STI Trojan 9mm slide stop

[malmon45]

Anybody with STI slide stop issues? I have an STI Trojan 9mm, it's a really fun gun to shoot but for some reason the slide will not lock back on an empty magazine except for the SA 1911 9mm metalform mags with the groove in front instead of the rear spacer. I have wilson combat, metalform 10 rounders and even the factory STI mag, all of them will not lock the slide open on empty. Any suggestions?

So far this gun is 4 out of 5.

[rwd]

All I use in mine is Wilson and I have never had any problem

[kaptain]

I've been running Dawson Precision 10 rd mags with fmj bullets and haven't had any issues locking back on the empty magazine.

[malmon45]

I know it's a small issue but is this covered under warranty? Also, is it normal to require a small screw driver to install the slide stop, it seems that the plunger tube is longer then usual.

[Joe_Atlanta]

Originally Posted by malmon45

is it normal to require a small screw driver to install the slide stop

Haven't experienced any 1911s that need a screwdriver to install the slide stop. Since it's a part that doesn't usually require fitting, you might want to get STI to send you another and give it a try.

[malmon45]

Originally Posted by Joe_Atlanta

Haven't experienced any 1911s that need a screwdriver to install the slide stop. Since it's a part that doesn't usually require fitting, you might want to get STI to send you another and give it a try.

I had my share of 1911's, SA, colt, para, les baer & kimber, this is my first STI and the slide stop will not go in without a tool. Not sure if this is the norm with this brand.

Thanks for your advice, I have already contacted the STI rep in this forum and hopefully he responds.

[nostatic]

My Trojan slide stop is tight when re-fitting, but not so much that I need a tool, just have to position it a bit more carefully when I push it in.

Did you give it a good clean when you got it.?
The only problem I had when new was a "slow" mag release button, it seemd to stick a little and gently settle back flush. When I pulled it out it had a fair bit of grease in there, so I stripped the gun totally and flushed it all out, and re-lubricated. No problems since.

[the hudge]

Had the exact same problem with my Trojan 9mm. It worked fine with 9 round MF mags but not with the ten rounders. I took matters into my own hands and fixed it; alas, after two years of trial and error I only use MF 9rnd mags and shy away from any other.
Huh, I did not have to tinker with it after all. Go figure.

[malmon45]

Originally Posted by the hudge

Had the exact same problem with my Trojan 9mm. It worked fine with 9 round MF mags but not with the ten rounders. I took matters into my own hands and fixed it; alas, after two years of trial and error I only use MF 9rnd mags and shy away from any other.
Huh, I did not have to tinker with it after all. Go figure.

Some people lack the ambition to improve things or the mental ability to solve problems. Just settle with the cards that life dealt. They have a gun which will work only one brand of magazine, yet without trying, they feel bliss. Go figure.

[malmon45]

Originally Posted by nostatic

My Trojan slide stop is tight when re-fitting, but not so much that I need a tool, just have to position it a bit more carefully when I push it in.

Did you give it a good clean when you got it.?
The only problem I had when new was a "slow" mag release button, it seemd to stick a little and gently settle back flush. When I pulled it out it had a fair bit of grease in there, so I stripped the gun totally and flushed it all out, and re-lubricated. No problems since.

I have field stripped the gun before, I'll try to detail strip it and see if it helps. Thanks.

[malmon45]

Comparing the slide stop plungers among 1911's that I have, it shows that the one from STI is a bit longer than the rest. It stretches more than half of the length of the slide stop notch. Is this normal among STI? Can fellow STI owners please comment, thanks.

Colt has the shortest:


Springfield Armory:


Kimber:


STI:

[STI_Rep]

Originally Posted by malmon45

I had my share of 1911's, SA, colt, para, les baer & kimber, this is my first STI and the slide stop will not go in without a tool. Not sure if this is the norm with this brand.

Thanks for your advice, I have already contacted the STI rep in this forum and hopefully he responds.

No, you shouldn't require a tool to reinstall your slide stop. I have my suspicions, but I'm going to get with the Warranty dept before saying anything I'll have an answer for you here in just a little bit

[Brazos Custom Gunworks]

You can shorten the plunger a little and that will solve the problem. Make sure not to shorten it too much. It needs to be long enough to firmly contact the slide stop.

[B.Reid]

My Trojan has the same issue, it takes a little effort to put the slide stop back in. I figured the spring is a little long and will compress. I use Tripp 10 round mags and everything works perfect.

[STI_Rep]

Like Bob said, you can just shorten it a bit and it should fix it. Just be sure to take a little bit and check it, then repeat if needed. If you have any questions or if you shorten it too much, call our Warranty dept and they'll take care of you.

[ken_mays]

I have also noticed the longer plunger on STIs, but I think the real problem is the slide stop. It is longer from pin to the plunger end than most other slide stops. It takes more force for the slide stop to swing up against the plunger tension.

I've fought lockback issues on all my STIs (9mm Trojan, .40 Sentry and 9mm Ranger II) and I believe the best fix is to either swap in a correctly dimensioned slide stop, or take a bit of metal off the back of the STI slide stop.

Here's a Colt slide stop:


SV .40 slide stop:


STI Sentry slide stop:


Ranger II 9mm slide stop:


Ranger II still exhibiting intermittent failure to lock back with Tripp mags:


Sentry slide stop end recontoured to a curved profile:


The curved profile means the plunger exerts more of a constant tension against the slide stop, and reduces the wedging action taking place as the slide stop moves upward against the plunger.



With all that said, shortening the plunger is the cheapest and easiest fix for most.

[kaptain]

I will take a look at my STI Trojan tonight and see the length of the slide stop plunger.

[malmon45]

Bob from Brazos, you are a genius. Like you suggested, I shortened the plunger with a dremel, and now the installation process for the slide stop is tool-free. It may have also resolved the issue of the slide not locking back on an empty magazine. It now locks open with Wilson Combat! The metalform 10 rounders and the factory mag will only lock the slide open momentarily, for about a second and then the slide will release by itself. I'll let the plunger break-in a little bit before shortening it any further, if still needed.

[malmon45]

Originally Posted by ken_mays

I have also noticed the longer plunger on STIs, but I think the real problem is the slide stop. It is longer from pin to the plunger end than most other slide stops. It takes more force for the slide stop to swing up against the plunger tension.

I've fought lockback issues on all my STIs (9mm Trojan, .40 Sentry and 9mm Ranger II) and I believe the best fix is to either swap in a correctly dimensioned slide stop, or take a bit of metal off the back of the STI slide stop.

With all that said, shortening the plunger is the cheapest and easiest fix for most.

Very interesting findings. Thank you for sharing. I guess everything is big in Texas, including slide stop and plunger.

[the hudge]

Thanks for the good word Malmon45; I shoot Steel and IDPA and the 9 round mags are an advantage in one and more than enough for the other. I used ten round mags for some time but for some reason my gun did not like them and it would double feed on occasion.
I fixed the non lock back issue with the ten rounders and figured if the OP was interested I would tell him how. However, I did not expound because it would behoove him and others to use the warranty instead.
I am very happy with the 9 round mags and have not settled, but have realized, that sometimes, less is more.

[malmon45]

Originally Posted by the hudge

Thanks for the good word Malmon45; I shoot Steel and IDPA and the 9 round mags are an advantage in one and more than enough for the other. I used ten round mags for some time but for some reason my gun did not like them and it would double feed on occasion.
I fixed the non lock back issue with the ten rounders and figured if the OP was interested I would tell him how. However, I did not expound because it would behoove him and others to use the warranty instead.
I am very happy with the 9 round mags and have not settled, but have realized, that sometimes, less is more.

Thank you the hudge for your claims of knowing a solution to the non slide back issue and yet not willing to share that info. I am sure that your post will somehow somewhere help somebody.

[the hudge]

Lots of polishing of the slide stop where it contacts the plunger pin. Then polish the whole (tiny) pin that contacts the slide stop and cutting a couple of coils (two worked for me). It worked for my MF 10 round mags but I think it might void warranty (not sure). It was recommended actions only if I felt comfortable doing it.
Sorry, as I was not trying to be rude, I just don't want to be the blanket cause of people having problems potential with there manufactures.
I see now the reason you said what you did. I'll try to be more concise with my wording on future posts.

[the hudge]

Dude, my bad. I gotta lay off the organic apples.