Weird 1911 problem

[James K]

I don't necessarily think that everything old is good. Many copies of the 1911 use a hook type extractor powered by a coil spring, and there is nothing wrong with that. Browning used the same type extractor on the Colt pocket pistols, and they work fine.

I have seen a .45 slide modified to use an extractor like the one on the P.38 (no pin, just held in by a spring and plunger) and it performed fine. In fact, I think such a change would probably be for the better, except that "tradition" would get in the way.

Browning himself did not set up the extractor with that gap between the bolt face and the hook. The military demanded it to deal with variations in ammunition, an issue of much concern at the time (we are talking 1910, remember?), but which never proved a problem. Other type extractors require more precise headspacing and ammunition dimensions.

BTW, there is no truth at all to the idea that the 1911 is supposed to "headspace on the extractor". The .45 cartridge headspaces on the case mouth, just like the .380 ACP and most 9mm cartridges. The .38 ACP/Super and .32 ACP headspace on the rim.

Jim

 

[Steve Smith]

Ok, folks, here's the update.

After receiving the new extractor in the mail Friday, I ran off to the range today. BTW, the new extractor was polished on the front end so it would snap over if necessary, and the grove was bevelled toward the bottom more than the first one. Things looked promising. I also changed the recoil spring to a 17.5#, but in the future, I'll try the 16# again, because I like it better.


I fired about 225 rounds today through the gun, with zero problems. She never even hiccupped once. I think the extractor did it. Thanks guys.


I also found out that it'll feed empty (unsized) cases, when I was goofing around with it earlier this week. That's always a good sign for reliability.