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PGC WA M1911A1 Metal Slide Installation & Review
by: Joe 1911
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History
PGC has been in the airsoft business for a long time, dating back to the days of classic airsoft such as JAC. In more recent times, PGC has begun making metal slides, frames, barrels, enhanced firing pins, high flow valves, and other upgraded parts, namely for Western Arms guns. Ranging from the WA Infinity series, Beretta series, and most recently, the Colt Gov't/Wilson series.
Starting with the WA M1911A1 Military Full Metal Set, not shortly after that was released, WA gave PGC a slap in the face by releasing their SCW series of guns. PGC didn't panic though, and within 3 weeks after the release of the SCW Series 70, PGC pumped out a metal slide for it. PGC kept up with WA, producing a metal slide for every SCW gun released there after. The Combat Commander is the only exception, at the time of this review, no metal slide has been produced by PGC.
Me, being dissatisfied with my SCW Wilson Combat, sold that pistol and returned to my true love, the Colt M1911A1 military SCW. However, this time I wanted to be able to run Green Gas through it without the worry of my slide notch getting beat up. Naturally, I browsed UN Company and came upon the PGC Metal Slide.
Research turned up little information on it though, but I lacking the funds to opt for the Shooters Design slide featured at Den Trinity, went with the PGC.
First Impressions
At a total of $114 shipped, I was quite pleased at the shipping cost. $14 to ship this slide from Hong Kong to the east coast of the United States express shipping seemed ridiculously cheap. 3 days after it was shipped, the USPS man arrived at my door and handed me the package. After quickly wishing the USPS man a good day and writing a somewhat mangled signature on to his pad, I proceeded to carefully open the package. I found a clear plastic bag, containing a yellow instruction sheet and the metal slide itself. I cut open the top of the baggie and slid out the slide. The slide itself weighs exactly that of the stock plastic slide, so don't expect any added heft from this upgrade.
The slide itself
The finish is excellent, blending in with the plastic on the pistol perfectly. This slide also features an interesting finish, light scratches simply wipe away. You can scratch it with your finger nail and then it simply wipes away by rubbing it with your finger, a very nice feature indeed. The slide feels very smooth and sleek. Trade marks appear to be laser etched into the slide, and are crisp and easy to see. However, it's missing the P on top of the slide, forward of the rear site. This is somewhat disappointing, but not terribly noticeable. The front site is fixed to the slide via two small "pegs" that fit into holes on the top of the slide, and are held there by only friction. Not to worry though, that site is so hammered in there it won't be slipping out any time soon.
"Alright, that's nice and all Joe, but how do you install the damn thing?"
To start, make sure you have a nice clean and flat work space. You're going to need a phillips head screw driver, flat head screw driver, and a file in order to install this slide. You will also want a can of silicone and paper towels nearby.
Start by removing the magazine and field stripping your pistol. Remove the barrel assembly and all so that your left with the slide and its blowback chamber assembly.
Now, this piece is held in by friction and plastic rails in the slide. The only way to get it out is to pry the chamber out with a flat head screw driver. Insert the screw driver in between the blowback chamber and the rear of the slide, and pry it until the blowback chamber comes free. At this point, you should note that the rails holding the blowback chamber in have either snapped off or are severely bent. This is exactly what was supposed to happen and there's no way around it. WA just seems relentless in not allowing their consumers to upgrade their pistols with after market parts.
Moving along though, have a look at your blowback chamber. You need to remove part #604 from the rear of the blowback chamber. Quite easy to do, merely slide it off. Nothing retains it on there except friction.
Next, use your phillips head screw driver to remove the screw holding the rear site in, and pull off the site. Your plastic slide should be empty now, and you can set it aside along with part #604.
Now, the rear site should be a drop in fit, just make sure the line on the rear site is pointed towards the front site. Next, simply align the edges of the Blowback chamber with the notches in the slide, and slide the blowback chamber into its place in the slide. Yes, the blowback chamber is not retained in by anything, but more on this later. Next, slide in your barrel assembly, recoil spring plug, recoil spring assembly, and barrel bushing. All these parts should be a drop in fit.
Here's where the first bit of fitting is required, you will need to "break in" the new metal slide by getting it to move along the frame smoothly. You can approach this a few ways, but the simplest and most effective in my opinion is to squirt some silicone into the grooves of the slide, and proceed to cycle it several hundred times. This mates the slide with the frame perfectly, and the more you cycle it, the smoother the slide will move. Keep doing it until it feels as smooth as the stock plastic slide. This could require cycling it for several hours, so keep that in mind.
Once the slide is cycling smoothly, The final bit in fitting this slide is getting the manual safety to work. This might not be the case with all PGC slides, but my manual safety would not flick on. In order to remedy this, I took a file and filed down on the notch cut in the metal slide for about 3 minutes. Use a paper towel to wipe out the metal shavings. After which, my manual safety went on and off freely and you have just installed your own metal slide.
Afterthoughts
That wasn't so bad, now was it? Your gun should now be all set for Green Gas, without the worry of your slide notch wearing down. So far, I have had my PGC slide for about 6 months now and I don't regret buying it one bit. The ability to enjoy the extra kick the SCW series provides with green gas is excellent.
As I mentioned earlier in the article, I would come back and discuss the retention of the blowback chamber. At first, I was worried about it staying in there, but the tension from the barrel assembly pushing against it holds it in there quite well. With this design, you can take the blowback chamber out just as if you were field stripping the gun. This allows you to lubricate the entire blowback chamber quickly and easily.
If your considering buying a PGC metal slide for your WA, don't hesitate. They are by far the easiest to install metal slide I have ever dealt with.
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External Links
PGC
UN Company
Western Arms
Den Trinity
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