Ruger 1911 Commander .45 Problem

[dlh]

Why don't you send it back to Ruger and ask for a new, replacement handgun since the one you have is defective?

Luckily my firearms work but if I bought a defective one and the manufacturer could not fix it I would certainly ask for a new, replacement firearm.

Ruger makes lots of money--they should bear the cost of their defective weapon.

dlh

[DevilDawg]

We all realize and empathize the pain you are experiencing. I have a couple of Ruger firearms (or did prior to that boating accident), and had to send my mini back 3 times. They finally got it fixed and it is fun shooter again. I agree with the original thought, send it back to Ruger as you paid for a functional pistol. If they can make it right the third time tell them to replace it. Politely, but firmly. You purchased this to be a EDC and right now it isn't capable of range time let alone SD. Keep us posted.

[Jim Beaux]

I agree with some of the other posters- a different gun is in order-demand it. I would never have confidence in this gun.

[Excaliber]

Something is seriously out-of-whack with that pistol, then - feed-ramp angle or something.

On a hunch, I tried reducing the extractor tension, dropping it from 26 ounces (spec is 25-28) to 18 ounces. Function is sharply improved with no more double feeds and it now works fine with Wilson Combat magazines. However, with other magazines (CMC PowerMag and Brownells) the follower hangs up on the slide stop (riding up past it) after the last shot and the mag has to be forcibly extracted. With the Brownells, the last round is also left sitting loose on top of the magazine with the slide locked back.

I suspect the remaining magazine issues are from a slide stop dimensional problem since those same magazines work fine in all my other 1911's. I'll replace the Ruger MIM part with a tool steel one from 10-8.

I don't know why this gun won't work with normal spec extractor tension, which has worked perfectly for me for many years on multiple Kimbers, a Springfield, and a Dan Wesson, but if it will work reliably at 18 ounces, I can live with that. Looser extractor tension appears to give enough wiggle allowance to feed properly. I suspect you're right about the feed ramp angle, or the chamber dimension, or a combination thereof. Fired casings show heavy burn marks on one side, which I don't see with my other guns.

I've also replaced the original MIM thumb safety with a tool steel Novak piece because the original had way too much movement beyond the "off" position. Examination showed that the stud on it was much smaller than on the Novak unit and it had no fitting marks at all, which leads me to suspect it is dimensioned to not require fitting by tolerating lots of play. After seeing that, I also replaced the entire MIM fire control group (hammer, sear disconnector) with a Cylinder and Slide set that functions beautifully and gives me a fantastic trigger action.

I like the lightweight commander's combination of aluminum frame and titanium feed ramp (which doesn't get dinged by rounds with wide hollow points) as well as the original John Browning recoil system which allows disassembly without tools, but I'm not at all impressed with Ruger's MIM parts or quality control. I've never had to work so hard to get a 1911 to function before.

I think I'll get a working gun out of this yet, but I'll have to put a lot more malfunction free rounds through it before I'll trust it for EDC.

If I can't make it work with the new slide stop, I'll be going back to Ruger with a request for a replacement.

[WTR]

I would return it back to Ruger and demand a new pistol.

[Right2Carry]

I have one and it works flawlessly with Ruger or Wilson Combat. No way would I spend a dime on that pistol until Ruger fixed the problem!

[Excaliber]

I suspect the remaining magazine issues are from a slide stop dimensional problem since those same magazines work fine in all my other 1911's. I'll replace the Ruger MIM part with a tool steel one from 10-8.

Good plan - it'll be interesting to see what happens.

I don't know why this gun won't work with normal spec extractor tension, which has worked perfectly for me for many years on multiple Kimbers, a Springfield, and a Dan Wesson, but if it will work reliably at 18 ounces, I can live with that. Looser extractor tension appears to give enough wiggle allowance to feed properly.

It may be that the extractor-tunnel itself is off-spec - for example, machined a little closer to the centerline of the slide than ideal. As long as it *works* - and keeps working - I wouldn't be overly-concerned about the precise weight either.

I suspect you're right about the feed ramp angle, or the chamber dimension, or a combination thereof. Fired casings show heavy burn marks on one side, which I don't see with my other guns.

Quit shootin' them wimpy loads, mang

Examination showed that the stud on it was much smaller than on the Novak unit and it had no fitting marks at all, which leads me to suspect it is dimensioned to not require fitting by tolerating lots of play.

You may be onto something with the extractor tunnel alignment. If an empty casing (or live round) is dropped into the chamber and the slide is closed behind it, the extractor nose stops at the base of the cartridge and won't ride over the rim, regardless of how hard the rear of the slide is hit.

[Skiprr]

My bet is that these two great minds have nailed it. Is anyone from Ruger reading?

[Excaliber]

Might be interesting to remove the firing-pin, slip a de-primed case in place under the extractor and into the barrel - and see how well the holes line up from the rear.

I'll give that a try but the firing pin is striking right where it should. Removing the extractor and looking through its tunnel at a chambered case might be even more revealing.

I'll give that a try too.

[Excaliber]

I'm not so much concerned with where the FP hits the primer per se as much as I am in seeing whether or not the two small holes line up perfectly - a little smudge could be an indication of the extractor-tunnel being offset. Ahhh, experimentation - don't you just hate it? Ugh.

I don't suppose you have a protractor to measure the angle of the feed-ramp?

I'll look at that too.

I may have to hunt around a bit to find a protractor.

[Excaliber]

Well, I think we're almost there.

Changing out the slide stop for a 10-8 performance unit fixed the magazine hangup problem (after about 45 minutes of careful fitting of the oversized part.)

It now feeds flawlessly from Wilson Combat magazines - for about 50 rounds until the feed ramp and chamber get dirty. Then the top cartridge hangs up in the chamber and fails to go into battery until the rear of the slide is bumped.

The curious thing is that it still feeds flawlessly under these conditions with the original equipment Ruger mags. I can't see any real difference in the feed lips, but the followers are significantly different. I can't send it back to Ruger at this point because it works with the only magazines they guarantee it will function with.

I'll be looking around for a good specialized 1911 smith who can take a look at the feed ramp and barrel throat angles and see if there's a little adjustment that will make it work reliably with all high quality magazines even when it's dirty. Any suggestions on a smith in the DFW area would be much appreciated.

[KC80]

Sucks your having so much issue, I just bought the commander and while it did need some TLC it has ran great for 200rds using Kimber tac mags. I had a few ftf's in the first 100rds. I did polish the feed ramp out, radiused and polisbed the throat a bit more, and smoothed out the frame where the barrel sits. It had some rough casting marks. Also smoothed the crown out which helped shot groups. I hope it works out for you but I would have swapped it for a Springfield by now if it was me, lol.