link or lugs?

[billsliv]

My fairly new Rock Island Armory compact (3.5" barrel) has a problem. The slide sticks about 1/8" before full engagement. I removed the recoil spring, rod, safeties, sear, disconnector leaving just the frame, slide and barrel. And it still sticks. Is this a simple fix? Wrong size link? Try for warranty help? It seems to be the worst when pointed straight up.

Thanks,
Bill S.
http://site.lvhost2.com:82/fa/images/sticks.jpg

[John]

Does the slide stop there when slowly allowed to go into battery, or when you fire the pistol, or allow the slide to ram forward at full speed?

If it happens when the slide is eased forward slowly, I won't worry about it. If it happens when you pull the slide all the way back and release it (or when firing), then there is a problem.

[toolman]

If you push on the back of the slide with your thumbs will it go into lockup?

[billsliv]

It sticks when slowly allowed to go into battery with no cartridge. It will only come to a stop if held pointed up or with a cartridge loaded and slowly allowed to go forward. A very light touch on the back of the slide will allow it go into battery.

It has stopped at that position when firing also. But I haven't fired it much, ~200 rounds.

Thanks again,
Bill S.

[John]

Keep shooting the pistol, there is nothing wrong with it if it stops when the slide is slowly moved forward. If it stops there when firing, it's a different story, most probably your extractor is a bit on the tight side. But this gun is still new, keep shooting it and notice if the jam occurs more or less often than before.

[toolman]

Some of the custom 'smiths do what they call "hard fitted". I think they mean they're fitted pretty tight, sometimes to the point of not quite functioning correctly until they have been fired enough to loosen them up.

This could be an example of "hard fitted". Hard fitted pistols sometimes need as many as 500 rounds to begin loosening up and running.

Does the pistol function correctly otherwise?

[billsliv]

I was a bit worried that firing it might cause further damage, but I'll go blast some in the next day or three.

It failed to return to battery once out of about 20 shots last time out. My full size Kimber feels like silk by comparison, but it has a few thousand rounds thru it.

Thanks for the help.