…and the barrel, number 4, with at this time 30K through it. 95% or more lead semi wadcutters.
That really is just a thing of beauty. I’m curious, how much wiggle should the slide to frame have? Or what would be considered normal? My SA loaded seems a bit loose, but may just be me.
Impressive, most impressive.
noyce
Thoynks.
Well this gun had a good slide-to-frame from the factory. Nothing special or custom, just happened to be on the good side of the spectrum, Operators being usually better put-together than some other SA models. Lots of contact area, clean and crisp rail surfaces. It is not tight, it is not even wiggle-free, but still less movement than most guns from the factory. The slide to frame fit on this one will not be the life limiter on this one.
I rarely post, but I wanted to say thanks for keeping up with this thread. I hope my 1911s have that much “character” one day.
What generally is the “life limiter” on a production pistol such as this Operator?
Leaving out some catastrophic event that ruins the frame, I’d say it would be a crack in the slide… in which case you could just get a new slide. A crack in the frame maybe, but I have a Colt that comes back once a year or so for maintenance or a new barrel, and the frame has cracked a few times in a few places— I just welded them up. The slide cracked-- I’d have replaced it but the owner insisted on trying a hole at the terminus of the crack and it has held for another, well, tens of thousands (maybe not a LOT of tens, but tens). Some small parts will go by the wayside no matter who makes them at these round counts.
Here’s a thread about this welded-up high-miler. http://forum.ltwguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8365&hilit=High+Mileage
Thanks for the reply Ned!, seems mine will likely be fine. Hope for mine too look as good as that one some day, love that well used look.
Love the look of that, someday I hope to have one that looks like that…
I read thru the whole thing but maybe I missed it. I would assume with this much shooting and training that he doesn’t over clean this my any means. What’s his lube choice on this?
Thanks for the post and taking the time to answer the questions on here!
Of my high-volume friends, of all of them really, Rob is the best “maintainer” of the bunch. I’ll ask him what he prefers but I’m going to guess he’s not picky about the lube.
That is a seriously beautiful gun. Continued thanks for sharing Ned.
Great report.
I love this stuff, keep it up ned
ditto, I love seeing the results of a long term test.
Rob was over here to pick up a Commander I just finished for him and I asked to see the Operator, now at 103,000 rounds. Darn if it doesn’t need a new slide, it’s cracked, where one might expect, where the slide bangs the frame.
At that round count I can only say " no surprise" and “got his money’s worth”. He’s a happy customer. Here’s the one he picked up today:
Man that’s beautiful, forgive my ignorance but do you have a custom shop or is that just a hobby for you?
Very nice! If I may ask, how long has he been shooting that particular pistol to amass 103000 rounds through it, and how often did he need it rebuilt?
Incredible.
I do it for a living.
The Operator has had a few parts replaced but not a rebuild per se. It’s on barrel #4 but coulda shoulda been #2.
Ned - again, thanks for following up! I know the MC Operators have forward cocking serrations - did the crack begin at one of the serrations, or was it unrelated? Do you think a slide without FCS would be less prone to cracks in that area, or is it inevitable?
Also - what’s the plan for the pistol? Is he retiring it (that gun definitely earned it!) or will you be putting a new slide on it?