1911 hardball gun issues

I bought a 1911 hardball gun off this forum last spring. It was advertised as being in for service right before the guy had to retire due to illness. I have no reason to believe this not to be the true story, but here is my problem.

Being a new BE shooter, I tend to think issues are more me...than equipment..but, Im leaning towards an equipment issue this time. I have not been able to get this pistol to group worth a flip. I have tried a few different 185 JHP grain loads with Bullseye and they are all no bueno. When I say no bueno...I mean at 25 yards off bags...it barely will hold the rings. Yesterday, I had a good friend of mine (great PPC shooter) shoot this pistol two handed at 25 yards and the thing was all over the place again. In the engineering world we call that a problem that follows the equipment, not the process.

My questions are many, but I will limit them to a few.

1. If this pistol was built for 230 grain loads would running 185 JHP cause this kind of scattergun performance? the gun cycles flawlessly as far as ejection and loading.

2. I tore the gun down and did a thorough cleaning. Is there anything that I should be looking for that would be an obvious sign that would influence accuracy?

I paid a price for this pistol that would be representative of a pistol that was ready for competition...I really am hoping that I dont have to put a ton more money into it to get it ready to go.

Did you slug the barrel to determine actual bore diameter? Assuming you don't have obvious play in the barrel during lock up, that's the first thing I'd look at...

Dave

Also, what's your load?

I did not slug it.

4.5 BE with a 185 zero

I'd slug it. It's pretty easy. I just use lead fishing weights (can't remember the size), then just pound it through. Then measure the size at the grooves.

Either a bad barrel, bad lockup or loose sights.  I’d look at two places, the muzzle, does it move and the back end.  Are they tight.  You know how to check for loose sights being a rifle shooter.  

4.5 is warm but should still shoot OK.  Even if heavily worn, the gun should still hold the black at 25.

Damaged crown?

You said it was is for service shortly before you bought it, I assume this was at the gunsmith who built it in the first place.  If you can find out where this was, I would be talking to them.
Phil

I would try shooting it with a reduced load of 4.0 gr BE and the 185JHP. If a pistol wasn’t built correctly for the hotter loads sometimes they won’t shoot that warm of a load well. If it doesn’t shoot well with the soft load then you got problems.
Jon

Also what weight of recoil spring are you using? If you are sprung to light with that load it will splatter Them all over the place.
Jon

Hello Baydawg,

Have you even shot any hardball in it?  Do you know what the previous owner used in it?  What were his results?

Jim

I believe this gun was built in the 230 gr days.

Baydawg wrote:I believe this gun was built in the 230 gr days.

Get a hold of some quality hardball (ASYM match or practical match) and see how it does with what it was built for.

If it doesn't shoot that then, like Jon says, "you got problems".

Jim

Sent yu a PM.

I called the smith . Bill Judycki in New York “tightened “ the pistol up. It was originally built by Jackie Best..as far as I can tell. However the. Slide is stamped Kart.

Both great smiths. Jackie’s been dead for a while. Probably built in the 1980’s.
Jon

I just got done testing this pistol again. I broke out some old 230 gr. National match ammo. Shooting at 50 feet it would not hold paper. I got my m52-2 our to verify and promptly ate the ass out of the black.

Something is awry in this pistol. It’s going for s ride tomorrow.

seen doubles first time for a triple post!

(that's where the admin's powers rest!)   

deleting duplicate posts, a thankless job, lol

Guess baydawg wanted to make a point..lol

Hope you get it worked out!  That sucks

Baydawg wrote:"I .... ate the ass out of the black."

Video at ten.

I'm sure it will all work out.  Keep us posted.

Jim

I’m still a crusty service rifle guy...I’m trying to get refined...lol

UPDATE:

 I sent the pistol down to Deep River and had it inspected. Turns out the pistol has a few issues specifically related to the barrel (crown damaged, "Barrel Bump", and chamber too deep), slide stop pin needs replaced, and the feed ramp is of need of repair.

 On one hand....Im glad to know it was not 100% me. On the other hand, I am indeed disappointed in the fact that I will have to put a significant amount of money into the pistol to make it competitive.