Wierd FTRTB

[Truckman]

I have a Rock Island full size that has a problem maybe once or twice in 100 rounds. This happens with all kinds of ammo and with different mags. The slide stops 1/4 inch before full battery. When it happens I can't pull the slide back. The only thing that works is working the slide back and forth slightly until I can push it forward and fire the round. I went through the pistol and smothed everthing but that did not change a thing even tho it works great most of the time. I han a problem with dinging on the lower barrell lugs and scrapped them. They are ok but it did not change this problem. the only mod this gun has is a EGW firing pin stop. I don't have pics yet as it seems to happen when my camera is elsewhere but I'll try to get some soon. The pistol is very accurate.

[Tom]

Does this happen with one magazine in particular, or across more than one? First round of the magazine, or the last? When hand cycling or only when firing?

[Truckman]

It just happens when firing. Most of the time its the 2nd or 3rd round and with
the stock Novak and some mags. I can't figure out why I can't pull the slide back when this happens.

[1911Tuner]

I can't figure out why I can't pull the slide back when this happens

HARD...3-Point Jam. The barrel is wedged up into the slide ahead of the point that will allow the barrel lugs to enter the corresponding slots. Barry keeps moving up...Slide keeps moving forward...and it's like kicking an angled doorstop tighter under the door.

Since it's a quarter-inch out, I have a suspicion that it's excessive extractor tension, or interference between the hook and the bottom of the extractor groove in the case and/or interference between the nose of the extractor and the bevel in front of the extractor groove. Hard to say sometimes, without actually seeing the gun. Sometimes a weak mag spring can mimic the effects of excess extractor tension. See if you can nail it down to a particular magazine.

[niemi24s]

Is there any evidence showing that the forward corners of the barrel locking lugs are "crashing" into the aft corners of the slide locking lugs?

Next time it happens, carefully see if the slide stop can be moved up or down slightly - or if it's bound up solidly so it won't even move from side to side a little bit.

Welcome to the forum, by the way. All you need to know about the 1911 is available here.

[Truckman]

Thanks a lot you guys. I have been vewing the forum for a while. I have learned a lot here. I worked on the extractor a while ago and beveled it as per stickys but didn't bother to adjust the tension as it seemed to pass all the tests. I'll loosen it a little and see what happens. I can't see any signs of the upper barrell lugs "crashing". Whats strange to me is the pistol is smooth as glass most of the time.

[Truckman]

I bent the extractor a little looser went to the range and fired 125 rounds
Seems to be flawless. Thanks Johnny

[Tom]

That excessive extractor tension will getcha every time.