KJW 1911 dumping gas?

[Marlowe]

I have a KJ Works full metal M1911 GBB that is dumping gas. I have two mags, both of which behave the same way. I fill the mag with propane for the recommended 4 seconds and I get maybe 8-10 shots off before the gas runs out. If I fill for 5-6 seconds, I get 12-15 shots. Sucks for a 25-round mag. B^(

This is my first GBB, so I have nothing to compare with, but it seems to use a LOT of gas for each shot. Sometimes I can actually see a "shimmer" of gas, like heat haze, over the ejector port after a shot. The gun is stock, unmodified. The mag seems to seat properly.

After searching some of the GBB threads here, I immersed both filled mags in warm water and there didn't appear to be any leakage around the seals after a 5-second fill. I dried the mag, loaded it with BB's and fired off the usual number of shots.

One thing I did notice is that I seem to get more shots off if I fire quickly, about a second or less between rounds. The blowback action seems to work normally and has decent snap.

I'm reluctant to fill the mag for much more than 5-6 seconds because I don't want to blow any seals. Is there any way to adjust the volume of gas released per shot? Would replacing the recoil spring help? I know that some of you will say that I should have bought TM. I suppose I *could* buy a TM mag, but I would like to try to fix this if possible. Preferably without spending big bucks!

I await your sage advice. Or possibly thyme, if sage ain't your thing...

[The Saint]

You shouldn't be able to blow your seal by simply loading the mag longer. I've loaded my mags for 20+ seconds without issue. When it'll stop filling before the seal blows.

Is it cold where you are right now? Once you drop below ~18 degrees, most GBBs start dying left and right, especially those with high metal content.

Also, is your propane tank mostly full? The closer to empty it gets, the less gas goes into the mag. A propane tank will stop filling properly before actually reaching the point of being completely empty.

[Marlowe]

Originally Posted by The Saint

You shouldn't be able to blow your seal by simply loading the mag longer.

Thanks Saint! It's a comfort to know that a maximum fill won't blow the hell out of my mag seals.

Yeah, the outside temp here (Halifax) is down around 5-10C typically, but it was around 16C on Sunday when I was shooting outside. Shooting indoors shows the same lack of gas "endurance".

My propane tank "should" be full, I'm pretty sure that it was a new one. I've got another that I can test with too.

I'll give it a try filling the mag longer and see how that works out. If I can get a consistent 12-14 shots out of a fill, I'll be happy. The real-steel 1911 guys have to live with that, after all! ;^)

[Styrak]

Originally Posted by Marlowe

If I can get a consistent 12-14 shots out of a fill, I'll be happy. The real-steel 1911 guys have to live with that, after all! ;^)

Try 7.

[Marlowe]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Try 7.

Oops...
:banghead:
I stand corrected, I should have known that, fingers got ahead of brain.
But I'll still be happy if I can get off 12 rounds per fill. B^)