Slide fails to lock open after last round

[Dodgeit]

Went to the range yesterday to break in my new Combat Commander. Everything was going along fine, 200 rounds of Various FMJ down range. So I thought lets see about HPs so I loaded up some 185+P Corbons, function was great recoil was stout, until the slide closed after ejecting the last round. Went back to FMJs and the problem stayed, but not every mag.

Was this just from dirt? Or is there something I can look at to varifiy it's not broke.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Caipirinha]

Are you sure your thumb is not riding the slide release lever?

 

[Bailey Boat]

Number your various magazines and figure out which ones are not locking the slide back. It will be the same ones consistently, weed those out for "range use only" and carry the ones that work correctly.
If this is you first 1911 platform you'll find them to be very sensitive to mags, some won't feed, some won't lock back correctly and then some won't do either. Trial and error..........

 

[strat81]

What kind of mags? How fresh are the mag springs?

 

[massglockman]

yes sounds like a mag prob

 

[lurch37]

Unless your thumb was in a different area, (on top of the slide stop), when shooting the CorBon stuff it sounds like a magazine problem to me also. As in the mag spring isn't pushing up hard enough on the follower to, in turn push up hard enough on the slide stop to engage the slide.

 

[Dobe]

Try one of the new Wilson mag's. Then let us know how they work out. I'm going to pick up a few soon.

Dobe

 

[GRB]

If this is you first 1911 platform you'll find them to be very sensitive to mags, some won't feed, some won't lock back correctly and then some won't do either. Trial and error..........

If that statement is correct, all I can says is: Aah, the wonder gun!

 

[1911Tuner]

If this is you first 1911 platform you'll find them to be very sensitive to mags, some won't feed, some won't lock back correctly and then some won't do either.

I've found just the opposite to be true...provided that the magazines used are good magazines. Note that "New" doesn't automatically equate to good.
I've owned...own...and have seen 1911 pistols of all ages that have never failed to function, pretty much regardless of bullet shape or weight/mass...provided that the powder charge is sufficient to insure full slide travel. But...The myth of the "finicky" 1911 continues to hang on.

Magazine springs are the first place to look whenever a slidelock issue...or anything related to reliable feeding occurs. Sufficient spring strength is paramount. Next on the list is the follower design. If the follower isn't stable...if it rocks forward easily or has excessive sideplay in the body...if the slidestop elevator shelf doesn't get enough "bite" on the slidestop lug...you're apt to have problems.

The slidestop itself is another point. It it's not made to spec, trouble looms.

Slide velocity is often a trouble spot. If you tossed in an uber-heavy recoil spring in order to shoot the double-throwdown hot Cor-Bon ammo...that may well be where your bug nests...especially if the mag spring isn't up to the task of keeping up with the slide's increased velocity as it returns to battery.

Suspect the magazines first, and go from there.

 

[SeanMTX]

One other area to check is the slide lock lever. If the slide lever is slipping under the follower of the magazine, the slide will not catch and will close on firing the last round. You will also have some 'sticky' mags that will not release as easily as they are supposed to.

This can be remedied by lengthening the internal level latch (try a TIG weld, then clean up with a Dremel...should only need a .0001-ish extra).

If you aren't comfortable doing this on your own, take it to a smith.

 

[mljdeckard]

If 1911 tuner is ever wrong, I haven't seen it yet.

The only mags I have ever had trouble with are the old ones I stole from my army arms room when we switched to Berettas. Worn/bent followers, very old springs. If you look at the follower, and it's pristine, I's suspect a weak spring.

 

[1911Tuner]

should only need a .0001-ish extra).

Forsooth! A tenth of a thousandth of an inch? You could read a newspaper through a sheet of steel that thin.

mlsdeckard...'Preciate the good words, but if you'd seen me sweatin' over a delinquent Norinco for 12 hours a few weeks ago, your faith would been shaken. It kicked my ol' skinny...but I finally got her up and runnin'...somehow.

 

[rcmodel]

This can be remedied by lengthening the internal level latch (try a TIG weld, then clean up with a Dremel

It's a whole lot simpler to just bend the magazine follower tab over slightly so it works every time.

If you add length to the slide stop like that, then bullet noses start hitting it and locking the slide open with rounds still in the mag.

If anything, you sometimes have to take metal off & polish a factory slide stop to prevent that from happening with some JHP bullet profiles.


rcmodel

 

[Dodgeit]

Been shooting 1911s for 27 years off and on, thats why I was trying all the mags.

Well nothing was changed on the Pistol, it was NIB. The mags were five colt, 2 Meggars and a Chip Mcormick shooting star. All were new mags or not many rounds down range.

I shot 200 rounds through my Commander and 200 through my New Agent, using these mags without a hiccup. Try the Corbons and that is when the problem starts.

Merry Christmas
Tim

 

[shooter1]

I've owned...own...and have seen 1911 pistols of all ages that have never failed to function, pretty much regardless of bullet shape or weight/mass...provided that the powder charge is sufficient to insure full slide travel. But...The myth of the "finicky" 1911 continues to hang on.

Thanks! That needed to be said by someone with your credentials. My experience with 1911s has been the same.
str1

 

[1911Tuner]

The mags were five colt, 2 Meggars and a Chip Mcormick shooting star.

The Colt mags...7 or 8-rounders?

I've found that Shooting Stars aren't really a good litmus test. Weak springs and a defective follower design...and has been since the early 80s.

8-round Colt mags are basically Shooting Stars with a fancy finish.

 

[RP86]

Are you sure your thumb is not riding the slide release lever?

+1

 

[Dodgeit]

All the mags are 7 round except one (Colt) it's 8rd. It's possible that my thumb is releasing the slide prematurely but I have not had that problem in the past. I will try and keep an Eye on it the next session.

Thanks
Tim