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FastCarry wrote:Wish i had good news to report, but after 50 rounds mixed of hornady hollow, freedom munitions hollow, and Perfecta FMJ, I had about 8 failure to feed/battery. Happened with both of the 7 rounders and the 8 round mec gar.

Didnt happen with the 1st round, but the 2nd to last and last rounds. Seems the cartridge gets hung on the top of the barrel throat. I didnt have time to run more ammo through it but ill give it another clean and a go this weekend.

That's exactly the issue I had. I tried swapping the recoil spring out for a 20 lb. model to give the cartridge a bit more shove, and polished both the feed ramp and barrel throat to a slick mirror finish. That helped but didn't fix the problem.

If the same thing happens with my replacement gun, it's going back with a request for a refund. I already have a boat anchor.

I'll go to a Springfield or an STI.

I should have ordered a springfield RO Champ. Ill run more through then contact Ruger promptly if it still occurs. Good luck with yours.

FastCarry wrote:I should have ordered a springfield RO Champ. Ill run more through then contact Ruger promptly if it still occurs. Good luck with yours.

How many rounds have you put through it?

Just 50, only had time for one box at lunch. ill run a hundre or so this weekend.

Feeding issue aside, the gun shoots and feels fantastic, i punched the 10 ring out with 20 rounds, no flyers.

I admit I haven't read the entire thread, so at the risk of offering duplicate advice...

I've had 1911's give me hassles with the last 2-3 rounds in a magazine. I've always been able to solve those last-round feed issues with Wilson magazines.

I also "test" 1911's specifically and only with 230 gr Ball ammo. Once I've confirmed functionality with ball, I move to hollow-points -- sometimes the glitch is the flatter-front end of the defense rounds.

But your most recent experience would lead me to try a Wilson magazine if you haven't already.

I hope this works out in the end.

cbunt1 wrote:I admit I haven't read the entire thread, so at the risk of offering duplicate advice...

I've had 1911's give me hassles with the last 2-3 rounds in a magazine. I've always been able to solve those last-round feed issues with Wilson magazines.

I also "test" 1911's specifically and only with 230 gr Ball ammo. Once I've confirmed functionality with ball, I move to hollow-points -- sometimes the glitch is the flatter-front end of the defense rounds.

But your most recent experience would lead me to try a Wilson magazine if you haven't already.

I hope this works out in the end.

I used Wilson Combat mags and ball ammo in my initial tests and got repeated FTF's. Same with Chip McCormick Powermags.

I just got back from the 2nd trip to the range. Ran 100 Freedom munitions FMJ 230gr this time, i had 3 fail to feed/battery right off the bat. Same way and same damage to the cartridge, it almost seems like the bullet is popping up and to the right, possible extractor issue?

I then noticed the issue only happened with my factory ruger mags, i used the MecGar 8 round SS only for the last 80 rounds or so and didnt have a single issue.

I will email ruger about the mags but will probably order more MecGar 8 rnd SS mags.

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I was seriously thinking about getting a 1911 but you guys are frightening me away. You have to care and feed them like pampered children. I have a Glock 21 so I feel I have met my 45 requirements and a gun that never fails. Aside from the mystique of a 1911 and what seems like at least 100 variants out there what am I missing?

This was my first one. Overall im very happy with it. If the MecGar mags feed consitently, ill stick with it. Im actually about to order another 1911, ive been bit.

As a younger feller, my first guns were polymer semi autos, you get used to shooting them and think all guns feel and behave the same. A 1911 is a bit different. The trigger design for one, the trigger doesnt arc/pivot when you pull it, it pulls straight back. Clean, crisp, short reset. I waited a long while to get one, im happy i did. Dont let this thread be a deterrent, there are MANY manufactures, models, trims, parts, custom parts, sizes etc... the hardest part is deciding on just one.

I still have my XD service 9mm and a Taurus G2, so polymer is still in the family, but the 1911 is just different.

FastCarry wrote:This was my first one. Overall im very happy with it. If the MecGar mags feed consitently, ill stick with it. Im actually about to order another 1911, ive been bit.

As a younger feller, my first guns were polymer semi autos, you get used to shooting them and think all guns feel and behave the same. A 1911 is a bit different. The trigger design for one, the trigger doesnt arc/pivot when you pull it, it pulls straight back. Clean, crisp, short reset. I waited a long while to get one, im happy i did. Dont let this thread be a deterrent, there are MANY manufactures, models, trims, parts, custom parts, sizes etc... the hardest part is deciding on just one.

I still have my XD service 9mm and a Taurus G2, so polymer is still in the family, but the 1911 is just different.

I had a similar experience. Started with a Glock 19, then added more polymer guns, and then got into 1911 style weapons (both true 1911's and guns like the Sig P226). I currently am transitioning into 1911's but I still have 4 Glocks and 3 other polymer guns at the moment.

Glocks are great for what they are. They are reliable, relatively inexpensive, and pretty accurate. After shooting a quality 1911, the Glock trigger feels "clunky" for lack of a better word, and my G21 is not nearly as accurate as my full size 1911.

It comes down to personal preference, just like most things in life. Both platforms have their pros and cons. Alot depends on how much weight you personally place on each factor.

AndyC wrote:

rotor wrote:I was seriously thinking about getting a 1911 but you guys are frightening me away. You have to care and feed them like pampered children.

You're reading about the few with issues, that's all.

Bear in mind a 1911 is like a PC and is built by anyone - and can be machined/ assembled poorly.

precisely. my range officer is built like a tank i couldnt even tell you the last time i broke it down to clean and it runs like a champ.
just like any other firearm youve got some that might be duds and some that might be the most reliable sidearm ever made.

AndyC wrote:Most common issues I see again & again (for decades now) are a too-loose or too-tight extractor and crappy magazines with bad lips or weak springs.

^^^^^^^^^^^ Agreed. More often than not...this is where you will find your problem .

To those with new pistols, for what its worth: 'Going to the range' is the LAST thing I do.

Any new firearm of mine is first thoroughly inspected, cleaned, lubed, cycled by hand and function tested (except firing) before it ever gets the first round put through it.

I pretty much 'expect' that magazines will need to deburred/polished/tuned. Extractor tension is easily checked on most pistols.

In the OP's case (Excaliber), he tried everything that was reasonable for the gun owner to try...without voiding the warranty (you guys did a good job). He has a good understanding of how his firearm is supposed to work and the functions of the related parts. He just happened to get one with several problems.

rotor wrote:I was seriously thinking about getting a 1911 but you guys are frightening me away. You have to care and feed them like pampered children. I have a Glock 21 so I feel I have met my 45 requirements and a gun that never fails. Aside from the mystique of a 1911 and what seems like at least 100 variants out there what am I missing?

Definitely don't let this thread scare you away. The U.S. Military carried this weapon for many many years, and many many of them are reliable. Typically you are going to spend more for more reliability. A 1911 is going to be an acquired taste for a guy like yourself; don't waste your money on well whiskey and expect it to taste and act like jameson. I had a citadel compact that was decent that I got fairly cheap. I never fed it a single hollowpoint but it would surely eat up some brass ball ammo. I recently acquired through a trade a Ruger CMD (as mentioned earlier). It is the same gun as the one mentioned here except it is not the "light weight" version and it runs like a champ. Another thing to keep in mind is the usual negative trend on forums. Most people will report their problems long before praising the item being presented, be it a gun, a car, or a nintendo. Have no fear with the 1911 and do yourself a favor and buy a quality gun!