Rock Island Armory 1911 Commander

[Guest fireman_mm]

Hey,

I've had my 1911 for a while now, I'm probably 500-600 rounds into it and I've had some interesting, if odd, things happen with it.

One concern I have is that the stock magazine that came with it jams repeatedly when I use any hollow point, or specialist ammo. Pretty much fmj is the only thing it'll take. I use it as my concealed carry pistol, so I've had to swap out a few magazines until I found the one I like. Has anyone else had this issue with the standard magazine?

Also, I feel like the slide spring is very light, as in I can charge the gun with one thumb, especially when compared to my beretta 92fs. I haven't had any particular issues with it, I just want to ensure no future problems.

Thanks to anyone who can help me out, even just a little.

Matt

fireman_mm@yahoo.com

[Proscene]

I've seen quite a few "factory" mags for many different 1911's cause problems. Many times the Mags will "wear in" if you have the patience to keep using them. As for me I just buy several Wilson Combat or Ed Brown mags and generally the problems are solved. Even though I carry a Kimber Ultra Carry I think the Rock islands are a real good value for the $$$

[Guest bkelm18]

I've never found a 1911 recoil spring to be very stout. I've always been able to cycle the slide fairly easily.

[gregintenn]

FMJ ammo was what the 1911 was designed to shoot. I see no reason to change that.

[Guest bkelm18]

FMJ ammo was what the 1911 was designed to shoot. I see no reason to change that.

Except that modern JHP ammo is superior to ball ammo when it comes to matters of self defense.

[Dolomite_supafly]

FMJ ammo was what the 1911 was designed to shoot. I see no reason to change that.

Except for defensive purposes. FMJ is more likely to pass through an intended target than a defensive round.

I have had countless 1911's and with very little work all have fired everything I have ever fed them. As a matter of fact the majority would feed HP's without any work at all.

As far as recoil spring pressure goes as long as the extraction and ejection aren't having issues you should be fine. Too stiff of a spring can increase felt recoil as well.

Make sure to grease, not oil, the slide to frame fit. Grease the locking lugs and the barrel where it passes through the barrel bushing as well. 1911's work best greased. I use a molybendum disulfide grease available as a wheel bearing grease in Walmart. A large grease gun sized tube is less than $5 and will last a long time.

Dolomite

[gregintenn]

Except that modern JHP ammo is superior to ball ammo when it comes to matters of self defense.

It is more expensive, but how is it better? Especially if it won't reliably function in one's gun.

[Dolomite_supafly]

A HP, by design, is better than FMJ for defensive purposes.

If a gun will not function with a HP then either fix the gun or shoot FMJ's. If it is jsut a range toy then FMJ's or anything it will feed is fine. But if it is a dedicated defensive gun I would fix it before I would carry FMJ's especially in 45 ACP.

Dolomite

[gregintenn]

I do not believe that a hollow point is necessarially better than ball ammo. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree. I would be interested in seeing evidence to disprove my thinking, however.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I walked around for about 5 minutes after taking a hit from a 45 ACP FMJ. I didn't even know I had been hit for the first 3 or so minutes. Same hit with a decent HP and it would have been a different story.

A HP will expand to a size larger than the caliber and most FMJ's will not. This creates a larger permanent wound channel giving a greater chance of hitting something vital.

FMJ penetrates better than a HP but that is about it. And in the case of a 45 ACP it can be too much of a good thing when it comes to penetration. People tend to use FMJ's to reach vitals but in the case of 45 ACP there is a good chance it will reach vitals even with a HP. With a FMJ there is more of a chance it will exit the target and endanger other.

With a 25 ACP a FMJ is a must to get to vitals but not so with a 45 ACP.

Dolomite

[Dolomite_supafly]

FMJ is better than a pointy stick but far from as good as a decent HP.

Dolomite

[Guest Don't-Tread-On-Me]

I walked around for about 5 minutes after taking a hit from a 45 ACP FMJ. I didn't even know I had been hit for the first 3 or so minutes. Same hit with a decent HP and it would have been a different story.

A HP will expand to a size larger than the caliber and most FMJ's will not. This creates a larger permanent wound channel giving a greater chance of hitting something vital.

FMJ penetrates better than a HP but that is about it. And in the case of a 45 ACP it can be too much of a good thing when it comes to penetration. People tend to use FMJ's to reach vitals but in the case of 45 ACP there is a good chance it will reach vitals even with a HP. With a FMJ there is more of a chance it will exit the target and endanger other.

With a 25 ACP a FMJ is a must to get to vitals but not so with a 45 ACP.

Dolomite

HIT!??? Ummm how??? Damn, who shot you and how???

[jtmaze]

I would really like to hear this story. I have talked with you many times on here about different topics, please don't tell me you are the instructor who shot himself on video. Lol.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[Dolomite_supafly]

Happened 20+ years ago while in the military. I was working with another guy when his pistol belt hit fell to the ground with a holstered 1911 attached. As the holstered gun hit the ground it went off. Destroyed the holster, a candy machine and put a hole in the wall.

I was hit in the lower leg. It was a soft tissue hit that hit nothing vital. Had some dead nerves for a number of years. It actually didn't bleed that much either until the doctors worked on me.

Looked like a cigar burn and felt like a pulled muscle. I was back to work a few days later and back running a couple of weeks later.

Dolomite

[jtmaze]

Happened 20+ years ago while in the military. I was working with another guy when his pistol belt hit fell to the ground with a holstered 1911 attached. As the holstered gun hit the ground it went off. Destroyed the holster, a candy machine and put a hole in the wall.

I was hit in the lower leg. It was a soft tissue hit that hit nothing vital. Had some dead nerves for a number of years. It actually didn't bleed that much either until the doctors worked on me.

Looked like a cigar burn and felt like a pulled muscle. I was back to work a few days later and back running a couple of weeks later.

Dolomite

Accidents do happen. Well I am glad you are here. Thanks for all the great info and support. Going to get my 1911 after work today.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

have no fear I had that exact gun, and changed out the mag which solved the problem with feeding. Those cheap Philippine springs they put in the mags are just no good.

[TMF]

A new guy put a FMJ .45 right through his thigh back in 2009 when reholstering. It went right through and did very little tissue damage, and luckily didn't hit bone or an artery. He walked with a limp for a week or so and was made fun of a lot. I suspect a HP would have created a much more significant wound, caused permanent damage and wouldn't of been as funny. Isn't there a thread regarding all this at the top of this category? http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/handguns/51380-read-before-posting-nonsense-about-efficiency-handgun-calibers.html

See the cavitation of a .45 JHP? That is not the cavitation that occurred from a .45 FMJ at 3 inches. He wouldn't have been doing much walking after that.

[eapking]

Mags are the 1911's main variable in reliablity issues. I like CMC's myself.

[SonnyCrockett]

Happened 20+ years ago while in the military. I was working with another guy when his pistol belt hit fell to the ground with a holstered 1911 attached. As the holstered gun hit the ground it went off. Destroyed the holster, a candy machine and put a hole in the wall.

I was hit in the lower leg. It was a soft tissue hit that hit nothing vital. Had some dead nerves for a number of years. It actually didn't bleed that much either until the doctors worked on me.

Looked like a cigar burn and felt like a pulled muscle. I was back to work a few days later and back running a couple of weeks later.

Dolomite

Dolomiite is hard core...Didnt you used to wrestle alligators and invented the pile driver?

HoooRahhh:D

[Dolomite_supafly]

Dolomiite is hard core...Didnt you used to wrestle alligators and invented the pile driver?

HoooRahhh:D

Maybe at some point in my life but no more.

Now I am kind of soft and gooey, especially in the middle.

Dolomite

[jtmaze]

Maybe at some point in my life but no more.

Now I am kind of soft and gooey, especially in the middle.

Dolomite

Lol I here ya.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[A.J. Holst]

Don't be fooled, I have met the Suprafly, he doesn't appear to be too soft and gooey...

I got to get back out to his place and do some shooting!