Reaming out the holes in the frame not feasible, don't want to ruin a gorgeous bluing job. Bot a .203 pin slide stop. I measured the holes in the frame at .205 so the .203 should go in, right? Nope. How do you hold the slide stop while going around it with some fine grit sand paper? Simple to get the .203 slide stop pin to go through the barrel link.
How to Reduce Diameter of Slide Stop ( Govt 1911 Series 70 )
- Thread starter schlitz45
- Start date
Have you check for burrs on the frame hole? No need to ream but consider using fine micro needle files and use a very light touch. If bluing is removed touch it up with Birchwood Case cold gun bluing. Check out the link, you want something similar but with a fine or higher number grit. Or us 2000 grit or higher sandpaper used for wet sanding and polishing main found at auto parts stores.
Blue68f100
Member
Have you confirmed that the slide stop is the correct size? Have you confirmed the hole is what they say it is. You need pin gauges to get the proper hole size and micrometer to measure the stop dia.
If you go easy, any touch up will just be around the hole. Bear in mind that the slide stop will cover it anyway.
Silly question: But you’re trying to insert the stop in just the empty frame, right? No barrel installed?
The math says it should work - so something is out of size.
The task is how to symmetrically reduce pins / pivot studs when the part cannot be secured in a lathe somehow.
I use this method (posted on this forum in 2018) to polish revolver hammer / trigger pivot studs included in an "action" smoothing exercise.
Basically use slotted roll pins to capture the desired sand paper grit, inserted into roll pin about a undersized drill bit, slip the roll pin - sandpaper complex secured with painter tape about the cylinder of interest and slowing spin in a hand held drill of choice. A few photos to transmit the concept.
Hope this might help you spitball a solution for your slide stop conundrum.
Always work on the least expensive or more readily available part first.
Last edited:
Lo-Profile
Member
Something didn't sound right.
I would check and recheck that everything is the size you say it is before removing material.
Does the side stop go thru without the slide/barrel attached
Also check for burrs and that the link is in the correct place trying to install.
Slide stops are cheap enough, get the correct size.
I would check and recheck that everything is the size you say it is before removing material.
Does the side stop go thru without the slide/barrel attached
Also check for burrs and that the link is in the correct place trying to install.
Slide stops are cheap enough, get the correct size.
Yes, you can use a toothpick or a Q-tip, just pull or cut off some of the cotton and just do a dry run with the Q-tip until you get the diameter you need.
QUESTION!! Did you disassemble this firearm for the first time? If you did, the firearm was already assembled and the slide stop fitted then! What changed?
BBBBill
Member
What did you use to measure the holes on the frame? It matters. .203" is the largest size slide stop pin made and only a couple places make them. So it's not a piece you would get from some mass production shop with poor QC. So I suspect that it is .203". As for the frame, .205" is pretty large and certainly larger than any spec that I've ever seen. Larger than any that I've seen in the wild. Who made the frame?
As noted above, you need proper tooling to measure. You cannot use the jaws of a dial caliper to accurately measure any hole and the smaller the hole, the less accurate the measurement. Gauge pins are the correct choice and a few of the sizes you need are not that expensive.
If this is a new hobby for you and your first build you need to know some things before diving in head-first or your liable to ruin some expensive parts.
Coyote3855
Member
Removing material from the stop or the frame should be the last thing you do. You can't put it back, and as Bill says, you might ruin something. Can you exchange the stop for a smaller one? Even purchasing another, smaller, stop is cheaper than damaging the slide.
He said he bought (“bot”) a slide stop - so not the original one that came on the gun.
BBBBill
Member
Similar thread over here - Hmmm....
www.1911forum.com
Fitting Oversize Slide Stop
EGW has a .203 SS. How do you trim it down? Emory cloth? Very fine grit sandpaper? Thanks in advance.