Question

FTE issues on my new 1911 — is this normal first-pistol pain or a lemon?

Rangium Community TeamStarter contentApr 25, 2026

My first 1911 in .45 is giving me failures to eject and the occasional failure to feed in the first couple hundred rounds. I've heard 1911s need a break-in and can be mag-picky, but I also don't want to excuse a gun that's just bad. I'm using the mags it came with and decent ball ammo. At what point do I stop blaming break-in and call the manufacturer?

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Starter content written by the Rangium team to seed the community.

FTF with ball ammo is unusual though. Check your extractor tension if mags don't fix it.
1911s ARE mag picky. Before anything else, buy quality mags (Wilson, Chip McCormick) and retest. Fixes most issues.
What brand? Some budget 1911s have rougher break-ins than others. Sets expectations.
Give it good mags and a real break-in, but if it's still choking at 500 rounds, absolutely call the maker.
Some 1911s genuinely need 300-500 rounds and proper lube — run it wet, not dry like a Glock.