Help on Sistema project pistol. Loose slide?

[NC-Mike]

Hi guys, I have a Gander Mountain Sistema "special" that is completely stripped. I have a new spring kit, pin kit, disconnecter, sear, EGW bushing and grips coming. I did one another Sistema in a similar fashion and it went through 300 rounds with-out a hic-cup, so I pressed my luck again with this one. My sole experience with 1911's are the first Sistema rebuild and shooting my PT1911.

My goal is to continue leaning the 1911 and produce a safe, reliable, reasonably accurate pistol. I'm not looking for a tack-driver but want to feel OK when my 15 year old son shoots the pistol.

Here's my problem/question. When the slide is the firing position, the slide will rock vertically on the frame with a pivot point at the slide stop. I know the slide is loose, I just don't know if it is too loose for safeties sake and whether or not I can fix this through continued attempts at peening. I've never peened a 1911 before and this is my first attempt. I managed to get the frame tight 3 or 4 times. I then lapped with 220 compound. (all I have right now) After lapping the slide free, the vertical play I have in the slide comes back. I had the slide so tight, I was banging it in out of position with a piece of 2x4.

I may have made a little progress as the vertical play at the muzzle was near .025. It might be closer to .015 to .018 now. The only time the slide is very tight, with very little rocking, is when it's at the full recoil position.

I don't know if more peening or more aggressive peening will help or if I'm peening it correctly. Can I or should try to peen the slide? When I peened, I had the frame in the vise and hit the rails with a 6 oz hammer, staying away from the mag opening. Here's pics with some dimensions of the rail openings on the frame. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Jim K]

I know this is heresy to the super micrometer guys, but why don't you put the gun together and shoot it? I can't conceive how it would be unsafe; the slide is not going to come off the frame. At worst it will not be as accurate as you might want. FWIW, I have never considered peening to be anything but a temporary fix, and in my experience the gun "unpeens" pretty quickly.

The unavoidable fact is that many of those guns were just plain worn out; you can get a nearly new gun, or one that has been through the mill, purely the luck of the draw. If that one doesn't work out, there are plenty more around, still at reasonable prices.

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

Playin' Sistema

Worn a little out of spec. Pretty straightforward repair, but it does require a holding fixture, way bars, and swaging punches to bring the frame rails down. The equipment is fairly expensive.

 

[NC-Mike]

Well, I figured I didn't have too much to lose, so I peened the duck feathers out of the frame, as well as the slide. I had to repeatedly smash the slide to and fro with a large piece of lumber to lap it in. It's a lot tighter now.

My think this peening business is temporary too but my theory is also the more times I peen and lap, the more surface I bring into contact with other and the longer it may last. I will bash it again tomorrow a time or two. Right now, my hands need a break.

 

[1911Tuner]

Tight

Peening and smashing the slide to and fro with lapping compound is called
"Cold Fitting"...and while that's a fairly quick and dirty method...it's fairly harsh, and the tight will go away pretty fast...depending on what sort of lap you used and how coarse or fine it is. Peening...then filing and stoning to the point that lapping is a final fit works much better, and produces superior results. The offer to use the swaging punches and the files stands. Your call.

 

[NC-Mike]

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. When I opened up some skin while smashing the pistol on a piece of 4x4, the thought that this was a harsh process, did cross my mind...

I'm also sorry but I don't understand your offer to use the swaging punches and files. Forgive me, as I am new here but have read a good many of your posts and I'm honored to receive your advise.

 

[1911Tuner]

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