Hi guys,
This is my first post; I've been lurking awhile and appreciate all the helpful advice here. I'd love some advice on a premature slight lock problem that presented itself in a local match yesterday. The gun is a 2014 SP-01 Shadow Custom. The slide would lock open after about 3-4 rounds from the first mag on a stage. It happened on 3 different stages with 2 different mags.
The gun has just shy of 3000 rounds through it. I'm using Mec Gar 17 rounders exclusively, and they are all the same age as the gun. My slide stop is the CZ Custom "new" unit with the shorter nub and original CZ75-sized paddle. I've only ever shot new factory ammo in the gun. The ammo last night was basic Federal 115 gr that I've shot many times without issue.
My support hand grip on the gun is like most, high and forward. I know the base of my support hand thumb (the soft meaty part) puts pressure the slide stop. I understand that this could cause the slide stop to push up, but I've been competing with a CZ for a year and have never experienced this problem until now, in a match or otherwise. Obviously I would like to keep my grip the same, so I hope there's something I can change in the gun rather than in me.
Do I need a new slide stop spring? New mag springs? Thicker grip panels? Was I doing something wrong like not seating the mag hard enough while making ready? I guess there's a first time for everything. I'm considering getting a Rami slide stop so it's less likely to be pushed up by my support hand, assuming that's a drop-in part. Any other ideas?