Accurails on my Stainless R1

I am fortunate to be able to shoot 3-4 days a week and have for several years. My Stainless R1 Enhanced is in need of a face lift. I was thinking of getting a set of plates and peen my frame to tighten it back up. Then I read that in some cases peening a Stainless frame might lead to cracking. So in some research I read about accurails. What are your thoughts on this? John said to laser weld the frame but I don’t think that’s what I want to do here.

Peening SS typically won't stay tight. I'm not a big accurail fan. Laser welding ends up being very close to a custom frame/slide build.
Jon

If you do weld it, weld with a similar family of alloy. It is very likely that the frame is made from a 400 series alloy.

Jon Eulette wrote:Peening SS typically won't stay tight. I'm not a big accurail fan. Laser welding ends up being very close to a custom frame/slide build.
Jon

Why don't you like accurails?

Can’t say personally but my guess is that it’s the same amount of work as welding the frame rails and refitting. Welding and refitting also would give better control,over the outcome.

With the amount of skilled labor involved, it may be cheaper just to start over with a new R/O.

Just a thought.

I am getting a R/O in a few months but I also want to tighten my R1 up. I am still shooting 850’s with it

I had Alex Hamilton recommend Accurails as an alternative to welding and recutting the rails. I had it done on an old ball gun and can highly recommend them. The slide is tight, like a bank vault and feels like it is moving on ball bearings. Larry Carter, RIP, also had all of his 1911's Accurailed.

My old KC wad gun became very loose after a zillion rounds. I sent it back to KC who recommended welding. It came back to me very tight and smooth. Cost which included having it re parkerized, probably approached the cost of a new RO.

Properly welding stainless more difficult than typical steel. To someone of proper skill it should not a problem, but good quality workmanship has a higher price tag. I personally do not have experience with accurails, but it seems to be a very specialized install. If it where my money, I would put it toward a dedicated bullseye build, probably end up with a better overall gun in the end.

All valid responses

My gold cup is going out for accuracies this week.   

Stainless can gall, so for me it was an easy decision.  

I like stainless guns.    

I am a TIG welder.   That fine of a bead is beyond my skill level. 
I have experienced enough warping welding stainless that I would not do it.      EDM welding would be fine.   

David

That’s why I am doing the Accurails! How much is it going to cost me

Accurails work. IMHO, they're your best option for a stainless gun.  I have an old AMT Hardballer stainless that I had Accurails installed and fitted a Kart barrel & bushing. Night and day difference in accuracy.  I went distinguished with that gun. 

The cost back then was $250, several years ago.

I think 250 gets me the rails but how much is the machine work

James Hensler wrote:I think 250 gets me the rails but how much is the machine work

Work was included.

Really? Wow! I just saw a guy charging 400

http://acc-u-rail.com/

I left a message already. He is closed on Wednesday

I had accu rails done on an old Kimber pistol a few years ago. I think it was around $220 and didn't require refinishing. The gun shoots under 2" groups with a Kart ez-fit barrel. If the rails loosen up over time, I can send it back and have a larger diameter rod installed.

David R wrote:My gold cup is going out for accuracies this week.   

Stainless can gall, so for me it was an easy decision.  

I like stainless guns.    

I am a TIG welder.   That fine of a bead is beyond my skill level. 
I have experienced enough warping welding stainless that I would not do it.      EDM welding would be fine.   

David

I'm a TIG welder also. I'm pretty sure stainless frames are made from heat treatable 416 ss which is alloyed with sulfur to give it a free-machining attribute. If they are made from 410 ss it would be easily welded.
I have an Accu-railed wad gun that was done 25 years ago and is still tight.

So I talked to Doug today and after my next 2 matches I am sending him my R1! I was expecting a larger bill but no it’s not at all! Actually I am very impressed with the price. 3-4 weeks turn time

James Hensler wrote:So I talked to Doug today and after my next 2 matches I am sending him my R1! I was expecting a larger bill but no it’s not at all! Actually I am very impressed with the price. 3-4 weeks turn time

Doug Jones does good work. He also builds guns.

Doug cut a six inch slide for my colt.. I can attest to his great work

Alton Dinan installed accurails in 1970 on the 4.5 inch barrel of my fathers.. frame is 1917 and shoots like a dream still.