HELP...Worn slide on NTM Shorty 40

[soonerfan85]

Just bought the below Shorty40 mk3 from an individual. Fire & function test went OK. I'm not very good with semi autos, but was pleased by results first time behind the trigger at about 30 feet.





I could lie and say there were only 8 rounds in the mag, but truth is I pulled the first shot so bad it didn't cut paper. The trigger feels good and managed to hit the remainder of the shots. Overall I was pleased.

So much for the good, now for the bad.

Got home and disassembled the gun and found the following issue. The left side of the frame has a bright metal strip that runs the length of the frame above the frame rail. As you can see in the first photo, the metal strip sticks up slightly above the top of the alloy frame. When I began cleaning her, I felt something sharp and it was this strip of metal. Looks like it's been wearing down and shaving off metal for some time.







IF the metal lip in the photos don't serve any real function, would there be any reason not to use a very fine grit nail file or emery cloth to smooth out the areas where it sits above the surrounding alloy frame? Seems odd to me that a pistol coming from S&W's Performance Center would have this obvious of a flaw, so maybe it did serve some purpose. I'd appreciate the forum's thoughts.

One additional question. There is a 3 digit number that appears on the barrel and inside the slide & frame that is different than the 3 digit number in the serial number. Is that common?

 

[lhump1961]

You'll like the Shorty after you get a little more used to it. I would go check my frame to compare to your photos but it is on loan to my son-in-law right now. I'm not sure I see anything unusual but of course I'm not a gunsmith. It will wear the black off of the contact points an yours doesn't look to have been shot much.

 

[raidersrule]

I'm heading out the door but I'll snap some photos of my NIB Shorty 40 and post them later as comparison. Nothing in the photos looks out of ordinary, though.

 

[soonerfan85]

Thanks guys.

I suppose it's possible that she left the factory less than perfect and just hasn't been shot enough to fully break her in. Although she feels as though she's dragging a little when you pull back the slide, everything does seem to work OK. I just don't want to tear something up if this is an issue that requires gunsmithing.

Looking forward to getting her out to the range with her big sister M&P 40 for some family bonding.

 

[handgunner356]

They are a tight fit to start with, chances are it was a bit too close. I would use a fine file and smooth it off myself. The hand etched numbers should match between the slide, barrel and frame(usually under the grip) and are used during production to keep those parts together. But they don't match the serial number of the gun.

 

[kcode]

To be honest, the wear is typical of almost all of my 3rd gens with aluminum frames. The blued frames will show it more obviously than the silver/grey frames. Carbon steel or stainless slides against the aluminum frames will wear, just keep it lubricated.

 

[soonerfan85]

raidersrule....could you please post a photo on this thread similar to my second photo showing the left side of the frame? I'd like to see if the metal lip sits above the top of the frame on yours. Thanks

 

[raidersrule]

Sorry for the delay in posting these photos. I've been switching back to "night" schedule after a temporary special assignment and I'm a little screw-up sleep-wise from it.

I think I have the photos that you were looking for but I'm not sure.

If you want something different let me know.

 

[soonerfan85]

Thanks raidersrule

I can't really see if your frame has the same metal strip running along the left side of the frame rail. Can you look at that area on your pistol and see if the metal strip protrudes above the rail? Thanks again.

 

[James&theGiant1911]

I am a shorty 40 owner as well and I looked at him frame grooves and they are smooth and they should be smooth and not have rough edges on them like yours in the photo.

I had a 3rd gen 6906 and it had some roughing like that on it. IMO that is caused from firing the gun a lot and not cleaning it. That will cause the powder residue to gunk up on the gun making it stiff. If it is repeatedly fired like that without lubing or cleaning then it could wear on those aluminum frame grooves since aluminum is softer than steel. You could file the roughness out or send it to a smith if you are not confident in doing it. I always use Mill tech grease when lubing a firearm with mismatched slide frame material.

 

[cpeblue]

Thanks for the pics, I can see it's made like a tsw. GREASE, if it slides grease it, looks like the pistol was run dry. Do not file anything just grease it, shoot it and love it. In your last pic (OP) that is from releasing the slide with the stop, we all know to pull the slide back to let the stop drop then release the slide , right? My all stainless TSWs show very little ware but the alloy frame guns do start to shine in certain areas, Remember if it slides grease it, if it rotates oil it.

 

[Dukesamson]

Ill give you the answer ur looking for the right and left sides of the frame in area of concern are supposed to be symmetrical and identical

 

[CALREB]

Looks like there may be a burr on the slide, sometimes caused by not getting the slidestop in all the way,or it popped out while shooting, anyway if it has caused a burr on the rail cuts or bottom of the slide ,they will cause corresponding wear on the softer frame until they are worn down or you smooth them out. Then lube it up. Bob

 

[soonerfan85]

After a closer examination, the alloy rail appears pretty normal near the muzzle, but is completely worn away exposing the metal strip at the other end of the rail. The red lines in the above photo show the approximate location of the metal reinforcing strip sandwiched between the sides of the rail.

While ugly, there's no wobble and the slide feels tight on the frame. If loose design tolerances can work for millions of AK's surely they can work on one S&W.