by westhope on Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:43 pm
OK Cobb, I'll explain.
I shoot 200 gr SWC bullets for IPSIC & IDPA. My main gun is a Wilson 4" Professional 1911. I also shoot a Kimber 4 ", Officer's length grip also. Occasionally I will shoot a Wilson full size 5" or a Springfield Micro 3 ".
I usually use Cast & Blast (Leo Dwyer's) lead bullets because they are cheapest and have worked for me for 10 years or so. Probably 5,000 to 10,000 yearly. On the calm or humid days when the smoke from the lead bullet lube is thick, I will use the 200 gr SWC Berry plated or Hornady 200 gr TMJ jacket bullet. These have worked for me in all my guns for a long time too.
A month or so ago at a match Cobb attended I had several Failures to Extract when I was using the 200 gr Berry bullets with my Wilson 4" due to the smoke from the lead bullets that day. The fired case was partially extracted. On several of the jams, I noticed the rim of the fired case was against the flat shoulder of the next round in the magazine. At the range, I pulled the extractor and checked if it was broken or there was dirt in the exrtactor hole. They were both OK. The jams happened again on the next stage.
Looking at Berry bullet, it appeared the wadcutter shoulder was further out than the shoulder on the Hornady or lead bullets. When at got home, I tried Berry's in several of my 1911's. Ocassionally one would jam in those. The Overall Length of all the 200 gr SWC's were 1.250. I shortened the Berry's to 1.230, and these worked in all my guns except the 4" Wilson. Same type if FTE in it.
I then tried some of the lead SWC in the 4" Wilson and had a couple similar FTE with those.
I then replaced the extractor and recoil spring on the Wilson 4" and have put 100 plus Berry and lead rounds through it without any jams. I did not see much wrong with the shape of the extractor, but I had another one and fitted it.
It seems to work now. I can never remember this Wilson 4" malfunction for me before this. I've had the gun for several years. I do change recoil springs every 5,000 rounds or so in all my 1911's.
Because I care, I carry.