1911 not locking back on empty mag, sometimes.

[Lead Waster]

I took my TRP to the range with new HANDLOADS (yes, yes, handloads) of a 200gn LSWC (coated, actually) and 200gn RN. I don't think that the ammo is really an issue.

Anyway, I also took 9 magazines, mostly black Wilson Combat ETMs with some not-black ones as well.

I had a few "slide not locking back when empty". One magazine in particular did this almost all the time. Another magazine did it more than the others. Then randomly some of them did not lock back, though mostly they did.

What causes this? Is the magazine not sitting high enough or the follower not popping up high enough? Since one magazine showed this consistently, I'm willing to believe it's more a magazine problem than the gun (guessing). If that is so ... what can I do to correct it?

This sounds dumb, but I was testing my loads and shooting with is because our local club is having a single stack only USPSA match in a few weeks ... and if it's an issue with the TRP, then I'm going to try out my RIA Tactical as well to check the mags. It will be interesting if the cheaper gun is more reliable.

[AdamB330]

I've had the same issue with some of my 1911 mags also. After I replaced the my slide spring it was a little more lenient with what mags worked and didn't work.
You can lock the slide back manually with the mags without issue?

[Rhyyke]

1. Have you tried the same ammo in another gun?
2. Have you tried the same magazines in another gun?

If there is one mag acting up, don't use it. Are the mags brand new? It could be a combination of gun/ammo/magazines.

If you are shooting hand loads, I'm guessing loaded less hot due to it being SWC, then go with a lighter recoil spring.

[Lead Waster]

Are you suggesting that with a handload, it is not pushing the slide back far enough (with the heavy stock recoil spring) to lock back? I know that in my RIA the recoils spring sure as heck feels lighter than this TRP spring, or else the slide and rails are tighter and have more friction.

What aspect of a magazine would cause this to happen? I mean what is the "defect" in the magazine?

[jeremyro]

I would bet that the bandaids are not quite hot enough. Try some 230 ball or make a clone of that. I'd Is that does not work, look at the mags.

If it does work, but you mostly shoot light handloads, get a lighter spring.

[Rhyyke]

Yes, I had that exact problem. I hand loaded 200gn LSWC, and they will not cycle my 1911s reliably. I would have a failure to cycle maybe 1 in 20 rounds. This was with a Kimber Custom II, running a 16 lb recoil spring.

Is your TRP totally stock? Another factor is the mainspring, and stock Springfield's do have a very heavy stock mainspring due to the ILS.

It sounds like due to your competition, you want to stick with your handload ammo. In that case, I would ditch the ILS and replace it with a standard mainspring housing, along with a standard mainspring, and a lighter recoil spring setup.

As for the magazine, possible issues are the magazine spring tension and the follower. Usually failure to lock is caused by aged/weak magazine springs. Are your mags brand new? Also possibility is a defect in the follower, but that is rare in my experience.

['ol shooter]

Sounds like time for a new mag spring, if the follower looks OK. I rebuild mine when they fail to lock back. New spring and follower from Wilson, and I'm back in business.

[bzh362]

The mag springs might be weak. I have also had a mag with a bad follower (chip mccormick in my case) that was not pushing up enough on the slide stop for it to engage. Could be a combo of those. Hope you figure it out, hate when that happens! They have a spare spring / follower kit on midway by Wilson that costs $7.99 I think.

[Sheldon]

The left side of the follower in the magazine engages the slide stop when it is fully extended (empty mag). The slide stop might not be engaging the notch in the magazine follower would be my other guess.

You aren't using a shock buff of any type are you? They sometimes restrict the rearward movement of the slide enough to cause this issue.

[Lead Waster]

I bought the TRP used, and the guy I bought it from took out the ILS. The mags are also used so, OK, maybe they need new springs.

I have no problem increasing the powder on the ammo to warm them up a bit.

I have some Chip McCormick powermags plus that are almost new (since I bought them, not used) but they are the 10 rounders.

I guess maybe the mags need some TLC. I mean, I hope it's the mags and not the gun. I'll load up hotter rounds to try as well.

[leego]

Had the same issues with my brand new SA 1911. Replaced the mag springs, problem solved.

[Mark75H]

Chip McCormick sells replacement spring & follower kits to make a lot of junk mags functional. $15 each shipped.

[Malmon]

I have experienced something similar with old metalform mags from CDNN. Often times they do not lock the slide back on empty on SA 1911's, erratic functioning with Kimbers, but work in Dan Wessons. The solution is new innards from Tripp Research, now they work perfectly in all brands of 1911's that I have. The only disadvantage is it converts the magazines to 7 rounds.

https://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html

[Rhyyke]

Since it's used, I would do a full replace of the springs before messing with your ammo formula. Wolff sells a 16 lb recoil with a new firing pin spring, grab that as well as a 23lb mainspring. Also buy new guts from Wilson or Tripp Research for that mag that's acting up.

Then shoot it again. I suspect that you'll see your issue go away. If not, consider either lowering the recoil spring even more to 14lbs, which is suggested for 9mm or lighter .45 loads, or upping the kick on your ammo.

It is very unlikely to be anything inherently wrong with the gun, so no worries there.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Fishslayer]

Do the ETMs have metal followers? The plastic on one of my 47Ds wore and doesn't engage the slide stop anymore.

What powder? I've found that mousefart LSWC target loads with W231 were more likely to cause cycling problems than faster powder like Bullseye. The fix was more powder.

Quick way to find out is run a few magazines of 230gr factory stuff.