RIA 1911 won't return to battery

[Drewsifer]

Pistol in question? Rock Island Armory Compact 1911. Only a few months old. Has less then 600ish rounds through it.

The problem? When the slide it racked it won't return to battery without assistance (I firm jiggle usually gets it). This happens with or with a magazine inserted.

I've taken it apart several times and couldn't anything obviously wrong with it. When I get a chance today I'm going to clean it again and make sure I give it some TLC. Any ideas on what the problem might be?

[SgtBill]

Did you purchase it new ? if not it sounds as tho there is a problem with the rails. Try a light application of oil on both sides of the rails. If this won't correct the problem then look for shiney spot's on the rail's. If there are any shinney spots then you might have a rail that is out of whack and needs to be corrected. I am not comfy in telling someone that I don't know about or their ability to follow my instructions to the letter on how to correct this problem. Try the cleaning and lub first.
Bill

[sirrobbinhood]

I have the full size that I bought used. It did the same thing to me at first but like Sgt Bill said I put some oil on the rails which corrected my problem. I take it apart and clean it every other week (since this is the firearm I carry most days) and it hasn't had a problem since I first bought it. I hope this is what solves your glitch for yours.

[t33j]

To be clear, this is racking the slide WITHOUT attempting to chamber a round?

[Drewsifer]

To be clear, this is racking the slide WITHOUT attempting to chamber a round?

Whoops, just noticed my typo. This happens with or without a load magazine being inserted.

[t33j]

Hmm, I had that problem with some bad reloads that I bought but never without ammo in the mag. Is it a series 80 gun?

[Drewsifer]

Ok, so I just got done cleaning it. I mean I really went to town on it. I lubed the frame rails and the slide itself. It's still sticking. If I rack it really firmly it completes the action. This is just unusual because prior to a few days ago it didn't require so much force to work it. There are a few shiny spots on the rails. I'm rather leery about trying to fix this myself. Should I look for a gunsmith?

[SgtBill]

Take the weapon apart and put the slide on with out the guide or spring. Very slow slide the slide to the rear and see if you feel a spot or two where the slide hangs up or seems to bind some. Try and figgure out if this correlates with the shinney spots on the rails or the slide. if they do or if this shows that the slide is hanging up at all then find a gunsmith and tell him what you have. Or if you are in my area stop by and I will get er done.
Bill

[Paliden]

Ok, so I just got done cleaning it. I mean I really went to town on it. I lubed the frame rails and the slide itself. It's still sticking. If I rack it really firmly it completes the action. This is just unusual because prior to a few days ago it didn't require so much force to work it. There are a few shiny spots on the rails. I'm rather leery about trying to fix this myself. Should I look for a gunsmith?

The compact 1911 has a different recoil spring setup from the 1911 GI. A buddy of mine sent a couple of hot reloads down his compact and it damaged the recoil spring and follower causing a problem like yours. If your not comfortable working on your own weapon, I suggest you take it to a good gunsmith. You could have damaged it using to hot of ammo or just by disassembling it. It is not near as easy as a GI

[Drewsifer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKh8sSjXQPo

Here's a little video of the problem in action (sorry for the creepy heavy breathing, bit of a cold right now).

Picture of the slide rails



So I tried the slide on without the spring. As soon as it got to this piece


Things got hard to do. Here's as good a picture as I could get of when the problem began.


There's some scrapping going on inside the slide at that point too.

[OakRidgeStars]

I'd call that excessive wear from a lack of lubrication, but there also appears to be some galling going on too.

I don't see any real damage though.

[SgtBill]

Yes I can fix it an so can any gunsmith or armorer that has any exp. with a semi auto. It will take a hard I ndia stone and applied to the right area. You are not putting enough lube in the right places.
Bill

[Drewsifer]

Yes I can fix it an so can any gunsmith or armorer that has any exp. with a semi auto. It will take a hard I ndia stone and applied to the right area. You are not putting enough lube in the right places.
Bill

It was also suggested over at the 1911forum that the ejector was bent. And like I said, when I tried to slide the slide back, that's where the roughness came from. Could this also be a problem?

[ss313]

If you are not comfortable trying to fix it I would suggest contacting Rock Island about sending it back to them to fix. Call Advance Tactical @ 1-775 537-1444 and see what they have to say. They are known for being a little liberal with their warranty work so maybe they can help you out and if not I know that they will be able to tell you what you need to do.

[Diomed]

It was also suggested over at the 1911forum that the ejector was bent. And like I said, when I tried to slide the slide back, that's where the roughness came from. Could this also be a problem?

In that pic it sure looks like it's bent. You could actually chop that off and it'll still work (can help with ejecting a live round), but I'd just let a competent pistolsmith take a look-see.

[Drewsifer]

Well I called Armscor. They said send it in and it would get fixed. Unfortunatley to comply with Fed Ex's rules I had to ship it Overnight Priority ($104!). Big ouch. I feel like a local gunsmith could have fixed it for less than that.

[ss313]

I know that other companies encourage you to disassemble them and ship them as machine parts to get cheaper shipping. I didn't know what Armscor's policy was but that is a pretty big hit for shipping. The good part is that they usually go over the gun good while its there and you get a like new gun back.

[Drewsifer]

I know that other companies encourage you to disassemble them and ship them as machine parts to get cheaper shipping. I didn't know what Armscor's policy was but that is a pretty big hit for shipping. The good part is that they usually go over the gun good while its there and you get a like new gun back.

Yeah the rep I spoke to said if I took it apart I could call it "precision equipment". I just didn't feel comfortable doing that.

[OakRidgeStars]

Unfortunatley to comply with Fed Ex's rules I had to ship it Overnight Priority ($104!). Big ouch.

I would think that an FFL could ship it via UPS for cheaper than that. It was only $30 for me to ship a fully assembled AK

[Diomed]

Unfortunatley to comply with Fed Ex's rules I had to ship it Overnight Priority ($104!). Big ouch.

I would think that an FFL could ship it via UPS for cheaper than that. It was only $30 for me to ship a fully assembled AK

A FFL can mail it even cheaper, USPS Priority flat rate. That's what, ten bucks plus change? A bit more if you get insurance and tracking.