Series 70 colt commander slide won't lock back after last round

[TD1886]

Being you are buying things I suggest you buy Jerry Kuhnhausen's 1911 book. It will tell how to trouble shoot it and what to do.

[45_Colt]

Got another problem. Got a new stainless steel slide stop and safety. The new safety went in but now it locks things up. So does the new slide stop. Just won't seem to work. I can get both in but they lock everything up. At a loss for what to do next. Big Boomer

Both the thumb and grip safety need to be fit. For now just go back to the original one.

As for the slide stop, some have an oversize pin. And if the barrel has been fitted tight, the oversize pin can cause the slide to not return to battery. In this case further fitting of the barrel is required.

45_Colt

[Gtek]

Checking back in and after a complete re-read may I suggest you stop where you are. Please search someone out that really understands this platform, and not someone who claims they know them. The safety design works very well if and when fit properly, or it can be nothing more than a thumb rest. I do not want to hear another you or someone else was hurt or worse story in my life over this kind of stuff. There are not that many components in these things but they must be of the correct dimensions and angles to operate as designed. Operating with the knowledge of not correct may lead to a tragedy, please re-think this.

[Big Boomer]

Gtek: Got it. Will find a qualified gunsmith. Thanks everyone for the help. Big Boomer

[DougGuy]

With the problematic slide stop, does it seat flat against the side of the frame? The spring loaded detent pin pushes forward on the back of the slide stop, if there is a dimple there, and it's causing the pin to want to push the slide stop away from the frame ever so slightly, just enough that it might be why the slide stop seems to be not reaching in far enough to catch the magazine follower that lifts it up.

[Gtek]

I would like to apologize if I came off sounding like "THAT GUY" earlier! Swapping the slide stop around is not really that big of a deal, but the 1911 safety is and should be treated as a big deal especially if carried condition 1. Wish I was closer and would be glad to look her over and help you out.

[Big Boomer]

Thanks everyone. Going to get with a gunsmith. Big Boomer

[Cap'n Morgan]

Reading this thread got me remembering a somewhat embarrassing incident in my youth.

I was shooting IPSC with a 9mm CZ 75, and sometimes the slide wouldn't stay back when the gun was empty. I tried cutting a couple of coils from the main spring... no cigar. I cut a few more, still no luck.
Then it dawned on me; I was holding the gun in a two-hand grip with my left thumb over my right, thereby blocking the slide catch from engaging the slide...

[Bigslug]

Are you running a rubber shock-buffer on your recoil spring guide? If so, get rid of the stupid thing!

The short barrel versions of the 1911 have less slide travel than the 5". The shock buffs shorten it further still, and you the slide may not be making it far enough back for the slide stop to engage. Run one step heavier recoil spring instead.

Cap'n Morgan is also on the right track. If you shoot the high thumbs grip that's fairly popular today, you've probably got a thumb on top of the slide stop. Try shooting the gun left handed to rule out that possibility.

[Big Boomer]

No shock buff. My shooting is with both thumbs on left side as learned from a 1911 instructor. Thumb not engaging or touching slide stop or safety lever when shooting. For now, just need to know how to remove new safety lever that slid right in after removing old one which came right out with a slight pull. If I could get that done, I would just put the old one back in. Big Boomer

[45_Colt]

For now, just need to know how to remove new safety lever that slid right in after removing old one which came right out with a slight pull. If I could get that done, I would just put the old one back in. Big Boomer

Cock the hammer first. Then pull and wiggle the safety out. Note that it is usually best to state which safety it is, as there is both a thumb and a grip safety. Although the thumb safety is what holds the grip safety in.

45_Colt

[Big Boomer]

Thumb safety. Big Boomer

[JimB..]

Thumb safety comes out with the hammer cocked and the safety positioned in the middle, neither on or off.

But I suggest taking the whole thing to the gunsmith, he’ll figure it out.

[Big Boomer]

JimB..: Those are my plans.

[bruce381]

learned long ago when trouble shooting anything change only 1 thing at a time if that problem is fixed then move on otherwise you never know what or why it may have worked