STI TROJAN 9MM

[ichetucknee]

I love my Trojan in 9mm. However, the slide started not locking back after the last shot, but not everytime. When a I cycle it manually there is no problem. This occurs with factory ammo. Is my recoil spring too stiff?

[Merlin Orr]

Might be the recoil spring.. If it is factory it is stiffer than required. But if it locked back previously it is probably the mags. Probably the follower is not coming up quite as high as it should. Mag lips might need reset a little wider.

Is the gun nice and clean?

[ichetucknee]

It has about 300 rounds thru it since the last cleaning. That may help.

[blind bat]

I'd look at the mags. Make sure they are clean and the springs are in good shape. See if you can narrow the problem down to a specific mag.

[steel1212]

What mags are they?

[ajg308]

Are you right handed? Your opposable digit is probably riding or bumping the slide stop.

I know a shooter that sent a SIG 220 back 2 times because it would not lock back. I was watching him shoot it, and sure enough, his thumb was riding on the slide stop.

Something to look for.

[ichetucknee]

I'm a lefty using STI factory mags. I've ordered some cobra mags from Tripp research. I think I'll try to isolate the mags that have issues. I'm not really thrilled with the STI mags. I had one that lost its floorplate and became diassembled during an IDPA match while I was shooting a stage. It dumped all the ammo out of my pistol. There it laid on the ground next to the mag spring, follower, floor plate and bumper. I ejected the tube from my magwell, inserted a new mag and went on my way. That was pretty interesting. STI replaced the mag for free but still...

[Duane Thomas]

I used to have the same problem with my well-worn Wilson .45 ACP 8-rounders when they got a bit dirty. Invariably breaking down the mags and cleaning them resulted in 100 percent lockback on every empty mag again. Once I figured out the source of the problem, I used to break down and clean every one of my 8-round mags right before the monthly IDPA match, and I never had a failure to lock back on a slidelock reload at a match. I'd suggest cleaning your mags before anything else, and see if that solves the problem.

[want2race]

I had the same issue even with an M&P mag. Just dirty. Riding the slide stop on a 1911 is pretty tough, it's pretty far forward, likely not the issue.

Make sure your slide stop and barrel are lubed. Put a "swipe" of oil on the back side of the slide stop lever where the plunger hits it. The plunger tip is a bearing surface and needs a touch of oil.

Most likely the mags, but there are other things to check too.

[Duane Thomas]

Put a "swipe" of oil on the back side of the slide stop lever where the plunger hits it. The plunger tip is a bearing surface and needs a touch of oil.

Interesting. I've never head that before. I've always preferred to keep lube, as much as possible, away from that area. I figure oil on the slide stop-to-follower contact area translates to oil on the follower, i.e. oil down inside my magazine where it can attract crud. I like keeping the mag as "dry" as possible. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[TonyT]

My STI Trojan in 40 S&W was not locking back and I traced it back to some of the magazines. I will probably have to replace the springs on those magazines. In 9mm I shoot a Dan Wesson PM-9 using Metalform 38 Super magazines and they function perfectly - at $12.99 each I doubt it would be worth replacing springs if they ever stopped working.

[Carmoney]

Got a buffer in there? If so, toss it in the trash.

[Duane Thomas]

Absolutely.

[ichetucknee]

No buffer.

[oak hill]

If you are running the stock recoil spring with light ammo like 115 gr white box or similar, replace the spring with a 10 lb. to start and you can even go lighter if needed. Personally I run a 9 lb recoil spring with 15 lb. mainspring and do use shock buffs.

[BoldasLions]

+ for possible magazine problems

Edited August 20, 2010 by BoldasLions

[Bob DuBois]

I run a 9lb recoil spring, no shock buff and a 15lb main spring in my 9mm Trojan. Ended up putting an Aftec extractor and a .201 Wilson slide stop to get it eject and go to slide lock every time. I'm using Wilson 10 round magazines with two coils off the magazine springs.

Didn't take long for the stock ejector to break, check to see if the mags hit the ejector with the slide off. STI replaced the ejector with a 38/40 ejector. I believe the newer guns come with a better design on the ejector.

[DWFAN]

I run a 9lb recoil spring, no shock buff and a 15lb main spring in my 9mm Trojan. Ended up putting an Aftec extractor and a .201 Wilson slide stop to get it eject and go to slide lock every time. I'm using Wilson 10 round magazines with two coils off the magazine springs.

Didn't take long for the stock ejector to break, check to see if the mags hit the ejector with the slide off. STI replaced the ejector with a 38/40 ejector. I believe the newer guns come with a better design on the ejector.

You have to run Federal primers with that 15lb main spring ?

Wilsons hit the ejector in my Dan Wesson PM-9.. Trips do not. I have had to adjust the tab on the follower out some to hit the slide stop 100%, and still have some issues intermittently. Im going to look at fitting a new stop to see if that fixes the issue. I run an 8lb spring.

[Bob DuBois]

The only primers I've used with the 15lb mainspring are Winchester Small Pistol and I haven't had one miss fire in over a thousand rounds. Had a 17lb in the gun for a long time just thought I would give the 15lb a try and it has worked very well.

[xinnix]

See if it happen with the same magazine. or it happens randomly. I am guessing it is the mag followers. if it is on the same mag you can bend the follower out just a little so it engages the slide stop.

[donnyglock]

Well you ordered the right mags. Tripps are fantastic. I bet they cure the problem.

[ck1]

I'm thinking of buying a Trojan 9mm but what puts me off is the seemingly high number of instances of guys having nagging issues and/or having to replace/upgrade parts (replacing ejectors, putting in Aftecs, etc)... Almost seems like I'd be paying almost double over a Spartan just to get the ramped barrel and undercut trigger-guard while still having to change or upgrade the same things, and then get reliable mags. What do you guys think?

Edited October 5, 2010 by ck1

[blind bat]

CK1: At the risk of starting a flame war... That's the nature of 1911's, they can be temperamental especially with mags. 1911's in non-traditional calibers (9mm, .40) are even more more temperamental than the traditional (.45 & 38 Supah) chamberings. Not to mention many people, including myself are of the fix-until-broken mindset. The only thing about the Trojan that feels cheap is the slop in the trigger. Everything else feels and works pretty well on my Trojan.

[ck1]

CK1: At the risk of starting a flame war... That's the nature of 1911's, they can be temperamental especially with mags. 1911's in non-traditional calibers (9mm, .40) are even more more temperamental than the traditional (.45 & 38 Supah) chamberings. Not to mention many people, including myself are of the fix-until-broken mindset. The only thing about the Trojan that feels cheap is the slop in the trigger. Everything else feels and works pretty well on my Trojan.

Thanks, guess i'm still on the fence about 9mm 1911's in-general, seems the Trojan is about the best of the breed and maybe I'm just picking up on guys trying to tune all the bad manners out of them that they can. Seems there are some things that just go with the territory when dealing with a platform that was originally designed for the longer OAL cartridge in .45.

[astephenson]

ck1- my 9mm Trojan has been absolutely flawless. I use Tripp mags. I can't say enough good things about either the gun or the magazines.