bought a new colt gold cup trophy stainless --doing ok until 400-500 round started to get failure to feed about 5 per 50 round. Using factory ammo, wilson combat mag 8 round---send it to colt factory and they change the extractor and polished the feeding ramp-barrel. Today fired 50 round and got 1 failure to feed at the last round. Are these 1911 just no good and I should just give up? Love shooting it but sure is unreliable.

Don't know what to tell you with regard to that specific weapon, although I would love to own a Gold Cup. I have a new roll mark Government model that I bought used (no idea of the round count, but pretty low), and have put 672 rounds through it so far with no issues. I shoot Blazer Brass or my own reloads (Zero 230 fmj's with AA #8). I normally use the Chip McCormick Power Mags though, perhaps that might be part of the equation? Personally they perform flawless for me and I prefer them to the Wilsons (have 2). Good luck with it.

All my Colts are 100% .... are you using the same ammo? Might be yours likes or dislikes certain ammo. Also mags might be a point of issue. If they get out of spec you will have issues. Might try a Chip McCormik Power Mag or Colt factory mags. Some 1911 are just picky ... like women I guess I run CM Power Mags and WWB 230 gr all the time with no issues.

My Gold Cup Trophy has never FTF. I use only Colt and Wilson 47D magazines and American Made ammo. Your ammunition and magazine selection might be a factor.

ammo used blazer brass and WWB. Have used colt, chip, and wilson mag.

I had the same problems with every Colt I have owned, and also a Kimber and Springfield. I love shooting 1911s and wish I had better luck with them. I never had problems with any other semi-autos I have owned (SIG, Glock, HK, Beretta, Browning, CZ, Ruger), so I have a mistrust of the design. However, about once a year the 1911 bug bites and I end up buying another one. Maybe one day I'll get one that works.

Are both Blazer and WWB giving you trouble? Which spring are you using (the GCT comes with two)? How does it work with the factory 7 and 8 rounders it came with or is only the Wilson problematic?

I've got 600 rounds of WWB through mine using the factory 7 and 8 round magazines and two Kimber 8 rounders. I've been using the heavier recoil spring. The only problem I've had so far is when inserting one of the magazines, the slide releases automatically.

However, they are no good and you should probably give up. I'd be willing to take that POS of your hands.

No problems with my Colt XSE I bought new last year and 8 round Tripp Research Cobramags. Probably have 2 - 3,000 rounds through it. Is your gun well lubed?

I've had a Colt Combat Commander in 45ACP since 1988 and it is totally reliable. I also have a Combat Commander in 9mm that has been equally reliable, although I have not shot it as much as the 45.

It only took three trips back to Conn. to get my Special Combat to run. Hang in there, you're still paying your 1911 dues!

quote:

Originally posted by tquieng:
bought a new colt gold cup trophy stainless --doing ok until 400-500 round started to get failure to feed about 5 per 50 round. Using factory ammo, wilson combat mag 8 round---send it to colt factory and they change the extractor and polished the feeding ramp-barrel. Today fired 50 round and got 1 failure to feed at the last round. Are these 1911 just no good and I should just give up? Love shooting it but sure is unreliable.

Umm.....You bought a pure Target Pistol , NOT
a Defensive weapon.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/GoldCup.asp

Worst thing that can happen is somebody
punches a tighter group than you.

quote:

Originally posted by AKsRule:

quote:

Originally posted by tquieng:
bought a new colt gold cup trophy stainless --doing ok until 400-500 round started to get failure to feed about 5 per 50 round. Using factory ammo, wilson combat mag 8 round---send it to colt factory and they change the extractor and polished the feeding ramp-barrel. Today fired 50 round and got 1 failure to feed at the last round. Are these 1911 just no good and I should just give up? Love shooting it but sure is unreliable.

Umm.....You bought a pure Target Pistol , NOT
a Defensive weapon.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/GoldCup.asp

Worst thing that can happen is somebody
punches a tighter group than you.

Even then, it should run reliably.


To the OP, Have you personally checked the extractor tension? Also, what factory ammunition are you using?

I look at 1911s as base guns in need of reliability work. Many smiths have reliability packages that will make her suitible for carry.
zzz

quote:

Originally posted by f2:
I look at 1911s as base guns in need of reliability work. Many smiths have reliability packages that will make her suitible for carry.
zzz

I find this to be totally untrue considering I own 5 1911 variations. Try using a Colt mag, most 1911 issues revolve around the magazine. Also try a different brand of ammo and change the recoil spring so you know what you have in it

A NRM Colt Commander that was bought about a year ago went back to Colt for them to fix a similar feeding problem. It was doing this with Federal 230g ball and with Checkmate and/or Wilson Mags. Colt had the gun for 6 weeks and gun came back doing the same thing, but now with more FTF's !

Needless to say I have sent the gun off to a well-regarded smith to work out the bugs and do some additional refining to the gun.

My additude about Colt is that their Custom Shop guns are very nice, but their production guns have a meaningful percentage of some needing extra work on them.

Every one from every manufacturer is different. It should make a decent canvas for reliability work (unlike some others). Send it to a pro.

I have been shooting the 1911 platform for decades and have several different manufactures.
They all are very reliable. They are this way because I change the slide spring to a heavier one.
Wilson combat is the ones I use and this lets them eat everything.I buy the one piece kit and springs that runs about $42.oo from midway now.

I have a 1991a1 gov't model that has close to 20k though it and has never missed a beat with fmj or hollow points.
Every one of my mags has a trip kit with a hybrid follower and like 45 cal I use a slightly heavier recoil spring.

As SubSolar said, lubrication. The government model runs better wet. I have a 1.5 year old Colt S80 in stainless that runs and runs on dirty LRN reloads. Mine are always wet with grease and some oil.

Another thing to pay attention to is your grip. It sounds like you are running into issues towards the end of your range time? Are you possibly getting tired and relaxing your grip too much? That can possibly affect proper cycling.

The first two things to look at when a gun starts acting up is the shooter and the ammunition/magazines.