1911 not locking back on empty mag, sometimes.

[FeuerFrei]

Guinea pig the RIA for function with the same ammo/mags is a good move.
Verify spring weights before swapping springs in pistol or mags.
New to you pistol has 16lb rs and 28lb ms? New spring install is my personal SOP with any used 1911 pistol I've ever bought.
Was the previous owner a numb nut without a license to operate a Dremel tool much less his own tool? Look for the scars etc. on the ss or elsewhere.

[Lead Waster]

OK went to the range yesterday with both 1911s, this is what I found

- RIA ran 100% with the tested magazines
- TRP 100% failed with one magazine (which ran on the RIA)
- Factory rounds seemed to help, but still had some no-lock-backs, this was surprising
- TRP mangled several rounds ... like they didn eject but got mashed back towards the barrel which dented it as the case smashed agaisnt the barrel (but not into the barrel)

- TRP will lock slide back on empty mags when hand cycled
- TRP recoils spring FEELS heavier than the RIA, but could just be tighter slide tolerance.

- tried with increasing charge weight rounds (4.7, 4.9, 5.1 gns)

RIA's sights are off, TRP is .... amazing. I mean the thing is a laser, but ... not reliably locking back.

So last night I field stipped both. RIA has a full length guide rod BUT it's spring feels light AND is shorter. (I had ordered new recoils springs, but they haven't come in yet).

Removed the slide stop ...

THe TRP slide stop is Very hard to re-install on the TRP, but slid into the RIA easily. The RIA slide stop slide easier into the TRP than the TRP slide stop. Conclusion ... TRP plunger has a very strong spring, it is adding friction to the slide stop. ALSO TRP slide stop may be dimensionally slightly longer so that the plunger spring makes more of a difference to slide stop movement.

I took some steel wool to try and deburr the face that touches the plunger. Not sure if that did anything.

If I can make it to the range today, I'll see if the steel-wooling did anything. Cleaned the gun again last night and worked the stop to see if it could be worked in a bit.

Final test will be to swap in the RIA's recoils spring (or heck, just buy one at the range, though I know I'll pay dearly for it and one is on the way in the mail ... but not in time for me to try at the range befoe the match on Sunday). ANd then swap the slide stops, since the RIA one seems easier to move in the frame.

We'll see what happens. Oh, I also cleaned the "mostly bad" magazine, but maybe I shouldn't have to keep that variable from changing.

[Prepped and ready]

I was wondering about this. I may have a srping from one of my TRP's you can have if you want to make a drive to Concord? I have a few and one of them has about 1500 rounds and may help you.

Let me know.

[Lead Waster]

I was wondering about this. I may have a srping from one of my TRP's you can have if you want to make a drive to Concord? I have a few and one of them has about 1500 rounds and may help you.

Let me know.

Thanks for the generous offer!

Concord is a touch out of the way, I do have a 16# on the way, it might even be at my house, but I only have time to hit the range today after work (30 miles from him). I'll swap in the RIA spring to see if it helps, then later after the match (which I should have prepared for a month ago) I can try the ones I bought.

So thanks, but one is already inbound!

[FeuerFrei]

Sounds like you're on your way.
No recoil spring swap at the range?
Once the Rock tested ok that would have been my next move to confirm the spring problem or to look elsewhere.
At least you know the mags are 100%.


Sent using a long string & 2 cans.

[Lead Waster]

Sounds like you're on your way.
No recoil spring swap at the range?
Once the Rock tested ok that would have been my next move to confirm the spring problem or to look elsewhere.
At least you know the mags are 100%.


Sent using a long string & 2 cans.

I was going to do that, but ran out of time (I had to go pick up my kids from their after school thing).

But, embarrassingly ... I brain farted on how to field strip a 1911 (Though I did it twice last night, after a refresher youtube video by Hickock 45)

[Prepped and ready]

Thanks for the generous offer!

Concord is a touch out of the way, I do have a 16# on the way, it might even be at my house, but I only have time to hit the range today after work (30 miles from him). I'll swap in the RIA spring to see if it helps, then later after the match (which I should have prepared for a month ago) I can try the ones I bought.

So thanks, but one is already inbound!

No problem.

[L84CABO]

The other thing that could be happening is one of your thumbs is riding the slide lock causing it to not lock open.

^^^ This...and it can be hard to spot. Try a thumb over thumb grip for a short bit just to rule this out.