Slide Won't Stay Back ???

[jyo]

Another reason I personally don't favor the high thumbs or thumbs forward grip---it seems to me that the superiority of an opposing thumb is to use it to lock down for a firmer, more consistent grip. Also don't try shooting a gun with real recoil (like say a 454 Casull) using the high thumbs grip---the lack of proper grip will find the revolver trying to fly back into your face.

[P5Ret]

Clean it real good. I've seen it happen with a couple different guns. Shooting some inexpensive ammo you can get some build up under or behind the release, that prevents it from traveling freely. It should not be stiff or tight if you manually move it up after unloading. Is the release tight moving up as well as releasing the slide? Some tension when it is locked open and you release it is normal, and will not change much, with wear.

[Gryff]

Anyone else have any ideas?

I'll bet you it's your thumb touching the slide stop lever. You'll see that this not an uncommon issue with the XD. Just learn to keep your thumb away from the lever.

(It happened to me when I moved to a thumbs-forward competition grip. I just simply trained myself to keep my left-hand thumb away from the lever)

Another reason I personally don't favor the high thumbs or thumbs forward grip---it seems to me that the superiority of an opposing thumb is to use it to lock down for a firmer, more consistent grip. Also don't try shooting a gun with real recoil (like say a 454 Casull) using the high thumbs grip---the lack of proper grip will find the revolver trying to fly back into your face.

The point of the thumbs-forward is to help control recoil and drive the muzzle back to the natural POA during rapid fire. You wouldn't do it with a boomer revolver because A) you ain't double-tapping with it, and B) the gasses venting out the cylinder gap on a .454 Casull can do all sorts of bad things to your forward thumb.

[Old4eyes]

It's possible, but my slide release is super tight and I have to put a lot of pressure on it to begin with just to release it, probably just because it isn't broken in enough yet.

I will take a look at adjusting my grip to see if it makes a difference.

Come to think of it though, my friend shot it as well and it didn't always stay back for him either. Still, I will take a look.

Anyone else have any ideas?

There is a difference of strength involved between holding the slide lock down while the slide is cycling as opposed to trying to release the lock when it is engaged in the slide. With your thumb holding down on the slide lock, put an empty magazine in and rack the slide. It won't lock back and you'll see that it does not take a lot of effort to hold the slide lock down.

When switching from shooting a 1911 where I have my thumb riding the safety and going to an XD - I will often inadvertently keep the slide lock from engaging. I have 4 XD's, happens on all of them.

[9mmepiphany]

Another reason I personally don't favor the high thumbs or thumbs forward grip---it seems to me that the superiority of an opposing thumb is to use it to lock down for a firmer, more consistent grip.

You think that because you don't understand the pressure vectors of a correct grip.

A number of negative things occur when you lock down your thumb which affect your ability to shoot accurately...ranging from alignment to trigger press. The only time locking down your thumb would give you a firmer grip is if you could encircle the grip of the gun with it

[CK_32]

Try a new magazine

[vintagearms]

Shoot it with your non dominant hand and see if it still happens. That will rule out the slide lock.

[mc21]

When I got my sig, it didn't lock back regularly till around 500 rounds or so. I also had to store my gun with the slide locked back. If you're not riding the slide stop/release, then it may just need some break in.

[dem0critus]

Ya when I shot an XD the same thing happened to me. Just because it's hard to release it when the slide is locked back doesn't mean that its not easy to keep it from coming up when it's not under the pressure of the slide/recoil spring. Just load 1 round into the mag and loosen your grip, making sure to keep clear of that thing. If it locks you know its you. If not send it in.

[railroader]

I would also suggest cleaning your mags. Make sure they aren't getting gunked up where the followers don't come all the way up.

[secret.asian.man]

what kind of ammo are you using? are you reloading?

[icenix]

Thanks everyone. My mags are all factory, they aren't that old, and it happened with different mags, so I don't think that is the problem.

Two range trips ago when it first happened it was a clean gun, and I didn't clean it after that trip or the last one. So, I will clean it, and then shooting some more.

It just seems weird that it had never happened before, but since so many of you are suggesting that I may be hitting the slide release then it is definitely something I need to look at, and to be honest, that may very well be the reason and I am just not aware of it.

I won't be able to get to the range for a while, but next time I go I will try some different grips.

Thanks again!!