play in rear of slide... moves - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

briang2ad · 12-19-2007, 05:23 PM

I am noticing that in my new compact, that there is a bit of side to side play in the rear of the slide (as it interfaces with the frame). This is present in MOST pistols, but when I dry fire it, the camming arm makes the rear 'jump' to the right a tad - I can actually see it move when the striker releases - is this the case in plastic striker fired guns with rear slide play? It does about the same thing every time. Haven's shot yet, but I am figuring this will send my rounds slightly to the left. Anyone else notice this?

**Loves2Shoot** · 12-19-2007, 07:53 PM

Totally normal, you will notice when it is loaded the magazine will press up on the slide and it won't move so much.

briang2ad · 12-20-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Shoot

Totally normal, you will notice when it is loaded the magazine will press up on the slide and it won't move so much.

With a round on top of the mag - there seems to be no movement. I guess the LAST round will go left.

**Loves2Shoot** · 12-20-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briang2ad

With a round on top of the mag - there seems to be no movement. I guess the LAST round will go left.

That is why the sights are attached to the slide and not the frame

AKsRule · 12-20-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briang2ad

I am noticing that in my new compact, that there is a bit of side to side play in the rear of the slide (as it interfaces with the frame). This is present in MOST pistols, but when I dry fire it, the camming arm makes the rear 'jump' to the right a tad - I can actually see it move when the striker releases - is this the case in plastic striker fired guns with rear slide play? It does about the same thing every time. Haven's shot yet, but I am figuring this will send my rounds slightly to the left. Anyone else notice this?

What a gun looks like it's doing when you manually cycle or dryfire it usually has NADA to do with how well it shoots.

briang2ad · 12-23-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKsRule

What a gun looks like it's doing when you manually cycle or dryfire it usually has NADA to do with how well it shoots.

Lets hope so - If not, the last round will go left. But, it all depends how the slide travels when firing. When I dry cycle it, I may just have a tendancy to push it to the left. Then, when the sear trips, it moves the slide to the left.

Wild Rice · 12-23-2007, 03:55 PM

Has anyone tried squeezing the rear slide rails in a vise to tighten the fit? That is how you do it with a 1911. Gunsmiths have a special jig to do this on 1911's and know how far to go, so it is best left to a qualified gunsmith. Slide metallurgy can vary greatly between brands. My 15 year old forged Browning Hi Power was easy to tighten with only moderate squeezing, in fact I nearly ruined it by almost going too far. Newer cast Brownings are more rigid to withstand 40 S&W pressures. My cast Ruger P94 resisted extreme squeezing pressure and would not tighten at all. I would not be surprised if the XD slide is hardened and resistant to tightening. I have not tried it on the XD. Rear slide/frame play generally has only a very minor effect on accuracy (probably no measureable effect with handheld shooting) and could end up damaging a gun beyond repair, so I don't recommend it for a home gunsmith. You generally don't want a service weapon to be match tight, as dirt or sand could make it inoperative. My XD has very mild play, not enough to warrant squeezing the slide. I am sure it was designed to be that way, rather than match tight with zero tolerance for being shot dirty.

It may have more of a psychological effect as one may feel more confident in a weapon that is solid feeling and rattle free. But in reality it has no major effect on combat accuracy. Unless I am mistaken, the front frame rails are steel and the rear frame rails are polymer. I wonder which has the greater wear resistance. My guess is that it would take 100,000 rounds (with regular cleaning and good lubrication) before there was measureable wear.

Jim B · 12-28-2007, 08:33 PM

was reading an article about pistol accuracy and there was a debate about slide tightening vs/ barrel fitting.....in summary, the article claimed that a 'properly fitted' barrel shot excellent.....and what surprised the author was that to pick up that pistol and shake it showed it to be very loose enough so to rattle....

after reading up on another brand of pistol, they said that the bullet is out of the barrel before by the time the slide traveled I think it was about 5 mm. rearward, seems to me that as long as the barrel is held secure within approx that amount of travel, the rest doesn't matter much. Not sure how far the slide goes rearward before the bullet has left the pipe, but what I hear from others is that accuracy on XD's seems to actually improve with age.....I say, cool!

Jim B

12-19-2007, 05:23 PM	#1
briang2ad XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 236	play in rear of slide... moves I am noticing that in my new compact, that there is a bit of side to side play in the rear of the slide (as it interfaces with the frame). This is present in MOST pistols, but when I dry fire it, the camming arm makes the rear 'jump' to the right a tad - I can actually see it move when the striker releases - is this the case in plastic striker fired guns with rear slide play? It does about the same thing every time. Haven's shot yet, but I am figuring this will send my rounds slightly to the left. Anyone else notice this?

12-19-2007, 07:53 PM	#2
Loves2Shoot XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bend, OR Posts: 2,844	Totally normal, you will notice when it is loaded the magazine will press up on the slide and it won't move so much. __________________ www.SpringerPrecision.com The XD Specialists - Our web store is now online!

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12-23-2007, 03:55 PM	#7
Wild Rice XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 292	Has anyone tried squeezing the rear slide rails in a vise to tighten the fit? That is how you do it with a 1911. Gunsmiths have a special jig to do this on 1911's and know how far to go, so it is best left to a qualified gunsmith. Slide metallurgy can vary greatly between brands. My 15 year old forged Browning Hi Power was easy to tighten with only moderate squeezing, in fact I nearly ruined it by almost going too far. Newer cast Brownings are more rigid to withstand 40 S&W pressures. My cast Ruger P94 resisted extreme squeezing pressure and would not tighten at all. I would not be surprised if the XD slide is hardened and resistant to tightening. I have not tried it on the XD. Rear slide/frame play generally has only a very minor effect on accuracy (probably no measureable effect with handheld shooting) and could end up damaging a gun beyond repair, so I don't recommend it for a home gunsmith. You generally don't want a service weapon to be match tight, as dirt or sand could make it inoperative. My XD has very mild play, not enough to warrant squeezing the slide. I am sure it was designed to be that way, rather than match tight with zero tolerance for being shot dirty. It may have more of a psychological effect as one may feel more confident in a weapon that is solid feeling and rattle free. But in reality it has no major effect on combat accuracy. Unless I am mistaken, the front frame rails are steel and the rear frame rails are polymer. I wonder which has the greater wear resistance. My guess is that it would take 100,000 rounds (with regular cleaning and good lubrication) before there was measureable wear.

12-28-2007, 08:33 PM	#8
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	was reading an article about pistol accuracy and there was a debate about slide tightening vs/ barrel fitting.....in summary, the article claimed that a 'properly fitted' barrel shot excellent.....and what surprised the author was that to pick up that pistol and shake it showed it to be very loose enough so to rattle.... after reading up on another brand of pistol, they said that the bullet is out of the barrel before by the time the slide traveled I think it was about 5 mm. rearward, seems to me that as long as the barrel is held secure within approx that amount of travel, the rest doesn't matter much. Not sure how far the slide goes rearward before the bullet has left the pipe, but what I hear from others is that accuracy on XD's seems to actually improve with age.....I say, cool! Jim B