Last stage underway with only four far back targets and eight more shots to go. Squeeze the trigger, recoil and something fly's off my 1911 (WTF was that??) kept shooting and finished the stage and match. After unload, show clear, hammer down and holster I find the piece that broke off the pistol still on the table. Approximately one half of the slide stop pin had snapped off clean and popped out the right side of the frame. I've never had a slide stop fail like that before and I'm surprised the pistol kept on operating and I didn't get smacked between the eyes by the slide. I've had a look at the pistol and other than the broken slide stop pin, I can't see anything else amiss. I've already ordered a replacement slide stop from Freedom Ventures so when that arrives, I should be back in business. *But* is there something more going wrong here or simply sometimes a part breaks. Nothing is perfect.
Slide stop pin snapped.
- Thread starter StoneHorse
- Start date
Enough of the stop was left to hang on to the link for a while. Unless the front your slide sheared completely somehow it's not possible for it to continue backwards and hit you. Even then the barrel should interfere, effectively impossible.
I've never had one go on a 1911 but my CZ SP-01 Shadow has broken one in half. On that particular model I read around the internet it's a 20-25k round consumable which would have been in line with the round count it had. I carry a spare now.
I had trigger return spring break on my CZ Shadow during a IPSC match. Same gun but different match the rear sight single set screw had come loose and the sight had worked it way to the right. I couldn't hit a row of small poppers if my life had depended on it. I thought I was having some sort of meltdown. I gave up and stopped myself after emptying a couple of mags. I went to the safe area and just starred at the pistol. It was then I realized the rear sight was WAY over to the right. A little push with my finger and the sight fell off. GREAT, its fixable right now. Pushed the sight back on, torqued down on the set screw and back shooting. I heard about CZ slide stops breaking so I purchased a replacement stop and trigger return springs as well.
sometimes parts just don't get hardened properly and they are brittle and will be prone to failure.
Just to be sure though I would have a good look at your barrel lug and link. Look for any battery of the lug surfaces that ride on the slide stop and check that link for any damage or cracks and lastly inspect the frame in the recess the barrel lug rests in for any damage or burring.
It's probably just a brittle part, it happens, but it would pay to do a thorough inspection to ensure that there is no battery going on in and round the slide stop "pin" portion.
If the barrel's ramp that mates with and rides on the slide stop is incorrectly angled, there may be undue stress on the slide stop during locking and unlocking under fire.
edit to add..... I agree with others, it is impossible for a 1911 slide to exit the frame to the rear however if the slide stop "pin" exits the gun under fire, the slide, barrel and recoil assembly WILL exit the frame ahead of the shooter and fall to the ground.
Just to be sure though I would have a good look at your barrel lug and link. Look for any battery of the lug surfaces that ride on the slide stop and check that link for any damage or cracks and lastly inspect the frame in the recess the barrel lug rests in for any damage or burring.
It's probably just a brittle part, it happens, but it would pay to do a thorough inspection to ensure that there is no battery going on in and round the slide stop "pin" portion.
If the barrel's ramp that mates with and rides on the slide stop is incorrectly angled, there may be undue stress on the slide stop during locking and unlocking under fire.
edit to add..... I agree with others, it is impossible for a 1911 slide to exit the frame to the rear however if the slide stop "pin" exits the gun under fire, the slide, barrel and recoil assembly WILL exit the frame ahead of the shooter and fall to the ground.
Thanks for suggesting areas for closer inspection. As for the slide coming off in the opposite direction; that is what happens when I'm typing on the fly on my phone while having something said by someone else stuck in my head. After guntech's and others response, I realized my error 
. But I was not going back at that point to edit my original post. Responses would make less sense and others may learn from my mistake.
. But I was not going back at that point to edit my original post. Responses would make less sense and others may learn from my mistake.
I had a very close look at everything under a bright light and magnifying glass. Barrel, frame, link, pin, lugs, recesses, guide rod, slide stop holes through the frame. Nothing looks different, worn or beaten, no cracks. The slide stop appears to be cast part and not machined. The metal looks crystallized at the area of breakage. Pin diameter is 0.199" so not worn. Sometimes a part breaks. New slide stop on it's way.
It looks crystalized because it is, all metals with a few exceptions have crystalline structures at temperatures humans can survive. Losing a slide stop is relatively normal. Unless you lose them a lot I would just move on. I replace the stop in my 10mm 1911s about every 25k rounds. I lost one on a .45 as well but I bought that gun used and it's a Norinco. No idea what it went through before making it to me. I got at least 5000 out of it before it snapped.
