Slide play on 1911?

C

CANIS

New member
I like my Norinco 1911. My question has to do with the slide play that it has. When I shake it, it rattles. I can move the slide side to side and vertically when in battery. Is this typical of a mil spec 1911? Is it because it is built more for reliability and loose tolerances rather than 2" 50 yard accuracy? Do I need to get this fixed? I am more interested in reliability since I use this gun for defense and plinking around more so than target shooting. My little Llama Minimax seems to have a much tighter frame to slide fit.

Your insights are very much appreciated.

Thank you!

Chris Canis
 
A little play is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the barrel is locking up nice and tight. The question is how much "play" are we talking about? Are you sure it is the slide that is rattling? I have seen a few old 1911's that rattle and shoot ok. Check for unusual wear in the barrel to slide lockup. If you do not know what to look for, get a smith to look at it. The up and down has me a little concerned.
 
AK9,

I would characterize the play as being no more than a small fraction of an inch laterally. Vertically it is almost imperceptable. I have closely examined the internals on this gun and see no signs of any wear, pinging or anything else alarming. When in battery - the barrel is firmly locked in place with the slide, it's just that the slide has that small amount of play described above.

Thanks!

Chris Canis
 
Hey Canis - I have a Colt 1991A1 that has had some horizontal movement from day one. I also just checked it and understand what you mean by the vertical movemment and is there, but can only be described as no more than a hair. I've never shot a shelf-grade 1911 that didn't have a little movement. I've also shot Baers and Wilson's that are as tight as a drum head. There are varying opinions on just how tight an action should be, and personally, I think a little play is necessary to allow for heat expansion. To tght and your pistol is going to bind up, just like an engine.

Good luck.
 
It sounds like plain old mil-spec tolerances. As long as the gun is reasonably accurate and reliable I wouldn't worry about it. The Norinco is a mil-spec type pistol and should be judged as such.
 
Slide to frame tightness is important but no so important as barrel to slide fit. The sights are on the slide and if the barrel and slide retain the same relationship from shot to shot, the gun will be accurate.

Jim
 
Gentlemen,

Thanks for your input. Jim - what you said makes complete sense to me! Since the barrel locks up very well with the slide, it is indeed an acceptably acurate pistol!

Thank you all.
 
Jim is correct, the barrel to slide fit is more important than slide to frame fit. For those that want to know here are the military sepcs for the various frame and slide dimensions: (all in inches)
The frame width .751 +.000/-.003
Width of frame across the bottom of the rail slot .628 +.000/-.003
Rail width (top to bottom) .100 +.000/-.001
Rail slot width .119 +.002/-.000

Interior width of the slide .629 +.003/-.000
Width of slide to the bottom of the rail slot .753 +.006/-.000
Rail width (top to bottom) .118 +.005/-.000
Rail slot width .101 +.006/-.000

Dimensions may "stack" and either increase the loosness of the slide to frame fit or tighten it.


------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
John Browning designed the Colt Model 1911 with that play to make it wxtremely reliable under combat conditions, As they used to say in Army Ordanace "Old John knew what he was doing!"
 
As others have said your gun is fine as long as it shoots to your liking. For me as long as it shoots where I point it and I can keep the groups under 6" then its fine the smaller the better but my guns are for self/home defense and shooting at the range. So I don't need a tack driver yet.

Cyric13
 
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