How to tell if slide stop isn't thru the link

[RossM]

Just curious,

Is there a way to tell if in reassembly of the slide stop through the barrel link if the slide stop didn't really go thru the link (without pulling it out again to see) or if it was fully reassembled with the spring retainer and bushing back in place? Is there a specific way it would act (just in pushing back the slide or chambering some dummy rounds) or sound that would be telling that the slide stop and barrel link missed. Or is the only way to tell is by field stripping again and seeing?

I so far have had no problem getting it back in but I have had the link move a couple of times just as I was starting to put the slide stop through.

Thank you

[Hunter]

If you miss the link with the slide stop it will be behind the barrel lower lug and the slide will not stay on the frame when you pull it forward.

[John]

What Hunter said. If you missed the link, the slide will come off the frame.

[RossM]

Thank you, I'm just getting to know the mechanism, that explains it clearly.

[1911Tuner]

What Hunter said. If you missed the link, the slide will come off the frame.

Note that if you get the pin through the frame in front of the lug and link, that the slide won't move forward and will likely get hung up pretty tight...
so until you're sure, don't force things.

[dakota1911]

And as a P.S. Common sense stuff like have a good, clean work surface. Don't work on more than one gun at a time (unless you have a massive good work surface and can segregate them). Hand cycle the gun several times and be sure all seems O.K. after it is together again. Beyond binding or falling apart you may have put a spring in the wrong way and the action won't seem "right". Better to double-check than find out when a live round goes off. Also, since I no longer shoot black powder and corrosive primers are a thing of the past, I may wait till the next day to clean guns I have shot if I am tired or would be rushed in cleaning them.