Rock Island 1911 Problem

[SC1903A3]

Here's one for you 1911 guys. I went to the range today with a friend. He was shooting his new Rock Island 1911 and was having a repeating problem. He would fire a couple of rounds and the slide would lock back. Checked the magazine through the ejection port and we could see the rounds in the magazine with no sign of of any malfunction. Close inspection showed that the slide lock was holding the slide back. We looked inside the ejection port and nothing was engaging the slide lock. My friend depressed the slide lock and the gun went into battery. He fired several more rounds and the slide lock again engaged without the magazine being empty.

I let him use one of my 1911 magazines and he still had the same problem. I then took the gun, loaded a full magazine and with my left hand thumb kept the slide lock depressed. I was able to fire a full magazine with no problem. So the question is: Why is the slide lock engaging without the magazine follower coming into contact with with the slide lock?

By the way I advised him to contact the U.S Armscor rep and find out where he can send the gun for tuning to correct the problem.

[SC1903A3]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[CompVest]

I would first check your friend's grip before doing anything to the gun or sending it back.

It sounds like he is putting his thumb under the slide stop and pushing it up while shooting.

[SC1903A3]

I was shooting my 1911 also. I let him shoot mine and he didn't have any problems. The slide locking back happened when I also shot his gun. I made it a point of watching him in case it might have been a limp wristing problem and observed that his grip was correct.

[03Lightningrocks]

My Kimber Ultra carry was doing that. When I called they immediately said the bullets could be hitting the slide stop and causing it to move up. They sent me a "modified" slide stop. It looked to me like they had machined off slightly more metal. It worked and has not happened since. I think I could have just filed a slight amount of material off like AndyC posted above had I known what to look for. Kimber acted as if it was a common issue...made me wonder why they don't just start out with the modified slide stop to begin with.

[chabouk]

Be careful not to take too much off the stop, or it won't hold open after the last round is fired.

A good "high thumbs" grip keeps the stop depressed while firing, too.

[SC1903A3]

Which portion to recommend stoning? Taking off of the top or bottom or refacing the portion facing rear toward the ammunition?

[tboesche]

My daughter had this same issue with my Rock Island 1911 last weekend. When I shot it I had no problems. HHMM.