Question Regarding 1911 Tolerances?

[Ala Dan]

I have a two part question for all 1911 .45 ACP fans~

Which is better to achieve the most accuracy from a 1911 .45 ACP,
a) guns held to tighter tolerances, such as custom and semi-custom
1911's; or b) guns that have a loose slide to frame fit? I've heard
both sides of the arguement, with the answer being divided just
a'bout equally. I've always thought that the custom/semi-custom
guns held too tighter tolerances would prove most accurate; so
am I wrong? I have spent tons of money in an effort to find out
which is correct?

For example, can a bone stock 1911A1 be as accurate from makers
such as Springfield Armory, Rock Island Aresnal, Norinco, Charles
Daly, Auto Ordnance, and etc; as compared to the custom/semi-
custom firearms from Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nighthawk, Wilson Combat,
and others?

Part II: Are 1911's with the special finish such as Armory Kote, Baer
Kote, etc. more prone too be loose fitting, than their stainless steel
counter-parts? For example, everyone knows that you have too put
a little extra "UMPH" when racking the slide of a Baer semi-custom
1911 pistol without the Baer coat. OTOH, take a Springfield Loaded
TRP Operator with Armory Kote, or its stainless counter-part; and
its relatively easy too rack the slide back. So, in your opinion which
is better and why? I had this question come up at the store last
Saturday, and I didn't have a solid answer; so all help would be
greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance~!

 

[Seraph]

Stands to reason a tighter fitting gun will necessarily exhibit greater mechanical consistency, and, hence, greater accuracy. The Baer guns are known to be very tight. I've seen some that, IMO, were obnoxiously tight. I have to say I haven't personally encountered a Baer with the Baer Kote finish. These may rack easier than the blued ones because they are intentionally made looser, to allow room for the coating, or it may in fact be due to the molybdenum disulfide's lubricative effect.

 

[1911Tuner]

Tolerant

Without gettin' in too deep...

Loose...as in rattle-trap loose...doesn't guarantee reliability, and in fact can work against it beyond a certain point.

Tight doesn't guarantee unreliability. Tight and smooth is good.

For a go-anywhere, do-anything sidearm, I like about .003 inch clearance in key areas. Slide/frame rails..both vertical and horizontal. Hood to breechface, and on the sides of the hood. Tight vertical barrel fit, without being able to actually feel the lower lug cam up on the slidestop pin. Finger-tight fit between slide and bushing with no endplay. About .0015-.0020 between barrel and bushing is good.

The gun will run and accuracy will be up to any reasonable requirement this side of a 25-yard Bullseye match...assuming that the barrel feet are standing evenly on the slidestop pin.

But this is just my way of setting up the gun. YMMV

 

[Ala Dan]

Many thanks Seraph, I appreciate your thoughts and insight on this
subject. I haven't encountered any Baer coated guns myself, but I did get
a chance too inspect a Springfield TRP with the Armory Kote finish. I will
have too say, it was VERY slick and well made. On tightness of fit, my
LB Thunder Ranch Special 1911 is still very tight; but I only have 300
rounds thru it thus far.

 

[Ala Dan]

Deleted by author, sorry for the double post.

 

[Ala Dan]

Many thanks Tuner, as I appreciate the quick response. That's
exactly what I was thinking myself; and your comments reaffirmed my
thoughts. I will pass this info along too the persons who asked.