1911 jumping the slide stop

[Hutch]

I have a very raggedy Colt Series 70 of unknown provenance. I noticed at the range, when reloading after shooting to slide lock, that the slide "auto-magically" travelled forward, going fully back into battery as I shoved a magazine home. Curious, after shooting the next magazine dry, I removed the empty mag and smacked the bottom of the grip with my left hand, simulating a magazine insertion. Sure enough, the slide stop disengaged and the slide went into battery.

I have replaced the slide stop with a different one, but the song remains the same. I've closely inspected the slide, and it looks like the cutout on the bottom of the slide that engages the slide stop is a little bit bevelled. Can this be built up and returned to original spec? Can anyone else think of another cause for the slide to travel forward as descrbed above? (hopefully one that I can test with simple parts swaps. I'm no gunsmith.) Can anyone suggest a 'smith who can re-upholster the slide, if that is indeed the consensus opinion here?

Thanks...

Hutch

 

[cherryriver]

It's possible the spring for the slide stop and thumb safety (in the staked-on tunnel) could be weak or dirty, too.
Same goes for a weak magazine spring or a misaligned magazine follower not pushing the stop high enough.

 

[Hutch]

Driver, the slide lock backs fine, so I don't think it's the mag or follower. I reckon it could be the plunger or spring on the frame that tensions the safety and slide stop. How do you remove/replace those?

 

[gb6491]

Take the thumb safety off the frame and pull the plunger out from that end of the tube; the spring and other plunger should come out with it.
Regards,
Greg

 

[rcmodel]

The slide-stop notch in the slide is supposed to be angled slightly. It is made that way. The face of the slide-stop should match the same angle when it is up so you get full contact.

1. Check, clean & oil the plungers & spring, or better yet, just replace the spring with a new one.

2. Check the slide-stop cut that straddles the slide, inside the frame cut hole, and bottom edge of the slide for burrs that might sometimes interfere with full stop travel.

3. If the problem remains, use a small carbide dental burr and put a very small dimple in the the face of the slide-stop right where the plunger sets when the stop is engaged.

rcmodel

 

[Hutch]

Thanks, all. I'll have a go at the suggestions by RCModel. I'll also haul it to the big gun show this weekend for suggestions.

 

[Bob Rodgers]

Hutch,

Please come back and post some of the suggestions you get from the gunshow crowd. A little humor always lifts my mood.