sanding slide rails and frame on Stainless Steel 1911

[xmanpike]

I have read a few places that taking 1000-1200 grit wet dry sandpaper to the slide rails on the slide and frame will smooth down microscopic burrs made during the milling process and make the slide easier. Any truth to this and would this hurt the gun in anyway. It is a stainless steel colt 1911. Thanks

 

[xmanpike]

Would this scratch the metal? It would be internal, but I would not want to promote rusting.

 

[Drail]

It won't hurt it. It also won't help anything. But if it makes you feel better go ahead.

 

[krs]

Seems like you'll be prematurely wearing your gun's rails.

As the gun is fired your 'microscopic burrs' (is a burr that can only be detected by using a microscope a burr at all?) will be honed smooth by the action of the gun.

 

[xmanpike]

Thanks for the input. Just was wondering if this was something I didnt know about that people did.

 

[rcmodel]

No, don't do it.
What you want if anything is to mate the slide & frame rails together, to each other.

You simply cannot do that with sandpaper.

If you want to do something, get a jar of JB Bore Paste and hand lap the two together.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...tle=J-B~ NON-EMBEDDING BORE CLEANING COMPOUND

The JB is so fine it will take a lot of lapping to do any real damage to the fit.

But it will slick things up to a grease on glass smoothness.

Just know when to quit and don't overdo it!

rc

 

[xmanpike]

Awesome. Thanks RC!