My shooting buddy and former LGS owner and I went shooting today, We have been going every Wednesday since Spring. Today he brought a "Assembled in Portugal" 9mm and it was locking the slide back just about every round. He was using a factory mag and factory ammo. Any suggestions?

We didn't stay too long as it started getting real wet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: maxwayne,

Hmmm. I wonder what brand of ammo you were using.
I would try a different brand. And I also would get a Mcgar 13 round magazine too. I suspect the new mag would solve the problem.
Good luck.

John!

Yes, I would make sure the gun is clean & lightly lubed, then try a different magazine & different ammo.

Could be a magazine issue.

Could be a grip issue (shooter applying upward pressure on the slide stop).

But due to the Hi Power's design, it could also very well be an issue with a worn out recoil spring guide rod, as explained in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdQdnZV_-U

I've had this happen with a 1911 and Hi Power. The ogive of the next round loading sometimes bumps the inner projection of the slide stop. Result is, slide may lock open after every round fired, or only occasionally before the magazine is empty.

If this is happening, ammunition with a different bullet shape may resolve this, or taking a few thousandths off that inner projection of the slide stop so that it cannot be bumped upward by the next round in the magazine...

quote:

Originally posted by johns961:
And I also would get a Mcgar 13 round magazine too. I suspect the new mag would solve the problem.
Good luck.

John!

This ^^. I had the same situation on a used HP I bought back at the start of Covid and new Mecgars completely fixed the issue.

Member here helped me with a similiar problem. The hi power recoil spring guide has a little ball decant spring in it.
If that gets gummy it can cause this. Maybe soak yours or just replace it.

Try a different magazine first. Solved the issue for my FN

quote:

Could be a grip issue (shooter applying upward pressure on the slide stop).

^^^This.

If he's right-handed and using a modern "stacked thumbs/thumbs forward" grip, I can almost guarantee his upper left hand is interfering with the slide stop. Hi Powers are very sensitive to this.

To verify, shoot right-hand only until the magazine is empty. Then, repeat this with two hands, but with the left support thumb CURLED DOWN like an old revolver grip. The right thumb can remain rested on the safety.

This will take the left support hand & thumb out of the equation. I'll bet it clears up the issue.

I've had this same issue with every Hi Power I've ever owned. When I curled my thumbs down, the problem disappeared.

He is a lefty. We are going back to the range tomorrow. I may take one of my Brownings and let him shoot it.

Did you try shooting your buddy's gun to see if you had issues with it?

Going to do that tomorrow.

He took the gun apart and he had the recoil spring guide in upside down.

>maxwayne:
>He took the gun apart and he had the recoil >spring guide in upside down.

Been there, done that. I now check the manual every time I reassemble an HP-35, just to be sure I've got it right.

One of my few complaints about the SA-35 is that you can still do this.

Ya gotta be smarter than the gun. LOL

When in doubt read the owners manual.

Gents,

Sent my SA-35 to Cylinder & Slide for some upgrades and to upgrade the extractor. They are still in business. Turn around was decent, as was pricing. Bill is still there training the next generation...

Wes

quote:

Originally posted by Weshowe:
Gents,

Sent my SA-35 to Cylinder & Slide for some upgrades and to upgrade the extractor. They are still in business. Turn around was decent, as was pricing. Bill is still there training the next generation...



Wes

Good to know. Thanks for the update and C&S info.

quote:

Originally posted by Weshowe:
Gents,

Sent my SA-35 to Cylinder & Slide for some upgrades and to upgrade the extractor. They are still in business. Turn around was decent, as was pricing. Bill is still there training the next generation...

Wes

Wow, I thought he was totally done? Guess I will start sourcing another BHP now.

Thanks for the heads up.