Any disadvantages to slide riding inside frame rail?

[SubSolar]

I was just wondering why more handguns don't have the slide riding inside the frame rails like the CZ 75 and Sig 210. People seem to think this is more accurate than the traditional semi-auto, but I haven't heard of any disadvantages. But there must be some, otherwise every gun would be like it. It can't be cost or reliability since everything I've read says the CZ 75 is both cheap and reliable.

 

[jlbraun]

It allows a thinner slide. Best I could do off the top of my head.

Contrast a Glock slide or Sig slide with a CZ slide.

 

[sonicserve]

It might be advantages to have slide riding inside frame rail. Sig P210 and CZ 75B both use this design and they both have good accuracy. So I guess this design might contribute to the overall accuracy.

 

[SubSolar]

I guess my posting was unclear. I'm aware of the advantages such as accuracy (didn't know about thin slide). I want do know the DISADVANTAGES. Like, with all the advantages, you would think all semiautos would have this design if there were no disadvantages.

 

[Surefire]

I had a CZ 75 and CZ 97 in the past, and really liked the accuracy.

IMO, the main disadvantage of slide-in-frame construction is this: less slide to grab to rack. Because the outside of the slide has smaller slide serrations (due to some of the slide being covered by the frame), I cut my hand up very bad once trying to rack the slide on my CZ 75 .40sw. My hands were wet from sweating during a hot day while shooting outside, and the slide serations which are short vertically didn't allow me to get a good grip. Long story short, I lost traction and the slide snapped forward, with the rear sight slicing my palm open.

Other than this, I don't see any actual mechanical disadvantage to slide in frame construction. YMMV

 

[rhubarb]

Is the frame wider on a pistol with an internal slide?

 

[Ricebrnr]

no not necessarily, thinner than the Beretta 92 for instance

 

[Trebor]

I agree with the less slide surface available for grasping to be a disadvantage. It doesn't bother me, but it is a issue with some of my students.

 

[tnieto2004]

+1 on being harder to rack the slide due to it being slim.. And as far as CZ.. A little bit harder to field strip than Glocks, XD, etc.. Just things I notice ..

 

[jlbraun]

Slingshot doesn't work well for CZ-type slides. Overhand is best.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

It might be advantages to have slide riding inside frame rail. Sig P210 and CZ 75B both use this design and they both have good accuracy. So I guess this design might contribute to the overall accuracy

I question that. I'm a big CZ fan, and have several, and a custom CZ clone. I'd argue that most of a gun's accuracy comes from consistent lockup and slide/barrel fit, and not slide/frame fit. (That's why some polymer guns can be very accurate despite sloppy slide/frame fit.)

I've had a P-210-6, but the reason I think it was so accurate (it was) was simply all of the hand work that went into its production. If you could devote an extra $700 - $1000 in custom fitting to other guns, you'd probably see comparable improvements in accuracy, there, too...

Inside the frame slides make for less slide to grasp. I don't think that's a big enough issue to really affect the decision.

 

[MachIVshooter]

It makes for a sleeker look, IMO. Other than that, it's just design and I really can't think of any pro's or con's. The Beretta 9000S is the same way, although it has even less slide to grab than a CZ and a rather stout spring.