caspian 38 super - slide doesn't lock open after last round

[drewski310]

hi all,
i'm hoping this is a simple replacement part fix without having to send it to a gunsmith. i have a caspian 1911 in .38 super with 3 magazines, and regardless of which magazine i use, the slide doesn't lock back after the last round. any tips or ideas of what i should do would be most appreciated.

thanks,
drew

[rkt88edmo]

Are there spring/shock buffers in there preventing full travel of the slide?

[drewski310]

there is a buffer on the spring, but the slide travel is normal. looking at it a little more closely, it seems like the magazine spring isn't strong enough to push the slide stop upward. the slide stop also feels "sticky", as if the detent is holding the stop too much (if that makes sense).

[DV8]

If it were I'd clean the slide stop and surrounding areas then check if that fixed it. If not, next step is to replace magazine springs.

Your slide stop did work before, correct? Are the magazines new and what brand?

[eaglemike]

Test the slide stop to be sure it works easily without the magazines. If it does - be sure you have a .38 super slide stop. Sometimes the dimensions vary, too. If it doesn't work freely, see if it's binding a little in the slot of the stop, on the thickness of the slide in that area. I've seen that happen a couple of times. As noted above, sometimes the buffer restricts the travel of the slide enough to keep the stop from working properly. Take the buffer out and try it.... When the buffers get tired, that can cause slide drag - they get squished out or peieces start to gum things up.

all the best,

Mike

[ar15barrels]

Many custom race guns are purposely built without automatic slide stops.
Look to see that the necessary parts are there first.
It's possible that the builder modified the slide stop to eliminate the feature.

With the slide off the frame, install the slide stop and insert an empty mag.
Does the mag activate the slide stop?

[drewski310]

thanks all for the suggestions.

the gun is clean and lubed, so i know it's not gunk-related. the magazines are the original caspian hi-caps from '94.

i couldn't tell you if it's a .38 slide stop or something else, since this is my only 1911-style gun, but i doubt terry tussey would screw that up.

i removed the slide and reinstalled the slide stop. it seems like only one of my mags pops the stop upward. with the other mags, the stop doesn't move, but if i push the stop out so it doesn't make contact with the follower, the follower snaps upward.

bad magazine springs?