Problem with FN Herstal HP-Vigilante SFS slide locking back

[ZBill]

I am seeking advice regarding a FN Herstal HP-Vigilante SFS slide locking back after each shot. This does not happen if the magazine is pushed upwards by the non-firing hand. There is a slight space between the bottom of the grip and the mag bottom plate. The pistol has 2 mags with no markings whatsoever, not even adjacent to the witness holes.

I suspect the mags are aftermarket but not sure. Ammo is Blazer Brass 9mm. I believe a quality mag such as Megar might solve the problem if their BHP mags fit in the FNH HP.

Any advice/recommendations other than go out an buy a new mag?

Regards, Bill

 

[rcmodel]

Take the slide off, insert a loaded mag, and look in there and see what is hitting where.

About all it can be, I think, is the bullet noses hitting the slide stop and knocking it into engagement with the slide.

On the other hand, make sure you aren't doing it yourself with a stray thumb while shooting it.

rc

 

[ZBill]

Thank you

Thanks RC. I appreciate the information as always. Best Regards, Bill

 

[BBBBill]

^^^ RC's advice is a good place to start. I can't envision why it works correctly holding the mag up as that places the rounds and follower closer to the engagement lug on the slide stop.
The two most common mags are the factory issued and MecGar. MecGar has produced the majority of factory mags for FN/Browning for the last 30 years or more. Good stuff. You might have something else, but absent any photos, we can't make a deduction. Not uncommon to find them with or without markings or even with no holes.
Your ammo may be at fault. Blaser is economy ammo. You could have gotten a bad batch. I and lots of other folks have run into that in the past. Supposedly they got it corrected, but I haven't shot any more since. Try Winchester white box for another economy round and some other stuff, too.

 

[ZBill]

BBBBill and RCModel

I removed the slide (which I found out the process was different since it is an SFS model) and inserted a loaded mag - once with 115 gr and once with 147's. Both times the mag case or tube hit the slide stop knocking it upward. The bullets did not hit the slide stop. With an empty mag, the follower pushes the slide stop upward as it should. Do I need to remove some metal from the mag where it is hitting the slide stop? Thank you both for your time and expertise.

Bill

 

[rcmodel]

Kinda looks like it.

Look at a real Browning mag here and note the difference.

http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...87_a_7c1021_a_7c625200350_d_625200350_d_10015

http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...87_a_7c1021_a_7c149001905_d_149001905_d_10015

rc

 

[ZBill]

I see the difference. I will relieve some of the mag tune metal so that it does not contact the slide stop. I will work slow as to not over do it. Thanks again.