Why other manufacturers didn't copy the open slide:
The open slide does not work with a Browning tilt system. The Browning system requires the top of the slide just fore of the chamber to lock the barrel. Most semi autos use the Browning tilt locking mechanism. This type of slide also requires more machining! For what?
Why even Beretta no longer uses the open slide:
Open slide doesn't work for a rotating barrel system, either, which is Beretta's latest thing. For this system, a nub on the barrel has to ride in a groove in the top of the slide. Hence, even Beretta couldn't use an open slide on their current pistol designs, if they even wanted to.
The other downside is the slide has to be thicker on the sides to make up for the missing mass, and thicker at the fore/aft points for structural integrity.
Also, this type of design requires that the barrel and slide come into close proximity, else foreign object could just drop right through between barrel and slide. In most guns, there's an air gap all around the sides of the barrel. The breech, locking lugs, and bushing are the only part that needs to touch, so there's less chance of the action gumming/slowing when dirty.
Random thought: I've never seen anyone shooting a 92 at the range. I am curious if that's odd, or maybe the 92 isn't as popular as I thought it was. 1911's are the most common handguns I see, followed by polymers.
The open slide does not work with a Browning tilt system. The Browning system requires the top of the slide just fore of the chamber to lock the barrel. Most semi autos use the Browning tilt locking mechanism. This type of slide also requires more machining! For what?
Why even Beretta no longer uses the open slide:
Open slide doesn't work for a rotating barrel system, either, which is Beretta's latest thing. For this system, a nub on the barrel has to ride in a groove in the top of the slide. Hence, even Beretta couldn't use an open slide on their current pistol designs, if they even wanted to.
The other downside is the slide has to be thicker on the sides to make up for the missing mass, and thicker at the fore/aft points for structural integrity.
Also, this type of design requires that the barrel and slide come into close proximity, else foreign object could just drop right through between barrel and slide. In most guns, there's an air gap all around the sides of the barrel. The breech, locking lugs, and bushing are the only part that needs to touch, so there's less chance of the action gumming/slowing when dirty.
Random thought: I've never seen anyone shooting a 92 at the range. I am curious if that's odd, or maybe the 92 isn't as popular as I thought it was. 1911's are the most common handguns I see, followed by polymers.
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