Thoughts on a problem with my Professional

[Matt A]

I have a Wilson Professional that fails to lock back after the last round. This has happened maybe a half dozen times over the first 1000 rounds, but this weekend it progressed to every time. After cleaning the gun I found that when I racked the slide that if the slide lock engaged, it would do so only about halfway.

Any thoughts? I will be calling Wilson tomorrow.

[Rio Vista Slim]

I have a Wilson Professional that fails to lock back after the last round. This has happened maybe a half dozen times over the first 1000 rounds, but this weekend it progressed to every time. After cleaning the gun I found that when I racked the slide that if the slide lock engaged, it would do so only about halfway.

Any thoughts? I will be calling Wilson tomorrow.
In order to save you the possibility of some snide remarks from the Wilson crew, have you tried other magazines? I know this might seem to be an insulting question, but it's the first one they are going to ask you.

[Matt A]

Previously, but not yesterday, and it did the same thing. What mags are better than Wilson?

[Rio Vista Slim]

Previously, but not yesterday, and it did the same thing. What mags are better than Wilson?
;) That question could open Pandora's Box!!!!
I will state that I have about 4 Wilson mags that have worked well for me, but, I do need to order some new springs for them. I have one that will not hold the slide open after the last shot. So, I'm going to re-spring all of them.

[Baldy]

IMHO I like Mec-Gar for my S&W's a little better than the Wilson's. I am not saying Wilson is a bad product as they work great for a lot of people I know. I just have better luck with the Mec-Gars in my guns.

[wichaka]

Sounds like the springs on the mags need to be replaced, they lost some tension........

[Matt A]

I guess anything is possible, but I thought that mags less than a year old, less than 1500 rounds, and not stored loaded would last longer than that.

[John]

Hear that Wichaka? Wilson mags, less than one year old with less than 1500 rounds, not stored loaded, and they lost their tension!

I have had good results with MecGars, but also with some no-name 7-rounders. It all depends on what your pistol likes.

[wichaka]

I've got 10 Wilson 47D's that are over 12 years old and have yet to need a spring change.

QC.....its a good thing.

[Joni Lynn]

You could try Baer mags, McCormick Shooting Star & McCormick Power Mags, Tripp Cobra mags or mag kits for your existing mags.
You might benefit from a change to new springs.

[Matt A]

It is the springs! I took one mag apart and streched the spring by about 30% and put it back together. Appears to work perfect when racking the slide by hand and the spare mag will not. (Interesting that two mags failed at the same time)

I still think that the failure is premature for a product the quality of Wilson. I will be interested to see what my salesman Larry has to say when I ask him why I need to buy Les Baer or someone else's mags to make my $2000+ Wilson work properly.

The gun is great and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another, but this one of those things that has a high degree of pucker factor to it.

[Joni Lynn]

I've been told before that the springs were the weak link in those mags. There's other springs available. I think Wolf makes some decent ones.