fitting a new TIGHT slide

[L. Boscoe]

Got a conversion kit for my Tanfoglio. The new slide goes
on about 1/3 of the way before becoming very tight, so much so it required a lot of force to fully seat it.
What are the steps to loosen this?

[Jim Watson]

My FLG "fitted" a Caspian slide by oiling it well and knocking it back and forth with a mallet.
He also lapped slides with JB Bore Paste but warned that while it seems mild on a patch in the barrel, it cuts pretty fast when trapped between two pieces of metal.

[Unclenick]

I've used lapping compounds. But since you are already close to a fit, I would start very fine with 800 grit, knock it back and forth just a few times until you think you can detect an improvement, blow it out with spray carb cleaner, and retry the fit. When you notice it starting to get easier, either switch to 1200 grit or you can try JB. I usually use Iosso Bore Cleaner instead, but you get to choose your poison.

There's a lot of feel involved, and in my case, I was doing old-school 1911 frame rail upsetting with a hammer, so that if I went too far, I could retighten the fit a little. You may not have that chance, so, for you, a little too tight is better than too loose, as a little tight will eventually shoot in.

[gwpercle]

Fine white Lapping Compound and Oil ... you want to work the slide back and forth untill all the tight spots are lapped away and everything's as smooth as a baby's bottom .
Do not hit it with a mallet ... lap it , smooth it in ... be gentle , take your time , workk it slow and easy !

I don't believe in hitting ... babies or 1911 slides . Be Gentle !
Gary

[glider]

Les won't use any sort of lapping compound in a pistol; he says that you can't get it all out of the gun. He seems to know what he's doing with a tight fit. I would just shoot it in if it will function and it probably will if you can get the slide all the way on. I've seen a video showing the Les B. smiths driving a slide on with a mallet and he says not to field strip the pistol until you have at least 500 rounds thru it. I know a guy that has a shop, and he got a new Baer in and tried to field strip it to have a look. He couldn't get it apart, got pretty mad about it LOL.

[Bill DeShivs]

You cause candle smoke (I prefer Magic Marker) on the rails to see where the tight spots are. You can then address only the high spots with a file or stones.