Is this a 1911 malfunction?

[Matthew Courtney]

On my new Kimber, the slide stop does not release the slide when you put in a loaded magazine and pull back on the slide. I have to manually push down on the slide stop to get it to release the slide. On all of my other auto's, the slide stop releases the slide when you put in a loaded magazine then pull back on the slide. Do I need to send my new pistol back to Kimber?

 

[DeltaElite]

I vote magazine.
I had trouble with Kimber mags allowing Speer 200gr +p Gold Dots to nick the slide stop and lock the slide open on my Kimber.
The problem went away with Colt mags.
I am not impressed with Kimber mags, the guns are awesome.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

I am using brand new Wilson magazines. ??????????????

 

[Wildalaska]

Youll need to get rid of the mim'd slide stop sooner or later, take it to a gunsmith

WildmimslidestopsaregarbageAlaska

 

[TRLaye]

Actually this happened with all the Kimbers I've bought and a number of customs I've shot.

You'll find that there is a shok buffer in place that precludes you pulling the slide back far enough to release the slide lock.

Simply remove the buffer and throw it away. I did that 20,000 rounds ago and have had no further problems. As long as you are using the proper weight spring you won't damage the gun.

I prefer releaseing the slide in this manner rather than using the slide stop. It's the same manipulation I use after inserting a magazine and for malfunction clearance.

It is also using gross motor skills rather than the fine skill needed to find the release with a thumb or finger under stress.

You also reduce the chance of a disentegrating shok buffer creating a malfunction.

My $ .02.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Thanks to all who answered.

Very Special Thanks to TRlaye. The shock buffer was the problem.

 

[DeltaElite]

Ahhhhhhh, the shock buffer. Learned something new.

 

[TaxPhd]

The "Problem" is that the Kimber's slide release cutout in the slide is out of spec. Don't know why they do this.

Solution, as pointed out, is to remove the shock buff.

 

[Archer]

Problems with shock buffs in non 5" 1911's are pretty common.

Wildalaska, your anti-MIM viewpoint is interesting (and consistent).

How do you explain the fact that thousands of people DO NOT have any problems in many tens of thousands of rounds with MIM slide stops and other parts ?