6" SD slide on 4.3" frame

[Degenetron]

So, i'm looking to get my tm 4.3 out to 6 inches..

tl;dr: Will a Shooters Design 6 inch slide work with a stock TM 4.3 chassis?

After a lot of newbie research and headaches with availability i have settled for a complete Shooters design setup with slide, chassis, two piece outer barrel and guiderod. Not quite sure on inner barrel yet, but will be either a TK twist or a PDI tightbore. Im assuming i'll get quite a bit more power out of a PDI, so leaning towards that.

Problem is all that is turning out to be quite expensive and i'll have to part it up a bit. Or rather.. in two.. the chassis alone is a bit less than all the others combined, so i was wondering if i would have a working pistol if i was to mount the rest of the parts on my standard chassis for a while untill i can scrape together for the SD one?

Also, being a newbie, any experiences you have to share will be welcome

[m102404]

It'll go on and it'll cycle (as much as any slap together build will )

Aside from the frame's dustcover shape/length...all the Hicapa's are exactly the same.

Now...if the 6" slide's dust cover (the part that holds the guide rod plug) isn't close enough to the frame's lip (I.e. a big 1" gap ) then you run the risk that that part of the frame will hit/impact the frame as the slide recoils...and that can't be good.

For example, with a 5.1 slide on a 4.3 frame that part of the dustcover sits just in ok and will cycle/work fine. Can't say for sure on your slide (since there's a bazillion different variations).

Tys

[ILLusion]

The SD 6" block cut slides will fit fine on a 4.3's frame, but without matching scalloping on the slide, it may look a bit awkward. That's a bit of a personal preference, though.

Also, realize that the 6" slides are built for use with the adjustable Bomar style rear sight found on the 5.1... NOT the 4.3. The 5.1 and 4.3 use different rear sights, and as such, the dovetail cut outs for each respective sight is different. You'll need to source out a 5.1 sight separately if you decide to go with the SD slide set.

Custom built slides can be made in 6" length with 4.3 dovetail cutouts if required... but are quite pricey. If budget is a concern, don't go the route of custom.

[Degenetron]

[SIZE="2"]

Originally Posted by m102404

Now...if the 6" slide's dust cover (the part that holds the guide rod plug) isn't close enough to the frame's lip (I.e. a big 1" gap ) then you run the risk that that part of the frame will hit/impact the frame as the slide recoils...and that can't be good.

Yeah, this was my main concern. The dust cover looks to be long enough in the picture, atleast from my eyeball measuring, but hard to be sure without mounting it

Originally Posted by ILLusion

The SD 6" block cut slides will fit fine on a 4.3's frame, but without matching scalloping on the slide, it may look a bit awkward. That's a bit of a personal preference, though.

Also, realize that the 6" slides are built for use with the adjustable Bomar style rear sight found on the 5.1... NOT the 4.3. The 5.1 and 4.3 use different rear sights, and as such, the dovetail cut outs for each respective sight is different. You'll need to source out a 5.1 sight separately if you decide to go with the SD slide set.

Custom built slides can be made in 6" length with 4.3 dovetail cutouts if required... but are quite pricey. If budget is a concern, don't go the route of custom.

Well, i will eventually get the matching chassis, so it's ok if it looks awkward for a while.. as long ast there is no gap.

Thanks for the reminder on the sights.. Had that info in the back of my head, but it failed to show itself when i was scouring for parts

I have been drooling a bit on some of your kit, but i assume it is a bit of a step up from SD, and i am already stretching my budget quite a bit beyond what i had intended. Out of curiosity though.. How much are you asking for the two 6" conversion kits on your pbase?

[juicy]

Originally Posted by ILLusion

The SD 6" block cut slides will fit fine on a 4.3's frame, but without matching scalloping on the slide, it may look a bit awkward. That's a bit of a personal preference, though.

[...]

If budget is a concern, don't go the route of custom.

Yup. Awkward is how mine looks. Albeit, if you're going with a SD slide, you have a few more choices than what I had (KJW KP-06 slide/barrel on TM 4.3 chassis). Personally, I would have loved to get a slide that didn't look so bland.

But, good call on using a 4.3 frame - I tried a 5.1 frame and it looked horrendous. Personally, I'd like to get a full beavertail safety for my 4.3 frame... but I like the silver accents, and meh, it works just fine as is. Perhaps a large grip safety would allow me to more comfortably grip the GBB a little higher, but getting a new one would only be an extra expenditure with money that I need to spend on other things. That brings me to ILLusion's other point that I quoted - yes, building a 6" upper is going to be more than just buying a new slide and slapping that onto your existing Hi-Capa base. Finding an in-stock aftermarket 6" inner barrel for Hi-Capa's has proved to be quite frustrating, and I'm at a loss of finding a replacement recoil spring guide plug, as mine has random crap inside of it that isn't coming off with regular cleaning. Not to mention aftermarket spring guide rods themselves are hard enough to find. Outer barrels are... well, you have to shop around for a few hours to find one.



(sorry about the half-assed attempt to remove the orange tip, as well as the shitty picture-taking-skills)

[ILLusion]

Originally Posted by juicy

aftermarket spring guide rods themselves are hard enough to find. Outer barrels are... well, you have to shop around for a few hours to find one.

I make both.

[juicy]

Originally Posted by ILLusion

I make both.

God damn, really? Nurgh... PM inbound.

[ILLusion]

Originally Posted by juicy

God damn, really? Nurgh... PM inbound.

Well, pretty much ANYTHING for the Marui Hi-Capa / 1911 series are currently being custom made or somehow sourced on the aftermarket, with the exception of a few items.

[juicy]

Originally Posted by ILLusion

Well, pretty much ANYTHING for the Marui Hi-Capa / 1911 series are currently being custom made or somehow sourced on the aftermarket, with the exception of a few items.

*Ahem* hop up chambers.

[ILLusion]

Originally Posted by juicy

*Ahem* hop up chambers.

yeah... unfortunately, that's one of those "few" items.

[Degenetron]

Seems this problem has ceased to exist. Turns out ILLusion Kinetics conversion kits are not much more expenive than SD.. so i shall be going all out

Please disregard the question and the naughty reasons for me getting a 6 inch in the first place.. my 4.3 was big enough.. for a midget.

Will take a couple weeks, but i will entertain you all with pics once it grows larger.