Commander Slide

[Doug]

During the shooting portion of the CHL class the slide on my .45 Commander decided it would not lock back after the last round was fired. The pistol was not dirty. I purchased two new Wilson mags to try, since I read where there might be a problem with the original Colt magizines. These mags are seventeen years old and are kept fully charged. I tried the new Wilson mags and the slide still will not lock back after the last round is fired. Does anyone have an idea of what to try next before I have to find a 1911 gunsmith? Remmington ammo was used at the class.

 

[Texas1911]

Did the ammo feel soft?

Sometimes as 1911s wear and age they can stop locking open due to wear on the cutout of the slide. If you drop the slide by pressing down on the slide stop then you will exacerbate the wear, that's why you generally are supposed to sling shot a 1911.

 

[Shorts]

During the shooting portion of the CHL class the slide on my .45 Commander decided it would not lock back after the last round was fired. The pistol was not dirty. I purchased two new Wilson mags to try, since I read where there might be a problem with the original Colt magizines. These mags are seventeen years old and are kept fully charged. I tried the new Wilson mags and the slide still will not lock back after the last round is fired. Does anyone have an idea of what to try next before I have to find a 1911 gunsmith? Remmington ammo was used at the class.

More than likely the follower on your new mags weren't catching the slide stop. I didn't understand your post or if your Colt mags had the same issue. If so, you may need a new slide stop. The nub on the current one isn't catching the follower lips as it should.

As or the ammo, I take it stock 230gr was used? How is your recoil spring?

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

Sometimes as 1911s wear and age they can stop locking open due to wear on the cutout of the slide. If you drop the slide by pressing down on the slide stop then you will exacerbate the wear, that's why you generally are supposed to sling shot a 1911.

This was a problem with pre-World War II slides, since they were a softer metal than the slide stop. After WWII, slides were produced with steel that is the same hardness as the slide stop, which corrected the problem.

Shorts is more than likely correct that you need a new slide stop or you need to check the followers in your mags to make sure they're engaging the nub on the slide stop when they come up to the last round being ejected. That's easy enough to do with an empty gun and checking each mag manually. If they lock back manually, then your slide was not recoiling enough during firing to lock back which means either you have too heavy a recoil spring or your ammo was a little light and the slide was not cycling all the way back.