1911 Slide Stop Slipping When Gun is in Battery

[Control]

Hi. I recently purchased an Les Baer P2. Its a wonderful gun and I have really been enjoying it.

Once every five magazines or so, the gun is failing to lock back. The issue seemed to go away when I went to Wilson mags but at my last range visit the gun was also failing to lock back with Wilson mags.

But I also noticed another related issue. The slide stop was beginning to slip out noticeably during my last range visit. This is most likely what has been causing the failures to lock back after the last round.

I shoot left handed. What may be happening is the thumb on my support hand is bumping the slide stop pin end that sticks out on the right side of the gun which is causing the slide stop to slip out.

Have any other lefties (or righties shooting left handed) had this issue? Should the slide stop be able to move out slightly even when its not aligned with the disassembly notch in the slide? My Baer’s slide stop moves to the left slightly if I press on the pin a little even when the gun is in full battery.

Thanks for any help.

 

[1911Tuner]

Should the slide stop be able to move out slightly even when its not aligned with the disassembly notch in the slide?

Yep. They'll all move a little. I'd look a little further into the possibility that you're pushing on it unconsciously during live fire.
In order for it to actually make it through the takedown notch at the exact time that it's aligned is a stretch unless there's a constant pressure on the pin. I won't say that it's impossible...but the timing of the event would make it one of those "fluke" things that probably wouldn't happen again in a hundred years.

 

[MT GUNNY]

Sounds like maybe the slide stop is wearing out, remove it and check for wear
Like you said it could be your fingers pushing the button pushing it out.

 

[Jim K]

There might be a little play, but the slide stop should NOT be able to move out when it is not aligned with the dismount notch. The inside of the slide stop bears on the inside of the slide itself to prevent movement.

At least that is the way it is supposed to work, but recently I saw a certain expensive brand gun in which the slide stop could be pressed out no matter where the slide notch was. The lug on the slide stop that should have kept it in place wasn't there. At all! I won't mention the make, but the owner of the Les Baer is free to draw conclusions.

Jim

 

[Control]

Thanks so much for the advice and notes guys. I appreciate it!

There is play in the slide stop when the slide is not aligned with the disassembly notch, and I would categorize it as more than just a little play. I can't fully push out the slide stop without the notch being aligned but I can almost do so. There is only the tiniest bit of the tab on the slide stop that is covered by the slide when the slide is not aligned with the disassembly notch.

It’s more than just a fluke unfortunately. It didn't happen for the first few range visits but on my last trip the slide stop slipped out several times and even got caught up on the disassembly notch several times. Even when it doesn't catch up there, again I get no lock back on the last round because the slide stop has slipped so far over that the mag follower has nothing to push up on to lock the slide back.

It’s my support hand thumb doing the pushing. Its does not ride on the slide stop pin but it does hit it under recoil. From what I understand from everyone’s notes, this shouldn’t totally disable the gun regardless of my hold.

I suspect that the tab on the slide stop that is suppose to prevent the slide stop from slipping out was just enough when the gun was tight to prevent issues but now that the gun is starting to loosen up bit things are getting out of whack.