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Slide Lock
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:23 pm
by Embalmo
Guys,
Funny thing happened at Red's the day before yesterday with my Bersa Ultra Compact 9. After about 5 rounds fired the slide locked back like the magazine was empty. It happened once in 50 rounds fired, but it does concern me a little. Any ideas as to what causes this? It's a 6 month old gun with 550 rounds through it. Thoughts suggestions? Should I send it in for warranty work, or see if it's an isolated incident
Embalmo
Re: Slide Lock
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:42 pm
by KFP
Any chance that you inadvertently pushed up on the slide lock while firing?
Re: Slide Lock
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:08 pm
by Embalmo
KFP wrote:Any chance that you inadvertently pushed up on the slide lock while firing?
I'm leaning toward (and hoping for) that theory. I thought that maybe the magazine spring didn't push up the next round, but that wouldn't lock the slide, would it?
Embalmo
Re: Slide Lock
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:18 pm
by Embalmo
AndyC wrote:Nose of the cartridges in the magazine bumping the slide-lock up under recoil - check to see if the inside edge of the slide-stop has any copper-marks on it, and polish it down a little bit if so.
Also happens with extended slide-stops sometimes - the extra weight is more inertia, so under recoil....
Thanks-There doesn't seem to be any copper, lead, or muck on the inside of the slide lock. I'm leaning toward the possibility that I bumped it with my thumb-I'll go out of my way to keep my thumb away from it next time and see. Am I correct that a magazine spring shouldn't affect the slide lock (like a failure to advance the next round)? I haven't experienced any problems with a magazine spring, but out of the box I had to send one of the magazines back because I couldn't put more than 5 rounds in it.
Thanks,
Embalmo
Re: Slide Lock
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:44 pm
by Embalmo
AndyC wrote:Well, the magazine-spring pushes up the follower - the follower has a small tab which, when the mag is empty, is now high enough to press upward against the part of the slide-stop that sticks into the magwell, engaging the slide-stop into the notch in the slide.
Can the spring affect the slide-stop? Well, not directly - but a weak magazine-spring might not have enough pressure to lift the follower sufficiently into place to lock the slide open - or the tab might be worn away, either on the slide-stop itself or on the follower - but those aren't your issues.
Good point on the thumb - that's a good possibility, too.
The thumb idea was KFP's, not mine. Thanks for the info!!
Embalmo