Kimber FTF issues. Advice needed

[DHR27PA]

Fixed

[sprrdhawk44]

It did it with different mags? What lube are you using? Run it wet. It could be any number of things, from the barrel being fit incorrectly to the chamber being too short. Take the barrel out, and start dropping cartridges into the chamber. They should fall in freely and be removed easily. It's also possible the extractor needs tensioned. You may need to take it to a gun smith, and have him go over it.

[Noah_Zark]

In 40 years of working on 1911s, when someone has a 1911 that presents with the symptom of a failure to feed, with the round hanging up on the ramp, the first place I look is extractor fit and tuning, after that, I check extractor fit and tuning. Third, extractor fit and tuning.

It's usually one of those three.

Noah

[Gun]

Surprised it comes with an 18# recoil spring, for a 3" barrel.

I run a 22#'er in my Commander.

Here is discussion by Wilson on reliability issues with shorter barrel 1911s;

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...-can-reliable/

[Don Quixote]

In 40 years of working on 1911s, when someone has a 1911 that presents with the symptom of a failure to feed, with the round hanging up on the ramp, the first place I look is extractor fit and tuning, after that, I check extractor fit and tuning. Third, extractor fit and tuning.

It's usually one of those three.

Noah

let mw guess.... on the rare occasion that none of those things fix the problem, it might be extractor fit and tuning?

[DHR27PA]

I know what and where the extractor is but I am not as privy to the fine tuning of that component. So, is this something for a gunsmith to look at then?

[sprrdhawk44]

I know what and where the extractor is but I am not as privy to the fine tuning of that component. So, is this something for a gunsmith to look at then?

Take your slide off, and slip a cartridge up under the extractor. Line the firing pin up with the primer by eye-balling it. The round should stay put when you rotate the slide around, but should still be a little loose. What you don't want to see is the cartridge bound up super tight in there. Report your findings.

[DHR27PA]

Take your slide off, and slip a cartridge up under the extractor. Line the firing pin up with the primer by eye-balling it. The round should stay put when you rotate the slide around, but should still be a little loose. What you don't want to see is the cartridge bound up super tight in there. Report your findings.

Thanks

I have another 1911 to compare, the other is a Colt 5" so I took them both apart to compare the Kimber to the Colt (the Colt has been 100% reliant)

I did as you said, first testing the Kimber with a brass FMJ round. Squeezing the round in between the extractor was pretty tight and once in, there is very little room to rotate the cartridge.

Putting the same round into the Colt slide, it feels noticeably looser (but still holds just fine) and there is more space between the extractor and the backing of the slide.

[Hodgie]

In 40 years of working on 1911s, when someone has a 1911 that presents with the symptom of a failure to feed, with the round hanging up on the ramp, the first place I look is extractor fit and tuning, after that, I check extractor fit and tuning. Third, extractor fit and tuning.

It's usually one of those three.

Noah

Excellent advise that so many over look because they get caught up on the jump from frame to the barrel ramp and think it needs to be highly polished.

[animalmother85]

Meh, that's what you get for buying a MIMber.


As far as I know, the Colt is not made from MIM. It's also machined with the right tolerances in the right place.


If it were me, I'd sell it and put my own together.