diy slide lightening

wrinkles · 08-10-2012, 08:03 AM

OK I've been thinking of doing a diy slide lightening on my XD tactical. Planning on doing a plain old "coffin" type cut on the top of the slide near the front sight. Any pointers for a first timer. What kind of cutting bit is best for this? I will practice on a some scrap metal first.

danf_fl · 08-11-2012, 04:18 AM

While cutting on the slide can look good (if done correctly), I have to ask why?

Lightening the slide creates some other problems.
1. Recoil absorbtion is reduced (Physics has it that the greater the mass, the more energy is required to move it.)
2. Recoil spring will have to be heavier (see above physics law). The recoil spring is designed to return the slide to the "in battery" position and assist the main spring with felt recoil. When one is too weak, the other bears the weight and wears out faster.
3. Felt recoil could be increased unless the loads are adjusted to compensate. If the loads are adjusted, then comes the calculations to get the handgun back into correct timing to avoid FTF or FTE problems.

I do not have the information the manufacturer has to calculate how much weight to remove and still have a functioning firearm.

My opinion, leave the weight and do something to increase eye appeal.

wrinkles · 08-11-2012, 04:57 PM

I'm not worried about austhetics I want a gun that will ballance out better. The 5" is forward heavy and when shooting in competition it gives me too much bounce as the slide closes. Lightening the slide will reduce the bounce.

CCF · 08-13-2012, 01:52 PM

I did this one on an M&P. Don't see why you couldn't do the same with an XD. 3/16 end mill and cut the roll marks out.

http://www.shootingusa.com/TV_SCHEDU.../31-12-16L.jpg

Tim

wrinkles · 08-13-2012, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the info. I need to get an end mill "bit". Your slide is a fancier cut than I was thinking but it sure does look nice. I was just thinking of cutting a rectangle at the top of the slide. Are you running a lighter spring also?

Nice work.

wrinkles · 08-18-2012, 05:47 PM

Dulled 4 bits on the slide. Went to the local hardware store and bught a bit for hardned steel and was able to drill one hole before that bit stopped cutting. Any suggestions as to brand or type of bit to use?

Alabaster · 08-21-2012, 12:09 PM

Tungsten carbide

wrinkles · 08-21-2012, 05:34 PM

Yea I ordered a carbide bit and end mill. Haven't come in yet. I did sharpen the cobalt bit and finished the holes I was drilling. While waiting for the endmill I decided to go at it with a dremil and file. Here's what I have so far. rough but I'll smoth it out and square it out a bit once I get the end mill.Thinking of drilling some holes on the side about where the sight is. It's the thicker part of the slide so it should remove the most weight.

Like I said, not worried about looks she's a gamming gun so she's been rode hard.

08-10-2012, 08:03 AM	#1
wrinkles Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpine, Tx Posts: 39	Slide lighening OK I've been thinking of doing a diy slide lightening on my XD tactical. Planning on doing a plain old "coffin" type cut on the top of the slide near the front sight. Any pointers for a first timer. What kind of cutting bit is best for this? I will practice on a some scrap metal first.

08-13-2012, 02:14 PM	#5
wrinkles Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpine, Tx Posts: 39	Thanks for the info. I need to get an end mill "bit". Your slide is a fancier cut than I was thinking but it sure does look nice. I was just thinking of cutting a rectangle at the top of the slide. Are you running a lighter spring also? Nice work. Last edited by wrinkles; 08-13-2012 at 05:27 PM.

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08-11-2012, 04:18 AM	#2
danf_fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 110	While cutting on the slide can look good (if done correctly), I have to ask why? Lightening the slide creates some other problems. 1. Recoil absorbtion is reduced (Physics has it that the greater the mass, the more energy is required to move it.) 2. Recoil spring will have to be heavier (see above physics law). The recoil spring is designed to return the slide to the "in battery" position and assist the main spring with felt recoil. When one is too weak, the other bears the weight and wears out faster. 3. Felt recoil could be increased unless the loads are adjusted to compensate. If the loads are adjusted, then comes the calculations to get the handgun back into correct timing to avoid FTF or FTE problems. I do not have the information the manufacturer has to calculate how much weight to remove and still have a functioning firearm. My opinion, leave the weight and do something to increase eye appeal.

08-11-2012, 04:57 PM	#3
wrinkles Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpine, Tx Posts: 39	I'm not worried about austhetics I want a gun that will ballance out better. The 5" is forward heavy and when shooting in competition it gives me too much bounce as the slide closes. Lightening the slide will reduce the bounce.

08-13-2012, 01:52 PM	#4
CCF Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: TN Posts: 15	I did this one on an M&P. Don't see why you couldn't do the same with an XD. 3/16 end mill and cut the roll marks out. http://www.shootingusa.com/TV_SCHEDU.../31-12-16L.jpg Tim

08-18-2012, 05:47 PM	#6
wrinkles Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpine, Tx Posts: 39	Dulled 4 bits on the slide. Went to the local hardware store and bught a bit for hardned steel and was able to drill one hole before that bit stopped cutting. Any suggestions as to brand or type of bit to use?

08-21-2012, 12:09 PM	#7
Alabaster Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NOVA Posts: 370	Tungsten carbide

08-21-2012, 05:34 PM	#8
wrinkles Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpine, Tx Posts: 39	Yea I ordered a carbide bit and end mill. Haven't come in yet. I did sharpen the cobalt bit and finished the holes I was drilling. While waiting for the endmill I decided to go at it with a dremil and file. Here's what I have so far. rough but I'll smoth it out and square it out a bit once I get the end mill.Thinking of drilling some holes on the side about where the sight is. It's the thicker part of the slide so it should remove the most weight. Like I said, not worried about looks she's a gamming gun so she's been rode hard.