RIA 1911 Nightmare!

I don't own an RIA, so cannot comment on them. But the internal (original type) extractor of a 1911 needs to be made of the best spring steel, since it is its own spring. But the machining and tempering involved is costly, so most makers today (Colt excepted, I believe), use cast or MIM extractors which do not hold up like spring steel should. The results are predictable; the extractors drop the fired case, fail to hold it tight, interfere with feeding, etc. "Tuning" will work for a while but needs done repeatedly and eventually either won't work any more, or the extractor breaks.

Jim
 
Looking at your malfunction and feed lips,as Dahermit explained very well,
The extractor MUST hold the case to the bolt face through ejection.You have inadequate extractor tension.
As Dahermit explained,if you have a round in the mag,the case is supported by the upcoming cartridge.
What your pic indicates,the case head dropped down to the follower,down in beyween the mag lips.The case mouth was still high,and caught the slide port as it was coming back.
The force of the recoiling slide violently forced the width of the case head through the mag lips,spreading them.
So the idea that Wilson is selling soft mag lips is wrong,too.
To gunsmith,you need some of the skills of a tracker.You have to be able to look at the sign,and ask "What happened?"
And you have to understand the function and design well enough to tell the story.
I can run a visual cartoon in my mind of that whole event.
Getting frustrated and tight jawed won't let the cartoon form.Be curious.Listen.

Another path to disaster is "I'll try this" and just filing,or Dremeling,or changing parts,without really knowing why.

I'll tell you this,most often,if I takeany metal off,it is because a micrometer told me "Take off .0047" and I use a Bridgeport or lathe every chance I get.
Or I put Prussian blue on one part,assemble the parts,and the blue will transfer to a high spot.I know"File just a little here" and try again.
I know what to take off,and an idea of how much,or I KEEP STUDYING.
No "Cut and hope"
Sometimes,I even ask He Who Knows More than I do.
We have several of those here.Lots.
 
Definitely true. Sometimes you get lucky and nib guns run great for years and sometimes it's a struggle to get through the first box. Armscor will get you fixed up. They'll test fire the gun and it'll get their reliability tune up while it's there as part of the warranty claim process. Likely worst case scenario is they charge you for the slide stop. They cover lots of things under warranty that they don't technically have to. Great thing about working with a growing company. They are eager to please so people repeat purchase. They will get it fixed up and when you get it back it will be amazing :D
 
Today's manufacturing world is about documentation, process and statistical process control. Per ISO standards
Click to expand...

HiBC
The phrase 'ISO 9000 compliant' brings back PTSD like flashbacks. If you have to deal with this stuff I'm very sympathetic to your plight.
 
I hope it works out for you. I just got my RIA back for the third time today. Apparently the first two times the janitor just replaced random parts, shot a round or two, and sent it back. After I sent an e-mail demanding a replacement and returned it for the third time, I got an email back from an actual human who claimed that an actual gunsmith looked at it this time. The gunsmith supposedly figured out the actual problem, repaired it, and successfully fired "several magazines" through it. If so, it was the first time that ever happened with that pistol. I will find out on Saturday morning whether it is finally functional or not.
 
From your description of the problems, all you need is a competent tune on a
good extractor.
I'd be happy to help at no charge for labor if you'll pick up the return shipping.
I'd only need the slide, so shipping would be inexpensive.
If interested shoot me an e-mail at rogersp@cableone.net.
Click to expand...

Wow! Extremely nice of you.

If it were my gun, I would jump at the chance of having this master gunsmith tune up that extractor.

For those that don't know Chuck's work . . .

http://www.rogersprecision.com/
 
Wow! Extremely nice of you.

If it were my gun, I would jump at the chance of having this master gunsmith tune up that extractor.
Red-5 is online now Report Post
Click to expand...

That is indeed very nice, I didn't know he was a master gunsmith.

I am sad that 2 of the 3 magazines I have for the gun are now ruined. Do you think that the only thing wrong is a messed up extractor? If so, I might just have to take up that very nice offer!
 
I am sad that 2 of the 3 magazines I have for the gun are now ruined.
Click to expand...
Nature's trying to tell you something,you buy magazines with someone's name on them.Extractor tension is one of the most overlooked and easiest fixed issues really.Do your homework and get your pistol working yourself there's a
great deal of satisfaction when you do it.
 
The first thing I would do is chuck the Wilson mags. Try Milspec mags. I tune all of my 1911's to work with Milspec mags. They are what the gun was designed for. Wilson and all of the other fancy mags don't "fix" the gun, they just hide the problem.

Now, did you have feeding issues before changing the slide stop?
 
The first thing I would do is chuck the Wilson mags. Try Milspec mags. I tune all of my 1911's to work with Milspec mags. They are what the gun was designed for. Wilson and all of the other fancy mags don't "fix" the gun, they just hide the problem.

Now, did you have feeding issues before changing the slide stop?
Click to expand...

No, for 200 rounds I wasn't experience these problems. I changed the slide stop, which cured the premature slide lock problem, but now this issue happened.

Could the slide lock have done this? I just don't see how, but again I'm pretty dumb with this stuff as is probably obvious. :(
 
Keep us updated Model12win,

I just successfully fit a thumb safety to my Springfield 1911A1, as well as swapped some other parts out I wasn't 100% happy with. Now I am aaaalmoat done with it. Happy for now, but I want a black barrel bushing
 
Absolutely, the slide stop could cause this problem. Do you have any other mags that you can try? Check the contact point between the slide stop and mag follower. See if there is too much material on the slide stop...

Take pics and post if you can and aren't sure what you are looking for..
 
It could be as little as a few thousandths. Many slide stops need fitting. The Wilson that I put into a RIA took a bit of fitting.
 
Slide stops can impact extraction, especially when it's only the last round that's the problem. In my experience few parts for 1911s are true drop in. Often a little fitting, as presspics mentioned, is needed.
 
Last edited:
"Absolutely, the slide stop could cause this problem."
"Slide stops can definitely impact extraction,"

Not in my experience.

I haven't seen everything though.
I'm not trying to be know-it-all,
just relaying my opinion.
 
^ I'm not saying it's common, but when the extraction problem didn't exist before the part swap and the problem only occurs on the last round in the magazine, when the slide stop is being pushed up by the follower, it certainly seems possible.
 
I take it that he has sent the gun back to the manufacturer. I suspect the gun will be returned in working order and the cause of the problem may not have been revealed by the maker...just fixed. If anyone here is waiting for closure, I suspect they will be disappointed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top