1911 Tuner: Long slide reliability?

[Mad Magyar]

Tuner, you made a good case about reliability issues with barrel lengths shorter than the Commander. How about long slide issues? AMT has a 1911 with a 7" slide, and Para-Ord. with their 6" slide on the Super Hawg?
What are the theoritical implications of success or failure with longer slides?
They claim better accuracy & reliability; reviews indicate some unhappiness with the trigger pull..

 

[VARifleman]

The trigger will be the same, as the frame is still the same. If you don't like the stock trigger pull, get a competent gunsmith to do a trigger job on it, replacing parts if they need to.

 

[1911Tuner]

Dunno. Never had occasion to mess with one. I'd say that the odds for decent reliability is good, though. The problems with the chopped versions generally result from the lack of slide mass, short runup, and overspringing in an attempt to compensate for the two aforementioned issues.

Of course, the added mass of the barrel and slide will require a lighter recoil/action spring.

 

[19112XS]

I've messed with one a bit. VARifleman is right about the trigger. Reliability was great on the Springfield I shot. It had a longer recycle time, was heavier so it returned to target nicely, and was very accurate.

 

[WoofersInc]

I've had a Rock Island long slide for about 6 months now and it has been 100% reliable and is very accurate. Trigger on a long slide will be no different than the trigger pull on a standard 1911 from the same manufacturer.

 

[Maelstrom]

My STI longslide has been perfect. I would like to put a 7" barrel in it but can't find one.

 

[Jim Watson]

The AMT Hardballer 7" Longslides seem to get better reviews when they turn up than the standard guns which are definitely rather crude.

Most other makes seem to take extra care with the more usual 6" longslides. Not to mention the custom guns from Clark.

One of our guys had a cheap knockoff longslide that did not live up to that, though. I always said if he had been able to get reliable guns when young we would be reading about him in all the gunzines.

 

[Spartacus451]

With enough spring and oomph in the ammo they seem to do okay. In USPSA six inch slides are a developing fad, but it is normal there to cut down the slide so it weighs the same as a five inch or even less.