SA 1911 mil spec. problems

[Northern Lights]

I bought a SA 1911 Mil Spec .45 about 3 years ago. Its been a great gun, some times it fails to eject a spent cartridge, about 1 or 2 time every 100 rounds, but besides that its been flawless, until now After firing the last round the slide locks back normally but it is REALLY hard to drop the slide (disengage the slide release). It now takes a lot of pressure (I have to use both hands) to press down on the slide release. However this is only when an empty mag is inserted, when there is no mag in the gun and the slide is locked back I can easily drop the slide by pressing down on the slide release. This was not a gradual problem, one day it was easy to drop the slide and the next day it was near impossible! Any and all coments and or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Thanks guys

[Northern Lights]

Never mind.... I feel like an idiot Of course it is harder to release the slide when there is a mag in it verses an empty mag well; your pushing against the mag spring!

..maybe a mod can delete this post

[BlackonBlack]

At least you learned something! Glad it's working fine.

[mossy]

you mean this is the first time in 3 years you have droped the slide on a empty mag?

[xxdabroxx]

Extractor Tension

you mean this is the first time in 3 years you have droped the slide on a empty mag?

that's what i was thinking as well.

as to the failing to extract, how is the tension on your extractor?

Field strip the pistol
Hold the slide with one hand
With the other hand take an unfired cartridge. slide it into the slide as it would feed from the magazine.
The round should not drop free from the extractor.
It should take about 3-4lbs of force to remove the cartridge.

Or if you call Springfield they will probably email you a return label and have it back to you within a week or two.


Another note: It is hard on the sear, particularly on 1911's with trigger jobs, to drop the slide on an empty chamber. It is actually a test that is performed to make sure that you have enough sear-hammer engagement. If you drop the slide on an empty chamber and the hammer falls, you do not have enough surface engagement or a negative angle on either the hammer or the sear. It is best to ease the slide forward on an empty chamber.

[CalNRA]

you mean this is the first time in 3 years you have droped the slide on a empty mag?

[Northern Lights]

xxdabroxx -

The extractor tension seems fine, thanks for the tip; failure to extract the cartridge happens when the empty shell gets stuck in the pinched part of the top of the magazine. Any ideas?

BTW I've put a couple thousand rounds through this gun... it is kinda odd that I haven't dropped the slide on an empty mag in 3 years

[walter]

HAHAHAH so funny.. put a round or two in there and it will drop easily

[vta]

you mean this is the first time in 3 years you have droped the slide on a empty mag?

i have never dropped the slide on any of my 1911s on an empty mag. thats because I am one of those weirdos that think something bad will happen to it if I do. It is weird though to hear that it takes the power of both hands to do it on your milspec... should be harder to do but that seems excessive.

[Noobert]

HAHAHAH so funny.. put a round or two in there and it will drop easily

of course, this should only be done at the range and not at home

[Kerplow]

i have never dropped the slide on any of my 1911s on an empty mag. thats because I am one of those weirdos that think something bad will happen to it if I do. It is weird though to hear that it takes the power of both hands to do it on your milspec... should be harder to do but that seems excessive.

me too. i dont like the hard slam. when a round is being chambered its a much smoother feeling, not like all the energy slamming at once.

[sorensen440]

ever replace your recoil spring ?

[Northern Lights]

Yup

[xxdabroxx]

xxdabroxx -

The extractor tension seems fine, thanks for the tip; failure to extract the cartridge happens when the empty shell gets stuck in the pinched part of the top of the magazine. Any ideas?

BTW I've put a couple thousand rounds through this gun... it is kinda odd that I haven't dropped the slide on an empty mag in 3 years

Does it do this with only one/ one type of magazine or multiple magazines/ brands?

[Northern Lights]

Only the two stock Springfield mags the gun came with.