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October 2, 2021
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Have over 2000 rounds through my DW Guardian, no problems at all ... until my last match. On the last stage of an IDPA match I ran the gun empty, slammed in a fresh mag as I changed position, and the slide refused to release. Frustrating. It absolutely would not come forward to chamber a round.
It was MY error, not the gun's fault. Learn from my mistake. When I "slammed" in the fresh mag I slammed it in HARD and it went up too high, blocking the slide from coming forward. The solution, thanks Steve, was to lock back the slide, press and hold the mag release button in, and then press the mag down from the top. It will drop out and clear.
The preventative approach is respect the quality firearm you have and press the mag home, but leave "slamming" it out of the equation.
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Good to know! Thanks.
October 2, 2021
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Had this happen again. As before, I SLAMMED the mag home in an empty gun slide back reload in the middle of an IDPA. Stage. (I get excited.) as before, solution is lock back the slide, press the mag release with the left hand and then press the mag diwn from the top with the right hand to clear everything out and reload with more respect.
Spent some time at my bench with all of my mags and dummy rounds. I don’t see how it is possible for the mag to go up past the normal stop point and jam the slide as it moves forward. My best guess, now, is that a round pops up partially out of the mag as it slams to a stop at the top of the mag channel with nothing above it to contain it, and a nose dive jam occurs as the slide drives forward. Maybe.
Whatever, don’t slam it home and avoid the problem.
October 2, 2021
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More info. Please remember that I am an experienced user, but not a trained gunsmith.
Problem appears to be in the shift from the original .45 cal design to 9mm, and the desire for more ammo, in an already tight mag. Lots of 9mm 1911 users apparently have this problem. When the mag is loaded to full capacity the spring under the follower is at max tension. If the mag is slammed in hard, and the slide is open, the top round can move out of position. Not always, not even often, but enough to ruin a stage / match. If it is inserted softly, and the slide is closed, the top round may press against the under side of the slide and cause the mag to not seat fully. Fire a round and it drops down. Perhaps not out of the gun but the next round fails.
My solution is to load my mags to one less than max. In close to 4000 rounds fired I have never had a failure doing things that way. For competition I always have a mag with lesser capacity in the mix somewhere, which forces me to load all to that capacity. You can’t change based on stage design, it must be the same throughout the match, but 9 in 10 round mags, plus 1 in the chamber, works for me. Perhaps it will for you as well.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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I saw on another thread on how the round angle gets steeper on the last couple of rounds in the 9mm mags. Makes it useful to have the frame relieved some where the ramped barrel meets it. This has been done on DW's but maybe not all.
October 2, 2021
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I’m not sure. My DW Guardian has the same problem as my SA Champion. Have done a bunch more study. My conclusion is jamming the 9mm mag full to the max compresses the spring too tight. Load 1 round in a mag and then press it out from the rear with your finger. It goes straight forward. Load the mag to the max and do the same and the round nose dives. Notice also the follower. It is spring loaded with more movement downward at the front than the rear. Loading the mags to one less than max reduces these pressures all around. Not sure of the problem but this appears to be a good work around. - J
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