Slide releases when mag is dropped problem

[Red Dog Leader]

Hello to all,

A couple of weeks ago went to the range and went thru ~ 25 to 30 mags, got home and field stripped the G.C. for cleaning and broke down the mags for cleaning also. It’s been a long time that I cleaned the mags.

A few days ago went to the range again and after almost every empty mag (around 25 or so), when I released it the slide would release and close.

Mags are 4 Chip McCormick 8 rounders, 1 Kimber and 1 “RIA”.

After numbering and inserting the C.M. mags 3 out of 4 would not push the slide stop exterior “tang” fully up into the notch in the slide. The RIA also did this, the Kimber wont even hold the side open after last round:

Pic: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SHOOTING/SLIDELOCKextshots_IMG_20090516_0001.jpg

Pic 2, Only C.M. that engages fully. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SHOOTING/SLIDELOCKextshots_IMG_20090516_0003.jpg

Slide stop pic: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SHOOTING/_640X480image011FOLLOWERANDSSTOP_.jpg


It also seems that the followers are riding more forward in the mag tube. They catch slightly as mag is inserted and I have to seat the bullets back some when inserting in mag well.

I’m sure I orientated the spring correctly the last time I disassembled them, but plan to look at them all again.

Now this pistol had extensive work done by EGW about 5000 rnds or so ago and has been functioning fine since this happened.

Time for a new slide stop or mag problem? Plunger tube pin too stiff?

Am searching site now for similar problems.....
Anything else to check? or just get new wolf or Tripp kits

Thanks, Tom

[log man]

Extended slide stops can be problematic due to the extra weight.

LOG

[Red Dog Leader]

Yeah Log Man, I think you suggested that on another forum.

Just funny that its been working fine for a long time now this.

I cured the previous problem of slide release, seems I'd been shooting the M&P's for so long my grip then changed when using the Colt and thumb was activating slide release.

Can you suggest another stop? I'll start looking thru Brownells 1911 catalog....

Thanks, T

[log man]

For Slide stops I like EGW's. This is the one I like.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=6129&title=1911%20AUTO%20OVERSIZE%20SLIDE%20STOP

LOG

[kenhwind]

How about a close up pic of your slide stop notch and slide stop.
Here's why I ask:
My series 70 .45 has been shot a lot an awlfull lot IMO. Awhile back at the Range when I inserted a mag the slide would close.
Problem was after all these years of shooting it there was a bump worn in the slide stop notch. A little Dremel work, still using original slide stop.

[niemi24s]

Check the geometries of the slide stop and its notch in the slide against the blueprints in our Tech Issues section.

The aft of the slide notch looks (and looks can be deceiving) too far away from the vertical.

Regards

[Red Dog Leader]

Thanks for the replys...


The aft of the slide notch looks (and looks can be deceiving) too far away from the vertical.

Regards

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SHOOTING/1911slidevieweviewnew.jpg

Ok, so your saying the angle on my slide notch is too much, (like the red line above)
and should look like the black line just to the right of the red line I added?

[CDogg]

this issue defintely sounds like its the slide stop itself. replace it perhaps and try things out again ;)

[John]

I would say it's a magazine issue. If some mags push it all the way up, while others do not, it's a magazine issue. Can't tell from here, if it is the spring which is weak or if the follower is not engaging properly, or what, but it has to be a magazine issue.

Show us some pictures from inside the ejection port, with an empty magazine inserted. Show us a picture of a magazine that pushes the slide stop up all the way, and another one with the bad magazines. I want to see the interaction between the slide stop and the follower.

[Jolly Rogers]

First pic in post #1 sure shows to me incomplete slide stop engagement and a non standard shape to the slide stop notch. Possibly wear caused by an extended slide stop of incorrect lug shape that is not lifted to proper height when the mag follower contacts it. Could be a combination of factors that has caused some wear over use. I had to fit the Wilson slide stop to the notch in my Springfield loaded. I also had to reshape the slide stop ramp that cams it to release positition on my new 9mm loaded. It had started to peen and burr the slide before I even took it to the range. Gun parts aren't "Drop in" right John?

Joe

[John]

Gun parts aren't "Drop in" right John?

Abso - I agree - lutely!!!!

[niemi24s]

. . .so your saying the angle on my slide notch is too much, (like the red line above)
and should look like the black line just to the right of the red line I added?Didn't say it was. Just said it looked like it was.

Only way to tell is with a protractor & magnifier.

The aft end of the slide stop should be at 90° to the bottom of its arm, and when rotated up all the way should be a near-perfect match to that 8° angle.

Best way to see if you magazines have the capability of lifting the stop all the way up into the notch is to remove the recoil spring, move the slide back to put the notch over the stop and insert the magazine.

I have a hunch all of your magazines are capable of lifting it up enough, but the notch's angle cams the stop downward when the lifting influence of the magazine is removed.

If the notch angle and stop angle are correct, there will no tendency for the slide to move the stop down if you push forward on the slide - even if the stop's not all the way up.

[CDogg]

I would say it's a magazine issue. .

if the magazine is already dropped and the slide wont stay open, wouldnt that be the latch problem and not the mag? Like you said, its somewhat hard to tell from here. It wont be that hard to figure out though. Im sure enough troubleshooting can be done
come to think of it what niemi said makes more sense that the notch angle might be wrong or too much that the slide stop slides right off when theres no more pressure holding it up

[niemi24s]

Forgot to mention the obvious: The stop should go fully up into the notch when pushed up manually. If it doesn't there's something wrong with either the stop itself or its cutout in the frame.

Another contributing factor might be if someone has put a recess on the back of the stop for the slide stop plunger - to prevent the stop from inadvertently actuating. If so and it wasn't done well, the SS plunger could, I think, tend to force the stop down when the lifting influence of the magazine is removed.

[Red Dog Leader]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/DSCF0054.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDELOCKextshotss_IMG_20090517_-3.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDELOCKextshotss_IMG_20090517_-2.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDELOCKextshotss_IMG_20090517_-1.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDELOCKextshotss_IMG_20090517_000.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDELOCKextshotss_IMG_20090517_001.jpg


http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/timlunn/SLIDESTOP1.jpg

Also plan to check followers and spring lengh of bad mags against 1 good C.M. mag, make sure geometry of followers is good.


I have a hunch all of your magazines are capable of lifting it up enough, but the notch's angle cams the stop downward when the lifting influence of the magazine is removed.

Now I have a set of fine diamond files, so if after checking with magnifier and protractor, if angle is too great I decrease it a little bit....?

Or buy a Dan Wesson CBOB (If I can find one) and send the Gold Cup out for service :D

I'll tell the C.F.O. it's the best way to fix this problem... :appld:

Thanks for all your help.

[kenhwind]

I would try a new good high quality slide stop first. It looks to me that the slide stop has peened the slide stop notch in the slide.
A brave soul can fix this with the Dremel, but you have to be real careful because if it bounces across the slide, my ears will be ringing like a Cathedral on Sunday

[niemi24s]

Now I have a set of fine diamond files, so if after checking with magnifier and protractor, if angle is too great I decrease it a little bit....It needs to be straight and at the same angle as shown on the blueprint.

I've never worked on one of those notches, but if I had to I'd use a narrow graver, a chisel-like tool engravers use. That's the only thing I can think of that would get the top, aft corner nice & sharp. And I'd get lots of practice on a piece of scrap steel first, there's probably a lot of technique involved.

Sending the slide off to get fixed may be your best option.

All this assumes that's the cause of the problem, and your fourth pic seems to show it is but.....

.....is the aft stop surface at 90° to the bottom of the arm?

[niemi24s]

Forgot: Getting rid of the extended slide stop would be a wise move, IMHO.

[CDogg]

Forgot: Getting rid of the extended slide stop would be a wise move, IMHO.

im with that. I never liked those extended thumb safety and extended slide stop or anything extended. even if its just the mag release.

[John]

If I were in the owner's shoes, I would send the slide to Colt and have them fix this. The anlge is totally wrong. Better yet, send the whole pistol, tell the to get rid of the slide stop and replace it with a Colt one at the same time.