Posted: 1/25/2005 10:56:59 AM EDT
| I've been looking for a .45 for a long time and love the 1911 but I can't activate the slide release without changing my grip. I don't like that. Will an extended slide stop release take care of that problem? Thanks. MJD |
Possibly. It is also possible that it will create other problems. Learn to adjust your grip, or deactivate the SS by pulling the slide rearward. |
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Most 1911 shooter's use the left hand to trip the slide stop instead of trying to reach it with the right hand thumb, OR we take care not to shoot the gun empty. The fastest magazine changes are with one round still in the gun, AND in a real defense situation, you're not standing there with an empty gun. This is the main reason combat shooters don't like pistols fitted with a magazine safety. While an extended slide stop will likely fix your problem. extended stops are notorious for making problems. Among them are premature slide lock with rounds still in the magazine, or failure to activate at all. It's no secret custom gunsmith's absolutely HATE extended stops, and only use them because some customers demand them. If asked, most gunsmiths will tell you that the most useless and problematical 1911 accessory is an extended stop. With that said, if you go with an extended stop, buy a GOOD quality model, make SURE it fits and functions properly, and cut off the extension as short as possible, yet still allow you to operate it properly. Again, fair warning, extended stops are trouble. |
This cannot be stressed enough. Ask anyone who has ever shot a 1911 with an extended slide stop for any period of time. I tried it back in '88 in a match gun. It lasted the one match, when I found out about the premature slide lock first hand. A lot of shooters who reload quick hit the slide release with their left thumb right after inserting the fresh mag with their left hand. It looks like one smoth motion, and is very fast. |
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Just to play devil's advocate for a moment, I have and use extended slide releases on both of my 1911's. I have fired at least 100k+ rounds through these guns combined and have yet to have a problem or malfunction induced because of this part. The # 1 culprit of malfunctions in either gun is magazines that don't like to be abused. Most gunsmiths do hate them. They can be problematic. They must be fit very precisely, and no matter how hard a gunsmith may try, some of these parts just won't work properly in some guns. It may solve your problem, but as so many others have pointed out, it may create a whole batch of new ones. |
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I also recommend that you dont rely on the slide release lever (extended or not) to release your slide. Use your hand and grasp the slide of your pistol over the top of your slide and rack it . Use this method to chamber a round, clear malfunctions, during reloads and become familiar with the method until it is done without thinking about it. The less tiny buttons and levers that you rely on to manipulate your pistol, the better off you will be in a situation where you or your families lives may rely on you being able to stay in the fight. I suggest you avoid the extended slide lever at all costs. "You fight how you train, So train how you want to fight." |