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XD-M Elite OSP 10mm - Left-Hand Use - Slide Release Not Working on Empty Mag?

M

mortMN

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Hi - I just purchased one of these pistols, and I was wondering if anyone else was having issues with the slide release not working at all with the left hand with an empty magazine. I didn't think anything of the fact that I was having issues with the gun in the store, since every ambi gun I have purchased is always harder to work from the left side until it gets broken in a little. I called Springfield and the person I spoke with said that it was the mag follower that was causing the issue. I asked why it was not a problem when using the slide release from the right-handed side, and he didn't say a word. After some experimenting, I did find that the slide worked with rounds in the magazine, as well as with no magazine in the gun, but I still have my doubts that this is proper operation for a handgun. I do not have this issue with any of my other three guns from different manufacturers. Thoughts?
 
Have read this a couple times but still having issues as to what your issue is, perhaps it is just too early.

How is it not working? Not holding slide back on empty, not releasing slide when you press it? Or is it holding back slide when there are rounds left?

Each are different issues.

Locking back with rounds left is often the fingers or hand hitting the release especially in a lefty like myself. That's a grip problem.

Not holding the slide back on empty can be a follower or magazine spring problem or grip problem.

Not releasing slide when pressed can be a magazine problem with new magazines. Downloading a few rounds until they break in can help.

I am sure I have missed some things but these are ones I have encountered and remember before coffee lol.
 
Only time I had an actual mechanical failure of a slide stop/release was when I got my surplus EG Makarov. It would not hold open on many of the magazines, but one or two worked, shooting right or left handed,. Replacing the magazine springs and givibg the magazine bodies and followers a good cleaning cured the issue.
 
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There is enough flex in the ambi slide release when you run it left handed that it can’t overcome the upward spring pressure on the mag follower. Remove the slide and insert an empty mag and push down on the slide release with your left hand and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Mine got better with use as the mag springs broke in.
 
Sld1959 said:
Have read this a couple times but still having issues as to what your issue is, perhaps it is just too early.

How is it not working? Not holding slide back on empty, not releasing slide when you press it? Or is it holding back slide when there are rounds left?

Each are different issues.

Locking back with rounds left is often the fingers or hand hitting the release especially in a lefty like myself. That's a grip problem.

Not holding the slide back on empty can be a follower or magazine spring problem or grip problem.

Not releasing slide when pressed can be a magazine problem with new magazines. Downloading a few rounds until they break in can help.

I am sure I have missed some things but these are ones I have encountered and remember before coffee lol.
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Sorry, the post did run on a bit. :) As 835mag mentioned, the slide is unable to release using my left hand with an empty magazine, due to the upward pressure of the magazine spring on the follower. Other than that, the release works as it should. This was also what the Springfield CS person said, but I had not run into this issue with any of my other lefty-friendly guns, so I figured I would seek other opinions before calling shenanigans on what SA told me.

I guess this means that I need to get out to the range more - darn... 🙃

Thanks all!
 
835mag said:
There is enough flex in the ambi slide release when you run it left handed that it can’t overcome the upward spring pressure on the mag follower. Remove the slide and insert an empty mag and push down on the slide release with your left hand and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Mine got better with use as the mag springs broke in.
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Strangely enough, when I did as you suggested and put in an (brand new) empty mag with the slide removed, it seemed to work just fine - I was able to press the slide release down easily with my left thumb, and the tab on the slide release was depressing the follower on the magazine detent without a problem. Remove the mag, replace the slide, re-insert the mag - and the release literally doesn't move for a left-hand shooter. I don't think it would move if I hit it with a hammer. It's not the end of the world, and I don't normally put a gun into battery that way anyway, but it still doesn't seem to be proper behavior, even for a brand-new gun. Time will tell, I guess. Thanks again!
 
Mine has done exactly the same thing since I got it. The right side slide release flexes just a bit and doesn’t seem strong enough to overcome the magazine follower spring and the normal friction of the slide stop on the slide. If the follower isn’t pushing up against it because it is loaded or the mag is out, it will release the slide just fine. I didn’t know it was an issue until I let my left handed friend shoot it and he was trying to drop the slide. I’ve read that it gets better with use, Springfield CS asked me to ship it to them to check it out but I never did.
 
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