Posted: 5/22/2011 7:01:47 PM EDT
|
First, let me say that I am brand new to 1911's. I took my newly acquired 1911 to the range today and experienced some major premature slide lock (slide locking back with loaded mag). When disassembling and reassembling the firearm I noticed that the slide catch is very loose and that there is virtually no tension between it and the "plunger thingy." (sorry). I'm wondering exactly which part is the cause of the problem. I should probably point out that I had been using ACT mags and Wilson combat mags. The malfunction occurred with both magazines. All help appreciated |
|
Part of the plunger's function is to keep the slide stop where it is until the mag follower presses it up into the slide notch. I'd suggest removing the plunger spring assembly and cleaning the inside of the plunger tube. There may be some debris or a burr keeping the plunger from operating correctly.
This assumes you weren't unconsciously bumping the slide stop up with your thumb while shooting. |
|
Quoted: Part of the plunger's function is to keep the slide stop where it is until the mag follower presses it up into the slide notch. I'd suggest removing the plunger spring assembly and cleaning the inside of the plunger tube. There may be some debris or a burr keeping the plunger from operating correctly. This assumes you weren't unconsciously bumping the slide stop up with your thumb while shooting. I think you're probably right about the plunger assy being the issue. When I watch 1911 reassembly videos on youtube many users make note that the slide catch takes some work to reinsert past the plunger. My catch requires no effort and simply drops right in without contacting the plunger. I guess I'm wondering if the catch is out of spec or if it is a plunger assy problem. I'll try and post some pics soon. this is exactly what is happening... |
|
Lock the gun open...hold the mag catch..and insert a loaded mag...see if the ammo hits the slide stop nubbie that sticks in the magwell.
The new Rem I just got had a lot of protrusion into the magwell..although it wasn't locking open early...but my Springfield Milspec was a locking open bitch. 
Seems the factorys don't bother to check this on the average 1911 pistol...reducing the nub is a fairly easy fix. |
|
Quoted: I think you're probably right about the plunger assy being the issue. When I watch 1911 reassembly videos on youtube many users make note that the slide catch takes some work to reinsert past the plunger. My catch requires no effort and simply drops right in without contacting the plunger. Does the thumb safety "click" or move freely? |
|
Quoted: It clicks.Quoted: I think you're probably right about the plunger assy being the issue. When I watch 1911 reassembly videos on youtube many users make note that the slide catch takes some work to reinsert past the plunger. My catch requires no effort and simply drops right in without contacting the plunger. Does the thumb safety "click" or move freely? |
I think I might have figured it out after reading a few threads about the issue. The inside of the slide release which contacts the follower of the magazine is slightly rubbing against the bullets in the mag. The bullet is then causing the release to move into the up positon thus locking back my slide. I think that if I file a little metal off the release it will no longer touch the bullets and fix my problem. |
|
What brand of 1911 is it?
My Springer and my new Rem both came from the factory with slide stops that stuck so far into the mag-well that bullets had to 'jump' around the slide-stop.  ...
Didn't effect the Rem much because it's slide stop has good detent tension on it..plus some friction from being fitted up so tight. The Springer would premature lock open about every mag. 
Bet you got the deal figured out.. 
|
|
Quoted: What brand of 1911 is it? My Springer and my new Rem both came from the factory with slide stops that stuck so far into the mag-well that bullets had to 'jump' around the slide-stop. ...Didn't effect the Rem much because it's slide stop has good detent tension on it..plus some friction from being fitted up so tight. The Springer would premature lock open about every mag. Bet you got the deal figured out.. The 1911 is a full size ATI. Yep, there is no detent in my slide stop. Combine that with the fact that there is virtually no tension against the plunger along with the bullet hitting it and viola! malfunction every 3-4 rounds. Somehow I missed your earlier post describing the problem I have... I wish I would have read it before I went searching for a few hours online.  |
|
The detent plunger in the tube just bears against the backend of the slidestop....I sent my Springfield Milspec back to Springfield Armory because of the premature slide lock issue..They drilled a bit of a 'dimple' in the back of the slidestop for the detent plunger to work on...This helped...but didn't completely cure the issue. Guess they didn't want to file off the nub on the slide-stop.
|
|
Quoted: I suspect that the detent spring tube wasn't drilled deep enough to allow the slide stop detent to protrude sufficiently to contact the slide stop. I'll bet that even after you file on the slide stop that it still locks the slide open while firing. I think you might be right. I'm going to file the slide stop and see if this fixes the issue. After all, the bullet does rub. I am worried about the lack of tension between the plunger and stop, however I have read on some forums that light or no tension is fine and won't affect function. After looking at my stop there is some wear at the point of contact with the plunger. In other words the plunger is contacting the stop but with barely any tension. I guess I'll have to run another box through her to find out. |
|
Quoted: Does the plunger protrude from the tube very far with the slide-stop removed?...I mean further than just enough to touch the slide stop.. Sorry, I don't know how to rotate the picture. To answer your question, no the plunger does not protrude very far. - just enough to graze the slide stop.  |
|
Quoted: Doesn't have very much protrusion does it...does it bear on the back end of the slide stop lever? The plunger barely touches it and after examining it fully assembled, it might actually not touch it at all. I got ahold of some specifications on another site and have come to the conclusion that my plunger is actually out of spec. The plunger should be longer - this would solve my problem. |
| After reviewing the original blueprints of the plunger part I came to the conclusion that my plunger was out of spec. For some reason it was smaller than what the springfield specifications call for. I found a replacement plunger at a gun show and swapped it out with the one out of spec. Sure enough, this one protrudes farther and actually provides tension on the slide release. I'm gonna take the 1911 out next weekend and see how she does. |
|
Quoted: After reviewing the original blueprints of the plunger part I came to the conclusion that my plunger was out of spec. For some reason it was smaller than what the springfield specifications call for. I found a replacement plunger at a gun show and swapped it out with the one out of spec. Sure enough, this one protrudes farther and actually provides tension on the slide release. I'm gonna take the 1911 out next weekend and see how she does.  |
| Not sure if anyone cares or is looking at buying an ATI, but I'll update it anyways. I took the gun out today and shot a box through her with no premature slide lock problems. Looks like I filed a little too much off the slide stop though because it isn't locking back on an empty mag every time. I'm not too pissed though. I'll probably replace it with a higher quality part. |
|
Quoted: Not sure if anyone cares or is looking at buying an ATI, but I'll update it anyways. I took the gun out today and shot a box through her with no premature slide lock problems. Looks like I filed a little too much off the slide stop though because it isn't locking back on an empty mag every time. I'm not too pissed though. I'll probably replace it with a higher quality part. Cool. Thanx for the AAR |