ltwguns.com

Take a good ol' true blue 70 series Government model (I've got a pair being worked on right now ). How tight do ya'll like to fit 'em? I have always been one to appreciate a little play in a defnsive/carry firearm but have recently begun to take a liking to the more tightly fit pistols. I'm not talking about bank vault tight here (I don't want to have to throw out my shoulder to pull back the slide) but I did fondle a pistol today that was magnificently fit IMHO. No discernible play either horizontally or vertically but effortless to rack. Anyway, at what point on the contium do ya'll fall?

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"If anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also."

-Marcus Aurelius

As tight as possible without causing problems.

Well I guess tight isn't the best word. I like my guns to have very closely fitted tolerences. I have a SVI frame and slide that when asembled by themselves have more play than I would like. However, I fit the barrel well enough that when locked up there is ZERO movement.

Tight for the sake of tight I do not need or want, but if everything is fit well I believe there is less chance for dirt, etc to mess it up. This is contrary to the "make it loose so it is reliable in all environments" school of thought. I figure if it is fitted closely enough then there is less chance for dirt, etc to get between the moving parts.

Am I right? It has happened before. I have a .45 Government that I fit pretty snug and it can go over 1,000 rounds without cleaning and not miss a beat.

So make my answer well fitted

Properly fitted good barrel and bushing, good trigger and sights. Is much , much more important than tight slide to frame fit. I have a Commercial Colt accuraized by F.Bob Chow. The gun will do incredible groups at 50 yards from a barricade position.(under 3 inches for 20-30 shots!) The slide and frame are well fitted not not tight at all. My other SA 1911 build by a local smith will put 10 shots of 185 SWC's in to an 1 1/2 or better day after day and he NEVER made a slide to frame fit tighter. A pistosmith who REALLY knows how to build a combat 1911 will know exactly how much tollerance is needed to keep the gun reliable. The VERY best 1911 I EVER shot came from USMC. As far as functioning (with ALL ammo) and off hand consistent accuracy NOTHING came close so far.The gun was not tight. The fellow who build it retired in south Lake Tahoe area. I bug him once in while to work on a gun for me.

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AP

I would have to agree that the tightness of the slide to frame is not all that important. I had a smith that is what I feel to be one of the best work over a pistol for me. Many on this board would probably agree with me that he can build a pistol. This pistol is a duty weapon not a keep in the safe and pull out once a month to drool on. I asked him to work over the pistol and perform anything that he felt it needed. This pistol is a Colt. It had the trademark Colt rattle when I sent it to him. It came back with the same Colt rattle. He could have fitted the damn thing so tight I would not even be able to rack the slide with one hand and I would have happily paid him to do so and also taken his word on that is what it needed. He did not and when I questioned him about it I believe he said something to the effect of not needed and overrated. This pistol flat out shoots. Not only is it more accurate than I am but it is also completely reliable. Just my $0.02