dry type lubes. I have had good results with Mili-tec and FP-10. Everyone that I know has had really good experience with the Winchester white box ammunition, so you are probably safe sticking with it. Was this pistol brand new when you purchased it? If so, you should have lube literally running out of it the first couple of hundred rounds. Be sure to hit the barrel in the bushing area. The barrel link should be lubed and the barrel hood where the slide meets the barrel at the top front of the ejection port. This is one of the most critical areas to lube on a 1911. Also, dont forget to lube the slide rails. One malfunction in 60 rounds is not acceptable at all, if these quick fixes dont work then I would suggest sending it back to Springfield. |
|
First of all, the MC operator is one of the best 1911s on the market below the semi custom lines. You have a good foundation for a very reliable, rugged gun. Now, obviously, you have a problem and it is most likely a very small issue that needs attention.
You can send it back to Springfield, they will fix it. However, you will have learned absolutely nothing about the gun of how it works, and you can't always carry a gunsmith in you pocket. If you are even slightly technically inclined, do the research (plenty of information here and elsewhere), find out what kind of failures you are having, tune the pistol to not do that anymore, and you will have a fantastic 1911 to last many years, and will have gained knowlege to make almost any pistol run reliable with very little effort. |
| Thanks for the info guys. I haven't been able to hit the range in a while but I do plan on going sometime in the next week or two. If I do run into any more problems I'll surely take note as to exactly what they are and how often the problem occurs. If the problem persists, I will probably send it back to Springfield. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
So the best idea would be to get a better extractor? Yes. 1911 extractors are the cause of most 1911 problems. The "AFTEC" is the best. This is proven by competition shooters who shoot way more than anyone else. Ask them what they run and chances are they'll tell you the AFTEC. Sure other extractors work too, but most who use those only shoot maybe 1,000 rnds/yr. The 1911 extractor design is not good. A straight bar of steel is not a good spring. That's why Highpowers and other designs use extractors with coiled springs. That's what the AFTEC uses. It's more complex, but rarely breaks or even needs to be removed. .......... must have missed those memo's. Can you provide proof or at least evidence to support such claims?
PS ........... the original extractor design called for "spring steel"
You can read it all here: Brian Enos Competition Shooting Forums These guys shoot more rounds through 1911s than anyone on earth and they know what works, and what doesn't. A bend rod doesn't make as good of a spring as a coil. That was discovered centuries ago. It's as simple as that. If you haven't shot a USPSA or IDPA match yet, you should. That is a real proving ground for your defense gun (pistol, rifle or shotgun). In those defense scenario competitions, you'll find out soon the weak points of your rig, and there'll be many friendly knowledgeable shooters willing to help you out. |
|
Send to SA
Don't know how many of these threads I/we have read. It ain't a Glock. It is an old design. We like it. For SD I carry a Smith M&P now. Or if I go big, my Sig 220 Match. Not to say I would not carry my two Springer 1911s. Both very reliable. But heavy. |
|
You can read it all here: Brian Enos Competition Shooting Forums These guys shoot more rounds through 1911s than anyone on earth and they know what works, and what doesn't. A bend rod doesn't make as good of a spring as a coil. That was discovered centuries ago. It's as simple as that. If you haven't shot a USPSA or IDPA match yet, you should. That is a real proving ground for your defense gun (pistol, rifle or shotgun). In those defense scenario competitions, you'll find out soon the weak points of your rig, and there'll be many friendly knowledgeable shooters willing to help you out. So I don't have any experiance or expertise on this unless I'm a Gamer? And John Moses Browning knew less than you do? While it's fine to have an opinion it's another thing to promote that opinion as fact. |
|
I should have remembered this before, I've seen a couple of springers at IDPA shoots have occasional failures and it was the mag hold open diving the nose of the bullet down. I didn't do the
the repairs on either pistol and I don't know if they had the length of protrusion shortened or just upped the magazine spring pressure. |