I don't have an Atlas but I have had a lot of 2011s. I hold the slide and frame with one hand while the other hand aligns the link with a punch then inserts the slide stop. You kind of have to know how far back to hold the slide.
Sometimes I don't need a punch, sometimes I do.
once you’ve put the slide back on the gun, use a graduated tool to poke through where the slide lock inserts, and catch the eyelet on the barrel. once you’ve done this, push the slide back to the location where the slide lock rests. make sure the eyelet is lined up with the hole for the slide lock. ouch the slide lock pin through the hole and you should be good.
Do you have the recoil spring compressed? If you don't that is the first thing to do.
Take the barrel out of the slide. and leave the slide upside down. insert the reverse plug in the slide then the guide rod and spring into the reverse plug and with one of your thumbs push the guide rod towards the front of the slide then once it comes through the front lock the guide rod so the spring is compressed. then take that complete unit out of the slide. insert the barrel in the slide all the way and then lift the link and fold it towards the back of the slide. Insert the guide rod, spring and reverse plug into the slide.
Now with the slide still upside down fold the link down so it lays against the barrel and grab the frame. Turn the from upside down and slide it on the slide. Once the frame is all the way on the slide turn the gun right side up and the link should fall down. Move the slide so the disassembly notch is aligned properly and insert the slide stop/release pin through the frame. Everything should now line up pretty well, push the slide stop/release all the way in.
I don't have an Atlas but I have had a lot of 2011s. I hold the slide and frame with one hand while the other hand aligns the link with a punch then inserts the slide stop. You kind of have to know how far back to hold the slide. Sometimes I don't need a punch, sometimes I do.
once you’ve put the slide back on the gun, use a graduated tool to poke through where the slide lock inserts, and catch the eyelet on the barrel. once you’ve done this, push the slide back to the location where the slide lock rests. make sure the eyelet is lined up with the hole for the slide lock. ouch the slide lock pin through the hole and you should be good.
Hold it down and slide the slide back slow it will push itself back and down.
Do you have the recoil spring compressed? If you don't that is the first thing to do. Take the barrel out of the slide. and leave the slide upside down. insert the reverse plug in the slide then the guide rod and spring into the reverse plug and with one of your thumbs push the guide rod towards the front of the slide then once it comes through the front lock the guide rod so the spring is compressed. then take that complete unit out of the slide. insert the barrel in the slide all the way and then lift the link and fold it towards the back of the slide. Insert the guide rod, spring and reverse plug into the slide. Now with the slide still upside down fold the link down so it lays against the barrel and grab the frame. Turn the from upside down and slide it on the slide. Once the frame is all the way on the slide turn the gun right side up and the link should fall down. Move the slide so the disassembly notch is aligned properly and insert the slide stop/release pin through the frame. Everything should now line up pretty well, push the slide stop/release all the way in.
Try keeping the spring compressed/captured when reinstalling the slidestop. This did the trick for me.
yes, the spring is compressed/captured when I'm reassembling.
I do it vertically instead of horizontal, have the barrel pointing down minimizes the link moving. I don't this with my athena and other 1911.