LC9s slide not locking open after last round?

[Acoustic]

Well I received my made in Italy magazine today. Slide is locking back and functioning normally now...but I'm not sure how long it will last. As you can see:

This picture shows the magazine right before it will lock and engage the follower for the slide:



Fully seated magazine in this picture. Again, the magazine kinda tilts to the side a little bit. Follower is engaged but only by a little bit.



Another picture showing it barely being engaged



My hypothesis...is that it will work a little bit or so but then I'll have repeat problems again after 200-300 rounds due to the magazine being worn down a little bit at the latch area. I hope I'm wrong. Will report back again after 500 rounds.

[SkyHawk]

So I recently picked up another LC9S via PPT. At the range for the first time today, the 7rd magazine it came with had this exact problem. The other 7rd mag and the 9rd mags I had with me did not have the problem.

I called Ruger today, and they let me pick from a USA or Italian mag as a replacement. Again no problem having it sent to my house - should be here in a few days.

[slayer61]

Thanks OP for doing all this research for us. My Mrs. has the LC9s and struggles with the last round also. Weird thing... I have no trouble? We have (I think?) 4 mags for the pistol, and none of them do it on me?

[SkyHawk]

Thanks OP for doing all this research for us. My Mrs. has the LC9s and struggles with the last round also. Weird thing... I have no trouble? We have (I think?) 4 mags for the pistol, and none of them do it on me?

Ruger has replaced whole frames for this problem although that was back in the LC9 days. You need to take your slide off and see what is happening with the interaction between the mag follower, specifically the small shelf on the left side, and the internal slide lock tab that it engages.

In my case, the mag spring is so stiff that it forces the follower to slip past the tab when the mag is inserted the last 1/16 inch or so. When I take the floor plate off and relieve some tension on the mag spring by letting it extend from the bottom of the mag a half inch, it works fine. Leaving the mag loaded for a couple of weeks may have fixed the problem by giving a set to the spring, but I want to see what Ruger sends for a fix and would rather have Italy mags anyhow.

Good luck and let us know what you find...

[Illmo2001]

My P89 has done this once in the past but after cleaning the pistol and the mag really well, I haven't had any issues.