Colt .45 acp stove-piping?!
- Thread starter RevMatt
- Start date
Harry Bonar
New member
stovepiping
Sir;
You have a very common problem with the 1911 - you need a reliability package done by an experienced smith.
Harry B.
Sir;
You have a very common problem with the 1911 - you need a reliability package done by an experienced smith.
Harry B.
riggins_83
New member
Colt commanders can be quite picky with recoil springs. Has the recoil spring ever been changed and if so what weight?
Dfariswheel
New member
There are a number of reasons the 1911 will stovepipe, here's a few common things to look at:
Ammunition.
Some guns are not reliable with some ammo, try something else.
Magazine.
Dirty or worn out, try a new genuine Colt.
Dirty/fouled/dry gun.
Clean and lube the gun, especially remove and clean the extractor and its tunnel in the slide.
Worn recoil spring.
Replace it with a 20 to 22 pound spring. Factory is about 20, for hard ball ammo you can go usually go 22.
Worn or tension lost on the extractor.
This usually calls for gunsmith replacement. To test, after cleaning the gun and with the slide off, push a live round up under the extractor. It should be held in place and shouldn't fall out of its own weight.
Broken/worn ejector.
Check th ejector for chipped or broken faces, or for a broken mounting pin. If the ejector can be moved or turned, one of the pins is broken.
Ammunition.
Some guns are not reliable with some ammo, try something else.
Magazine.
Dirty or worn out, try a new genuine Colt.
Dirty/fouled/dry gun.
Clean and lube the gun, especially remove and clean the extractor and its tunnel in the slide.
Worn recoil spring.
Replace it with a 20 to 22 pound spring. Factory is about 20, for hard ball ammo you can go usually go 22.
Worn or tension lost on the extractor.
This usually calls for gunsmith replacement. To test, after cleaning the gun and with the slide off, push a live round up under the extractor. It should be held in place and shouldn't fall out of its own weight.
Broken/worn ejector.
Check th ejector for chipped or broken faces, or for a broken mounting pin. If the ejector can be moved or turned, one of the pins is broken.
Replace all the springs its cheap www.gunsprings.com Wolf springs are great
I like to do diagnosis of 1911 problems as a process of elimination.
Since it's a stovepipe, ammo has already successfully fed and fired, so you can generally rule out mag problems, underpowered bulk ammo and guide rod springs (unless springs are recommended to be replaced every X,XXX rounds).
Since it has always ejected properly in the past, you can generally rule out ejector length.
Which, by elimination, says the extractor's not doing its job.
Could be either dirty, broken or weak. If you feel competent, remove it (inspect for broken) and clean out the tube. If this doesn't work, then you know its weak. If it is adjustable, do so and test fire. If not, then replace it.
Good luck.
Since it's a stovepipe, ammo has already successfully fed and fired, so you can generally rule out mag problems, underpowered bulk ammo and guide rod springs (unless springs are recommended to be replaced every X,XXX rounds).
Since it has always ejected properly in the past, you can generally rule out ejector length.
Which, by elimination, says the extractor's not doing its job.
Could be either dirty, broken or weak. If you feel competent, remove it (inspect for broken) and clean out the tube. If this doesn't work, then you know its weak. If it is adjustable, do so and test fire. If not, then replace it.
Good luck.
Last edited:
azredhawk44
Moderator
RevMatt:
My LW Commander started doing the same thing recently.
Fortunately, I have a Government Colt also, and I switched over to it while I troubleshot the Commander.
The problem came with me to the Government.
The common elements to the stovepipe failures are two Colt 8rd magazines with McCormick-style springy followers.
I tried replacing the mag springs in my 8rd Colt mags, and that didn't resolve the issue.
I switched over to magazines equipped with fixed-platform followers. I used Wilsons and ACT's. The problem is now gone, in both guns.
My LW Commander started doing the same thing recently.
Fortunately, I have a Government Colt also, and I switched over to it while I troubleshot the Commander.
The problem came with me to the Government.
The common elements to the stovepipe failures are two Colt 8rd magazines with McCormick-style springy followers.
I tried replacing the mag springs in my 8rd Colt mags, and that didn't resolve the issue.
I switched over to magazines equipped with fixed-platform followers. I used Wilsons and ACT's. The problem is now gone, in both guns.
bamaranger
New member
drove me nuts
I had a 70's series, steel frame, bushed nickel commander, .45 and it drove me nuts w/ feeding and reliability problems. I spent a ton of money on various mags, ammo, tune up by a 'smith w/ a reputation ( still local), tensioned extractors, new recoil spring, new extractors...........and on and on.
Sold it at a loss and was glad to see it go.
The P220's that replaced it have been great, except for 2 bad early style mags.
I had a 70's series, steel frame, bushed nickel commander, .45 and it drove me nuts w/ feeding and reliability problems. I spent a ton of money on various mags, ammo, tune up by a 'smith w/ a reputation ( still local), tensioned extractors, new recoil spring, new extractors...........and on and on.
Sold it at a loss and was glad to see it go.
The P220's that replaced it have been great, except for 2 bad early style mags.