Slide advice

[Llama guy]

I have a Llama MaxI. I got it new in 1999, I have put thousands of rounds through it without a malfunction. Now most of the time the slide will not stay locked back. I've done some reading here trying to learn. I should probaly change the recoil spring first? I've used other mags to check that first. I fiqure as much as I.ve shot it, and never changed any springs. that might be a place to start?

[John]

Well, the recoil spring won't help you with the slide not locking back. It will certainly help make the pistol work properly and it will save your slide and frame from beating each other to death though.

Your not-locking-back problem can be either due to weak magazine spring(s) or to a damaged slide stop. Remove the slide from your pistol and insert the slide stop in its normal position. Now push an empty magazine slowly in the frame. Watch the follower when it approaches the slide stop, inside the frame. Does the follower engage the slide stop? If it does, that means the slide stop is probably OK and your problem is your magazine springs. Either change them or get a good quality magazine and try it out.

[Llama guy]

I've tried brand new Kimber mags. Same thing.

[Llama guy]

I followed the precedure you described. The slide stop seems to be engaging the follower. This mag definitely needs rebuilt anyway. I'm going to pull the slide stop off later. And see if the edge is a little worn down.

[berkbw]

Or recoil spring binding - or recoil buffers -

[Llama guy]

Can you explain?

[berkbw]

As I was merrily typing a response - a 1911 slid off of my lap, and killed the power...

So re-doing. Wait a min...

b-

[berkbw]

OK - redoing my last, vanished post. there are 3 things, in general, to consider: 1st USE STD FMJ ammo when firing.
1- can the slide move far enough back to allow it to lock. There is a sticky at the top of this forum on determining spring-bind. If you have any recoil buffers -things that get put on top of the guide rod flange- remove them.
2- look at the locking slot in the slide and the slide stop.. the faces at the hammer end of things need to be perpendicular to the rails. Otherwise it might not lock during violence.
3- I say remove the recoil spring, but Joni advises removing the whole slide. stick an empty mag in, and look at what happens when the mag follower pushes the slide stop - if it does. If the follower can move far enough to the right side to miss the SS, then, either the SS is too worn/short, or the mag is sloppy/faulty. If this is not the case- then you need to spend the $7.50, or whatever it is now for a new mag spring.

Best I can do for now -
b-

[Llama guy]

Thank you. I will go through these and see if anything helps.