[usmc1488]

So I finished my build a month ago, runs great! I've had zero concerns or any reason to until I messed with my father in laws 1919. When assembled my 1919's backplate has a little play in it. My father in laws 1919 has ZERO play in it, super tight, the back plate doesn't move at all. Any reason for concern?

 

[theweasel]

So I finished my build a month ago, runs great! I've had zero concerns or any reason to until I messed with my father in laws 1919. When assembled my 1919's backplate has a little play in it. My father in laws 1919 has ZERO play in it, super tight, the back plate doesn't move at all. Any reason for concern?

It could be wear in the latch area. J.R.

 

[fjruple]

Is the wiggle side to side or up and down or both?

--fjruple

 

[usmc1488]

Is the wiggle side to side or up and down or both?

--fjruple

I'd say 1mm left/right and 1mm up/down. Just enough to be noticeable.

 

[rugman59]

A very small amount of play on the 'Z' axis, (up and down) won't hurt anything as long as the 'rod of death' has clearance to be manipulated when necessary and it's achieving positive lock up in it's hole.

Front to back movement can be very bad. That backplate takes the full brunt of the bolt's violent rearward travel every time the gun is fired. The impact is considerable.
Slop can lead to failure of the milled slots eventually. (back of the receiver cracking off.)
The force the the recoil rod holding the plate back is insufficient to prevent eventual damage. You want a snug, solid fit.
The idea is to keep the backplate firmly against the slots, pushing towards the rear of the gun. NO forward movement. No sense giving it a running start, right?

Easily fixed though.

First, try swapping you dad in law's backplate in there. If it fits snug, STEAL IT!! Yup. Bad joke there. Don't do that.

All you need is to eliminate any front to back movement. You want the backplate held firmly against the REAR of the slots in the side plates.

Quick and simple fix;
Pull the backplate. Carefully remove the bolt, keeping the recoil guide rod pointed away from people and set it on a shelf with the rod pointed towards a wall or something else solid but cheap to replace.

The idea is to build up thickness of the tongues on the Front Edges of the tongues. This will force the backplate tightly to the rear of the slots where it belongs.

Using a ball peen hammer, very lightly strike the front corner edge of the bottom right of the tongue about one inch up from the bottom. You're pushing a tiny bit of metal forward on that corner.
This will raise a tiny bump on the forward facing edge of that corner.
Slide it into the gun and check for fit. Wiggle it around to see where it needs more attention.
Too much? One swipe at a time with a small diamond file or tiny sanding block, then check again.
Not enough? Peen it a tiny bit harder.

Do the same for the forward tongue edge on the left side .

Then do likewise for the upper left and right edges.

DON'T try peening all four corners at one time without checking, assuming the gun and any damage to be fixed will be square and uniform. Murphy don't like that and will probably crap in your lunch box when you're not looking.

Just go one step at a time.

OR just get another backplate and don't get carried away with the media blaster.:tongue:

 

[usmc1488]

A very small amount of play on the 'Z' axis, (up and down) won't hurt anything as long as the 'rod of death' has clearance to be manipulated when necessary and it's achieving positive lock up in it's hole.

Front to back movement can be very bad. That backplate takes the full brunt of the bolt's violent rearward travel every time the gun is fired. The impact is considerable.
Slop can lead to failure of the milled slots eventually. (back of the receiver cracking off.)
The force the the recoil rod holding the plate back is insufficient to prevent eventual damage. You want a snug, solid fit.
The idea is to keep the backplate firmly against the slots, pushing towards the rear of the gun. NO forward movement. No sense giving it a running start, right?

Easily fixed though.

First, try swapping you dad in law's backplate in there. If it fits snug, STEAL IT!! Yup. Bad joke there. Don't do that.

All you need is to eliminate any front to back movement. You want the backplate held firmly against the REAR of the slots in the side plates.

Quick and simple fix;
Pull the backplate. Carefully remove the bolt, keeping the recoil guide rod pointed away from people and set it on a shelf with the rod pointed towards a wall or something else solid but cheap to replace.

The idea is to build up thickness of the tongues on the Front Edges of the tongues. This will force the backplate tightly to the rear of the slots where it belongs.

Using a ball peen hammer, very lightly strike the front corner edge of the bottom right of the tongue about one inch up from the bottom. You're pushing a tiny bit of metal forward on that corner.
This will raise a tiny bump on the forward facing edge of that corner.
Slide it into the gun and check for fit. Wiggle it around to see where it needs more attention.
Too much? One swipe at a time with a small diamond file or tiny sanding block, then check again.
Not enough? Peen it a tiny bit harder.

Do the same for the forward tongue edge on the left side .

Then do likewise for the upper left and right edges.

DON'T try peening all four corners at one time without checking, assuming the gun and any damage to be fixed will be square and uniform. Murphy don't like that and will probably crap in your lunch box when you're not looking.

Just go one step at a time.

OR just get another backplate and don't get carried away with the media blaster.:tongue:

Great tips, thank you. I don't have any movement along the long axis of the receiver, no back or fwd motin just up as if I was removing the back plate and a little side to side.

 

[paintmanmatt]

I concur.........my favorite tool for adjustments on these is my trusty BFH! :rofl:

Matt

 

[SilentNight1647]

Shouldn't hurt anything so long the fore and aft axis is tight. It's a slip fit part after all, a little clearance goes a long way.

 

[elvis3006]

A very small amount of play on the 'Z' axis, (up and down) won't hurt anything as long as the 'rod of death' has clearance to be manipulated when necessary and it's achieving positive lock up in it's hole.

Front to back movement can be very bad. That backplate takes the full brunt of the bolt's violent rearward travel every time the gun is fired. The impact is considerable.
Slop can lead to failure of the milled slots eventually. (back of the receiver cracking off.)
The force the the recoil rod holding the plate back is insufficient to prevent eventual damage. You want a snug, solid fit.
The idea is to keep the backplate firmly against the slots, pushing towards the rear of the gun. NO forward movement. No sense giving it a running start, right?

Easily fixed though.

First, try swapping you dad in law's backplate in there. If it fits snug, STEAL IT!! Yup. Bad joke there. Don't do that.

All you need is to eliminate any front to back movement. You want the backplate held firmly against the REAR of the slots in the side plates.

Quick and simple fix;
Pull the backplate. Carefully remove the bolt, keeping the recoil guide rod pointed away from people and set it on a shelf with the rod pointed towards a wall or something else solid but cheap to replace.

The idea is to build up thickness of the tongues on the Front Edges of the tongues. This will force the backplate tightly to the rear of the slots where it belongs.

Using a ball peen hammer, very lightly strike the front corner edge of the bottom right of the tongue about one inch up from the bottom. You're pushing a tiny bit of metal forward on that corner.
This will raise a tiny bump on the forward facing edge of that corner.
Slide it into the gun and check for fit. Wiggle it around to see where it needs more attention.
Too much? One swipe at a time with a small diamond file or tiny sanding block, then check again.
Not enough? Peen it a tiny bit harder.

Do the same for the forward tongue edge on the left side .

Then do likewise for the upper left and right edges.

DON'T try peening all four corners at one time without checking, assuming the gun and any damage to be fixed will be square and uniform. Murphy don't like that and will probably crap in your lunch box when you're not looking.

Just go one step at a time.

OR just get another backplate and don't get carried away with the media blaster.:tongue:

Great info, forgive the dumb question. But you are talking about peening the back plate, not the LSP and RSP ?

 

[Lucky#13]

Great info, forgive the dumb question. But you are talking about peening the back plate, not the LSP and RSP ?

Yes, that's exactly what he is describing. I have seen a lot of back plates. The obvious signs of peening on the rails is a common thing, so that's just SOP. Now I have also had NOS back plates- usually the grip panel style- that sit short in a receiver with a fair amount of up and down play. The potential issue here is that in the low position it sometimes interferes with the trigger's upward travel. In some cases I have welded up the tabs on the bottom of the plate, where it fits into the slot of the bottom plate, and file fit so that it sits even with the top of the top plate. This leaves a bit of a gap at the bottom, but that is of no functional consequence.

 

[elvis3006]

Yes, that's exactly what he is describing. I have seen a lot of back plates. The obvious signs of peening on the rails is a common thing, so that's just SOP. Now I have also had NOS back plates- usually the grip panel style- that sit short in a receiver with a fair amount of up and down play. The potential issue here is that in the low position it sometimes interferes with the trigger's upward travel. In some cases I have welded up the tabs on the bottom of the plate, where it fits into the slot of the bottom plate, and file fit so that it sits even with the top of the top plate. This leaves a bit of a gap at the bottom, but that is of no functional consequence.

Thank you Lucky

 

[rugman59]

Thank you Lucky

You're very welcome.
Both of you. LMAO!!!! :rofl:

 

[Outdoordave]

Just a quick question - who's RSP is it? I had a certain manufacturers plate a number of years ago who made the slots way out of spec.

 

[Lucky#13]

You're very welcome.
Both of you. LMAO!!!! :rofl:

Hey Ruggy, I got yer back!