1911 slide locking trouble

[prisoner6]

I have a newish 1911 that doesn't seem to want to lock the slide back no matter the magazine. All mags feed properly, just the stop seems to require more pressure to catch the slide. Is this a slide stop issue? It looks right to my eyes. Magazines? Or just a break in thing. Any help appreciated.

 

[Rock]

Are they all the same brand Mag? If so what brand. If it's not the mags I would try a new slide stop.

 

[Navy joe]

Slide locks okay by hand? Could be a slide lock issue like it binding, not pivoting freely or the inside nose of it not being cut right so it doesn't hit the mag follower. Seems kind of unlikely.

More likely for me is light ammo or too much recoil spring(length). Have you used various factory ammo? Is feed reliable otherwise? If yes, probably not ammo. Recoil spring could have too many coils. If you pull the slide hard back by hand until it stops the back of the slide stop should be slightly forward of where the front of the slide cut-out begins. If not, clip the spring. Another way to express this is to assemble the pistol without the spring and see where the slide comes to a rear stop. It should come to the same place with a spring.

 

[1911Tuner]

Slide No Lock

Sounds like the lug on the slidestop is broken. Hard to spot with the stop
in the gun, since only a tiny bit has to break off the disable the function.

Remove the stop and look closely at the lug. My guess is that it's broken.

Standin' by...

Tuner

 

[Rock]

Another question. Are you using a buffer?

 

[prisoner6]

Actually, slide doesn't lock by hand or when shooting. I've talked to Kimber and I think I have a .45 slide stop in my gun, which I forgot to mention is a .38 Super. They're sending me a new one and that should fix the problem. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[1911Tuner]

Thutty-Eight Super

I think I have a .45 slide stop in my gun, which I forgot to mention is a .38 Super.

Yep. That'll do it too...

 

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

I have a Colt .38 Super and I accidentally put the .22 slide stop in there, it kept prematurely locking the slide back, I put the .38 slidestop in there and had no problems. What kind of .38 do you have? Tyler

 

[prisoner6]

My new .38 Super is a Kimber Satinless Target. Hopefully this will fix the slide, the thing shoots like a dream.

 

[prisoner6]

1911Tuner, sent you a pm about this, any help would be apreciated. Thanks.

 

[Feldhege]

My SW 1911 had the same problem when the gun came back from a gunsmith. I tried everything but could not figure out what it was binding on. I had fired 1000 rounds before sending it to him for some work. When I got it back (the third time) it would not slidelock. I sent it to a different gunsmith and he just replaced the slidestop. Now it works like a champ. Wish I had thought of that. :banghead:

Robb Feldhege

 

[prisoner6]

Thats kind of what I'm looking at, do you know what kind you got?

 

[Feldhege]

No I didn't ask. Since he does gunsmithing for a large gun company it is probably just a stock part. Not one of the fancy ones from Wilson or Ed Brown. Just looks like a flat black stop. I will ask him next time I see him.

Robb

 

[Dave Sample]

Some aftermarket parts do not drop in and have to be fitted. A 38/9mm slide stop is different and sticks into the gun further so it can grab the follower in the 38 Magazine. I like them for toy guns in 45 ACP because they work better. The slide stop has a notch in it that has to ride on the frame and many times, this has to be made wider so the stop can do it's job without binding. The end of it where it rides on the plunger has to be smooth also. If it is properly fitted, it will work fine. It has no choice. I think that Ed Brown still has these.

 

[1911Tuner]

Slide Stop no Stop Slide

Dave said:

The slide stop has a notch in it that has to ride on the frame and many times, this has to be made wider so the stop can do it's job without binding.
__________________

Bingo.

Try pushing the stop into the slide notch with the slide off the gun and see if it moves into place easy-like or if it feels like it's tight or rubbing.

I've found that most of the aftermarket stops work a little better if you
lightly file a bevel in the top of the slot with a triangular file. Just a little.
Don't get carried away. All you want is a sort of "funnel" effect. If that
doesn't help, you'll probably have to widen the slot a little to let it slip
over the slide easier. Use a flat, Swiss pattern file with safe edge and
remove just a little from the left wall. Filing from the right-side wall
will let the stop move too far to the left. Too far left, and the magazine
shelf may not engage it or the stop could even walk out far enough to
put the slide in a bind.

Knock off any sharp edges on the corners of the slot that could keep the stop from moving up smoothly. Check the edges in the slide's notch for sharp edges or burrs too.

Luck!

Tuner