Posted: 9/8/2012 3:36:45 PM EDT
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I just got back in from shooting a new Colt govt. model for the first time and had several issues:
1. Both factory mags failed to lock the slide at least once. The follower is slipping past the slide stop. Also makes it very hard to extract the empty mag. 2. Hit in the head/forehead several times by brass 3. Had 2 or 3 jams, don't remember exactly what type, but one involved the last round in the mag and the others were in the middle of the mag. Any suggestions on what action to take? Just shoot more rounds through it? I put just over 50 rounds through it. No modifications, I took it out of the box, field stripped, cleaned and lubed it, and shot it. Ammo was CCI Blazer Brass. |
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First step is to try different ammo, and make it a better grade factory ammo. Try to get several different type/brands.
Some guns just don't "like" some ammo. The fact that the ammo works just great in a different gun even of the same type means nothing. Guns are individuals. Give it at least 100 to 200 rounds to break in and settle down. If after testing with a variety of factory ammo it's still giving problems, contact Colt for a shipping label and send it back for correction under the warranty. |
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You could try a different brand of mag. CMC or Tripp would be a good place to start. If it's still not locking back change the slide stop to a Wilson or 10-8. Without knowing what type of malfunctions you are having it is hard to say for sure. But my first two guesses with 1911 problems is mags and extractor tension. You should be able to find out how to check your extractor tension with a google search. That may solve the brass hitting you in the head if nothing else.
What kind of lube are you using? I've had guns that wouldn't run on break free but ran like a raped ape on Mobile One. |
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Yes I looked up several articles on setting extractor tension and honestly I was fairly pissed when I checked it out on the pistol. Maybe I expected too much from a $1,000 firearm, but the extractor had almost no tension at all. I adjusted it and now it will hold an empty case so hopefully that will fix some of the issues.
I was using CLP for lube. |
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many 1911 mags that come from the factory with guns are not up to snuff. good quality mags would be my first place to look. There is nothing wrong with blazer ammo but many guns show ammo preferences and it is a good idea to try a variety.
don't go too crazy on "adjusting" things or making mods until you see how the gun behaves with different ammo and mags |
| How pathetic has the situation at Colt become that a pistol retailing for at least $900 (not sure what OP paid for his but that's the average for a stock 5" Govt I think) ships from the factory like this. I have 3 Colts, all of them are Series 80, all needed at least some work done to function completely reliably. I have always been a Colt fan but they are starting to look way overpriced for their actual quality and performance. |
| As the others have said, Shoot another 150 rds through it. With the factory mags only. If you still have the same problems...CALL COLT and send the thing back. They will fix it. I have 2 Colts both purchased this year. Rail Gun and Combat Elite. They both run on any factory ammo with the factory mags. I shot all CCI Blazer Brass out of my Combat Elite. No issues at all. I agree with the others. $900 is way too much $$$ to be having these problems. Colt will make it right. |
$900 is on the low end of the 1911 price range. Adjusting extractor tension, trying different mags, ammo and lube are all pretty common solutions when using a new gun. Nothing to get worked up about at this point. The truth is most production 1911s can be a crap shoot. Most of them run fine out of the box, but I'd wager 5-10% from all manufacturers have issues. I know I've had to personally tweak a couple Kimbers, a TRP and a loaded that were all new. I had one Kimber that required a lot of work that the manufacturer suggest I do (which I did to save time and the expense of shipping). I've had to send back a Colt Rail Gun and a Lightweight Operator this year alone (the Operator that should be back in my grubby little hands on Tuesday  ). The good thing is the OP got one that the manufacturer will make right and pay shipping both ways. However if it is as simple as adjusting extractor tension or trying better mags or lube I wouldn't want to send it back personally.
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Quoted:
Yes I looked up several articles on setting extractor tension and honestly I was fairly pissed when I checked it out on the pistol. Maybe I expected too much from a $1,000 firearm, but the extractor had almost no tension at all. LOL, get used to that if you want to keep buying 1911s. |
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The mags are the ones that came with the pistol, 7 round Checkmate mags with Colt markings. I bought this pistol because I figured it would be more on the reliable side. I don't need or want a super tight and finicky bullseye pistol.
Also, when I was adjusting the extractor (removing and installing several times), I noticed it will easily fall out of the pistol. In all of the videos I watched, it looked like some effort was required to remove it. Problem or not? Regarding lubricants, I have no problem using a different type or using grease instead. But if a freshly cleaned pistol requires a specific lubricant to get through 7 rounds without jamming, it won't be in my possession for long. |
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Also, when I was adjusting the extractor (removing and installing several times), I noticed it will easily fall out of the pistol. In all of the videos I watched, it looked like some effort was required to remove it. Problem or not? Usually that indicates a slightly loose extractor. But it doesn't mean a whole lot if it passes the loaded cartridge test. Some extractors do need a bit of cleanup right at the bottom of the hook. I've seen some that had a pretty sharp bottom corner, which could possibly impede function under the right conditions. Regarding lubricants, I have no problem using a different type or using grease instead. But if a freshly cleaned pistol requires a specific lubricant to get through 7 rounds without jamming, it won't be in my possession for long. Lubrication has little to do with it. Lubrication is mostly to reduce wear, not guarantee function. 1911s should work with just about anything short of heavy grease. CLP is ideal. |
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everything you have described can be caused by crappy mags. Try a decent mag and see what you get. Also, are you sure they are Colt mags? Yes, the pistol was NIB when I got it. It came with 2 7rnd mags, they have the Colt pony on them and are made by Checkmate. I was planning on buying Metalform or Checkmate mags since both make mags for Colt, but not sure which direction to go now. |
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everything you have described can be caused by crappy mags. Try a decent mag and see what you get. Also, are you sure they are Colt mags? Yes, the pistol was NIB when I got it. It came with 2 7rnd mags, they have the Colt pony on them and are made by Checkmate. I was planning on buying Metalform or Checkmate mags since both make mags for Colt, but not sure which direction to go now. for magazines look into spending a little more and purchase Tripp, Wilson (47d or the new model), Metalform Elites. Cheap magazines are always a problem for any semi automatic pistol. |
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Sounds like a typical Colt to me. I am glad that you posted that comment. I now know that I can safely disregard anything that you have to post about COLT pistols. Thank you 
You know, I wanted a Colt 45 since I was trained to use one in the Army. It is a great pistol. After I got out of the service, there was marriage, then kids. Never enough money for that special 45. Around 1976, I finally saved enough money to buy a Colt 45. Imagine my bitter disappointment when it was a jam-o-matic. My wife [bless her] was acutely aware of the financial loss of a trade in. Twice, since then, I was lured by the Colt mystique to purchase [with my own money] another Colt. All of them were Jam-o-matics. So, from my personal experience, the OP's comments described a typical Colt. As far as I am concerned, Colt has 100 years experience turning out America's Pistol. If, for $1000 they can't deliver one that works, they should be ashamed of themselves. My Smith & Wesson 1911 has worked perfectly since day one. So has my Kimber. My every day carry pistol is a Wilson Combat CQB Compact. It works every time. My wife suggested that it would be cheaper to get the Wilson Combat than buying a string of Colts until I found a good one. If you have had better luck with Colt, great. But, from your signature line, I might assume you would not want me to lie.
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That is BS.
Sounds like you have some mag issue and your extractor might be out of tune to me. Here is what I'd do because I've been there. Contact Brent at Colt's Custom Shop. Tell him your issues and he'll send you a call tag. Brent and only Brent. Otherwise nothing gets done right. Brent is the manager of the custom shop. Hands down, "the man" Probably going to get new magazines and whatever else there is wrong fixed/replaced. It's a good time to have anything done you want done at this time. I sent Brent my rail gun and it came back as tuned up as one would expect a Wilson to come.. |
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Quoted: That is BS. Sounds like you have some mag issue and your extractor might be out of tune to me. Here is what I'd do because I've been there. Contact Brent at Colt's Custom Shop. Tell him your issues and he'll send you a call tag. Brent and only Brent. Otherwise nothing gets done right. Brent is the manager of the custom shop. Hands down, "the man" Probably going to get new magazines and whatever else there is wrong fixed/replaced. It's a good time to have anything done you want done at this time. I sent Brent my rail gun and it came back as tuned up as one would expect a Wilson to come.. Sounds like an excellent suggestion |
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Sounds like a typical Colt to me. I am glad that you posted that comment. I now know that I can safely disregard anything that you have to post about COLT pistols. Thank you
Big +1. OP, my first step would be to try new mags. If that doesn't work, Colt will make it right. |
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I just got a new 1911, not a Colt and while braking in the gun I used three mags each of.
Colt 7 round mags Kimber 7 round mags Chip Mc. 8 and 10 round mags Wilson ETM Wilson 47d Tripp cobra Not one of the Colt mags would lock the slide back, the others worked great. |
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Sounds like a typical Colt to me. I am glad that you posted that comment. I now know that I can safely disregard anything that you have to post about COLT pistols. Thank you
You know, I wanted a Colt 45 since I was trained to use one in the Army. It is a great pistol. After I got out of the service, there was marriage, then kids. Never enough money for that special 45. Around 1976, I finally saved enough money to buy a Colt 45. Imagine my bitter disappointment when it was a jam-o-matic. My wife [bless her] was acutely aware of the financial loss of a trade in. Twice, since then, I was lured by the Colt mystique to purchase [with my own money] another Colt. All of them were Jam-o-matics. So, from my personal experience, the OP's comments described a typical Colt. As far as I am concerned, Colt has 100 years experience turning out America's Pistol. If, for $1000 they can't deliver one that works, they should be ashamed of themselves. My Smith & Wesson 1911 has worked perfectly since day one. So has my Kimber. My every day carry pistol is a Wilson Combat CQB Compact. It works every time. My wife suggested that it would be cheaper to get the Wilson Combat than buying a string of Colts until I found a good one. If you have had better luck with Colt, great. But, from your signature line, I might assume you would not want me to lie. My experience as well..sent back to the factory twice..Gun never functioned properly... Fool me once..... |
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UPDATE #1-
Ok so I bought a pair of Wilson 47's (7rnd mags) and tried them. Still had jams, stovepiped once, brass did not eject twice (case still held by the extractor). However, these mags were locking the slide back regularly so that was a plus. All this was done with the same ammo as before, CCI Blazer Brass. I finished off that box and then tried a box of Independence. I've heard rumor this was made by CCI also, it at least uses CCI brass for sure. The headstamp was "CCI" where the other stuff was stamped "Blazer". I fired 4 or 5 magazines through it and did not have a single malfuction. Of course this is not enough of a sample to say that it will run 100% but its much better than not getting through a single mag without a stoppage. I will try to pick up some more of this and see if it continues to work. After shooting that last box of Blazer I found a round where the rim simply fell off the case. It was like a piece of thick foil. This would lead me to think the ammo was suspect but I have put several hundred rounds of it through my old USP .45 and never had a single jam the entire time I owned it. |
| I totally reject the 'expensive mags required' propaganda. What boutique mags have our armed forces been issued for the 1911 since day one? A pistol should work it's best with the mags provided when new. Tweaking a follower to work in a particular pistol is easy and commonly done. Unfortunately, it is apparently possible that bad mags get shipped with a pistol every so often. I'm sure Colt will replace them. |
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My colt mags with the rail gun got hinky around 1600 rounds. One of them failed to lock the slide back. Colt replaced both. Zero problems in the last 1000 rounds and I use some really crappy ammo. It's stuff I find laying on the range. A mix of polished to rusty, ball to hollow point, brass steel and aluminum cased. The gun is has to be duty ready, so I abuse it some just to see if it will fail. It just doesn't seem to fail. And the thing kicks the snot out of the old gold cup nm. I'm probably way better this day and age, but the gold cup definitely wasn't even remotely this reliable. See hater posts about Colt, well the Gold Cup resembled what they write. I might have dropped Colt then and there if it hadn't been for a slick royal blue Delta Elite that came my way. That gun was reliable and accurate. I sold it to fund something else and wound up buying the rail gun later. Sure glad I did.
Now as I said the rail gun hasn't been a fairytale love affair. It had some relatively minor issues needing to be sorted out. Two trips to Colt and nothing great came of it. The joke was Colt had my RG more than me. It was upsetting. The third trip Brent took lead and made my dreams all come true. He deserves a fat raise for the good he does. He is a good man and because of him renewed my faith in Colt. As I look around and see new Colt 1911s at the local shop, I see some really nice 1911s and AR rifles. Their quality far exceeds that of that old gcnm I once had. However I would like to find that gold cup someday, because knowing what I know now, I bet Colt's custom shop could make that gold cup sing. It was the most beautiful ultimate stainless gcnm you'd ever seen. My very first 1911 and as beautiful as it was, just a bitch. lol |
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I totally reject the 'expensive mags required' propaganda. What boutique mags have our armed forces been issued for the 1911 since day one? A pistol should work it's best with the mags provided when new. Tweaking a follower to work in a particular pistol is easy and commonly done. Unfortunately, it is apparently possible that bad mags get shipped with a pistol every so often. I'm sure Colt will replace them. I agree, but if you want 8 rounders, CMC, Wilson or Tripp are your best bets for long-term success. |
| My Rail Gun had Failure to Feed problems with CCI Blazer Brass and Federal Champion, I think both of these are basicly the same ammo, but different box. Winchester White Box has been very good for me, as well as Remington UMC. I noticed on mine at least, the extractor was way too tight. I have since loosened it, but have not test fired the weapon to confirm. Edit: Problem happened with both Colt Factory and Wilson Combat mags. I did have a 10 rounder WC mag that would fail to lock open on the last round, that seemed fixed when I replaced the recoil spring with a Wilson Combat 18.5#. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Sounds like a typical Colt to me. I am glad that you posted that comment. I now know that I can safely disregard anything that you have to post about COLT pistols. Thank you You know, I wanted a Colt 45 since I was trained to use one in the Army. It is a great pistol. After I got out of the service, there was marriage, then kids. Never enough money for that special 45. Around 1976, I finally saved enough money to buy a Colt 45. Imagine my bitter disappointment when it was a jam-o-matic. My wife [bless her] was acutely aware of the financial loss of a trade in. Twice, since then, I was lured by the Colt mystique to purchase [with my own money] another Colt. All of them were Jam-o-matics. So, from my personal experience, the OP's comments described a typical Colt. As far as I am concerned, Colt has 100 years experience turning out America's Pistol. If, for $1000 they can't deliver one that works, they should be ashamed of themselves. My Smith & Wesson 1911 has worked perfectly since day one. So has my Kimber. My every day carry pistol is a Wilson Combat CQB Compact. It works every time. My wife suggested that it would be cheaper to get the Wilson Combat than buying a string of Colts until I found a good one. If you have had better luck with Colt, great. But, from your signature line, I might assume you would not want me to lie. My experience as well..sent back to the factory twice..Gun never functioned properly... Fool me once..... Had Hardbawl stated that his experience was similar to OP, I would have considered it worthy of note for future reference. But, that isn't what he did. |