Posted: 5/10/2014 11:19:12 PM EDT
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Took my .45 Defender out for it's maiden range outing. Problems followed.
The first magazine of 230gr. WWB ran fine with slow aimed fire. Decided to speed it up and try some double taps/Mozambique drills. When running the pistol fast, I experienced numerous failures to feed, as the slide would bind approximately 1/4" out of battery. This would occur regularly, anywhere from once to four times per mag. I attempted to palm the back of the slide, but for the most part it wouldn't budge forward. I had to retract the slide a bit then let it go. Only then would the slide go forward. During this process, I was also taking brass to the forehead, when during slow fire, the brass ejected back, but over me. Once I was able to get the slide to bind like this when the pistol was empty, which to me rules out an ammo issue. I replicated the failure when I got home.... 
During my initial cleaning, and again after I returned home, I noticed that the end plate that holds the recoil assembly together was slanted as it sat in it's place in the slide. There is no way to sit this straight and it seems to retard the barrel link from hanging freely under the barrel. 
I ran 100 rds and only the mags that I ran slow seemed to function without incident. All rounds were WWB using multiple magazines. I did my best to diagnose the problem on the line and the best I could come up with was either the RSA was somehow binding (I looked but did not locate any burs), or an extractor issue. Thoughts? |
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From the color of the recoil spring it looks new, is it? Colt chambers can be fairly tight when brand spanking new. How does the feed ramp look? On my Defender I polished the feed ramp, it can hang up just long enough to lose some velocity feeding and slows the recoil spring down. Are you running the pistol lubed or dry? As to the recoil spring guide rod stop, it will always be slanted like that when it's free. Take the barrel link and push it down so it's where it should be and grasp the front of the recoil spring with a finger or thumb as far forward as you can, press upward and keep it from moving. This will prevent the springs and rod from moving backward which will push the barrel link up. Then slide the receiver onto the slide assembly onto the slide. The first few times I did it, it was a PITA, it gets a lot easier after a few times. ETA Picture even when from a potato explains it better than I probably did, just grasp and hold it.  |
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The gun is brand new. Purchased it from my LGS three days ago, and they had received it through distributorship the day prior to that. I cleaned the gun when I got it home and applied a light coat of oil. It wasn't dry, but it wasn't dripping either.
Thanks for the pic. I was able to figure out how to place the RSA for reassembly, I just wasn't sure if it was supposed to rest like that. Apparently it is. I agree that the chamber is tight, but so tight that it fails up to 4 times per mag in rapid fire, and not at all during slow fire? I suppose that the failure I had with the gun empty could have been a fluke (hung up fpr some other reason). I hand cycled a mag through it this morning and everything fed fine, but hand cycling can't mimic the velocity of the slide during live fire. |
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The "rules" on these problems are:
Try different ammo. Some guns just don't "like" some ammo. Give the gun a little time to break in. Stoppages in the first few rounds out of a new gun are nothing to be concerned about. Only if it continues after 50? rounds should you be looking at causes. Just in case, try different magazines. Inspect the extractor for proper tension, and proper "tuning" (i.e. proper bevels and radiusing). Brass in the face is a classic sign of extractor problems. Inspect the breech face for roughness. NOTE, roughness is ROUGH, not slight machine marks. If you have gouges left by a dull cutter, then you may need to return it to Colt. Inspect the barrel feed ramp for a sharp edge where the ramp breaks into the chamber. Colt barrels don't have chambers THAT tight. If after the above checks and some shooting the problem persists DON'T attempt to correct it yourself or locally, that will void the warranty and may not fix the problem. If needed, contact Colt and have them send you a shipping label so you can return it to Colt for a proper diagnosis and repair. |
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I had already planned on some more range time later in the week, and have some different brands with different bullet weights that I'll try.
I have another extractor that i'lll swap out and see if that corrects at least oone of the problems. If there are still issues, I'll give Colt a call and see what they recommend. |
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Mine experienced a few issues at first. I suggest running it really wet (small amount of grease on the rails, oil on other parts) while it breaks in. Last time I took it out (third range session, probably at 200-300 rounds now) it ran 100%.
I also lubed parts that normally don't require any, and it seemed to make a difference on how gritty the slide felt when pulled back. For example, I lubed all of the guide rod surfaces, inside and out, and under both springs. From the factory, the barrel like on mine felt really sticky. I cleaned it out thoroughly and oiled it. |
| Remove barrel and inspect chamber for any gouges or milling marks, it should be smooth. Take problem ammo and drop each round into the chamber, it should drop all the way in without the need to push it in. Reinstall the barrel in the slide and, after inspecting the breech area for rough machining [I doubt you'll find any] slide a round under the extractor and let it hang freely off the face of the breech. It should hang in place and slide in without hanging up on the extractor or breech face. |
