how loose is to loose

[jacbo89]

i am new to this and i want to know how loose is too lose

[wichaka]

Welcome to the forum!

You're going to have to be more specific, on what is too loose, and where it is too loose.

[BrianNJ]

I'm not even going to touch this one without further details.

[stans]

Yeah, I'm rapidly becoming a dirty old man and that is one loaded question. :D

[wichaka]

Steady boys..........Steady now..........

[jacbo89]

sorry, i meant the slide and frame. Id like to know whats perfect and whats acceptable

[stans]

As long as it functions reliably, it's acceptable. I've seen ultra tight 1911's jam when they got a little dirty or really cold, never seen a loose one choke on dirt. If you are a bullseye competition shooter and need that last 1/16" accuracy at 25 yards, then a tight slide to frame fit becomes important. If you are shooting IDPA, IPSC/USPSA, plinking, or using your 1911 for defensive purposes, a little bit of looseness might be a real good thing. About 0.004" to 0.006" is considered the average acceptable tolerance for military and commercial use 1911's. 0.001" to 0.0015" is considered ideal for bullseye competition.

[Tom]

i am new to this and i want to know how loose is too lose


So many comments, so little time.

When I was in the Navy, I knew the guy who ran our ship's armory. He said that if a 1911 didn't rattle just a bit, he wouldn't use it. Maybe he was exaggerating a bit to stress a point. My Springfield Mil-Spec has a slight "rattle" if I shake it side-to-side. It's nothing even visible, but there's some slight play in the rear of the slide when in battery.

I'd say if there's some slight play in the slide-to-frame fit, that's okay. But if it is anything visible, you should have it checked out.

[jacbo89]

I one a rock island armory so if it docent quite measure up to military spec i can live with it. I've shot about 500 rds through it and not yet one jam but the looseness is visible. even though it docent seem to affect functionality it annoys me. Is their any way to tighten it up.

[Hawkmoon]

I one a rock island armory so if it docent quite measure up to military spec i can live with it. I've shot about 500 rds through it and not yet one jam but the looseness is visible. even though it docent seem to affect functionality it annoys me. Is their any way to tighten it up.
Heh, heh -- I think you mean live DOWN to military specs. Historically, military issue 1911s were rather loose. They were intended for use at short range, under combat rather than target shooting conditions. Reliability was more important than absolute accuracy, and a loose gun is less likely to jamb due to a microscopic grain of sand.

It can be tightened up by peening the rails and/or squeezing the slide, but this is not something you or I should attempt at home. It requires a gunsmith who knows what he (or she) is doing to tackle something like that.

Personally, if it's shooting okay I would leave it alone.

[jacbo89]

thanks everyone for all the good advice

[webtaz99]

Isn't vertical more important than side-to-side, as it effects barrel lock-up?