[archy]

Got a .45 question...a buddy of mine just picked up a brand-new Springfield Mil-Spec fullsize M1911A1. In his first practice session, he experienced failures to feed on the first round in all his mags. These included one McCormick PowerMag and the two issue Springfield mags. Ammo was both hardball 230-grain FMJ and lead roundnose. I told him that he might just need to "break in" the gun a little more and use the FMJ only for a while, and to call Springfield and McCormick about the mags if the problem continued.

Sounded to me like a mag problem, but I've used PowerMags myself now for years, without any troubles at all in my "loaded" Springfield.

Mine itself took about 300 rounds to "break in", plus a vow to NEVER use "Win Clean" ammo again.

First thing I think I'd try: downloading the magazines by one shot initially. There are a couple of custom fgolloweers that might help, too, but it does sound like a *new gun* problem.

In breaking in a new gun, I tend to do a lot of initial shooting with magazines loaded with 3 rounds anyway, getting more practice in fast magazine changes. The last time I was given a new .45 to wring out and see what I thought of it, I recall putting about 8 boxes through before it settled down into the usually exhibited M1911A1 reliability.

BTW the factory recoil spring weight in a GI M1911A1 is 16#. An 18-pounder sound fine and just a bit of a fudge over the line. But maybe initially, until the rest of the gun's worn in, it might be worth a try with a specified 16# spring.

[Long Cut]

He said "first round" in our conversation, which I took to mean the one AFTER the first is hand-chambered in cocking the weapon.

He said the problem went away if the mags were only loaded with six shots each. I've no idea if the Mil-Spec Springfield uses a 16 or 18 pound recoil spring...I do know that my "Loaded" one uses 18#.

It sounded like he chambers the first shot from the mag himself, fires it, and number 2 hangs up. Again, downloading the mags cures the problem for him.

He's just wondering if he wasted money on the McCormick mag, or if this is normal "new gun" teething.