[WheelMan]

The local shop has a .40 semi-compact baby eagle (it's an older one, I'm not too familiar with the history but it says "made in isreal" as well as "magnum research" it also doesn't say anything about "baby" just "desert eagle.")

Anyway, I REALLY like it except... the slide won't lock back on the last round. I tried two magazines and had the same problem. mag spring tendsion seems good and it feeds and ejects perfectly. I'd really like to get this pistol, but I can't justify buying something broken and not knowning how to fix it. Any ideas? Thanks

[10-Ring]

Maybe dirty mags?

[WheelMan]

I'm new to autos, what would be dirty? the follower, the lips? and how would that affect function?

[Fed168]

A couple things to look at. Is your grip affecting the operation of the slide stop- thumb riding over it, causing it to stay down after the last round is fired.

You would be amazed that you do that, it is pretty much an unconcious thing. Happens on my Sigs and the 92F on occasion- I had to stop and look at things while diagnosing the problem. Thumb placement, pure and simple. I know the gun is not broken, so it must be operator error.

Next is the slide stop. Does it lock back on an empty mag period? If it does, then things are working fine. It sounds like the internal parts are doing their thing correctly. Check the slide stop for burrs or dents or anything else that looks out of place. If the slide stop is damaged, time for a new part.

Magazines- feed lips are not out of whack, again based on your post it sounds like they work too.

The last thing maybe the slide stop hole. It could be out of spec or damaged somehow. Not knowing the history of the gun, I would say this could be a possibility. That is something fixed at the factory- meaning a new frame.

[WheelMan]

The Slide does lock back when pulled rearward by hand.

Thing is I'm left handed so I don't see how I could have been riding the slide release lever.

Inspecting it, I could find no obvious problembs, I think I'll go back and ask the shop owner or one of my buddies to shoot it, to see if it is me somehow.