ghitch75

i have a Challenger that has been nickel plated....the slide is pretty loose and it runs good but with the slide so loose the rear sight ends up in a different place when it cycles.....how would i go about tightenin' up?......i put in my vise and gave it a squeeze and it didn't move any and i'm afraid i'm goin' to break it.....any ideas?

dfariswheel

Probably by the same methods people used to convert standard 1911's to Match guns: by staking the frame rails and/or squeezing the slide.

Note that you DON'T squeeze the slide in a vise without using a special insert inside the slide to prevent over squeezing.
Also, there is always a risk of cracking the slide, then you're really SOL.
Most people who squeezed slides used a special vise set up that only gripped the slide at the very bottom, which you can't do correctly with a standard vise.
Where people get into trouble is by using a standard vise and NO limiter insert inside the slide.
With a standard slide and no insert you either over squeeze it and can't un-do it so it can be fitted to the frame, or you hear a "ping" as the slide cracks.

Also, expect damage to the nickel finish whatever method is used.

Frame rails are staked or lowered by tapping with a hammer, but there's an art to this and a very specific technique. You don't just take a hammer and start hammering on the rails.

My suggestion would be to talk to a good custom shop like Cylinder & Slide Shop about having the slide tightened up by whatever method they recommend.

JohnnyT

The front sight is attached to the slide, too...and your eye will compensate if you're doin' it right. Several years ago, Massad Ayoob used a loose GI pistol to demonstrate it. He shot a tighter group from a sandbag rest than the gun shot from a Ransom rest.

As long as the barrel to bushing fit isn't sloppy, and the fit at the rear of the barrel is reasonably close...the pistol should shoot fine.

ghitch75

well i done a little work to the Challenger....found a Woodsman slide with adjustable rear sight on fle-bay that was much tighter and ground off the front sight....drilled and tapped the barrel for a Ruger single six front sight which was taller than the factory one....went from 3" groups at 15y to one ragged hole.....this was bought to make a property pack around piece and more than happy with it now.....screw was one i had need to get a counter sunk one..

retDAC

Thanks for the followup. impressed with your work, including looking for another slide.

JohnnyT

That was me assuming that the Challenger was yet another 1911 variant.

The premise still applies. As long as the rear sight itself isn't moving, the shooter still aligns the sights.