1911 Slide Stop Difficulties...

[coma13]

I've got a Rock Island Armory 1911 with an Ed Brown Hardcore Slide Stop that is quite difficult to set. It requires such a level of force that I can't do it with my right thumb from the shooting position, I have to take my hand off the grip completely to get enough leverage. There are also some wear marks on the side of the frame underneath where the slide stop sits when it isn't locked.

I've put the original slide stop back on and had the same problem, although it might have been slightly easier than the Ed Brown. (I bought the gun from a private party who had already installed the new slide stop, along with some other upgrades).

I have pretty much no experience with 1911s prior to this so maybe this is normal. I would love to be able to just flick it up with my thumb.

Any help is appreciated.

[BigDogatPlay]

Sounds like some fitting is in order. Slide stops and safeties on 1911s often require some amount of fitting to be right.

Wear marks on the side of the frame.... like a rounded line? If yes, that's kind of normal from disassembly / re-assembly by someone not being particularly careful.

If the seller did all this work himself, it may well be worth your while to visit a gunsmith and have it looked at. Since you are in San Rafael, you might pop in to Bullseye and see if they can help you. Soldier415 here on CGN is on the staff there and is a righteously fine individual. If he can't help I'd bet he could point you right to someone who can.

Another option for good 1911 work would be Dan Gatley at Gatley Gunsmithing in Santa Rosa. It's a bit farther for you to go, but he's a pro and worth a call.

[Ledbetter]

Flick it _UP_ with your thumb??? Surely you don't mean that.

[elsolo]

You want to engage the slide stop lever UP without shifting your grip?

nobody does that

[9mmepiphany]

that is what I was thinking, let the mag follower push it up for you

[swifty]

Take the slide assembly off then install the slide stop in the frame;
- Does the slide stop move freely?

Leave slide assembly off, install barrel and slide stop;
-- move the barrel forward, then try rearward --
- Does the slide stop move freely? in both barrel positions?


As previously asked, does the slide stop work fine, BUT you want to be able to engage/disengage without adjusting grip?
-- Install an extended slide stop lever.

[coma13]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It sounds like I'm just being a whiner. Also, to clarify, I mean I would like to be able to pull the slide back with my left hand (obviously) and flick the slide stop up with my right thumb. Extended slide stop looks like the ticket.

[Rekrab]

I slapped a Wilson Combat extended slide stop on mine and it worked perfectly. Some don't like it, some do.

[swifty]

It sounds like I'm just being a whiner.

Nope, not at all. You just have a preference. Just about all of the slide stop manufacturers have an extended version, due to customer demand.

[elsolo]

Do any of them put checkering on the bottom of the lever?

It's already a two handed operation to lock back the slide, needing to shift your (strong hand) grip to do it is 100% normal.

[Cyc Wid It]

Do any of them put checkering on the bottom of the lever?

You can always get this done by a gunsmith.

[dfletcher]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It sounds like I'm just being a whiner. Also, to clarify, I mean I would like to be able to pull the slide back with my left hand (obviously) and flick the slide stop up with my right thumb. Extended slide stop looks like the ticket.

An extended slide stop is most often used to release the slide on a full magazine. I think you'll find pulling back the slide with your left hand tends to cant the gun and put your thumb closer to the slide stop anyway.

[JRJCP]

Could you post a picture please?
Slide stop area.