92FS Beretta slide not staying locked open on last shot

[SenseiDrop]

Hi,

My Beretta slide is not staying open on the last shot from the magazine.
So when i slap in a new mag i have to slide it back manually to get to firing again.
I researched online, and some say it's the magazine, yet this happens with both of my magazines.
Gun worked fine 2 weeks ago at the range, then yesterday i noticed this issue.

Has anyone run into this, and if so what is the solution you believe?
I take care of the gun, and the magazines are never mistreated as well.

Luckily i'm not going to be in any shootouts on the street where i need more then 15 bullets i hope, lol.

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If your ammo is a little on the light side, the slide may be short stroking, preventing the slide stop from engaging. A less than firm grip can cause this as well.

Also possible is a worn/broken/rounded off slide stop, worn slide notch, worn magazine release/catch (allowing the mags to sit lower, unlikely), or there is a problem with both magazine followers (very unlikely).

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Does the slide lock back when you retract it manually on an empty magazine?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

May just need a good cleaning/lube. Check the slide lock to make sure it is moving freely. Could be the mags are both getting a bit weak if they are old or have been used a lot. Cheap enough to put a new spring in them if they seem a bit weak.

Does it lock back on an empty mag if you hand cycle it? (Nightlord typed faster than I did
If so, could be the ammo as mentioned above. Were you running the same stuff both range sessions?
Best to narrow things down one step at a time.

 

[JTQ]

If your ammo is a little on the light side, the slide may be short stroking, preventing the slide stop from engaging. A less than firm grip can cause this as well.

May just need a good cleaning/lube.

Inadequate lube could also slow the slide and cause short stroking.

For me, the easiest thing to check is to see if I'm fouling the slide stop with my support hand. The Beretta 92 has a pretty good sized slide stop, and it can be contacted with your hand. Try shooting left handed, and make sure you're not making contact with the slide stop. If that's not it, it's on to something else.

 

[JTQ]

Is this a new gun to you, or is this a gun you've had for a while and has worked fine up until now.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Does the slide lock back when you retract it manually on an empty magazine?

Hi nightlord,

i just tested it and yes the slide stays locked on an empty magazine.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Is this a new gun to you, or is this a gun you've had for a while and has worked fine up until now.

Hi, the gun is almost 3 years old, and lately i've been shooting 200 rounds every other week thru it. But before that i would go to the range maybe every 3 months.

 

[SenseiDrop]

May just need a good cleaning/lube. Check the slide lock to make sure it is moving freely. Could be the mags are both getting a bit weak if they are old or have been used a lot. Cheap enough to put a new spring in them if they seem a bit weak.

Does it lock back on an empty mag if you hand cycle it? (Nightlord typed faster than I did
If so, could be the ammo as mentioned above. Were you running the same stuff both range sessions?
Best to narrow things down one step at a time.

Hi Ohen,

Yes nightlord i replied to your same question, i just tested and the gun locks back with empty magazine.
And no, i used a different ammo this time at the range. it was Sellier & Bellot 124gr
I usually use Fiocchi or Magtech 124 gr.

Thanks so much for helping me out, look fwd to further reply!

 

[SenseiDrop]

Inadequate lube could also slow the slide and cause short stroking.

For me, the easiest thing to check is to see if I'm fouling the slide stop with my support hand. The Beretta 92 has a pretty good sized slide stop, and it can be contacted with your hand. Try shooting left handed, and make sure you're not making contact with the slide stop. If that's not it, it's on to something else.

Yes i will give it a thoro cleaning, waiting for the Lucas extreme duty CLP to arrive on thurs to clean it with, thanks for the tip JTQ

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive found S&B to be loaded on the light side, it doesn't cycle my Luger.
Yup, give her a cleaning, try some different ammo and report back.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Awesome Nightlord ! I'm very happy to know this issue has nothing to do with the gun, but the crappy ammo! lol.
Question: please don't mind my ignorance, but what does ammo on "the light side" mean?
Does it mean it doesn't have as much gun powder?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Have you ever disassembled your magazines for a thorough cleaning inside? You might have a little gunk in there that is slowing the mag follower just enough to miss the hold open as the slide drops after the last round.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Have you ever disassembled your magazines for a thorough cleaning inside? You might have a little gunk in there that is slowing the mag follower just enough to miss the hold open as the slide drops after the last round.

No i haven't cleaned the magazine yet. But i will try that. i've maybe shot 3,000 rounds thru the gun. But i believe Nighthawk narrowed it down to the ammo i used which he said his gun won't cycle with that same ammo.
Thanks for the tip Dave, i will clean the mags!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well, yes on the light side could mean less charge, or simply a different powder burn rate and bullet mass that disagrees with that particular gun. NATO spec 9mm ammo is usually loaded "hot" to cycle submachine guns, but some other loads are lighter to give less battering to the gun, or less felt recoil to the shooter.

 

[Shipwreck]

I would replace the recoil spring and slide stop spring. Then clean the mags. If still happening, replace the mag springs with +10% mag springs from gunsprings.com.

Are you sure you are not hitting the slide stop while shooting. Try shooting 1 handed to eliminate that possibility.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Well, yes on the light side could mean less charge, or simply a different powder burn rate and bullet mass that disagrees with that particular gun. NATO spec 9mm ammo is usually loaded "hot" to cycle submachine guns, but some other loads are lighter to give less battering to the gun, or less felt recoil to the shooter.

Again, you've helped tremendously NighLord, i learned alot allready from everyone's posts, thank you all!!!

 

[SenseiDrop]

I would replace the recoil spring and slide stop spring. Then clean the mags. If still happening, replace the mag springs with +10% mag springs from gunsprings.com.

Are you sure you are not hitting the slide stop while shooting. Try shooting 1 handed to eliminate that possibility.

Yes i will shoot 1 handed to test: and will follow your advice if changing back to my normally used ammo , and shooting 1 handed to eliminate my hand maybe hitting the slide stop! thanks everyone appreciate the help, ;thanks shipwreck!

 

[CapnMac]

Are the magazines OEM, or aftermarket?
Switching hands can offer a "tell" but it can also expose to unintentional "limp wristing," too.

Probably worth checking the action on the slide stop I'd take the slide off, and feel how it moves up and down. You can also check how an empty magazine interacts just in the frame. It might just need a drop of CLP.

 

[Shipwreck]

Yes i will shoot 1 handed to test: and will follow your advice if changing back to my normally used ammo , and shooting 1 handed to eliminate my hand maybe

Are the magazines OEM, or aftermarket?
Switching hands can offer a "tell" but it can also expose to unintentional "limp wristing," too.

Probably worth checking the action on the slide stop I'd take the slide off, and feel how it moves up and down. You can also check how an empty magazine interacts just in the frame. It might just need a drop of CLP.

The Beretta is not a polymer gun. Shooting 1 handed with a good grip should not result in a limp wrist malfunction.

I previously had issues with the slide stop on Sig DA/SA guns. On 1 particular Sig, I swore I was not hitting it, yet it woukd never lock open whwn empty... EXCEPT when firing 1 handed. Which showed me that it WAS me...

 

[Bcwitt]

Ive had several 92s. They are the most dirt sensitive hundguns i am aware of. Make it a point to clean inside of magazine bodies as well. A little carbon on the follower will do just what you are describing.

 

[film495]

locate your slide stop and the little arm, if I remember correctly, that the magazine follower will lift. just check it out and see if it looks and works right. it wasn't a 92, but on another firearm I got used, an old one, the arm on the follower didn't hit the mag follower and I just replaced the stop/arm, since then all good. same basic mechanism I think. I forget, does the 92 have a manual slide stop lever or just a release? anyway, the spring for the arm could be worn as well, or the pin/machanism that holds the arm could be wonky and the arm not secured fully/correctly. I'd just find the slide stop and monkey with it and see what is there.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Ive had several 92s. They are the most dirt sensitive hundguns i am aware of. Make it a point to clean inside of magazine bodies as well. A little carbon on the follower will do just what you are describing.

I did clean both mags, and they were very dirty inside. Will test at the range again this saturday Thanks BCwitt

 

[SenseiDrop]

locate your slide stop and the little arm, if I remember correctly, that the magazine follower will lift. just check it out and see if it looks and works right. it wasn't a 92, but on another firearm I got used, an old one, the arm on the follower didn't hit the mag follower and I just replaced the stop/arm, since then all good. same basic mechanism I think. I forget, does the 92 have a manual slide stop lever or just a release? anyway, the spring for the arm could be worn as well, or the pin/machanism that holds the arm could be wonky and the arm not secured fully/correctly. I'd just find the slide stop and monkey with it and see what is there.

Thanks for the help, magazines seem to be ok no issue with the followers, i believe it was the "light" ammo rounds i was using.

 

[SenseiDrop]

Went to the range using my normal ammo magtech 124gr fmj.
Well, i had about 60% success rate of the slide locking back on the last shot.
Even with a brand new mag from Mec-Gar, it failed one time while shooting 150 rds.
1. i had cleaned my 2 mags that came with the gun last week and 1 brand new mag and failure was 60%

So i guess i'll have to take my gun to a gunsmith, but will clean gun again thoroughly and check the slide stop spring if it's sticking what have you, and go to range again hoping i'll fix on my own.

again this forum has helped me tremendously thank you all appreciate your help!