Buck Mark slide won't stay open when magazine is empty

[edhaus]

I am new to shooting and new to this forum. I have recently purchased a Buck Mark 22 pistol. I shot 1 session at the range a week ago, about 125 rounds and it worked perfectly and was a pleasure to shoot. I cleaned it and went for my second session today. The slide would not lock open after the last shot of the magazine was out as it is supposed to. It seemed a little hard to open the slide manually, but once opened seemed to slide completely normally. I shot 10 or more clips with the same results. It shoots just fine. Anyone have a simple suggestion or I will call Browning Monday for their help.
Ed

 

[cmidkiff]

First step in troubleshooting would be to try a different magazine. If the problem is the same with multiple magazines, then it's a problem with the slide catch. It's more likely that the problem is with the magazine.

The mag follower pushes up the slide catch after the last round, and it's made of plastic. They get chipped from time to time.

Brownell's has new magazine followers for a couple bucks... part number 149-000-870

 

[edhaus]

Thanks. I'll check into this.

 

[GunNut]

Might want to disassemble the mags and give them a good cleaning. Maybe oil from manufacturing mixed with residue and is slowing the mag follower down.

Steve

 

[cottontoptexan]

Buckmark Slide

Check the grip screws on the left side of the gun. Mine cam loose and with just a little slack there the metal stamped slide lock will do funny things. Mine was locking back even when there were shells in the magazine.

 

[edhaus]

So far I have checked the magazine for nicks and chips in the plastic follower. It seems to be in good shape. The magazine spring appears to be getting the follower up without resistance. The screws in the handle are tight. I don't have immediate access to another magazine. I tried loading 1 shot only in the magazine a couple of times to see again if it would lock open. It does not. I will try calling Browning tomorrow.

 

[Steve C]

1) With an empty magazine inserted will the slide lock back if you manually retract the slide? If yest the problem isn't the magazine or the pistol, it is that for some reason the slide isn't being brought back as far when shooting. Some things that can cause this are:

a) low powered ammo not racking the slide fully.
b) top strap installed improperly without the washers holding the slide too tight and retarding its movement.
c) Dirt and/or no lubrication on the slide to frame contact points.
d) Shooter slowing the slide action with thumb or fingers along slide when shooting.
e) improper assembly of recoil spring and guide.

2) If the slide will nol lock back manually with empty magazine the problems could be:

a) improper assembly or loose screws on grip
b) dirty magazine
c) broken parts in magazine or pistol

 

[edhaus]

Steve, my gun's slide locks positively with an empty mag and manual retraction. That's good news. I called Browning who told me to take apart the sight bar and slide and give it a good cleaning. I did it. I believe that everything is at it should be. I definitely don't shoot with hands contacting the slide in any way. Well it didn't solve the problem. Now we're down to ammo or the local Browning Service rep. The Remington ammo worked fine last week. I did take it out of the flimsy box and put it into a dry tupperware container for ease of carrying in my truck. Could that have somehow deteriorated it? I'm going to get some fresh ammo of a different brand today or tomorrow and give that a try. I'd really rather shoot it than fix it.

 

[zeroskillz]

Check the grip screws on the left side of the gun. Mine cam loose and with just a little slack there the metal stamped slide lock will do funny things. Mine was locking back even when there were shells in the magazine.

I've had the same experiences, mostly wouldn't chamber a round because the loose screws led to a loose magazine.

 

[Steve C]

Edhaus, If the slide will lock back when manually retracted then something is either preventing the slide from traveling back as far when shooting OR something is preventing the slide stop from being pushed up to the lock position.

Check the mag follower to make sure it moves freely. Make sure you are not inadvertently pressing against the slide stop when shooting. I've done that.

Make sure the plastic guide behind the spring retention washer on the recoil spring is fully in its slot in the slide and not binding. Put a drop of oil on the recoil spring and guide rod.

Lightly lubricate the metal to metal sliding parts, don’t use grease. Key word is “lightly”.

Try a box of cci mini mags as its good hi speed ammo and see if that doesn’t clear up the problem. With a new gun the springs are a bit tight so standard velocity ammo may be marginal for a while.

The slide failing to lock back isn’t a major problem as it doesn’t prevent you from shooting the gun. Eventually you will discover the reason and correct the problem.