Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round - The Firearms Forum

goose22 · 10-07-2012, 06:33 PM

I did correct break-in with several hundred rounds with no problem. Took off wood grips and installed Hogue Rubber grips, no problem. Grip still to small for hands so found arched housing and installed it. That's when on the last round the slide does not come all the way back and locks open for next mag.
changed the arched back to factory housing and problem still occurs. It still fires every round but hangs up only after the last round fires and it ejects. The slide stops about 1/2 inch before it locks up and the mag is stuck as well. I can't believe changing the housing has any effect on the slide operation. All five mags do it and yes they are all factory Remington mags. suggestions?
Thanks in advance!

Double D · 10-07-2012, 07:46 PM

Please clarify. You say the slide stops 1/2 inch from locking open and the magazine is stuck in the gun? Does that mean the slide locks to the rear and sticks there but its short of the locking tab? Im sorry but your description isnt clear to me. It fires all of the rounds and ejects and rechambers fine until you fire the last round and then the slide locks up but not correctly?

woolleyworm · 10-07-2012, 09:25 PM

Welcome to TFF Goose! Can you get a pic of the condition? take one of the position of the slide stop and mag follower orientation if possible. More than likely a some sort of issue with the slide stop. Take the slide off and insert a mag and see what it looks like. Clean everything really good while your there

I'm with Dan, I'm not sure just what position the slide is in once the last round is fired.

goose22 · 10-08-2012, 08:06 PM

Double D you are correct on your statement. The slide hangs up about a half inch behind where it should lock up. The last round is ejected but the slide will not make it that last 1/2 inch where the slide lock is engaged and the mag will come out. When it hangs in this posistion the mag is impossible to get out. I have to yank the slide backward and lock the slide before I can get the mag to come out.

Double D · 10-09-2012, 07:01 AM

And the magazine is stuck even after you pull the slide all the way back and lock it back? You have to force the magazine out? If so, you said you changed everything back to original except the grips.

Shooter45 · 10-09-2012, 09:15 AM

It sounds like the grip screws are too tight and protruding thru the bushings.
This will allow the screws to rub on the mag, holding it in an awkward angle.

Loosen the grip screws and see if the problem is corrected.

Double D · 10-09-2012, 09:48 AM

Thats why I said he changed everything but the grips back to stock. Also, the grips could be blocking the mag release from releasing all the way.

Shooter45 · 10-09-2012, 12:11 PM

True.

This should be an easy fix.

goose22 · 10-10-2012, 07:20 PM

Update all! Put the rubber grips and the arched sear spring housing back on and did not tightened the grip secrews as tight as before. I really did have them pretty tight. First two mags worked perfect. Fired all rounds and after last round the slide locked back correctly. The last three mags went back to the old problem. Now I am really puzzled. Noticed that the slide and mags operated smoother with the grip screws not at tight, so progress has been made. Any other suggestions?

woolleyworm · 10-10-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goose22

Update all! Put the rubber grips and the arched sear spring housing back on and did not tightened the grip secrews as tight as before. I really did have them pretty tight. First two mags worked perfect. Fired all rounds and after last round the slide locked back correctly. The last three mags went back to the old problem. Now I am really puzzled. Noticed that the slide and mags operated smoother with the grip screws not at tight, so progress has been made. Any other suggestions?

did you pull your slide off and then take a look at things when you had the mag in the mag out?

Double D · 10-11-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goose22

Update all! Put the rubber grips and the arched sear spring housing back on and did not tightened the grip secrews as tight as before. I really did have them pretty tight. First two mags worked perfect. Fired all rounds and after last round the slide locked back correctly. The last three mags went back to the old problem. Now I am really puzzled. Noticed that the slide and mags operated smoother with the grip screws not at tight, so progress has been made. Any other suggestions?

Are you saying here that you put everything back to stock? If not, I would go back completely stock and see if it operates correctly. If it does, then, I would change ONE thing at a time and shoot it each time until you figure out what it is thats causing the problem.

JLA · 10-11-2012, 08:17 PM

sounds like a recoil spring issue. Did you install a recoil buffer? Or change the recoil spring?

Reason i say is I came across some fancy square wire recoil spring in my parts box and intalled it in one of my 1911s just to see. And it did exactly what you describe. It wouldnt allow the slide to travel rear far enough to lock after the last shot.

Another possible cause, and it is also recoil guide and spring related.. does it have a Full length guide rod? IF so there is a possibility the recoil spring is in backwards and binding on the guide. Some 1911 recoil springs have a coil curved in to grab the recoil guide so when you undo the bushing the spring and plug dont fly away. if you have one of these recoil springs on backwards on an FL guide it will bind like that. I had a guy bring me his TRP that was locked up becasue the recoil spring cut a groove into the guide and somehow got stuck. I got it apart. smoothed the burr and turned the spring back around and it worked perfectly.

goose22 · 10-11-2012, 08:57 PM

I returned everything back to stock and it still jammed. Then after comment about screws being to tight, I loosened then on stock grips. And everything felt better dry firing and cycling. Even mags popped out when I pressed release. So added rubber back and arched housing and went and shot and that is why I was glad the first two mags worked correctly and the mags did not bind in the weapon. The main spring and everything else if factory. I will take apart and see which way the main spring is in. Yes there is two different ends, so I will change that next... If this still does not fix it, I will be using remington free platimun service plan that came with the R1!
Thanks to all for you help... I own several 1911s and have not faced this before.

JLA · 10-12-2012, 08:34 PM

Not the mainspring.. The recoil spring.. The mainspring is inside the MSH. the recoil spring is under the barrel.

45silverback · 10-13-2012, 11:59 AM

I'm relatively sure it's something amis with the grip change. Possible the new grips exposed the fact that the slide stop is poorly fitted/contoured. I doubt seriously it has anything to do with the recoil spring or MSH.

If you haven't been, pop over to 1911forum.com and introduce yourself. There is a gunsmith section there and there are some real knowlegable folks there when it come to the 1911 and things related.

Double D · 10-13-2012, 12:15 PM

Deleted

10-07-2012, 06:33 PM	#1
goose22 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4	Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round I did correct break-in with several hundred rounds with no problem. Took off wood grips and installed Hogue Rubber grips, no problem. Grip still to small for hands so found arched housing and installed it. That's when on the last round the slide does not come all the way back and locks open for next mag. changed the arched back to factory housing and problem still occurs. It still fires every round but hangs up only after the last round fires and it ejects. The slide stops about 1/2 inch before it locks up and the mag is stuck as well. I can't believe changing the housing has any effect on the slide operation. All five mags do it and yes they are all factory Remington mags. suggestions? Thanks in advance! -->

10-07-2012, 07:46 PM	#2
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,065	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Please clarify. You say the slide stops 1/2 inch from locking open and the magazine is stuck in the gun? Does that mean the slide locks to the rear and sticks there but its short of the locking tab? Im sorry but your description isnt clear to me. It fires all of the rounds and ejects and rechambers fine until you fire the last round and then the slide locks up but not correctly? __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

10-07-2012, 09:25 PM	#3
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Welcome to TFF Goose! Can you get a pic of the condition? take one of the position of the slide stop and mag follower orientation if possible. More than likely a some sort of issue with the slide stop. Take the slide off and insert a mag and see what it looks like. Clean everything really good while your there I'm with Dan, I'm not sure just what position the slide is in once the last round is fired. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

10-08-2012, 08:06 PM	#4
goose22 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Double D you are correct on your statement. The slide hangs up about a half inch behind where it should lock up. The last round is ejected but the slide will not make it that last 1/2 inch where the slide lock is engaged and the mag will come out. When it hangs in this posistion the mag is impossible to get out. I have to yank the slide backward and lock the slide before I can get the mag to come out.

10-09-2012, 07:01 AM	#5
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,065	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round And the magazine is stuck even after you pull the slide all the way back and lock it back? You have to force the magazine out? If so, you said you changed everything back to original except the grips. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder. Last edited by Double D; 10-09-2012 at 07:04 AM..

10-09-2012, 09:15 AM	#6
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,751	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round It sounds like the grip screws are too tight and protruding thru the bushings. This will allow the screws to rub on the mag, holding it in an awkward angle. Loosen the grip screws and see if the problem is corrected.

10-09-2012, 09:48 AM	#7
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,065	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Thats why I said he changed everything but the grips back to stock. Also, the grips could be blocking the mag release from releasing all the way. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder. Last edited by Double D; 10-09-2012 at 09:50 AM..

10-09-2012, 12:11 PM	#8
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,751	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round True. This should be an easy fix.

10-10-2012, 07:20 PM	#9
goose22 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Update all! Put the rubber grips and the arched sear spring housing back on and did not tightened the grip secrews as tight as before. I really did have them pretty tight. First two mags worked perfect. Fired all rounds and after last round the slide locked back correctly. The last three mags went back to the old problem. Now I am really puzzled. Noticed that the slide and mags operated smoother with the grip screws not at tight, so progress has been made. Any other suggestions?

10-11-2012, 08:17 PM	#12
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round sounds like a recoil spring issue. Did you install a recoil buffer? Or change the recoil spring? Reason i say is I came across some fancy square wire recoil spring in my parts box and intalled it in one of my 1911s just to see. And it did exactly what you describe. It wouldnt allow the slide to travel rear far enough to lock after the last shot. Another possible cause, and it is also recoil guide and spring related.. does it have a Full length guide rod? IF so there is a possibility the recoil spring is in backwards and binding on the guide. Some 1911 recoil springs have a coil curved in to grab the recoil guide so when you undo the bushing the spring and plug dont fly away. if you have one of these recoil springs on backwards on an FL guide it will bind like that. I had a guy bring me his TRP that was locked up becasue the recoil spring cut a groove into the guide and somehow got stuck. I got it apart. smoothed the burr and turned the spring back around and it worked perfectly. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-11-2012, 08:57 PM	#13
goose22 Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round I returned everything back to stock and it still jammed. Then after comment about screws being to tight, I loosened then on stock grips. And everything felt better dry firing and cycling. Even mags popped out when I pressed release. So added rubber back and arched housing and went and shot and that is why I was glad the first two mags worked correctly and the mags did not bind in the weapon. The main spring and everything else if factory. I will take apart and see which way the main spring is in. Yes there is two different ends, so I will change that next... If this still does not fix it, I will be using remington free platimun service plan that came with the R1! Thanks to all for you help... I own several 1911s and have not faced this before.

10-12-2012, 08:34 PM	#14
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Not the mainspring.. The recoil spring.. The mainspring is inside the MSH. the recoil spring is under the barrel. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-13-2012, 11:59 AM	#15
45silverback V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 153	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round I'm relatively sure it's something amis with the grip change. Possible the new grips exposed the fact that the slide stop is poorly fitted/contoured. I doubt seriously it has anything to do with the recoil spring or MSH. If you haven't been, pop over to 1911forum.com and introduce yourself. There is a gunsmith section there and there are some real knowlegable folks there when it come to the 1911 and things related. __________________ VR, Harry MSgt USAF (RET)

10-13-2012, 12:15 PM	#16
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,065	Re: Rem. R1 Enhanced slide not locking after last round Deleted __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder. Last edited by Double D; 10-13-2012 at 12:18 PM..