[12131]

I have this Colt Combat Commander that has been customized by Bob Cogan of Accurate Plating and Weaponry, that I got from a trade last year. This is the partial list of work done on the gun:

Caspian beavertail
Lower and flare ejection port
Greider trigger, 4 lbs trigger job
Convert to series 70 Colt model
Throat barrel and polish feed ramp
Replace extractor with series 70 extractor and tune
Replace springs with Wilson Combat springs
Install EGW hammer strut and firing pin
Tighten lock up of barrel and tighten slide to frame fit
Smooth all sharp edges
Hard chrome refinishing job
-----------------------------------------------------

It's a beautiful gun, feels great, has fantastic trigger and "laser" accuracy.
Here's the problem. I have taken it shooting 3 times (100, 54, and 50 rounds), using only factory ammo (Blazer brass 230Gr FMJ, PMC Bronze 230Gr FMJ, Hornady +P 200Gr TAP FPD, Federal +P 185Gr Hydrashok, Hornady +P 230Gr XTP, S&B 230Gr FMJ), with new or nearly new Wilson 7- and 8-round mags, and Colt 7- and 8-round mags.
9 times out of 10, the last round will not go completely into chamber. It will only go 50 - 75% in. I had to retract the slide slightly and gave it a wack to fully sit the round.
The gun is cleaned spotless and well lubed for each range trip.

First owner said he had 150 rounds of various ammo through it without an issue.

I've shot the above ammo using these mags through my full-size stock Colt XSE, and never had a single hiccup. So, I don't think it's the mags or ammo that are the problem.

Give me some ideas, before I say screw it and sell it for a loss. Thanks, guys.

Update in post #43.

[glock2740]

Pics?

[faawrenchbndr]

You don't have a gun problem, you have a magazine problem.
Some guns do not like some magazines. Commanders can be
a bit more mag sensitive than Government models.

[12131]

Pics.
Don't have the actual pic of the jam itself, but I'm trying to simulate it here using the snap cap.

[Baba Louie]

Have you contacted Cogan and asked him or discussed situation? He may (or may not) have a solution. I agree the magazine(s) is/are the culprit. Might be spring, might be follower, maybe lips (probably not)...(?)

I'd ask the builder first. He might even have a buyer standing around waiting... (don't know Bob Cogan from Adam or even if he's still alive/active)

Really nice looking weapon. Really nice. Hope you get the situation resolved.

[Travclem]

Try different magazines.

[faawrenchbndr]

Could be recoil spring, but that failure is normally magazine related.
How many rounds fired since it came back from Cogan?

[12131]

150 by the first owner, 204 by me. The Cogan work was done by the 1st owner.

[glock2740]

Nice gun. Is the finish a polished hardchrome? Hardchrome is tough to photograph. Sounds like a mag issue to me as well.

[faawrenchbndr]

Originally Posted by 12131

150 by the first owner, 204 by me. The Cogan work was done by the 1st owner.

Try a Tripp or a McCormick mag. Call Cogan before you dump it.
Darn good pistol, he will make it right if it is not a mag.

[Three-Five-Seven]

Yup, a Tripp magazine ought to fix that right up. The Tripp follower holds the last round higher than "traditional" magazines and provides a positive feed for the last round.

[fnfalman]

See if you can borrow different mags from people you know or from the gun shop where you bought it from.

[Batesmotel]

Take two mags that have given you problems. Load one full and the other with just one round.

Look at them from the side. You might notice a difference in the angle that the top round sits in relation to the mag body.

That is your problem. The gun feeds OK with all but the last round because of the angle of the follower compared to the angle of the lips.

[MD357]

Since it happens with mutiple mags I'm leaning towards extractor tension. Maybe it's just a bit too tight? The mag spring tension is at it's weakest with the last round so maybe it won't overcome being just a bit too tight? Just a thought. Rather at the very least the tension should at least be checked to eliminate a variable. Then try some wolf springs power springs after that?

No matter what it sounds like an easy fix, so I wouldn't dump it.

[R0CKETMAN]

Mag issue which can be exacerbated by wet gun/interior of mag. Just for a test you can disassemble mag and clean. You can also slightly press in on feed lips.

Sounds like the last round is leaving mag prematurely.

Edit: badass pistol

[knedrgr]

1) extractor just a little too tight.

2) loose firing pin stop and extractor fitment, causing it to clock in the slide.

3) slightly too right of a chamber, and it needs to be ream for correct measurement. The barrel heated up and expanded, during the mag dump, and the last round is a little too tight to fit.

[fnfalman]

Originally Posted by knedrgr

1) extractor just a little too tight.

2) loose firing pin stop and extractor fitment, causing it to clock in the slide.

3) slightly too right of a chamber, and it needs to be ream for correct measurement. The barrel heated up and expanded, during the mag dump, and the last round is a little too tight to fit.

If one of these issues were to be the case then it's most disappointing to see on a custom pistol.

[R0CKETMAN]

Originally Posted by knedrgr

1) extractor just a little too tight.

2) loose firing pin stop and extractor fitment, causing it to clock in the slide.

3) slightly too right of a chamber, and it needs to be ream for correct measurement. The barrel heated up and expanded, during the mag dump, and the last round is a little too tight to fit.

If any of these were the issue it would not be last round only

[Glockdude1]

Originally Posted by Travclem

Try different magazines.

[Mayhem like Me]

Originally Posted by Glockdude1

And shoot about 400 more rounds its not broken in yet...is it tight..

My first Baer did that for about 500 rounds ethnic it was 100 percent.

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[oldsoldier]

Contact him and explain the problem. http://apwcogan.com/

[RetailNinja]

I'd blame it on that arched MSH. Dump that thing and install a flat one.

Then sell me the gun.

[pck50]

OK you have two choices either change the barrel or otherwise dump it.

[Troubled Gecko]

Weak mag springs is my vote. When was the last time you replaced mag springs?

Usually the last rnd not feeding is a red flag for mag springs due to not having enough tension behined the last remaining rnds. Failure to lock the slide open after last rnd fired could also be an issue for a weak mag spring.

Springs are cheap and they won't go to waste, I'd rather buy em than lose a nice gun over a simple/inexspensive fix. WWW.gunsprings.com Wolff makes great springs, buy the +5% power and your issues will be bye bye.

Good luck.

[12131]

Thanks for all your ideas. I will systematically try them one at a time, starting with the easiest and most obvious (mags). Will give an update down the road.