slide not locking back
- Thread starter MikeJ
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Was it the same magazine every time?
If so, check the follower to make sure the shelf that activates the slide stop isn't worn down. If that looks good, check the slide stop on the inside of the slide and make sure that it isn't worn down.
Sometimes one of these items (usually the magazine follower) gets worn down to the point that the follower can even jump over the slide stop when the last round is fired.
This is easy to tell because the magazine will be hard to get out of the gun.
Good luck
If so, check the follower to make sure the shelf that activates the slide stop isn't worn down. If that looks good, check the slide stop on the inside of the slide and make sure that it isn't worn down.
Sometimes one of these items (usually the magazine follower) gets worn down to the point that the follower can even jump over the slide stop when the last round is fired.
This is easy to tell because the magazine will be hard to get out of the gun.
Good luck
Walt Sherrill
Member
It can also be a weak mag spring.
If the follower isn't pressed up hard against the slide stop, the slide won't stop.
If the follower isn't pressed up hard against the slide stop, the slide won't stop.
Mikul
Member
It can also be caused by a damaged slide stop. Check the slide stop. It should be straight and have no chips or dents in it.
Jerry the Geek
Member
Redhat,
I've been shooting 1911's in IPSC competition for 20 years, and I haven't yet seen the situation where wear on the mag follower was so extreme that it 'made the magazine hard to get out'. Thanx for giving me one more thing to worry about <G>
Mostly, when the slide doesn't lock on the last shot, it's because the slide stop is worn. This is especially true when it happens on EVERY magazine, not MOST magazines, but it's when there's only a failure to lock back on SOME magazines that it is attributable to the mag follower.
Here's my read on 'magazines that are hard to get out'; the shooter has gone to slide lock, rammed a 10-round magazine into a single-stack gun, and the magazine has gone just a silly millimeter farther up the stack than it was suppose to. That's a REAL hard magazine to get out, and you're done shooting until you manage to bang it out. Of course, this isn't a consideration when your original problem is that the slide is NOT locked back, so why am I even mentioning it? No reason, it just seemed like a good idea at the time ....
Ultimately, I've never considered failure to go to slide-lock a major problem. In competition, you should be aware of how many rounds you've fired, should have already figured where/when you need to make your reload, and it should not (ideally) include going to slide-lock.
In a self-defense situation, if you're at slide-lock you have either won or lost, and it isn't an issue except for checking the Area of Engagement for leftover semi-targets or inadequately neutralized goblins.
Here's a guideline: if you're shooting a single-stack, and you have a couple of seconds without a neutralized target ... reload. Retain the expended magazine if it seems like a good idea, but having more ammunition than you think you will need in your Blaster is ALWAYS A Good Thing.
Jerry the (Kimbers are great! Until you reload with the slide locked back!) Geek
I've been shooting 1911's in IPSC competition for 20 years, and I haven't yet seen the situation where wear on the mag follower was so extreme that it 'made the magazine hard to get out'. Thanx for giving me one more thing to worry about <G>
Mostly, when the slide doesn't lock on the last shot, it's because the slide stop is worn. This is especially true when it happens on EVERY magazine, not MOST magazines, but it's when there's only a failure to lock back on SOME magazines that it is attributable to the mag follower.
Here's my read on 'magazines that are hard to get out'; the shooter has gone to slide lock, rammed a 10-round magazine into a single-stack gun, and the magazine has gone just a silly millimeter farther up the stack than it was suppose to. That's a REAL hard magazine to get out, and you're done shooting until you manage to bang it out. Of course, this isn't a consideration when your original problem is that the slide is NOT locked back, so why am I even mentioning it? No reason, it just seemed like a good idea at the time ....
Ultimately, I've never considered failure to go to slide-lock a major problem. In competition, you should be aware of how many rounds you've fired, should have already figured where/when you need to make your reload, and it should not (ideally) include going to slide-lock.
In a self-defense situation, if you're at slide-lock you have either won or lost, and it isn't an issue except for checking the Area of Engagement for leftover semi-targets or inadequately neutralized goblins.
Here's a guideline: if you're shooting a single-stack, and you have a couple of seconds without a neutralized target ... reload. Retain the expended magazine if it seems like a good idea, but having more ammunition than you think you will need in your Blaster is ALWAYS A Good Thing.
Jerry the (Kimbers are great! Until you reload with the slide locked back!) Geek
Jerry,
I based my advise on training folks on the Beretta specifically, so I wouldn't try to tell you what to look for on the 1911 since I've never seen the step on the follower give any trouble. I have seen several Beretta's that have had the step that activates the slide stop worn down to the point where it would actually pop up and over the slide stop and when you try to remove the mag...good luck! Of course these were training magazines so it probably wouldn't be a problem for the average shooter.
It's also possible to get the thumb on the slide stop depending on what grip you use.
Vr
Redhat
I based my advise on training folks on the Beretta specifically, so I wouldn't try to tell you what to look for on the 1911 since I've never seen the step on the follower give any trouble. I have seen several Beretta's that have had the step that activates the slide stop worn down to the point where it would actually pop up and over the slide stop and when you try to remove the mag...good luck! Of course these were training magazines so it probably wouldn't be a problem for the average shooter.
It's also possible to get the thumb on the slide stop depending on what grip you use.
Vr
Redhat
MikeJ,
I am not super familiar with where the slide lock lever is on the Beretta that you have, make sure that your thumb is not riding down the slide lock.
I know that with the Springfield XD series i have a habbit of riding the slidelock and not letting the slide lock back. Other then this, i would say its the magazine.
I am not super familiar with where the slide lock lever is on the Beretta that you have, make sure that your thumb is not riding down the slide lock.
I know that with the Springfield XD series i have a habbit of riding the slidelock and not letting the slide lock back. Other then this, i would say its the magazine.
Thanks for the replies. I was using the same magazine so I think next time I will take a new one with me and see what happens. I would hope that it is not the slide stop itself as the gun only has about a thousand rounds through it, if that. Mike
shoobe01
Member
Also, if not clean, and/or weak ammo the slide might not be coming back all the way. That's the most common slide/bolt lock failure I've seen.
cool45auto
Member
You're not unwittingly resting your thumb on the slide release are you?
In some guns the notch on the slide and/or the slide stop will wear if used too much. It is a much, much better practice to count your shots and drop the magazine when the list round is in the chamber, reload, and continue. Practice that, and it will become automatic. This is much quicker than either sling-shotting or pressing the slide release to chamber a new round.
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