Slide riding on internal frame rails vs. external frame rails?

[AirPower]

People are always talking about caliber, or steel vs. alloy vs. plastic, but there's not much discussion on the frame rails. MOst of the time the rails are internal, covered by slide on the outside. Few guns, such as Sig 210 and CZ75 and clones, have slide riding on inside of rails. Any idea which design is better?

 

[Trebor]

I don't think either way is "better" in a purely objective sense. They each have different benefits.

The guns with the slide inside the rails are supposed to be more accurate. I don't know if that's true, but that is the justification. The downside is that there is less slide to grab onto when working the action. My wife has a problem with my CZ-75 just for this reason.

The more traditional setup of slide outside the rails may have a little less accuracy potentional. The plus side is that there is more slide to grab and it can be easier to work the action.

Personally, I don't worry about it either way.

 

[HSMITH]

The real advantage to internal rails is a lower bore axis is possible, other than that there isn't much difference.

It wouldn't influence my choices.

 

[AirPower]

So does this translate to CZ75 having a lower than average bore axis?

 

[SwampWolf]

It certainly translates that the CZ has a better than average bore axis, if lower is better. As HSmith opined, this advantage is not that important in the overall scheme of things.