[gharsh]

I've got a Springfield Loaded 1911 and it has started going into battery when I insert a loaded magazine. Now, it does not do it all the time. I've noticed it at the range when the gun is hot. I've put a call into Springfield to see if it is something I can fix or that they have to fix. I do not like this "feature". I've had to gun for about 8-9 months and it just started doing this last week.

I know I've read something about this problem here, but don't know what to search under. Any help with either a search topic or a solution to the problem would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[1911Tuner]

Howdy gharsh,

When the slide locks on empty, look to see if the slidestop is fully
engaged in the notch. I'm betting that it's not. Likely causes
are a weak magazine spring...The shelf on the followr is at the
wrong angle, and not lifting the stop high enough...or the remote
possibility that the gun is short-cycling, and barely geting the
slide far enough to the rear. The last one is generally accompanied
by weak ejection...brass barely getting out of the port and landing
right beside you. The most likely of all is a weakened mag spring.
Wolff +5% power springs from Brownells are the cure for many
magazine issues. Cheaper by the 3-pack. I can provide a toll-free
number and part ID if you want. Let me know.

Hope this nails it. It's usually something simple in these things.

[lycanthrope]

Occasionally when I hammer a mag in during competition the slide will close on its own. My reaction is usually "BONUS!". If it did it all the time I'd try another slide stop.

[1911Tuner]

LMAO lycanthrope...If we could figure out a way to make one do that
every time, the IPSC/IDPA shooters would make us rich.

Cheers!
Tuner

[gharsh]

As it happens, it happened during an NRA Action Pistol match and then when I was shooting bowling pins. I also shoot IPSC and would not mind it happening then, but it just kind of made me stop and think the other times when it did happen. I went to reach for the slide release and the slide was already released. I just don't want this to lead to other problems such as the hammer falling without pulling the trigger or me doing something different because the gun didn't do what it normally does.

Thanks for the suggestions. I look into the magazine problem and go from there. Does it matter that this happens with loaded magazines instead of empty mags?

[1911Tuner]

Howdy again gharsh,

The reason that it doesn't happen on an empty mag is that the
follower is exerting some pressure on the slidestop lug.

No, it won't lead to hammer follow in and of itself. If the trigger group is
bad, hammer follow could happen during a manual slide release too,
but the auto-release isn't related.

What MIGHT happen is that if it gets worse as to partial engagement,
the slide could release before you get a fresh magazine in your gun,
which is rough on the hammer and sear and the lower barrel lug.

Check it on a live-fire slidelock to see how much of the stop is engaging the
notch and go from there. Since it just started doing it after operating
normally for a time, the magazine spring is the first suspect.

If you have been releasing the slide a lot with your thumb, it's possible that the engegement surfaces between slide notch and stop have worn
to the point that they aren't square any more...but this would require
some pretty soft steel in both areas. Not very likely. Partial engagement is
my bet, and slamming in a fresh mag knocks the pistol upward while the
stop tries to stand still. Inertia.

To see it at work, lock the bolt back on an AR-15 or M-16, insert a
loaded magazine, and whack the butt of the rifle hardwith your hand. It'll go to battery.

Luck to ya!
Tuner

[BigG]

Sometimes the engagement between the slidestop and the plunger is weak and could be benefited by cutting a dimple in the slidestop surface.

In other words, make sure you are getting good spring tension with the plunger on the slidestop when it goes into slidelock. HTH