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AR15.COM
2/25/2007 7:51:32 AM EDT
I have a new 4" 1911 with approx 200 rounds thru it. Have had a few rounds that failed to slide up under the extractor, but i polished the feed ramp and that seems to have helped. When i cycle rounds out of the gun manually the extractor doesn't always release the rounds unless you do it forcefully. Does this mean the extractor has too much tension on it?
Thanks
2/25/2007 11:41:35 AM EDT
[#1]
What make/model is it?  
What type of magazines are you using?
What type of ammo?
Any alterations to the pistol?
Are you using a shockbuff?

2/25/2007 2:39:57 PM EDT
[#2]
New Kimber Eclipse 4" 45 ACP Wilson and Kimber mags. Winchester and Remington 230 gr ball ammo. No alterations except polish of feed ramp. No shock buffers.
2/25/2007 4:18:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Most 4" guns with extended ejectors will exibit this problem to higher or lesser degree due to bullet hitting the front of an ejection port.
This will depend mostly on round used, long rounds will create most problems, short hollopoints - less. On the other hand, gun should have no problem extracting and ejectin empties.
If this bothers you, change the ejector on shorter (standard) one or get the extended one and shorten it a bit. Do not file the existing one, this way you can allways go back to original setup.
Personally, I see this is a benefit: when unloading the gun with mag removed, cover the magwell with your hand, slow cycle the slide, and the round will fall in the magwell.
Don't like that - fast cycle the slide.
2/25/2007 5:07:52 PM EDT
[#4]
The round is not falling because the extractor is still holding it. So i assume the extractor needs less tension?
2/25/2007 5:39:51 PM EDT
[#5]
KK66 is right on target, What you describe is normal. Both my 3.5" and 4" operate the same way.
2/25/2007 6:31:45 PM EDT
[#6]
I do not believe that you have too much tension.

Your combation of guns, mags, and ammo sounds good.

A couple of thoughts:

Too much tension = FTF
Too little tension = FTE

1/Field strip the pistol.  Pick up the slide in one hand, a live cartridge in another.  Slide the cartridge up the breechface until the primer is even with the firing pin hole.  Let go of the cartridge.  A properly tensioned extractor should hold the cartidge so that it doesn't fall out, even if you give it a gentle shake.  

This is a standard test of extractor tension, but it is more art than science.

You can increase/decrease tesion and repeat this test as needed.

2/testing extraction/ejection by hand cycling a live (or dummy) cartridge does not approximate the cycle of operation when the pistol fires, as the pistol cycles forcefully when fired.  

Hand cycling does not cycle the pistol all that forcefully.

If I read your post correctly, you had better results when you hand cycled the pistol with greater force, thereby better simulating how the pistol actually works.

Regardless, it's hard to draw a valid conclusion unless you fire the pistol.

3/YMMV, but I prefer extended ejectors in the commander size guns.  You have .300" less slide travel than with a gov't model, and the extended ejector helps compensate for the lessened slide travel by starting the ejection process earlier.

I wouldn't be very concerned about how the pistol is operating currently.  Put a few hundred more rounds through it, keep it well lubed, and see how it does.  If you continue to have FTFs in live fire, lessen extractor tension.

Good luck!



2/25/2007 6:59:55 PM EDT
[#7]
If the rounds nose is hitting the ejection port (and wedges on it, preventing further extraction / ejection), the extractor tension has nothin to do with it. It is the length of ejector that needs to be shortened. If you mess with extractor, you will screw it to the point of getting FTE's.
2/25/2007 7:18:11 PM EDT
[#8]
If the rounds nose is hitting the ejection port (and wedges on it, preventing further extraction / ejection), the extractor tension has nothin to do with it.

+1
2/26/2007 3:11:34 AM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:
I have a new 4" 1911 with approx 200 rounds thru it. Have had a few rounds that failed to slide up under the extractor, but i polished the feed ramp and that seems to have helped. When i cycle rounds out of the gun manually the extractor doesn't always release the rounds unless you do it forcefully. Does this mean the extractor has too much tension on it?
Thanks


no.

Dont worry about it unless yiou have issues when ejecting empty brass after you pull the trigger.

If you ejection port is of org design and not lowered and flared the older port dont really eject live ammo well.
2/28/2007 6:24:05 PM EDT
[#10]
SGB  where are you?   Never hand cycle loaded ammo!

Bob
2/28/2007 7:41:03 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:
I have a new 4" 1911 with approx 200 rounds thru it. Have had a few rounds that failed to slide up under the extractor, but i polished the feed ramp and that seems to have helped. When i cycle rounds out of the gun manually the extractor doesn't always release the rounds unless you do it forcefully. Does this mean the extractor has too much tension on it?
Thanks


Normal break in is around 500 rounds so you need to run another 300 rounds through it before tweeking.

And as stated by bobbyjack never hand cycle live ammo, hand cycling of live ammunition is just asking for a ND. Some ammunition has an overall length that exceeds the overall length of the ejection port.