Hey all - I recently acquired a hybrid Para-Ordnance/Delta Elite .40 1911, and I took it to the range for the first time today. It's accurate as all get out, but I had a large number of failures to fully chamber a round. I'm using jacketed flat-point bullets, in a load that's worked well for every other .40 I've ever had. What seems to be happening is the slide isn't returning to battery with sufficient force to strip and chamber the round fully. Why this is happening, I'm not entirely certain. The technical nitty-gritty: Para Ordnance frame, which is cut for a non-ramped barrel, but the feed ramp is nicely polished. Wilson barrel, with the throat and hood also nicely polished. I've used 2 different (brand new) Mec-gar magazines and one STI mag. It seems to happen more with the STI mag, for whatever reason. It's also got a full-length recoil spring guide, reverse-cut plug, a shock-buff, and a recoil spring of an as-yet-undetermined weight (anyone have a good way to test that?). I spent some time this evening gently polishing the feed ramp, throat and hood, but I am wondering if I'd be better off with a stiffer recoil spring, or losing the shock-buff, or trying different magazines, to get something that maybe seats a little higher, or trying a different load or bullet type (though I'd prefer to have a gun that feeds ANYTHING).
Anyone out there have any thoughts on the matter? I'm still pretty new to the 1911 scene, so feel more than free to point out whatever obvious thing I'm missing.
Anyone out there have any thoughts on the matter? I'm still pretty new to the 1911 scene, so feel more than free to point out whatever obvious thing I'm missing.