Brand New Combat Elite light primer strike?

ric cabrieto · Jun 5, 2020

Hello ! Been lurking and salivating over the nice 1911 on this forum. Bought a brand new Colt Combat Elite in 2018 from GrabAGun and brought it to the range last year when I was on leave back stateside. Low and behold, fed it with regular 230 reloads and no luck to ignite a primer to send a projectile down range. Ordered extended firing spring from Wilson. Installed it. Still no bang. Left the pistol with son, since I can not ship it back to Colt due to time constraints to return back to Saudi. He ordered another super extended firing pin from Fusion, but one out of six dry fires on a snap cap will hit the primer on the snap cap. He is at his wits end, I am not sure if the problem is beyond the firing pin length or something to do with the hammer. I won't be able to trouble shoot the problem until Oct. when I return back on leave. Never had a Colt straight out of the box to be a lemon. I'm all open to suggestions and recommendations. Thanks in advance.

joepistol · Jun 10, 2020

1st..did it function well with factory ammo ?
Could be primers ?
Did you contact Colt re: this issue ?
I'd think (hope) they'd fix it under warranty ..

I believe you'd have already checked the frame where the firing pin passes thru, for obstacles or gunk,
then, cleaned & lightly oiled the tube the firing pin passes thru (?)

ric cabrieto · Jun 10, 2020

Thanks, 1st. we disassembled it and ran a couple of long wooden q-tips to swab any gunk or dried lubricant residue. Ran a fine neddle file to further clean the passage way for the firing pin. Reassembled and range tested but will not ignite primers on reloads or factory ammo. 2nd. replaced original firing pin with wilson extended length. Still no ignition. Sending it back to Colt was not an option since my leave was getting close and needed to return back to Saudi.

joepistol · Jun 10, 2020

rather than an extended length firing pin, how about an extra strength firing pin spring ?
I have seen them advertised among 1911 parts..

another thought..is this an 80 series 1911, with the firing pin safety plunger ?
if so, That may be sticking or blocking the firing pin from operating properly.

STI · Jun 10, 2020

Are the primers seated correctly to bottom of pocket? Slightly below flush?
My 1st thoughts are high primers, try factory ammo in it. You just described the perfect high primer scenario.

ric cabrieto · Jun 12, 2020

Thanks for the replies. We tested factory load ammos and my reloads. After the extended firing pin was installed and still no ignition. Checked the protrusion of the firing pin (from the firing pin block) and contact with the hammer face. Good contact. Next recourse is to change the firing pin spring. First encounter with a straight out of the box Colt Combat Elite that will not fire. Never had problems with any of my colts ranging from Officers, Gold Cup, Government, Commander except with this new addition. Can't do much from here since I am overseas. Hopefully, when I return statesides when flights are available to exit from over here. I'll try and help my son dig deeper into the non-firing Colt combat Elite.

marinedoc · Aug 11, 2020

ric cabrieto said:
Thanks for the replies. We tested factory load ammos and my reloads. After the extended firing pin was installed and still no ignition. Checked the protrusion of the firing pin (from the firing pin block) and contact with the hammer face. Good contact. Next recourse is to change the firing pin spring. First encounter with a straight out of the box Colt Combat Elite that will not fire. Never had problems with any of my colts ranging from Officers, Gold Cup, Government, Commander except with this new addition. Can't do much from here since I am overseas. Hopefully, when I return statesides when flights are available to exit from over here. I'll try and help my son dig deeper into the non-firing Colt combat Elite.

Had a similar problem with a new Zev Tech pistol I bought, plus it failed to go completely into battery almost every time I fired it. Light primer strikes about 1 in 3 times. Tried several different kinds of ammo; same problem. Sent it back to ZEV and was told 30-60 days turnaround, so still waiting.

Old Bill · Aug 21, 2020

Unless you are messing with it just for fun (which I enjoy as well) ....why keep fooling with the pistol? Have your boy ship it back to the factory.. tell them it will not consistently fire describing your experience.. If they do not fix it. Take it to a reputable smith and let him solve the problem. Either way get it fixed before you get back...You have 500 rounds to shoot thru it before you can carry it for defence when you get back..

Whit · Aug 21, 2020

Welcome from northern Indiana enjoy the conversation hope you get your Colt working.

fflincher · Sep 2, 2020

Issue: failure to detonate primer.
1. Cartridge not fully seated in chamber.
2. Primer not fully seated in cartridge case.
3. Slide not fully in battery.
4. Firing pin too short.
5. Firing pin has too little energy.

pistolgrips · Sep 2, 2020

joepistol said:
rather than an extended length firing pin, how about an extra strength firing pin spring ?
I have seen them advertised among 1911 parts..

another thought..is this an 80 series 1911, with the firing pin safety plunger ?
if so, That may be sticking or blocking the firing pin from operating properly.

They are 80 Series....