SW1911PC slide doesn’t lock open.

[brantfredrickson]

I have new to me SW1911PC that I have only run 100 rounds through and the slide doesn't lock open after the last shot. With an empty magazine inserted, the magazine follower seems to get underneath the slide stop and the slide stop pops into place locking the slide open. However if I load 8 rounds in the magazine and cycle the gun manually, the magazine follower slips slightly to side of the slide stop and doesn't push the slip stop into place after ejecting the last cartridge. It does this with both magazines which are S&W ACT magazines. I was thinking of buying a new slide stop, but who's slide stop should I buy? And am I even looking at the right thing or should I be looking else were? Am I always going to have this problem with ACT magazines and should I go for new magazines first? Unfortunately my experience with 1911's is the 100 rounds I have previously stated, and we don't have a local 1911 smith that could help. My only option is to sent it back to S&W. What is you experience?

 

[handgunner356]

Most slide stops are fitted, your best bet is to call S&W and explain what's happening. They will send you a shipping tag so you're only out not having the gun for a couple of weeks. It does sound as if the stop is short as opposed to faulty mags, but I'd send both mags back in with it to be sure.

 

[conchmariner]

I think most 1911s like to see 230 grain ball ammo for the first couple of hundred rounds. Lighter rounds could cause the problem of slide not locking back on a new auto loader. FWIW I've heard of this happening on new 9 mm guns when lighter than 124 grain ball ammo was used during break in, and on .40 S&W guns when lighter than 180 grain ball ammo was used during break in.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

It should work with the mags supplied by S&W.
It could be the magazines or the slide stop or maybe it just needs a bit of break in. (I'm not much of a believer in break in)
I would try it with another brand of magazine, one which is known to work well in most guns.
Then I'd let S&W sort things out.

 

[brantfredrickson]

I received from Brownell's a Wilson Combat slide stop and installed it yesterday. The Wilson Combat slide stop has a lot more of its tab sitting on the magazine follower the the S&W slide stop. It holds the slide open after the last shot when a magazine full of cartridges is manually cycled through the gun. Next stop is the range.

 

[pace40]

Not for nothing but you shouldn't have to futz around with an $1700 gun to get it to work. Call the factory and tell them to fix it. I use ACT mags all the time and they never have been a problem.

 

[H Richard]

Even in old GI guns, my experience is it is usually the magazine. Also, mild target loads with a full power recoil spring can create the same situation.