Ruger 1911 Commander .45 Problem

[FastCarry]

another 100 quick rounds and double taps through mine, not a single hiccup. I now move this over to my EDC.

[flintknapper]

Excaliber wrote:

Randalls (what - you never heard of the first CNC machined stainless 1911)

Oh man....that is a pistol I wish I'd kept. I bought a Randall Service Model 'C' in the Summer of '83 from McBrides Gunshop in Austin, Texas. I was in the store looking at some reloading equipment when they put it in the display case. I fell in love with it immediately and purchased it on the spot.

Kept that excellent shooting (and utterly reliable) pistol for about 8 years before trading it straight up for a S&W 629.

I've had a lot of 1911's since then...but always regretted not keeping the Randall. Of course, now they are collectors items!

[Lena]

I have had many as others and only a problem with 1 a foreign copy, had it 1 week and gone. Out of the ones I still have my favorite is dad's Swenson. My STI-SV-Wilson CQB get the most use now. I have had 3 Paras and never a problem there either (Canada made) still have 2.

[Excaliber]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

[Right2Carry]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

You do know that Ruger sells 8 and 10 round magazines. Also I am not sure they have met their obligation as the below is in the lightweight commander page.

Accepts all standard, aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories.

I take accept to mean works but YMMV.

[flintknapper]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

Dang!

How do the failures manifest? Doesn't go completely into battery? Jam in barrel/feed angle? Does it do it at any round count (magazine fully loaded, last round, etc)?

I just hate that this thing isn't working for you.

[WildBill]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

I admire your tenacity, but I already own a Colt.

[Dadtodabone]

[Excaliber]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

You do know that Ruger sells 8 and 10 round magazines. Also I am not sure they have met their obligation as the below is in the lightweight commander page.

Accepts all standard, aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories.

I take accept to mean works but YMMV.

Ruger has a different interpretation.

They told me they only guarantee function with their magazines. Failure to function with other mags is not a defect in their book.

[Excaliber]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

Dang!

How do the failures manifest? Doesn't go completely into battery? Jam in barrel/feed angle? Does it do it at any round count (magazine fully loaded, last round, etc)?

I just hate that this thing isn't working for you.

It jams with the cartridge at a 45 degree angle with the rim not quite released from the magazine lips, the breech face against the base of the cartridge, and the projectile tip against the top of the chamber. In this position the cartridge rim doesn't quite make it to the point where it would move up into the extractor cut, so extractor tension isn't a factor (and I've tried just about every variation of extractor tension and extractor replacement too.) The angle is such that the slide can't be nudged into battery. It has to be cleared by removing the magazine and racking the slide to get the cartridge to drop free.

It doesn't do it consistently - just once in a while which makes troubleshooting really difficult.

I'm out of patience. It just isn't the gun for me.

[WildBill]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

You do know that Ruger sells 8 and 10 round magazines. Also I am not sure they have met their obligation as the below is in the lightweight commander page.

Accepts all standard, aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories.

I take accept to mean works but YMMV.

Ruger has a different interpretation.

They told me they only guarantee function with their magazines. Failure to function with other mags is not a defect in their book.

Even though I have empathy for your situation, I can't fault Ruger for their position.
They have no control over the parts made by other manufacturers.
Also, if they modified your gun to accommodate non-Ruger parts, then it may not meet their own specifications.
As you have already decided, the best course of action is to trade or sell.
I wish you good luck on your sale.

[Pawpaw]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

Dang!

How do the failures manifest? Doesn't go completely into battery? Jam in barrel/feed angle? Does it do it at any round count (magazine fully loaded, last round, etc)?

I just hate that this thing isn't working for you.

It jams with the cartridge at a 45 degree angle with the rim not quite released from the magazine lips, the breech face against the base of the cartridge, and the projectile tip against the top of the chamber. In this position the cartridge rim doesn't quite make it to the point where it would move up into the extractor cut, so extractor tension isn't a factor (and I've tried just about every variation of extractor tension and extractor replacement too.) The angle is such that the slide can't be nudged into battery. It has to be cleared by removing the magazine and racking the slide to get the cartridge to drop free.

It doesn't do it consistently - just once in a while which makes troubleshooting really difficult.

I'm out of patience. It just isn't the gun for me.

Every time I've had that type of jam, I've been able to cure it by increasing lubrication on the slide rails.

For this reason, I've switched to TW25B synthetic grease on my slide rails.

Before spending money on the grease, you can test this theory by oiling the dickens out of your slide rails. I mean sloppy oily. If that stops the jams, then the theory is confirmed. Now obviously you don't want to always over oil like that because the oil will slowly turn to jelly and do more harm than good. If over oiling makes a difference, it's time for the grease.

[Excaliber]

Here's the final resolution:

After a short breakin period, the new gun now reliably feeds FMJ and hollowpoints from Ruger 7 round magazines, but still isn't 100% with the 8 round Tripp Cobra and Wilson Combat mags I prefer to carry.

Ruger has met its obligations on this one because the gun works with their OEM equipment , but I have decided this gun just doesn't meet my needs.

It's going to be sold or traded.

If anyone here is interested, shoot me a PM.

Dang!

How do the failures manifest? Doesn't go completely into battery? Jam in barrel/feed angle? Does it do it at any round count (magazine fully loaded, last round, etc)?

I just hate that this thing isn't working for you.

It jams with the cartridge at a 45 degree angle with the rim not quite released from the magazine lips, the breech face against the base of the cartridge, and the projectile tip against the top of the chamber. In this position the cartridge rim doesn't quite make it to the point where it would move up into the extractor cut, so extractor tension isn't a factor (and I've tried just about every variation of extractor tension and extractor replacement too.) The angle is such that the slide can't be nudged into battery. It has to be cleared by removing the magazine and racking the slide to get the cartridge to drop free.

It doesn't do it consistently - just once in a while which makes troubleshooting really difficult.

I'm out of patience. It just isn't the gun for me.

Every time I've had that type of jam, I've been able to cure it by increasing lubrication on the slide rails.

For this reason, I've switched to TW25B synthetic grease on my slide rails.

Before spending money on the grease, you can test this theory by oiling the dickens out of your slide rails. I mean sloppy oily. If that stops the jams, then the theory is confirmed. Now obviously you don't want to always over oil like that because the oil will slowly turn to jelly and do more harm than good. If over oiling makes a difference, it's time for the grease.

I agree that's one of the first things to try.

I had lubed the rail contact points with Weaponshield grease and then heavily oiled all slide contact points with Weaponshield liquid as well. It was as wet as possible without having it run out of the gun. I also manually cyclded the slide a couple thousand times to smooth out the slide / frame contact points.

Still no joy.

[Pawpaw]

I agree that's one of the first things to try.

I had lubed the rail contact points with Weaponshield grease and then heavily oiled all slide contact points with Weaponshield liquid as well. It was as wet as possible without having it run out of the gun. I also manually cyclded the slide a couple thousand times to smooth out the slide / frame contact points.

Still no joy.

Then I'm at a loss. Still, it sounds like a slide speed issue.