P320 variance of play in slide?

[TomJ]

I have a P320RX and the play in the slide seem to be excessive after I clean and reassemble it. I cleaned it yesterday, and when I reassembled it there was a great deal of play, more than I've even seen in a gun. After inserting the magazine and chambering a round, the slide tightened up. It's now tighter, regardless of whether a round is chambered or the magazine is inserted. I don't know the exact round count, but it's well over 1000 with no malfunctions of any kind. This has happened before, always after I clean and reassemble it. Is this something to be concerned about or is this normal for the gun? I need to play with the guide rod sometimes when putting the slide back on. Can this cause it? I tried calling Sig a couple of times but was on hold for extended periods of time and couldn't get through. I also have P320's in 45 and 40/357 Sig and have not noticed this issue with them.

 

[Yo Mama]

I don't have a P320, but in general I find that especially with double-stack polymers you will have more slide movement without a magazine inserted.

 

[sequins]

Does this adversely impact accuracy? If not you're all good.

 

[TomJ]

I don't have a P320, but in general I find that especially with double-stack polymers you will have more slide movement without a magazine inserted.

What I can't figure out is why it's excessively loose after I put it together after cleaning it but tightens up after I load a magazine and chamber a round. After I do that, I can remove the magazine and eject the round and the excessive play is gone, with or without a magazine inserted.

 

[TomJ]

Does this adversely impact accuracy? If not you're all good.

It hasn't. It's been very accurate.

 

[sequins]

That slop will only serve to improve reliability then. Loose is good as long as you aren't experiencing so much slop in your lockup that if effects accuracy.

 

[DT Guy]

I'm not familiar with the internals, but look for something which 'resets' when the slide cycles; could be a part of the striker or FPS assembly engages, and reduces the slop.

Larry

 

[ATLDave]

Pretty far off topic, but one of my EAA/Tanfoglio gamer guns has a ton of creep in the trigger... until you insert a magazine (full or empty, doesn't matter). Then it's pretty crisp. Just needs that pressure to keep everything snugged up.

 

[wally]

Lets see, the barrel is in the slide, the sights are on the slide, that makes any slide to frame "slop" a second order effect at best in terms of accuracy as the only connection to the frame that matters is through the barrel cam that unlocks it when fired or locks it when going into battery. Consistency of barrel to slide lockup is far more important than slide to frame fit for accuracy.

I've yet to see a reliable 1911 that doesn't rattle a bit when you shake it side to side.

This is also why fixed barrel pistols have a generally undeserved reputation for accuracy -- they will do great when the frame is locked in a Ransom Rest, not so great when really shooting unless the slide to frame fit is very tight which is generally not practical in a blow-back pistol if you expect good reliability.