1911 wouldn't cycle properly

[Panhead Bill]

At my local USPSA match on Sunday, I shot my 1911 (Kimber Custom II), as I usually do and I was ready to throw the damn thing.  First stage after 1-2 rounds it failed to properly feed repeatedly, after stripping mag and inserting new one, it did it again after a few rounds.  I got through the stage and, thinking it may have been my reloads, I re-filled my mags with factory ammo.  At the next stage, the problem repeated itself.  Prior to the next stage I stripped it down, cleaned the gun and lubed the hell out of it, and cleaned out my magazines with a magazine brush.  For the next stage it seemed to be cycling better, but for the last one, it was back to repeated failures. 

AFter the match, I went to plinking to try to figure out what the problem was and with which magazines (if any particularly) it was failing with.  With relatively slow firing it cycled just fine - I picked up the pace and on a couple mags it misfired and a couple cycled fine.  During the match it seemed to be acting up with all 5 mags I was using, but afterwards it wouldn't consistently fail so that I could figure out what the problem was. 

Any suggestions for diagnosing what's going on?  By the way, I've had this particular gun for over a year and put probably at least 5,000 rounds through it without any major failures. 

Thanks,


Bill

[NS2]

Recoil Spring.  Magazine springs.

It sounds like a timing issue due to weakened springs.

Was the ammo any different?  I know you indicated that you were using your reloads.  Did something change on the press without your knowledge?

[Panhead Bill]

Inwasnusingnanrelatively new load (different bullets-so changed load) but I've shot 100 or so of the new load without problem. Just in case I switched to factory loads and the problem persisted.

My hunch has been that it's the mags, I need to go back to the range and spend time specifically testing the mags. If it is the mags, is it worthwhile to replace the springs, or should I go ahead and buy new mags?

Bill

[NS2]

My hunch has been that it's the mags, I need to go back to the range and spend time specifically testing the mags. If it is the mags, is it worthwhile to replace the springs, or should I go ahead and buy new mags?

Bill

If the mag bodies are still in spec, then keep using them.  If not, toss them and start anew. 

http://www.10-8performance.com/pages/1911-Magazines.html

http://10-8performance.blogspot.com/2011/05/1911-random-thoughts.html

[Eric R Shelton]

I'm with NS2 on the recoil spring.  If you've got 5,000 rounds through it, it's time to change that bad boy.

[Panhead Bill]

Dumb question alert: do different brands of mags have their own brands of springs that have to be used with their mags?  I've got kind of a hodge-podge of mags I've collected, factory, KimPro, and Wilson Combat.

Bill

[NS2]

Dumb question alert: do different brands of mags have their own brands of springs that have to be used with their mags?  I've got kind of a hodge-podge of mags I've collected, factory, KimPro, and Wilson Combat.

Bill

IME, yes!  Many use their own springs from their vendor network. 

When the time comes, I replace my mag springs with either CMC http://www.brownells.com/1/3/chip-mccormick-custom-llc-magazine-springs,  Wilson Combat http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=42519/Product/REPLACEMENT_SPRING___FOLLOWER or Wilson Combat from Wolff http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=1&mID=71

Stick with what works!