In 1995, I purchased a custom shop anniversary edition colt 1911. It has the standard factory throating from 1995. I recently sent emails to the custom shop (the customer service guy said they would answer me), asking if adding the new dimple to the barrel throat would improve reliability. But, I never received an answer. Does anyone have experience and reliable information on adding the dimple to the geometry of Colt standard factory throats from the 1990's?
Colt's redesigned barrel ramp... throat... seems to go to extremes. When they work, they work very well. When they don't... they don't. The cure is to recut the ramp to the standard configuration. I've seen it go both ways, and have cut a few in order to make'em run.
The problem with retrofitting one to an older gun is that all Colt's barrel hoods are being cut to the "Enhanced" dimensions, which is essentially the same as the Gold Cup... which means that the hoods are much narrower than the slide recesses in pre-enhanced pistols.
When I observe ball ammo feeding, it seems to move exactly as designed for, smooth, and I have had no failures shooting ball. When I observe hollow points feeding, they tend to catch their 6 o'clock lips on the 6'oclock position of the barrel throat. I admit I have not shoot enough hollow points to gain confidence they will feed EVERY time. Therefore I no longer carry or keep the gun in a self defense posture, but I would like to! It is my favorite shooting gun!
When I learned about the dimpled throating, it made sense. It seems it would guide the hollow points right where they need to go and eliminate the lip catching tendency. I am sure Colt will be happy to take my money and work on the gun. I asked colt customer service if I may speak to a smith in their custom shop. He claimed they would reply to my mailed in question, but neither he nor they did, after writing twice. So, if that is indicative of their customer service, I don't have confidence to just send them the gun, trusting they will make it more reliable.
So, tuner, can you or others advise me. Why do the dimpled throats not work sometimes? I don't yet understand how the "enhanced" geometry the throat already has makes it more problematic? How does one get the barrel back to right, if the aftermarket dimple cut doesn't work?
I also thought of just buying a replacement barrel from colt, assuming it would have they newer dimpled throat configuration. But, I wonder if the gun would need a smith's work to fit the new barrel rightly anyway.
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Why do the dimpled throats not work sometimes?
Small variations in the feed and barrel ramp geometry... and how they work together. Another barrel might work fine in your gun, and your barrel may work fine in another gun... even one that doesn't work with the original barrel.
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How does one get the barrel back to right, if the aftermarket dimple cut
doesn't work?
Recut it to the old "wadcutter" configuration... like pretty much every manufacturer has done since the early 80s.
So, I guess it is back to the trial and error method, shooting enough hollow points to test its reliability with them. How many is enough? I don't consider an occasional failure in a self defense gun acceptable.
If the 1911 is so sensitive, should we resign ourselves to use it for recreation? That is what I have done for 15 years already. These fickle feeding problems are the reason I have not been confident in carrying or keeping it at ready as the first choice house gun. I suppose I should get a more modern 45acp auto or 45acp revolver for that (I like the 45 acp).
I take it you don't think sending it to colt for an evaluation and reliability "insurance" work over is worth the cost.
I know this question it is probably better placed in another thread, but, assuming I can get past the throat reliability concern, of the hybrid lip 7 round magazines, are people having better results from Metal Form or Checkmate? Or is checkmate the only true hybrid and GI full tapered option?
Use ammo with a good bullet design. Many reports of the Golden Saber being the best for feeding. In my own experience, the old design Hydra-Shok gave more trouble overall than even the Speer 200-grain "Flying Ashtray" that used to be all the rage.
I don't find the 1911 sensitive at all. I've got several original/correct USGI pistols that feed and function just fine with hollowpoints and even 200 grain LSWC... and they do it from the original "hardball" magazines. The problem with modern 1911-pattern pistols... clones and variants... is mainly in the execution rather than in the design.
If the gun is built correctly, it'll run. It's a machine. It doesn't have a choice.
For a perspective - the .45ACP cartridge was developed about 1904. It was 1/2 of a package. The other part was the gun to run it. This was to become the m1911. It is not, nor ever has been, a design failure for some 1911s not running well using bullets with different shapes than the original "Ball" round. It can be done, but it is extending the definition of the gun.
The 1911/1911A1 are not hypersensitive to anything. In its standard 5", C.S. form, properly made and maintained, it is one of the strongest, most stable and effective handguns ever made.
I, myself, have been criticized for being a part of a "lets make it do more" crowd on the boards. And not without reason. This board is all about 1911s. Not remote Claymores, submachine guns etc.