I think I may have messed up

[JimCunn]

The slide on my Micro 9 is snug with smooth motion - feels good.

The slide on my first Micro .380 is almost as snug and also feels good - some slight play, but no rattle.

Yesterday, I bought a second Micro .380 at Academy. They only had the display model in stock, but the trigger and hammer felt good, so I took it. When I got home, I realized it has a lot of slide slop. Enough to rattle a bit and visibly move slightly side to side and vertically when you shake it. My bad for not catching that at the store.

I haven't fired it, but it feeds OK when racking manually. On disassembly, the guide rails looked normal, no visible imperfections or wear marks. There was a slight imperfection on the slide stop shaft, but not severe enough to disturb me, and it wouldn't affect slide fit anyway.

Here are my questions - how much slide shake is normal on a Micro .380?

Should I send it in to Kimber in hopes of getting a snugger slide/frame fit under warranty?

Should I accept that I screwed up and just distress the slide and frame rails to take up some of the slack?

Would a thick cerakoting take up some of the slack?

Thanks for your input.

[Panzer]

I am no expert on firearms, so I don’t know if looser tolerances in the slide to frame fit would affect performance. You might fire a couple hundred rounds through it to see. If performance is affected and/or you just don’t like the fact that it rattles (I wouldn’t), then call Kimber and see what they will do for you. What do you have to lose? Maybe looser tolerances will enhance reliability! The Micros are put together pretty tight. I’ve read where some cheap firearms rattle like an old dump truck, but are still very reliable. For reference, my Kimber .380 is tight with no rattles after about 500 rds through it.

[Chuck43]

I don't own a Kimber that rattles when I shake it but I do have other handguns that do. It doesn't effect the accuracy of them but if you are uncomfortable with it give Kimbers Customer service a call and discuss it with them. If nothing else you will document a potential problem and it will hopefully put your mind at ease.

Customer Service

888-243-4522

M–F, 9:30 a.m.– 6 p.m. Eastern

[Shootinit]

probably making them looser due to all the complaints

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil I'd rather have a carry gun more on the loose side than tight, particularly a .380. In any event, the last thing I would to is paint it to try to tighten slide fit. Ridiculous.

tell it like it is, Phil!

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'd rather have a carry gun more on the loose side than tight, particularly a .380. In any event, the last thing I would to is paint it to try to tighten slide fit. Ridiculous. If the gun is reliable and you can hit a torso sized target with reasonable accuracy at 7yds... leave it be.

[wayne]

I see Bigdog is using his physic powers
As suggested if its bothering you that much contact Kimber and see what they say. Before sending back I would take it to the range and make there's no issues that require it back to the mothership.

[2sharp2]

None of my Kimber's rattle, seen plenty of old Colt 1911's that rattle some sound like they are going to fall apart. Used to be the "norm." I don't think function or accuracy is affected.

NO, Cerakote will NOT magically tighten a pistol that is loose enough to rattle.

If the rattle bothers you that bad I would:
A. Without firing return to Acadamy for refund or exchange.
B. I would shoot as many rounds as I could before contacting Kimber for possible repair.
C. I'm not sure a slide that rattles is a warranty issue?
D. Sell it to SnowTao (now Ice & Snow) she collects them.

[JimCunn]

Academy doesn't refund or exchange.

"and you can hit a torso sized target with reasonable accuracy at 7yds"

You can chunk a rock accurately enough to do that 🙂

Re the cerakote, that was my opinion too, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

The rattle is about the same as most of the 1911s I used when in the Army back in the 60s.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by JimCunn The rattle is about the same as most of the 1911s I used when in the Army back in the 60s.

Brahahahaha!!!!!! That cracked me up so much my drink almost came out my nose. In 1966 I became an Army MP, we could shake our range guns and you could hear so much rattling it would wake up a zombie.