Barrel Play During Slide Lockback

C

Cullen

New member
When the slide is locked back on my P229, I notice the barrel has a lot of play in it. It wobbles all over the place.

This makes me wonder if it could ever bind up when the slide returns, or barring that simply come down slightly differently each time, compromising accuracy. Is this the case? Do all semi-autos do this - I've never owned one before so I have nothing to gauge it against. The gun seems to be pretty accurate, but I haven't actually been shooting for groupings yet.

Thanks
Cullen
 
Because the barrel must move quite a bit to allow for the removal of the cartridge, they will all be quite loose when the slide is open.

Your only concern should be whether the barrel is loose in the slide when the slide is forward, locked, and ready to fire.

(You might also be concerned if the slide itself is loose on the frame -- but this is less of a concern, as you sight on the slide/barrel unit, and the position of the frame is less critical. Many 1911 enthusiasts would disagree <grin> )



There's not much there that could cause it to bind...


[This message has been edited by Walt Sherrill (edited March 29, 2000).]
 
All Browning type recoil-operated auto pistols that I know of have loose barrels when the slide is back. And all go into battery slightly differently with each shot. An accurate pistol is one in which there is minimal difference in lockup from shot to shot, because the barrel and slide go into battery the same each time, or as close to the same as mechanics permit while maintaining reliability.

The most accurate pistols are those blowback pistols in which the sights, barrel and receiver are essentially one piece, like the Ruger and S&W pistols. But this ideal is not compatible with the recoil operation ususally employed for powerful cartridges like the 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. There have been blowback pistols designed for the 9mm and .45, but these have not been satisfactory for a number of reasons, mostly weight and recoil.

Jim
 
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