.45 reloads not working in 1991A1 Compact - please help

[led4thehed2]

Due to the death of a close friend, my father was recently gifted a Colt Series 80 1991A1 Compact (Officer Model). It came with 150 reloads my uncle made in the 1990s, and they ran reliably- load recipe and cartridge measurements unknown. My reloads cause the gun to FTE constantly. My loads are 4.8 grains of Hodgdon Titegroup, a 230 grain FMJ RN Berry's bullet, and various once-fired brass from trusted manufacturers. The OAL is 1.267 to 1.269", and the width at the case mouth is .4725 to .4730". I appear to be right at or within SAAMI specs.

I was told factory ammo (type unknown) fed fine. That ammo was .470" wide at case mouth. My reloads were .473", so I shrank them down to .470". Still constant FTE. The fired brass is not being pulled out of the chamber, and appears to catch on the next round in the magazine. When the magazine was removed, the top round tended to be pulled slightly forward. Many bullets ended up with heavy scratches or gouges on them. Magazines used were a factory Colt 6 round and a 7 round Wilson Combat. FTE was also an issue when a single round was fired with the magazine removed. My reloads fed fine in my father's SIG 1911 fastback Nightmare. My father stated he messed with the extractor, but I do not know how.


That's what I know. GLOCKs and DA revolvers are my thing, so 1911s are new territory for me. I'd appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, or follow-up questions anyone may have. Thank you so much in advance, INGO!

 

[Leo]

To help me think about it, The first one always goes in the chamber and can be fired, but the empty case stays in the gun, blocking the next round?

 

[led4thehed2]

To help me think about it, The first one always goes in the chamber and can be fired, but the empty case stays in the gun, blocking the next round?

Yes, exactly. The first round from the magazine always chambered properly.

 

[Dean C.]

Ok so with "lighter" reloads my Dan Wesson ECO will do this occasionally too. I believe the mechanical explanation is the ammo needs to be "hotter" as with the officer sized guns (colts 3 inch barrel especially) you are significantly reducing the cycling time of the gun due to the travel being cut down by 2 inches from the original 5 inch design.

Officer guns are finicky at best and need good factory loaded ammo or full power reloads to cycle and function properly. If you were to run those reloads in a government model they would probably work IMHO

 

[Trapper Jim]

Anything 1911 less than a 4 inch slide becomes a professionals gun to keep running. For me they are more novelties than shooters. I can make them run but the trouble, finicky tailored loads, and harder to control front sight makes them gunbroker fodder for me.

 

[led4thehed2]

Ok so with "lighter" reloads my Dan Wesson ECO will do this occasionally too. I believe the mechanical explanation is the ammo needs to be "hotter" as with the officer sized guns (colts 3 inch barrel especially) you are significantly reducing the cycling time of the gun due to the travel being cut down by 2 inches from the original 5 inch design.

Officer guns are finicky at best and need good factory loaded ammo or full power reloads to cycle and function properly. If you were to run those reloads in a government model they would probably work IMHO

Thank you. We're using max loads in hopes they would feed in all 3 of dad's .45 guns : this Colt, the Sig 1911, and a AR style PCC. The PCC has some sort of weight adjustable bolt...or something...figured the max load would give us the best chance of proper cycling.

 

[led4thehed2]

Anything 1911 less than a 4 inch slide becomes a professionals gun to keep running. For me they are more novelties than shooters. I can make them run but the trouble, finicky tailored loads, and harder to control front sight makes them gunbroker fodder for me.

My limited research agrees with you- the further the deviation from the 5" gov. platform, the more fickle the gun. I may have to find a unique recipe/cartridge for this Colt. I got the time, just trial and error now- I guess.

 

[Trapper Jim]

My limited research agrees with you- the further the deviation from the 5" gov. platform, the more fickle the gun. I may have to find a unique recipe/cartridge for this Colt. I got the time, just trial and error now- I guess.

I would start with making sure the chamber is opened up by a gunsmith, then I would tune it to Remingtons ultra defense loads or similar to ammo crafted to short barrels. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/remington-ultimate-defense-compact-handgun-ammo

 

[Robert Richardson]

So, does it function with factory ammo?

 

[led4thehed2]

So, does it function with factory ammo?

Yes, a friend borrowed the gun and shot factory ammo - type unknown - and it was fine. Problem seems to be my reloads, just not sure on what to change next. OAL? Some American Eagle I was given was 1.265 to 1.267" OAL. Mine are 1.267 to 1.269"

 

[Bosshoss]

I would start with checking extractor tension and have you tried different magazines?
Extractor tension can cause problems with different loads as the slide velocity is different with the different loads and it effects the ejection of the empty's.
The officers model can be a little picky but can be made to run great. I carried one for a couple of years a long time ago.

 

[Robert Richardson]

If they are feeding into the chamber ok and the problem is extraction, I think I would be looking at the extractor. The key information here is it does the same thing without a magazine.

 

[led4thehed2]

I would start with checking extractor tension and have you tried different magazines?
Extractor tension can cause problems with different loads as the slide velocity is different with the different loads and it effects the ejection of the empty's.
The officers model can be a little picky but can be made to run great. I carried one for a couple of years a long time ago.

I found videos about how to use a piece of brass to see if the extractor would hold it. It did, and continued to do so when shook.

Yes, two types of magazines were tested. The factory 6 round Colt magazine and a slightly longer than flush 7 round Wilson Combat magazine. Same issue with both magazines.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Its not the magazine

 

[gmcttr]

If they are feeding into the chamber ok and the problem is extraction, I think I would be looking at the extractor. The key information here is it does the same thing without a magazine.

This.

The problem is with extraction so OAL, case mouth diameter, etc. will have no effect. Power of the load would have an effect so that and the extractor is where I would look...or simply shoot factory ammo in it.

 

[Leo]

I only ever had one short barrel 1911. It was a Colt officers model. It ate anything near military spec fine, even 230 grain hollow points. Everything else I ever experienced was with a dozen or so full sized. Since 4.8 grains of titegroup is a full power load, I am mystified

 

[Robert Richardson]

Take the extractor out, clean the channel and inspect the hook for being chipped or bent or broken. Just because it passes the shake test doesn't mean it's good.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Also do the shake test with a live round, not an empty case.

 

[snapping turtle]

Officer guns are finicky at best and need good factory loaded ammo or full power reloads to cycle and function properly. If you were to run those reloads in a government model they would probably work IMHO

Yes here lies the magic of reloading.
What does work? Start there and replicate that round. Those loads are a bowling team with a very good pool 8-fall player. Get a new bowler and then stake the 8ball player on the pool table.

And yes it sounds like an extractor issue. Check the slide also. I have seen some very tight slide to frame fits on high end 1911 pistols and the gun likes a little slack. This normally solves itself in 500 rounds. Lube up well.

 

[led4thehed2]

Take the extractor out, clean the channel and inspect the hook for being chipped or bent or broken. Just because it passes the shake test doesn't mean it's good.

Did this, did not see or feel anything like a chip or deformation/damage to the extractor. Channel was a bit dirty.