Malfunctions, Stoppages and Remedial Actions for the M1911-A1
STOPPAGE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION
Failure to Feed:
Dirty or dented magazine.
Weak or broken magazine spring.
Worn or broken magazine catch.
Magazine spring assembled backward.
Bent magazine follower. Clean or replace magazine.
Replace magazine.
Replace part.
Assemble properly.
Replace magazine or straighten follower.
Failure to Chamber:
Dirty chamber.
Dented cartridge case.
Weak recoil spring.
Obstruction in chamber.
Lack of Lubrication.
Extractor applying too much pressure on the right side of a metal cartridge case* Clean chamber.
Remove dented cartridge.
Replace recoil spring.
Clean chamber.
Lubricate properly.
Change to brass ammunition.
Failure to Lock:
Lack of lubrication of
operating parts.
Burred or dirty barrel locking ribs or locking recesses.
Weak recoil spring.
Broken barrel link.
Extractor applying to much pressure on the right side of the cartridge.* Lubricate appropriateparts.
Clean parts and remove burrs.
Replace recoil spring.
Replace barrel link.
Change to brass ammunition.
*The rim of the extractor groove in steel cases is thicker than on brass cases. The extractor was designed for use with brass cases and may not always fully seat in the extractor groove when firing steel cased ammunition. This creates friction during the forward movement of the slide, particularly with tightly fitted weapons.
Failure to Fire:
Faulty ammunition.
Broken firing pin.
Bent or broken hammer strut.
Weak mainspring. Change ammunition.
Replace firing pin.
Replace hammer strut.
Replace mainspring.
Failure to Unlock:
Broken barrel link.
Broken barrel link pin.
Broken barrel lugs. Replace barrel link.
Replace barrel link pin.
Replace barrel.
Failure to Extract :
Broken or worn extractor.
Dirty or pitted chamber. Replace extractor.
Clean chamber or replace barrel.
Failure to Eject:
Faulty extractor (does not position the cartridge case for ejection).
Broken Ejector. Replace extractor.
Replace ejector.
Failure to Cock:
Worn full cock notch on hammer.
Worn sear.
Defective sear spring.
Worn or broken disconnector, Replace hammer.
Replace sear.
Replace sear spring.
Replace disconnector.