75 Shadow Stovepipe troubles

[1SOW]

I started having a few stovepipe jams in my 9mm Shadow.
A.  I mostly shoot 124gr JHP reloads and have for years.  Precision Deltas and Montana Golds today.
B.  My reloads are 132-ish power factor and with long-established loads.

1.  I thought I had isolated it to one mag a Mec-Gar,  then another did it-a CZ mag..
2  I ordered and replaced 6 mag springs.
3.  I thoroughly cleaned the extractor channel
3  At a practice session I had no more stovepipes
4. Went to a match today and shazam,  another stovepipe two stages in with yet another mag (extended) that has never failed with 21 rds loaded.
5.  At the match I looked at my spare slide lock.  It was slightly different than the one in the pistol,  so I replaced the older one.
Only one more pistol stage shot using two mags and no stovepipes. 
6. I had the original slide lock suddenly get tough to remove "some time back" and polished it a little on the spring slot end.  It went back to going in and out 'normally'.  I don't remember if the problem is associated with the time I dressed the slide lock

I practice Tuesdays and the next match is two weeks from today.  I'm tempted to throw parts at it,  like a new extractor and spring.  Before I do,  what do you think? 

[Tok36]

I have limited experience trouble shooting stovepipes, it does not come up all that often. That being said my mind turned to the extractor or ejector face. I am also interested to hear what other fourm members input.

[SPO1SHADOW]

After inspecting the ejector for any damage I would replace the extractor and the extractor spring. If the spring in your gun has never been replaced it is probably time to do so. Can you slide a loaded round under the extractor to see if there is still adequate tension? The extractor and spring should hold a loaded round in place with some tension.

[ThompsonCustom]

You'd be surprised how good these guns can do with a extractor claw mostly missing, I had random stove pipes in one CZ and come to find out 80% of the claw was gone which CZC sent me a new one for free. So give the extractor a look for any damage that my be be causing your issues and just replace the spring. 

[SPO1SHADOW]

As a side note, I have never seen the need for the heavier than stock extractor spring as long  the extractor was in good shape on a CZ. More than once I have seen the heavier spring causes feeding problems rather than curing anything. The OEM extractor spring has plenty of tension on it already when its not worn out. Other brands do benefit such as the BHP but there is no benefit to the CZ I have seen. The slide lock can play a role in this also. If you have the older or unmodified version the "nub" of the slide lock can contact the rear of the ejecting case and knock the case out of the extractor, this usually only happens if the extractor is worn, not fitted correctly or the extractor spring is worn enough so as not to hold the empty case firmly against the breech face.
And then there is always a chance your thumb is accidentally touching the slide slowing the slide speed enough to cause a stove pipe. I always try to look for the most obvious. 

[Scarlett Pistol]

Bookmarked and following.

[1SOW]

Thanks folks. 
I will order a new extractor and spring,  but the claw looked fine.  The slide stop was reshaped a little for cartridge  clearance, but not as much as aftermarket orders I've received from CZC. 
Money says it won't jam at my Tues. practice.  
I'm still ordering the extractor and spring no matter what.

The stovepipes blew my match;  but on the shotgun stage I came in fifth overall shooters:  pistol, rifle (including .22 rimfire) and shotguns.   The antique Sweet 16 came through perfectly,  the shooter needs more practice. 

[Diamondbackmike2004]

first check the shooter  , no really...always make sure that your not accidentally manipulating it in some manner that might cause a failure, if everything kosher. Replace the spring....springs are cheap and you it never hurts to have a new one.

then check the ejector.

[1SOW]

I haven't changed my grip higher, but that's a good point.  At Tuesday's practice I'll purposely get my grip higher and see if nudging the slide  or 'replaced' slide stop causes a problem.  If not,  I'll put the other slide stop back in and do the same. 

Because I can only shoot on Tuesday mornings for practice  and only shoot matches on second, fourth and fifth Saturdays;  I don't want to risk just replacing the extractor spring and later the extractor.  The extractor and spring have over 20K rds on them, so replacement now is not a waste.

SPO1, re the benefit of the heavier extractor spring:   Maybe 50K+ rds ago , my 9mm 75B wouldn't extract one full 16 rd magazine of Blazer aluminum commercial cartridges. Inspection then showed the aluminum extractor groove was just a tiny bit shallower.  On advice from here,  I installed an extra power extractor spring;   and it successfully fired and extracted a couple more boxes of 50 I already had purchased during an ammo shortage.  This was all I could find to buy.   

This led me to start reloading.     I've never fired an aluminum cartridge case again.   
   

[SPO1SHADOW]

A few strokes with a fine file on the extractor pad would have yielded the same results. I have installed the heavier springs and the result of a properly fitted extractor was causing the cases to get stuck on the breach face because of the extra tension. I have since stayed away from the heavier spring and fitted the extractor. Either way I hope you get yours fixed.

[Diamondbackmike2004]

I haven't changed my grip higher, but that's a good point.  At Tuesday's practice I'll purposely get my grip higher and see if nudging the slide  or 'replaced' slide stop causes a problem.  If not,  I'll put the other slide stop back in and do the same. 

Because I can only shoot on Tuesday mornings for practice  and only shoot matches on second, fourth and fifth Saturdays;  I don't want to risk just replacing the extractor spring and later the extractor.  The extractor and spring have over 20K rds on them, so replacement now is not a waste.

SPO1, re the benefit of the heavier extractor spring:   Maybe 50K+ rds ago , my 9mm 75B wouldn't extract one full 16 rd magazine of Blazer aluminum commercial cartridges. Inspection then showed the aluminum extractor groove was just a tiny bit shallower.  On advice from here,  I installed an extra power extractor spring;   and it successfully fired and extracted a couple more boxes of 50 I already had purchased during an ammo shortage.  This was all I could find to buy.   

This led me to start reloading.     I've never fired an aluminum cartridge case again.   
 

so if your nudging the slide stop then you would be getting a complete slide to rear lock... stovepipe is either a "limp wrist" of the shooter or we are looking at the extractor assembly or the ejector. 

[1SOW]

Mike,  I've tested my 75s for limp wrist.  With a one hand thumb and finger loose hold my 75B and Shadow couldn't be made to fail to feed or fire. I mean a very loose hold. I couldn't safely do double taps.

[Diamondbackmike2004]

Mike,  I've tested my 75s for limp wrist.  With a one hand thumb and finger loose hold my 75B and Shadow couldn't be made to fail to feed or fire. I mean a very loose hold. I couldn't safely do double taps.

OK cool, so so we have eliminated the human error factor then we can blame the gun lol

yea id start with that extractor assembly

[1SOW]

I shot about 135 9mm rds this morning.  I used some of the same ammo that jammed along with two mags that jammed,  but not one problem even when rubbing the slide stop a little.  I also didn't clean the pistol or add oil.
My hands are small,  so it's not that easy for me to interfere with the slide travel and still grasp my strong hand fingers.  My thumb is below the slide unless my thumb forward grip is pretty exaggerated high.

The practice range got crowded and I didn't get a chance to put the "other slide stop" back in to see if the jams come back.   I was also shooting shotgun today, set-up, tear down of 5 target stands, pick up[ brass  and talking with the regulars.

 I'll try again next Tuesday with the original slide stop.  When my new extractor , pin and spring arrive,  I'm going to install them.  This might prevent finding the specific cause of the problem unless the original S.S. causes it when it goes back in.
Unlikely or not,  I suspect that slide stop.  It was put in just a few weeks (?) ago when the CZC original broke.

[1SOW]

It did it again.
I then replaced the extractor and had a match this morning.  Worked fine and tossed the cases more uniformly .
It may have worked fine when shooting Win brass and then failed occasionally with a different headstamp.  I only use FC, Speer, R&P, and Win.  Just guessing why it would extract  fine for well over a hundred RDS then suddenly jam a couple of times in 40-50 RDS.
Whatever,  I got through a 100+ Rd match and it ran smoothly.
Thanks again for the support.