Colt 1991 Officer's - failure to lock slide back

[jeep45238]

On the first range trip the gun worked flawlessly with my reloads and store bought ammo.

Second trip out the gun will not lock the slide back with the same 2 mags or ammo that it did before, and I'm not seeing any apparent galling on the slide or slide stop. I do notice the followers of the mags touching the slide stop, I'm just not seeing them engaging the slide stop into the slide.

Keep in mind 1 mag is new, 1 mag is used - 1 has a brand new spring, the other, who knows. Last trip, no problems, this time, many.

I'm torn whether to start looking predominantly at the slide stop or at the magazines and possibly using +5% heavier mag springs - suggestions/opinions?

[niemi24s]

Q#1: Do these magazines lock the slide back when the slide is pulled all the way back by hand when the magazine is empty?

Q#2: Are you left handed?

[jeep45238]

I'm right handed - no, the slide does not lock back by hand.

I also noticed (and forgot to mention) that the slide stop is working itself out when it's being fired. I'm using the same grip as my Para full size, which has 0 issues.

[niemi24s]

The slide stop may be getting jostled to the left by contact from the rounds being fed upward in the magazine. Remove the stop and examine its lug that gets pushed up by the magazine follower for evidence of bullet nose contact. But why this contact (if it exists now) didn't occur on your first range trip is beyond me - I don't think slide stops can grow larger!

If the stop won't lock the slide back manually, the arm may be bent and holding the lug away from the mag follower. Examine the aftward facing arm of the stop and make sure it's snug along the side of the frame all the way.

The slide stop plunger should exert about 3 or so pounds of force when the thumb safety is disengaged (down) and crud inside the plunger tube could be preventing the plunger from doing its job of keeping the slide stop in place.

Regards

[jeep45238]

There's gotta be a problem with the slide stop, i don't see it being a problem with the mags for it to happen that fast - especially considering that the last time around the slide stop was not moving on me.

I put in a Wilson Combat bulletproof unit and it's locking back by hand, I'm hoping to get to the range this weekend and give it a wringer.

[niemi24s]

Examine the lower surface of the stop's lug - where the follower does its lifting. That surface is supposed to be slanted, with the lower part toward the gun's centerline. This, along with the matching sloped area on the follower leg is supposed to keep the follower and stop engaged during the lift.

FWIW, a blueprint of the stop is available in our Tech Issues section.

Regards

[jeep45238]

The new one's dead on my para's and my buddy's S&W, it should work out fine and dandy - the old one, not so much.

[niemi24s]

Hi Mike:

Say again?

Regards

[jeep45238]

The lug that engages the mag follower was sheared off vertically on the old one - this new one is fine and dandy.

[niemi24s]

The lug that engages the mag follower was sheared off vertically on the old one . . .Yet another marvel of modern manufacturing methods & technology! :(

Regards