Is my homebrew pistol too tight to "shoot in"??

tracyballard · March 31, 2010, 15:27

I just finished a homebuilt 1911 project, with a Foster frame and Remsport forged slide. I finished it with gloss black Gunkote, and I seem to have gotten it on pretty thick. Before I coated the parts, the frame and slide were perfectly fitted and was smooth as glass, maybe even a tad loose though, because the slide would slide back on its own if I tilted it at 45 degrees, although there was no noticeable play. After gunkote, the slide and frame had to be fitted again, with some sanding off of the coating on the rails, but I don't really want to do that because the original fit was borderline loose. Now I have it worked in to where I can pull back the slide with strong hand pressure far enough to cock the hammer, but it's almost impossible to pull it back far enough to engage the slide lock by hand. So, my question is, is this still too tight to try to "shoot it in", or should I work it some more before trying that?

As you can see, this is a pretty sweet piece, so I would prefer that it not blow up in my face.

boricua · April 01, 2010, 00:42

nice!!!

**Hoot G** · April 01, 2010, 00:53

Nice lookin' gun!

It might work as-is, but if it were me, I'd take out the barrel and springs and such, then work it in while watching TV.

It's a lot easier without the recoil spring in it.

Muggzy · April 01, 2010, 06:55

I think you should work it some more. but shooting it in? your probably not gonna have any problems, either. IMHO.

Man....that is SWEET

jdmcomp · April 01, 2010, 08:10

I doubt any coating will stay on the wear surface of the slide. Just too much going on there. Just lightly sand away enough to allow the slide to move under its own weight without springs or barrel in place and shoot that sucker.

**MAINER** · April 01, 2010, 09:01

The only thing that might happen is that it won't cycle and you will be clearing a lot of FTF or FTE.
I'd shoot it, but if the range is far away, I'd work on it till I could rack the slide all the way to the rear with somewhat normal effort. Or, take an FAL along, hate wasted range trips.

btw. 1911 building guides I've read say that the slide should move on it own when the gun is tilted. No play is good.

Never heard of Foster or Remsport, but it's been awhile since I've built a 1911.

Good job.

tracyballard · April 01, 2010, 11:28

thanks for the info Mainer! btw, Foster is Caspian, they use the Foster name for so-called blemished parts, although I couldn't find any noticeable cosmetic issues with this one. Remsport is an American manufacturer that makes slides and frames for custom builders, not sure which ones exactly, but insiders will tell you that if you have some custom 1911's you've probably got a gun with a Remsport slide without knowing it.

**MAINER** · April 01, 2010, 16:53

Good to know, thanks!

Caspian is definately good stuff.

Got a Range report coming?

tracyballard · April 01, 2010, 16:55

I may get to shoot it this weekend, but probably next. I'll post the results.

thanatos56 · April 02, 2010, 01:57

I have been known to use automotive valve lapping compound to lap in the slide to the frame... just working the slide back and forth on the frame, with no internals.

Your mileage may vary...

tracyballard · April 02, 2010, 12:32

since the actual metal to metal fit was perfect before the addition of the finish, I really don't want to use anything abrasive on it, I will probably just work it a little more with the barrel and spring removed before I try shooting it.

ALL FAL · April 04, 2010, 19:19

Sounds good Tracy, never use anything like valve grinding compound on an action, the theory being that you can never get all the abrasive out and it will cause pre-mature wear. I just mentioned that in case someone else might try to use that method. Hope you have an excellent range trip and your build is very very nice!!

tracyballard · April 09, 2010, 20:08

range report! well, I got to shoot it, but it's still a little tight, I had to tap the back of the slide with the heel of my hand after every shot to get the slide to return forward. other than that, the function was fine. I only fired about 20 rounds, but I did fire a 7 round mag at a fresh target for a group at 25 feet before I left. Looks like 2 rounds may have almost went through the same hole (the one in the middle), but I could be mistaken. Seems like it shoots a little to the left and low.

AndyC · April 22, 2010, 18:02

Quote:

Originally posted by tracyballard
Seems like it shoots a little to the left and low.

I trust the builder more than I trust the shooter

I used to degrease a slide and frame in gasoline, let it dry and then paint the rails with Brasso - let that dry for a few minutes, then work the slide and frame together a few hundred times. It's a very very mild abrasive, so you won't do any harm - then dunk it back in the gasoline, lube her up and shoot as normal.

tracyballard · April 22, 2010, 18:33

I figured out the problem with the slide not returning on its own - the guide rod was a bit too tight in there, replaced it with an older one and everything is smooth as glass now. We'll see how that affects the point of aim one of these days....

emcroy · April 23, 2010, 00:25

The slide should not bind anywhere. The tight "lockup" is in the barrel fit. A lot of guys fit em where you have to tap with mallet to get them to close and then shoot them in. By the way filing and lapping the slide to frame fit with abrasive compound is common practice, unless you have a mill.

March 31, 2010, 15:27	#1
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	Is my homebrew pistol too tight to "shoot in"?? I just finished a homebuilt 1911 project, with a Foster frame and Remsport forged slide. I finished it with gloss black Gunkote, and I seem to have gotten it on pretty thick. Before I coated the parts, the frame and slide were perfectly fitted and was smooth as glass, maybe even a tad loose though, because the slide would slide back on its own if I tilted it at 45 degrees, although there was no noticeable play. After gunkote, the slide and frame had to be fitted again, with some sanding off of the coating on the rails, but I don't really want to do that because the original fit was borderline loose. Now I have it worked in to where I can pull back the slide with strong hand pressure far enough to cock the hammer, but it's almost impossible to pull it back far enough to engage the slide lock by hand. So, my question is, is this still too tight to try to "shoot it in", or should I work it some more before trying that? As you can see, this is a pretty sweet piece, so I would prefer that it not blow up in my face.

April 01, 2010, 00:42	#2
boricua Registered FALaholic #: 3139 Join Date: May 2001 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 131	nice!!! __________________ ‘Youth ages, ignorance can be educated, drunkenness sobered, but stupid lasts forever.’

April 01, 2010, 00:53	#3
Hoot G What, me worry? Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 23207 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South MS Posts: 2,076	Nice lookin' gun! It might work as-is, but if it were me, I'd take out the barrel and springs and such, then work it in while watching TV. It's a lot easier without the recoil spring in it. __________________ Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill Always have a go-to-hell plan.

April 01, 2010, 06:55	#4
Muggzy Registered FALaholic #: 4396 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,723	I think you should work it some more. but shooting it in? your probably not gonna have any problems, either. IMHO. Man....that is SWEET __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ablility to learn from the experience of other, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. Douglas Graham Life is drawing without an eraser Judge me all you want, just keep the verdict to yourself a positve attitude may not solve all your problems, but will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort ~ Herm

April 01, 2010, 09:01	#6
MAINER Old Fart Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 6,282	The only thing that might happen is that it won't cycle and you will be clearing a lot of FTF or FTE. I'd shoot it, but if the range is far away, I'd work on it till I could rack the slide all the way to the rear with somewhat normal effort. Or, take an FAL along, hate wasted range trips. btw. 1911 building guides I've read say that the slide should move on it own when the gun is tilted. No play is good. Never heard of Foster or Remsport, but it's been awhile since I've built a 1911. Good job. __________________ Joe Biden for President.

April 01, 2010, 08:10	#5
jdmcomp Registered FALaholic #: 8267 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 660	I doubt any coating will stay on the wear surface of the slide. Just too much going on there. Just lightly sand away enough to allow the slide to move under its own weight without springs or barrel in place and shoot that sucker.

April 01, 2010, 11:28	#7
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	thanks for the info Mainer! btw, Foster is Caspian, they use the Foster name for so-called blemished parts, although I couldn't find any noticeable cosmetic issues with this one. Remsport is an American manufacturer that makes slides and frames for custom builders, not sure which ones exactly, but insiders will tell you that if you have some custom 1911's you've probably got a gun with a Remsport slide without knowing it.

April 01, 2010, 16:53	#8
MAINER Old Fart Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 6,282	Good to know, thanks! Caspian is definately good stuff. Got a Range report coming? __________________ Joe Biden for President.

April 01, 2010, 16:55	#9
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	I may get to shoot it this weekend, but probably next. I'll post the results.

April 02, 2010, 01:57	#10
thanatos56 Registered FALaholic #: 3185 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Parris Island Posts: 402	I have been known to use automotive valve lapping compound to lap in the slide to the frame... just working the slide back and forth on the frame, with no internals. Your mileage may vary...

April 02, 2010, 12:32	#11
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	since the actual metal to metal fit was perfect before the addition of the finish, I really don't want to use anything abrasive on it, I will probably just work it a little more with the barrel and spring removed before I try shooting it.

April 04, 2010, 19:19	#12
ALL FAL Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 24447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,167	Sounds good Tracy, never use anything like valve grinding compound on an action, the theory being that you can never get all the abrasive out and it will cause pre-mature wear. I just mentioned that in case someone else might try to use that method. Hope you have an excellent range trip and your build is very very nice!! __________________ The Future is ALWAYS Open!! An ARMED society is a POLITE society.

April 09, 2010, 20:08	#13
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	range report! well, I got to shoot it, but it's still a little tight, I had to tap the back of the slide with the heel of my hand after every shot to get the slide to return forward. other than that, the function was fine. I only fired about 20 rounds, but I did fire a 7 round mag at a fresh target for a group at 25 feet before I left. Looks like 2 rounds may have almost went through the same hole (the one in the middle), but I could be mistaken. Seems like it shoots a little to the left and low.

April 22, 2010, 18:33	#15
tracyballard Registered FALaholic #: 22431 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amarillo Posts: 3,410	I figured out the problem with the slide not returning on its own - the guide rod was a bit too tight in there, replaced it with an older one and everything is smooth as glass now. We'll see how that affects the point of aim one of these days....

April 23, 2010, 00:25	#16
emcroy Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 33420 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: IL Posts: 1,007	The slide should not bind anywhere. The tight "lockup" is in the barrel fit. A lot of guys fit em where you have to tap with mallet to get them to close and then shoot them in. By the way filing and lapping the slide to frame fit with abrasive compound is common practice, unless you have a mill.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode