Spring question..

[chrome]

Shooting the XD today, and on ALL my mags (all 2 of them), the slide started to persistantly fail to lock to the rear on the last round.. I have a # 22 WOLF spring in my XD, that now has seen upwards of 3000 rounds. Would the recoil spring affect the slide lock?

I was planning on buying another spring within the next couple hundred rounds, but if this is the problem, it will be now.

[Nickle1]

Light loads

[chrome]

Originally Posted by Nickle1

Light loads

standard winchester white box...what I have been shooting normally..

[Nickle1]

Check the top of your mags . Part #45 (magazine follower) that pushes up on the slide lock after the last round. It might be getting worn down from loading and feeding ammo. That part for somereason springfield chose to make out of plastic so they don't last as long.

[mullanman]

If the spring is wearing out, which wolf's will do after even 1000 rounds, that will prevent it from going to slide-lock.

Sometimes with a worn spring, it cycles back too fast for the mag catch to catch. Generally though, this is seen with to strong of spring. Especially with the heavier spring like a 22#.

Check and measure your mags as well and make sure they are within specs. look for variation in the mag feed lips from mag to mag.

[Nickle1]

Originally Posted by mullanman

If the spring is wearing out, which wolf's will do after even 1000 rounds, that will prevent it from going to slide-lock.

Sometimes with a worn spring, it cycles back too fast for the mag catch to catch. Generally though, this is seen with to strong of spring. Especially with the heavier spring like a 22#.

Heavy spring = to fast to catch and returns to battery.

Worn out spring= to slow to return to battery

The spring is constantly putting pressure on the slide to return it to battery. The problem is that the slide returns to battery after the last round. So...the problem can't be a worn out spring.


Also, make sure that there is no residue between the frame and slide lock lever. Sometimes sticky residue can be just enough resistance so that coupled with the force of the slide lock spring the magazine spring can't push through it.

[mullanman]

its all a timing issue. If the spring is really crapped out, things do not happen as they should as the gun cycles. I've had 1911's with worn springs that do not lock open on an empty mag. Lots of little things need to happen to load a round, go to slide lock etc. I was giving this gentleman one possibility.

My friend recently had slide lock problems. New SA mags, i used them in my gun and they were fine, in his they didn't lock open. Factory ammo here, we put in a new 18# spring and voila, it ran like a champ...go figure.

Generally speaking, you correct with regard to springs.

[BigA]

In my 1911's i always change out the recoil springs at about 2000 to 2500 rds.Thats about the life expectancy of them.After 1200 rds i retemper mine and retemper mag springs if they get weak.I would definatly replace a recoil spring if i had that many rds through but like one said check your mag's as well

[HamsXD]

On the subject of parts being worn, would a bullet in the chamber weaken the extractor over time? Forgive me, I'm new to the workings of a gun and if I am way out in left field, somebody please correct me.

[Don]

Originally Posted by HamsXD

On the subject of parts being worn, would a bullet in the chamber weaken the extractor over time? Forgive me, I'm new to the workings of a gun and if I am way out in left field, somebody please correct me.

Springs don't get weak being held in any position, they get weak from repeating cycling to some extreme state. With the "right" design, a spring will cycle millions of times. Pistol recoil springs lead a hard life, as they are cycled pretty deep. Things like extractors don't lead as hard of a life, but because of how they are made they are not as consistent as coil springs and can need some occasional tweaking. But it will not be from a round being left in the chamber.