Kimber Pro Carry

[DanC]

I have a Kimber Pro Carry that's about 10 or so years old now. It's always had a problem with not locking open after the last round is fired, on an intermittent basis. A few weeks ago, I got tired of this happening, and ordered a new slide stop pin from Kimber, thinking this was the cause of the problem. The new slide stop pin looks like it's about 0.5 mm wider on the part inside the slide than the old one. Now the gun has problems cycling reliably. Some failures to extract, some failures to feed, etc, etc. I need help deciding what to do. Should I put the old slide stop pin back in? Should I send the gun off to a gunsmith for work? (I kinda was thinking about doing this anyway.) Just can't seem to get the old decision maker going.

[Joni Lynn]

You've tried other magazines?

[DanC]

Yes, CMC, Novak, and Wilson 47D's.

[Deacon Aegis]

DanC, I saw the top dogs in here look at another issue very similar to this the other day, primarily due to the fact the slide was being caught and hung open with barely a round or two fired. What was happening in that particular case is that the rounds were bumping the forward edge of the slide stop's contact lug with the magazine. That slide stop required some filing to give it the clearance for ammo to pass it without causing it to leap into a locked open position. Although this is not happening with yours, the fact that your symptoms have changed would lead me to want to inspect that closely to see if there is contact being made against that lug as the rounds try to move up. It very well may be that that lug is a bit long causing the rounds to push more towards the ejection port side of the chamber than dead center and getting hung up there.

Additionally, you might want to really go over that breach face and make sure it is very smooth and that any roughness to the surface of the breach face is polished out. Hope this might give you a direction to look at as well and good luck. Ten bucks says the ammo is coming into contact with that slide stop engagement lug, even though it is not forcing the slide into early lock-open....

[1911Tuner]

Yes, CMC, Novak, and Wilson 47D's.

Problem identified...and likely related to the failures to feed/return to battery.

Where ya located?

[DanC]

Joni, Deacon, and 1911Tuner, thanks for replying. Deacon, thanks for the advice, I will definitely take a good look at the lug on the slide stop tonight when I get home from work (family duties notwithstanding.) That reminds me, I can no longer chamber the first round when loading a fresh magazine by pulling the slide back. I have to depress the slide stop. Does this go along with what you were saying? Sorry I forgot to put that in the first post.

1911Tuner, I'm in Maryland. Unfortunately, too far to easily stop by and sample your famous coffee.