Slide sometimes won’t function.

[GuillermoAntonio]

Kimber pro cary HD in 38 super.
It was working perfect for a couple years and at least 500 rounds when I took a class. During the class I had an issue with the slide getting stuck as a fresh mag was going in. Basiclly what happens is that after insterting the mag, when racking the slide, the slide gets stuck and at this point even removing the mag is hard.
This had never happened before. The only 2 things I could think of that have changed are 1-I may have hit the magazine againts the ground and damaged it. And 2- I did something wrong when i disassembled and cleaned the pistol before that class.

This issue seems to only be happening with one specific magazine so upon inspection of the one magazine, I noticed a small dent on the top of the mag, near the mouth of it.
I will attach some pictures
Any ideas?

[alexisjohnson]

Does it lock the slide in a way where its the slide stop being engaged or is it just jamming the slide?

[Sheldon]

Racking slide on a full mag or empty one?

[IVC]

If it's happening with only one magazine, you have just diagnosed your problem - it's the magazine.

There are ways to "tune" expensive magazines and it's done all the time with 2011 race guns, where magazines must be adjusted for specific width and specific mouth opening. Short of that, in most cases you just get a new magazine.

[BarrettM99]

As IVC mentioned...if the problem only occurs with that one mag, obviously the mag was the problem. Just use other mags. I would use the bad one for training or to show others what can happen.

If you haven’t done so already, you should try to replicate the issue at the range while shooting the pistol. Use the bad mag and other mags just to be sure that was indeed the problem.

But I think you have it solved already.

[protohyp]

is it the mag on the top of your picture?

It looks like that mag has more material and gets caught up on the feed ramp.

Take black marker or even a piece of tape and mark up the feed ramp on the frame (not the barrel) and insert that top magazine. If that leaves witness marks on the feed ramp then that mags gotta go.

[FeuerFrei]

Process of elimination works.

OP gets extra points for using 38 super at a shooting "class".
You just don't see that much, or ever.

[Howi152]

Buy a Glock

[GuillermoAntonio]

Does it lock the slide in a way where its the slide stop being engaged or is it just jamming the slide?

[GuillermoAntonio]

Racking slide on a full mag or empty one?

On a full magazine only.

If it's happening with only one magazine, you have just diagnosed your problem - it's the magazine.

There are ways to "tune" expensive magazines and it's done all the time with 2011 race guns, where magazines must be adjusted for specific width and specific mouth opening. Short of that, in most cases you just get a new magazine.

I have been supposing that as well but a doubt still lingers because I have used that specific mag many many times without issue.

Yup. Still have to make time to go to the range But thats next.

[GuillermoAntonio]

is it the mag on the top of your picture?

It looks like that mag has more material and gets caught up on the feed ramp.

Take black marker or even a piece of tape and mark up the feed ramp on the frame (not the barrel) and insert that top magazine. If that leaves witness marks on the feed ramp then that mags gotta go.

I am attaching a new picture. You can see a dent on it.
I am not very clear on your instructions, do you know if I would find any youtube videos explaining that process?

[GuillermoAntonio]

Process of elimination works.

OP gets extra points for using 38 super at a shooting "class".
You just don't see that much, or ever.

Lol.
Thanks, it was a ccw class so I had to qualify with that pistol.

[ojisan]

Use some needle nose pliers to straighten out the dent.
Looks like the body may be spread wide to the mag's right side too, about half way back on the right upper edge.
This is the area that is dragging on the slide and making the mag hard to get in and out.
If you can't get it straight enough, replace the mag.

[GuillermoAntonio]

Use some needle nose pliers to straighten out the dent.
Looks like the body may be spread wide to the mag's right side too, about half way back on the right upper edge.
This is the area that is dragging on the slide and making the mag hard to get in and out.
If you can't get it straight enough, replace the mag.

[JTROKS]

Have you checked the mag body if it’s bent? Find a verified flat surface and lay the magazine on its’ side. See if it’s arching to one side or maybe the top area is flaring out. You can easily bend the top area using a bench vise. A flat bar or a round rod that matches the inside width/diameter of the mag is inserted in the magazine body is a must to prevent crushing the mag body. Be advise that you can easily ruin the mag body if you put too much squeeze on the bench vise.