1911 question

[HAVOC5150]

I bought a Kimber TLE/RL2 last year and I really haven't shot it much. I bought some Federal HST +P .45 ammo to shoot out of it.

Last weekend my girlfriends brother in law and I went shooting on my birthday, I wanted to try the HST's out of my gun. I began shooting the rounds and about every round that I shot would cause the slide release to engage.

I removed the mag and switched to standard ball ammo and the first round did the same thing, after that it was smooth sailing. Is this common with this gun or are the +P rounds to much for it to handle? The mags that I am using are the Wilson combat EMT's.

I have heard that the +P rounds are to much for the standard recoil spring, whether that is true or not I am not sure.

Thanks in advance.

[NiteQwill]

Try different mags.

A premature slide lock usually is due to mags.

[redcliff]

Try different mags.

A premature slide lock usually is due to mags.

Interesting, I'd love to learn more on this subject.

I've encounterred this problem a couple times on pistols. Usually the remedy has been to either use different bullets that didnt contact the inside of the slide stop or remove some metal off the slide stop to give room for bullets with different shapes. Another rememdy has been to deepen the detent on the slide stop to keep it from jumping up under recoil.

Coincidentally, one of the my pistols that has this problem was a Kimber also, and I've heard of others having this problem also. My Ultra CDP was sent back to the factory for this and still wasn't fixed to my satisfaction. I plan on replacing the slide stop and seeing if I can fix it but will also try some different magazines to see if it helps.

I would use a heavier recoil spring if I was going to shoot +p ammo on a regular basis in my 1911.

[Malthusian]

I have a Kimber TLE/RL

I love it

Have not had the issues you have. But per previous poster I would try different magazines
For economy I like the Kim-Pro Tac Mags. I have had issues with standard mags on my Colt 1911 and the Kimber Pro Tac Mags resolved the problem

[JanG]

try calling kimber and ask if they could fix the problem for you. i don't own a kimber, but have heard of people having problems fixed for free long after the warranty expired.

[uscbigdawg]

Mags.

Rich

[redcliff]

Please explain how "mags" are causing the slide lock to engage prematurely. Nothing on the magazine should touch the slide lock until the ledge on the follower contacts it when the last round has been fired.

Im interested in learning why changing magazines could fix this problem.

[L-2]

I believe "redcliff" has answered the question correctly...!

[uscbigdawg]

Process of elimination:
- Ammo?
- Gun?
- Mags?

Rich

[NiteQwill]

Please explain how "mags" are causing the slide lock to engage prematurely. Nothing on the magazine should touch the slide lock until the ledge on the follower contacts it when the last round has been fired.

Im interested in learning why changing magazines could fix this problem.

The follower's angle may be causing the bullet to prematurely press up on the slidestop. I've seen it quite a few times shooting IPSC/IDPA, a mag change has solved all the issues I've encountered.

[Kid Colt]

As a Kimber owner, I am pretty familiar with this problem. In the past it's been a simi-common problem with Kimbers. You need to contact Kimber and let them know that your slide stop in engaging prematurely. What they should do is send you out a new slide stop that has been slightly modified for a better fit by their custom shop. Apparently it has something to do with how snug the slide stop is.

[Legasat]

2 things -

1. Get some Wilson 47D or Chip McCormick PowerMag magazines, and use those.

2. I shot several hundred FMJ before I ever loaded a hollow point into my 1911. They were designed for ball ammo, and I have found they still like to be broken in with ball ammo. After they get broken in, most will fire HP ammo with no problem, though some do require a little feed ramp work.

[sholling]

Kimber had a batch go out with overly long slidestops a few years ago. The HSTs might be just bulky enough to nudge the stop as it's coming up. That's just an educated guess. The fix was to have Kimber send you a new slidestop. Or you could just try an aftermarket slidestop.

[GSG222]

I read it in a gunsmith book that this is due to vibration caused by the blast/slide movement. That's why it only occurs with certain rounds as they cause stronger vibration. There is a standard procedure to cure this (in fact it's considered a good custom feature even if you don't have the issue). Look it up online and you should find the instruction. Basically you make a small dimple in the slidestop to keep it from moving around too easily. I did mine and it works great ( I used to have the same issue with certain ammo).
PM me if you need more info.

[randy]

Check the inside tab on the slide stop if you see some copper color on it then it's hitting the bullets in the mag. Take a file with you on your next range trip and file the inside tab a little bit at a time until it stops doing that.