[Deadmarsh]

The question concerns one .45ACP (a PARA Tac-Four)I have that will not feed a round when I use the slide-catch to try and chamber the load; the first round nose-dives and gets caught-up on the ramp and doesn't feed...

Now if I load the magazine and manually pull the slide back and let it spring forward, it loads without failure. This happens with all the magazines I have (4)...

I've ordered new Wolff (+10%) magazine springs, the ramp is polished to mirror quality, and nothing hangs up. BTW, if I only load 8 rounds, the bullet will chamber using the slide-release just fine...

Thanks in advance for your responses...


Dead

[4v50 Gary]

New gun needs breaking in? Test fire it and report back.

[fastbolt]

Ditto 4v50Gary's post ...

AFTER you've test fired the pistol, if new (or even if "used", but "new" to you), sufficiently, with only 2 rounds per magazine, to make sure it functions properly in regard to the disconnector. It pays to be careful with a new pistol, you know ...

Does it cycle properly when it's actually being fired? You know, load a round into the chamber from a slightly down-loaded magazine, then top off the magazine to full capacity and insert it into the pistol and test fire the pistol?

Now if I load the magazine and manually pull the slide back and let it spring forward, it loads without failure. This statement makes me wonder if it wouldn't function properly if normally fired, even with a full magazine inserted after the chamber has been loaded. Sometimes pistols, especially when new, have some "behaviors" that resolve themselves when broken in ...

Is it new?

Does this only happen with one brand/design of ammunition?

Have you allowed the magazine springs time to become accustomed to being fully loaded for a while?

Is any part of either hand unintentionally rubbing against the slide while you're releasing it from the locked slide stop?

Have you called Para and asked them?

If it were my pistol, until I learned the cause of this condition I'd be hesitant to start introducing 10%-Over magazine springs into the situation.

Oh yeah ... does it function properly when it's being fired?

I don't pretend to have the answer ...

[CWL]

M1991 style guns don't always like it when you use the slide-stop as a release lever. I've had it beaten into me to never do so and to release the slide on my .45s by letting go of the slide.

Doublestack .45s (I have a P13) can be a problem in regards to feeding. You should take time to break it in, loading the mag fully can cause initial misfeeds.

Are you using FMJs or JHPs when this occurs?

[caz223]

The solution is simple.
Don't use the slide stop as a slide release.

[Hal]

Using the slide stop = as hollywood as holding the gun sideways.

Just the griity -doesn't-like-being-used-that-way feel of doing the slide stop release thing is enough reason for me not to do it.

I respectfully request anyone that wants to try one of my guns follow a few basic conditions. One of those is to not use the slide stop as a slide release.

[Walt Sherrill]

Be sure to try a known good magazine.

Nose-diving, as you describe it, is sometimes caused by weak magazine springs.

The gun may be fine, and you just need to get a better mag spring.

[only1asterisk]

I just bought a STI that did the same thing, but it was every time and it didn't matter how you tried to chamber it. Talk about a royal PITA! A combination of feed lip modifications, spring, and shooting fixed that. Funny thing, it never once failed to feed anything but the first hand-chambered round. If you could get a round to chamber, it would shoot the rest of the magazine no problem.


David

[Deadmarsh]

I added new Wolff Springs (+10%) and refitted the ramp as it needed to be more flush, then applied a mirror polish and...no more problems. Feeds everything now, even the tough 200gr Speer flying ashtrays...thanks fellows

Dead

[Moondancer]

Whoa!

Is this actually true? I shouldn't release the slide by depressing the slide stop????

TELL ME IT AIN'T SO!

I may have just learned my first new thing today! I've been shootin' handguns since 1972. Bought my first autoloader in 1979. Been doing mag changes since then, so I figure that makes 24 years.

Been reading gun magazines since 1969. Anything about handguns I can find.

I have NEVER heard this before today! Have I been living under a bushel basket or what? The only other way I can think of to drop the slide on a fresh magazine is to pull the slide back and release it with the weak hand.
Is that what I'm hearing you all say I should do?

TELL ME IT AINT' SO!

[Drifting Fate]

Hi guys, I'm new to this board, but have a bit of experience with the subject matter.

Not using the slide stop to chamber a round is pretty much a standard drill. "Racking" the slide gives it greater travel and therefore greater velocity to properly punch a round out of a magazine. Remember, these things were designed to work at full speed/full recoil. Also, under stress working the slide favors gross muscle movement rather than the finer and weaker coordination of working the slide stop.

Polishing the feed ramp and stronger mag springs helped the symptom, but you have seen the problem. Slow slide velocity vs. angle of feed ramp interaction with a given bullet vs. release velocity of the cartridge from the magazine. It's not uncommon for some older style guns (yes, like the 1911) to do this sort of thing.

Bonus training stroke: it helps in-grain grabbing the slide for malfunction drills.

[1911Tuner]

Field-strip the pistol. Lay the barrel in its saddle in the frame and
push down and back. There should be a gap between the top of the
feed ramp and the leading edge of the barrel throat of 1/ 32nd of
an inch. It can be more, but not less.

Check this first. If the gap is there, I've got a couple more suggestions.
If it's not, the barrel throat will need to be set forward and the bottom
of the throat reshaped.

Keep us posted.
Tuner