blacklab Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 I have a extra slide laying around and thought I might want to experiment with lightning. I did some looking on the internet and at local matches, and all the slides I've seen have the cuts vertical or just holes drilled on the side. So before I put it under the Bridgeport I thought I would run my idea past you fine people. What I would like to do is cut in horizontal slots from just behind the bushing about 1 1/2" long and maybe 3/16" wide. After its tri toped there would be one centered on the top, one on the angle of the tri top, and one on the flat part of the slide. Each cut would start 1/2" back from the one above it. I didn't mike. anything yet so the measurements are approximate. Does anyone see why this wouldn't work? Will it create week points? I should mention the gun is not being built for any real purpose, maybe steel shooting, it's just a idea I have. It will have a 3 port threaded comp. from EGW on a 5 1/2" barrel,( extra parts I also have.) It would only see factory loads. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks........... I forgot , the slide is about 17oz now and I "think" the cuts should take to about 10 or 11oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Here is a pic. of what it might look like. The black marker is a little hard to see, but that is about where the cuts would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimo-Hombre Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I am a retard, but my gunsmith has explained the importance of staying away from the ejection port and the rails. What you have marked on that slide looks reasonable. Have fun and good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesterno Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I feel like I've seen this set up before, so it must be doable. I decided to have my commander slide sent out for Tri-top work, but no holes. This is going to be carried but I didn't want it able to collect lint or anything. My old 6" was tri topped and cut up in the same area you're talking about, and held up fine to thousands of minor and major loads with no issues. let us know how the finished slide goes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Steviesterno,, I'll post pics. after I start on it. Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hello: Try the tri-top first then decide if you want it any lighter. Since you have a Bridgeport explore what you can do with it. Plain slots like that are ok but why not look at something more exciting? Don't be afraid of tilting the head and putting in angle cuts or slots, pockets etc. "If you can dream it, you can machine it". I should patten that saying. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Man, lightning from the slide sounds pretty damn cool. You gotta post some videos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troupe Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 The pic that you posted is like the cuts that I used to run in the mid 90's. It will work just fine, and I was running 115 at 182 PF. Remember shooting a 1610 FPS at the Mountaineer Classic in W.Va. That was my high round. How times have changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 Itdmstr........Oops me bad. I should have paid attention in English class. Please don't ask me to count to 10, I wasn't good in math class ether. Troupe.......looks like I'm showing my age. I guess my sub conscience is still living in the past. Thanks for you input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Just kidding around with you. Your cuts should be ok. although you might want to break them into two shorter cuts instead of longer individual cuts. I would also avoid cutting into the locking lug recesses. That area is kinda thin already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biloxi23 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I do not know how well you can see the photos, but the cross slots cut in the slide of my Akai 6" are angled to the rear. I have over 10,000 rounds through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 Itdmstr..... I am going to keep it short of the locking lugs, because I want to stay rather far in front of the ejection port. Do you think the long cuts will be a problem? For some reason I just like the way it looks. Biloxi23.... That's really nice. Do the cuts on the side of the slide go all the way through or are they just indents? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Hard to say how much is too much without doing some complicated measurements and calculations. But if you look at the area where the cuts overlap, combined you're probably removing 40% of the material around the circumference. I've seen slides with a lot more than that removed, but I have no idea if they've held up over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Well..... It's been awhile, but I am making headway on my slide. It's turning out a little different than I thought it would and is a litter lighter than I thought too. I weighs in at 9oz. Any thoughts or constructive criticism would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfalcon00 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 That's looking good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertg5322 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Anyone got any tips on what not to do when lightening a slide to maintain durability and decrease likelihood od cracking the slide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklab Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 robert5322..........Trial and error is what I'm doing. I was told to stay away from the locking lugs, bushing and ejection port. Other than that, the sky is the limit. Or so it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biloxi23 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 The cuts that run front to back go all the way through, as do the cross cuts in front of the ejection port. the ones aft of the port do not go all the way through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertg5322 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 robert5322..........Trial and error is what I'm doing. I was told to stay away from the locking lugs, bushing and ejection port. Other than that, the sky is the limit. Or so it seems. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi531 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Hi, lightening cuts are done mainly for slide weight reduction but you already know that. You can do plain simple stuff ( but effective ) or dig deep with imagination. My last open build in 38 super ( for match's ) consisted of a tri top cut, full length, three horizontal slots ( about .675 x .375,' slot on top for popple holes, scalloped at rear top and slide racker dovetail, nothing to fancy but effective. If you choose to get real artist like imaginative then copy some of the slide cuts from Limcats design, the man doesn't build guns, he builds " works of art " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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