1911PD slide lock issues

[StillCrazy]

Made a range visit yesterday with my new-to-me S&W 1911PD, and had some slide issues. A couple of times, the slide wouldn't fully return to battery - it would stop with the round not fully chambered. I eliminated one of the four mags I was using, an 8-round Mec-Gar that had a flat plastic follower, and that seemed to cure the problem.

However, with the other three mags, there were several times the slide wouldn't lock back after the last round. The three consisted of two new CMC PowerMag+ 8-rounders, and an older 8-round S&W which I think was made by Mec-Gar. All three had steel followers.

I cleaned the gun afterwards, and I tried racking the slide with each of the four empty mags. The Mec-Gar locked back, and with a little difficulty I was able to release the slide. The other three also locked back, but I couldn't release the slide at all without removing the magazine. At the range, with the mags loaded, I had no problem releasing the slide.

Any thoughts on what might be going on with the gun?

 

[M29since14]

Try replacing your recoil spring.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Firstly, I have two brand new Mac-Gar 8 round .45 1911 mags that will fit into two of my 1911 .45's but will not lock home in the third. Yet several other Men-Gar mags work perfectly in that pistol.

My 9mm Kimber 1911 slide release stopped working a few weeks ago, either with the mag in place or without it, and I had to resort to pulling back on the slide to release it. It had worked perfectly for almost 2 years.

After giving the pistol a good clean I had to resort to an extended slide release to get enough leverage to drop the slide. The first few releases were quite hard but it soon began to operate normally. I have yet to reinstall the original slide lever to see if it still sticks.

One suggestion I received, which I have not had time to followup on, was to install the lever with the slide removed and see what was happening with both an empty mag well and a mag in place. Hopefully will get to do both checks later today.

Mec-Gar mags are okay but I have found that sometimes they fail to lock back on the last round. Wilson Combat mags are much better and I am slowly replacing the Mic-Gar mags with the Wilson's.

 

[StillCrazy]

Thanks. It just occurred to me that it may be normal to be unable to release the slide on an empty mag. I'm new to 1911's, so I'm still learning.

 

[StillCrazy]

My 9mm Kimber 1911 slide release stopped working a few weeks ago, either with the mag in place or without it, and I had to resort to pulling back on the slide to release it. It had worked perfectly for almost 2 years.

I can't just drop the slide by pressing the slide release. I have to pull the slide back, allowing the lock to disengage. And that's with no mag inserted. With an empty mag in, it won't release at all, although that may be normal.

 

[StillCrazy]

I can't just drop the slide by pressing the slide release. I have to pull the slide back, allowing the lock to disengage. And that's with no mag inserted. With an empty mag in, it won't release at all, although that may be normal.

After removing the slide and playing with the thing a little more, I may have discovered why I can't simply drop the slide using the slide release lever.

I see that with an empty mag, the follower pushes the release lever up into the lock position, as it should. But in doing so, the plunger is allowed to move under the end of the release lever. At that point, I have to press very hard on the lever in order to get it past the end of the plunger. It's a two-handed operation, though, and I don't think it should be that difficult.

I'm thinking that the end of the lever may need a bit of filing to put more of an angle on the face at the plunger contact point, or to at least round off the corner of it. That would allow it to more easily pass the end of the plunger. As an alternative, a lighter plunger spring might also help. I hope I'm describing all this in an understandable way.

Somebody jump in and correct me if I'm on the wrong track.

 

[Kiwi cop]

After removing the slide and playing with the thing a little more, I may have discovered why I can't simply drop the slide using the slide release lever.

I see that with an empty mag, the follower pushes the release lever up into the lock position, as it should. But in doing so, the plunger is allowed to move under the end of the release lever. At that point, I have to press very hard on the lever in order to get it past the end of the plunger. It's a two-handed operation, though, and I don't think it should be that difficult.

I'm thinking that the end of the lever may need a bit of filing to put more of an angle on the face at the plunger contact point, or to at least round off the corner of it. That would allow it to more easily pass the end of the plunger. As an alternative, a lighter plunger spring might also help. I hope I'm describing all this in an understandable way.

Somebody jump in and correct me if I'm on the wrong track.

Never, N,ever NEVER take a file to anypart of a pistol unless you know what you're doing!!!!!

With an empty magazine in place the slide will lock back and it should be difficult, but not impossible, to drop the slide using the slide release. You certainly cannot do so by pulling back on the slide.

It sounds like your pistol may have a faulty plunger or slide stop/release lever, in which case take it back to either the place you bought it, or, if purchased privately, a reputable gunsmith, to have a look at.

 

[L-2]

My advice,

1. I think we're talking about a used S&W 1911 here, but I'm not completely sure based on the OP's description. Whether new or used, consider having someone knowledgable look at this gun, which might include sending back to S&W. Diagnosing over the internet can be frustrating and inadequate for any specific gun.

2. I agree to not be filing on a slide-stop without adequate knowledge of what's happening. Having a new, brand-name, spare slide-stop is a good idea at this point. I don't like the description of the plunger blocking the slide-stop, but without seeing it and comparing it to another 1911, filing isn't currently a good thing to be doing.

3. A slide not fully returning to battery could be a number of things, but one immediate thing which can happen to any 1911 or semiauto pistol is the recoil spring becoming too weak to guarantee the slide returning to battery. As I said, there could be any number of things wrong, especially if this is a used gun and not knowing what work or what parts may have been replaced from a brand new one.

4. Until a new slide-stop is substituted into this 1911, all the mags may be fine. I do like hearing how one of the mags is locking back the slide. Just because the other mags are not locking back the slide could be those mags' springs, followers, or the problematic slide stop. It's normal to be difficult or even unable to press the slide-stop down while an empty mag is still in the gun-don't even bother trying to do that.

5. Summary. At this point and from the description of the issues, this 1911 may only need a new slide-stop and recoil spring. It could also need an entire "reliability job" by a reputable gunsmith; a trip back to S&W; or just a detail strip and cleaning after that slide-stop and recoil spring are examined/replaced.

BTW, a slide-stop might drop in just fine, but may require some "fitting". A person might try a stock S&W slide-stop, especially if new to this specific 1911 and to 1911 guns, in general.

(retired cop; Glock and 1911 armorer, but this info doesn't fit in this forum's signature field.)

 

[StillCrazy]

Thanks to all who replied. Yes, the gun is used. I owned a perfectly performing 9mm CZ P-01 clone for a few years that I bought new, but for personal reasons decided I wanted a 1911. And, yes, I know that less than perfect work could have been done previously on a used gun. I'm not new to that reality.

I hesitated to ask all my previous questions, because more than anything, I hate appearing to be the village idiot. But, everyone eventually experiences the challenge of a learning curve, and that's where I'm at now.

Please bear with me until I get a handle on this thing.

 

[AveragEd]

Relax and don't worry about asking for suggestions or help. Remember, we all started somewhere.

I will tell you that all four of my S&W 1911s work as close to flawlessly as a machine can using Wilson Combat magazines, specifically their ETM - Elite Tactical Magazine. They have a molded polymer follower that fits down into the magazine body and cannot tilt so feeding is controlled very well. And being thick and not made of thin metal that can become misshaped, the follower always locks the slide back on an empty magazine. They also have a larger base pad but that's really only a benefit for tactical or defensive shooting. At least last week, MidwayUSA had them on sale.

I also use extended slide stops on my 1911s - Wilsons again. My arthritic fingers struggle with the standard ones. You will occasionally have to notch the top of the left grip panel to clear the release lever. It depends upon the shape of an aftermarket grip panel but if needed, it doesn't take much of a notch.

Good luck with your gun and again, don't worry about asking questions.

Ed

 

[StillCrazy]

Thanks, Ed.

I'm still thinking about the range officer's advice that my thumb might be riding on the slide stop, preventing the slide from locking back. The fact is that, when gripping the gun to fire, my thumb won't even reach the slide stop. So, that can't be the problem.

As others suggested, there may be only three other causes - an improperly fitted slide stop, a weak recoil spring, or some issue with the magazines. A weakened mag spring is certainly possible. But, considering that two of the four mags are new Chip McCormicks, I think the odds are slim. Just my 2CW.

I did notice that the steel followers on the two CMC's do seem to tip forward pretty easily. I suppose that after firing the last round, the follower might not exert enough force on the slide stop to push it up into the locking notch on the slide.

 

[StillCrazy]

Just ordered two Wilson Combat 47D's from Brownells. They were on sale for a great price! Hopefully, they will perform better than the other brands that disappointed me at the range.

I've come across a number of folks who've had a slide lock issue with the same CMC's I used.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Just ordered two Wilson Combat 47D's from Brownells. They were on sale for a great price! Hopefully, they will perform better than the other brands that disappointed me at the range.

I've come across a number of folks who've had a slide lock issue with the same CMC's I used.

You can also order Wilson Combat magazine springs and flowers. I just got two to refurbish some old mags I had on hand. The deep (and sculptured?) follower is great for making that 8th round easy to get into the mag.

They are only $10/$12 each.

 

[AveragEd]

I did notice that the steel followers on the two CMC's do seem to tip forward pretty easily. I suppose that after firing the last round, the follower might not exert enough force on the slide stop to push it up into the locking notch on the slide.

You just solved your problem! Yes, that steel follower can tilt downward at the front instead of pushing the slide lock upward. That's why many tactical magazines don't use that style follower.

Ed

 

[Kp321]

If the plunger is going under the slide stop, one possibility is that the plunger tube is loose. With the slide off and the thumb safety removed, see if there you can wiggle the plunger tube. Any movement is bad and can cause thumb safety issues also. See your 1911 smith.

 

[StillCrazy]

If the plunger is going under the slide stop, one possibility is that the plunger tube is loose. With the slide off and the thumb safety removed, see if there you can wiggle the plunger tube. Any movement is bad and can cause thumb safety issues also. See your 1911 smith.

Nope. It's solid as a rock.

 

[mitchjt]

I have a Les Baer 1911 45 that I added a recoil buffer and that caused the slide to lock back so tight that the slide stop was difficult to release. At first I chased mag issues too but it was the buffer. Even added an extended slide stop like the other guy.