Sidearms & Scatterguns Beretta 92fs slide not locking bad after last round

[Bridges90]

Hey guys

I recently started shooting my beretta 92 again and have noticed the slide never locks open on the last round. I would think this is probably a magazine issue and the springs might need to be replaced but I’m not sure as I bought the gun used and am clueless on how many rounds have been fired through it. I do know several years ago I replaced the recoil rod and spring and I’m not sure if I used the beretta standard 13lb recoil spring. Could a recoil spring be the issue here if not oem standards? I really don’t remember if I put a lighter or heavier spring in. I feel like i dropped in a 14lb spring. I haven’t read anywhere this being a potential issue to the problem I’m having but I also haven’t researched it a whole lot. Figured I’d ask the experts Thanks guys

 

[softcock]

My 92 will only do that, if I am shooting low power target loads when I reloading .
You need to switch Magazines to see if a Mag. problem . Or if only shooting factory box ammo ? . grab a box of good power defense rounds and run threw and see if slide goes all the way back to catch and lock-open .
Or you might have put a higher Lb. recoil spring in it by mistake ?
.

 

[Bridges90]

Usually just shoot 115gr blazer through it. I’ll try the hotter round and if it fixes the problem then I’ll have to get me a factory recoil spring. Might go ahead and replace the mag springs too. Couldn’t hurt

 

[softcock]

You by chance using those old Issue Mil/LE Check-mate magazines ? . or factory Beretta Mags ?

I remember a lot those check-mate Mags. the follower where a ' tiny fraction wide' and would not make that last tiny bit of rise needed to catch and hold back the upper on last round Fired .
I had to take those followers and check each one for for hold-open .. The ones that would not, I had to surface the sides a little to get them to rider high enough when empty to catch .
.

 

[Bridges90]

Pretty sure they are factory mags but I’ll check the followers anyways

 

[strikeeagle1]

Ignore trigger pin reference, work this checklist:

 

[chongoMT]

I have some experience with this symptom. But before we get to the mags do yourself a favor and replace the locking block, before it bites you in the ass by breaking. Also check it during every cleaning and try to replace around 5k or less depending on the power of ammo used. You can get lucky and see hairline cracks forming. After replacing the locking block keep the interface areas well oiled as it wears together.

Now onto the mags. Start by getting a paint pen and marking your mags with a color and or # to identify them. With a clean and well oiled pistol, insert a unloaded mag into an unloaded pistol and cycle the slide fast, really fast. See if it locks to the rear. Repeat on all marked mags. Next, try it about 3/4 speed and then try it fairly slow. If possible repeat with dummy rounds. There is a good chance that it is the mags themselves combined with the recoil spring not playing well together. It would be a good idea to purchase new high quality mags, mark them and test fire the pistol. If for some odd reason you still encounter the problem it could be the slide catch lever. With the slide removed from the frame you can see the parts working together as the follower rises and pushes the lever up. Sometimes a little lube against the frame and behind the slide catch lever can help, but its a bandaid.

Another possible scenario is that you are riding the slide catch lever with your thumb and not noticing it. To test that you can test fire it making sure you have thumbs high, neutral and pointing down range. When I switch back to shooting 92's I pay the street tax on this and have to remember to keep my R thumb off the lever.

 

[Bridges90]

Well I tested both factory mags I have and 1 locked the slide back and the other didn’t. I checked the one that didn’t and the follower was sitting much lower than on the one that worked. I took that magazine apart and checked to see if it was dirty and such. It didn’t seem very dirty so I put the follower back in and pushed it to the correct height in the magazine. As of right now both are locking the slide back but only a trip to the range will tell. I’m not sure if it was caught on something in the magazine but it seems to be working when I push the follower down into the mag and let it ride back up. It goes to where it’s supposed to go

 

[gearguywb]

Check to see if the slide locks back with an empty magazine inserted.

More than likely you need to invest in some new springs. On competition guns (that get used a lot), I change out springs annually.