Slide locking open befor mags empty.

[compadre]

I have a Kimber Tactical Pro II. I use two 8 round Wilsons, and two 8 round Armscor, and the one Kimber 7 round mag that came with it. All function well as far as feeding. However, I will occasionally have the slide lock back on a magazine that still has rounds in it. So far it seems to be only the Armscor mags. (I know, don't use the Armscors)

I had the slide stop worked on by a professional and the part of the slide stop inside the gun was filed down some.

I'm wondering if it is believed that 8 round vs. 7 round mags cause this problem? So far I've only experienced this issue with the Armscor. I know the slide stop can be a contributor.

Does the Wilson extractor, or anybody else's drop-in slide stop help prevent this problem?


Thanks,
compadre

[Colt45guy]

you had a professional work the slide stop? Before or after it started giving you problems?


Make sure you still have a dimple on the flat face. I'd also check the detent spring to ensure it's not trimmed or otherwise boogered.


I have a real problem with slide stops engaging on full mags because I'm a lefty. If there's too much surface area, I bump it with my trigger finger knuckle during recoil. My 'fix' is to use a ss with a lower/flatter profile.

[compadre]

hello colt45guy,
this kimber was new when i purchased it. i had failures to feed, about 7 in 800 rounds, and about 3 lock-opens on a mag with rounds in it. this was before i had it worked on.

i've been thinking about purchasing wilson combat's slide stop.
compadre

[Pappy]

Hi compadre. Sometimes during recoil, the top round in the mag will move forward enough to bump the slidestop button, thus engaging it prematurely.
- Try a mag with a stronger spring. Or replace original mag spring with Wolff X-tra power. The Wilsons will be super when fitted with a Tripp upgrade. you will lose a round but gain a dimple.
- Round OAL is too long.
Good luck...Pappy

[1911Tuner]

this kimber was new when i purchased it. i had failures to feed, about 7 in 800 rounds, and about 3 lock-opens on a mag with rounds in it.

Late gettin' into theis one...

The Devils' in the Details, so they say. Sounds like you have two issues here.

First...Is it a failure to feed or a failure to go to battery? The two are sometimes related, but they're not the same. Failure to feed means that the round stops before it gets to the chamber. If the bullet nose enters the chamber...even a little...it's a failure to go to/return to battery.

In addition to the rising bullet nose bumping the slidestop lug, as mentioned...and as you have had tweaked...there's a couple other things that'll cause it. Nay! Three!

One is the magazine tube being out of spec, and letting the round shift to the left and into the slidestop lug under recoil. Try another magazine.

Two is the slidestop itself being out of spec at the rear face, and not resisting the inertial forces imposed on the gun during recoil. This could be in an incorrect angle
that uses the plunger to cam the stop upward...or the face not being positioned close enough to the plunger to get the full spring tension necessary. Replace the stop with one from another gun to see if it changes.

Three is the plunger assembly. If the pin's stop shelf in the plunger tube limits its travel, and prevents full spring tension on the stop. (This one is fairly rare, but occasionally happens...mostly on bargain-basement clones.) If the plunger pin is worn flat on the end, it can cause it. If the spring is weak, it can be the cause.

If another stop and another magazine doesn't cure it...remove the plunger assembly and stretch the spring at the center. There should be a kinked or doglegged portion in the spring, if it's correctly made. Stretch it a little there. If it cures the problem, order a new plunger assembly from Brownells...out of the "Colt Factory Parts" section in the back of the catalog.

Removing the plunger assembly will require removing the thumb safety.

Luck!

[compadre]

Gentlemen,
Thanks very much for taking time to offer your thoughts and suggestions.

Mr. Tuner, the jamming problem, according to the terminology you indicated, was one of failure to go into battery.

Upon return of my pistol from the gunsmith, I have had none of these types of failures, just the slide locking open.

I'm considering Pappy's suggestion on the Tripp Research mag. upgrade, as well as possibly purchasing a Bullet Proof slide stop from Wilson.

Oh, and I have isolated the Armscor magazines and will use only Wilson mags at this point, until I get my upgrades done.

Anymore suggestions are appreciated.

compadre

[Pappy]

Gentlemen,
Thanks very much for taking time to offer your thoughts and suggestions.

Mr. Tuner, the jamming problem, according to the terminology you indicated, was one of failure to go into battery.

Upon return of my pistol from the gunsmith, I have had none of these types of failures, just the slide locking open.

I'm considering Pappy's suggestion on the Tripp Research mag. upgrade, as well as possibly purchasing a Bullet Proof slide stop from Wilson.

Anymore suggestions are appreciated.

compadre

compadre, if want to try Tripp;

http://www.trippresearch.com/products/upgrade/upgrade.htm

For my Wilsons, it helped. This is a solution for your Wilsons.

Watch the Check-Mate postings for the upcoming group buy;

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=25800&highlight=checkmate

The 7-round hybrid lip configuration is what you want if you are planing on buying more mags...Pappy