Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 So, After some range time this week, I was cleaning my limited gun when I noticed what I THOUGHT was a new scratch on the slide. Upon further inspection, and much to my dissmay, it turned out to be a CRACK! It is fairly substantial, and the gun is unusable now. The gun is a Custom 2011, and was built by a reputable builder. I'm the second owner, and since Ive owned it, it has been babied, never been dropped, and only had factory & barely major PF run through it. I'm pretty bummed, as I guess I'm going to be without a gun for a while?.... and out the money it takes to get it fixed... Sucks huh?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapemeister Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Bummer, but at least you noticed it before it broke while shooting. I had a crack and I also thought it was a scratch. Of course, it decided to break during a match, and a big chunk of metal came off. Fortunately, I wasn’t injured. Next time I will look at lot closer at what I think may be a new scratch. Slides crack on occasion…it’s just a fact of life. Cheap, middle of the road or expensive, it doesn’t matter. But, I would still send it back to the manufacturer to make sure there isn’t something else that needs to be fixed which may have caused the crack. And, maybe they will replace the part for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Taliani Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Ouch! Sorry that happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latech15 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I watched Manny shoot a few matches with a gun with a cracked slide. It ain't the end of the world. I have seen lots of slides cut like that that haven't cracked. I would send it back to the original builder and have him replace it. I doubt if he is going to do it for free though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Looking at the cuts I think I know who the builder is. Call him and talk to him about it. See if he would help you with this large issue you know have. Good luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildot1 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Two weeks ago mine cracked at the lower front of ejection port, STI also. They are replacing it. Mildot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Do you use shok buffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillD Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'm thinking those lightening cuts contribute to this issue but I'm not a gunsmith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Do you use shok buffs? No buffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn jones Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 if it is a sti slide, send it back to them and they will replace the slide (without cuts). lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 if it is a sti slide, send it back to them and they will replace the slide (without cuts). lynn Sent them an email (in meetings at work and can't call them right now), so I'm waiting on a response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBandit Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'm thinking those lightening cuts contribute to this issue but I'm not a gunsmith. I don't think so, it looks like it started at the bottom corner by the guide rod. Sharp corner=stress riser, small crack started there and propagated up to the hole. A small radius might have prevented it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al503 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 What recoil spring weight are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'm thinking those lightening cuts contribute to this issue but I'm not a gunsmith.I don't think so, it looks like it started at the bottom corner by the guide rod. Sharp corner=stress riser, small crack started there and propagated up to the hole. A small radius might have prevented it. I dont blame the cuts. There are many builers that use cuts VERY similar to these. And as BillD stated, the crack started at the back edge of the sping tunnel, and continued up the side of the slide. What recoil spring weight are you using? 12lb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear23 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) I've got thousands on my 6" gun. I would use a little heavier recoil spring. check with your builder! Edited October 24, 2012 by Bear23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) I've got thousands on my gun. I would use a little heavier recoil spring. check with your builder! I'd say 12lb is probably the most common weight for a 2011 limited gun in .40. The original owner used and recommended that weight... the builder recommended that weight... and you will find that weight recommended by many people on this forum. Edited October 24, 2012 by Ssanders224 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I shot an Edge that had over 30k thru it using a 10lb spring, and I have an STI open gun with over 50k using an 8lb spring, so I think a 12lb should do just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNsTeR Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Any manufactured part has variation, and as a result some units will be defective and fail sooner than we would like. I had a G34 slide crack once, through the ejection port. The gun kept working, but shot about a foot to the left. Sucks to end up on the wrong side of randomness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 If a slide cracks like that is it done or can it be welded? Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPRSkip Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Not to hijack this thread but as it relates to this thread. How many use shock buffers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 If a slide cracks like that is it done or can it be welded? Pat I'm sure it COULD be welded. However, As far as I'm concerned, it's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) I have run m 40s with a 12.5 lb spring with lightening cuts similar to yours and mine did not crack. I do not use shok buffs either. You probably won't get the slide replaced free since it has the lightening cuts but give it a try you never know. I would send it to the original smith for repair if it were mine you might get a little break on the price. Edited October 24, 2012 by Jaxshooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) The reason I asked if it was shot with shok buffers is I thought the break in the slide might be a result of the spring going "solid" and thereby cracking the slide. Probably a stress riser at the right angle where the spring tunnel was cut down to the slide. Edited October 24, 2012 by Merlin Orr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBandit Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Good news is it shouldn't get any bigger.... those slide cuts essentially terminated the spread of the crack. This is more of a defect with the slide manufacturer than the gunsmith unless he cut the spring tunnel area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 If a slide cracks like that is it done or can it be welded? Pat I'm sure it COULD be welded. However, As far as I'm concerned, it's done. Its that becaue it would be unsafe or fail? Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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