Thinking about getting a stainless Springfield Armory Range Officer, but worried about galling of the slide and frame. Anyone have experience with this gun?

Galling between the slide and frame of the 1911 was a problem when manufacturers started building guns in stainless steel. It took a few years(decades) for them to figure out what types of steel to use for slides and frames to minimize/ eliminate the galling. That has all been figured out, so you will have no problems with galling as long as you adequately lube the slide and rails. Personally, I prefer grease on the rails and slide vs. oil as the grease stays where you put it better and doesn’t run off. I would not have any problems with a stainless 1911, or any other firearm in stainless.

USAFA71: Thanks for bringing me up to speed.

I have a stainless loaded (was actually looking for a stainless RO but couldn't find one at the time). I love the gun, I shoot it a lot, and I've had zero problems with galling. Keep it lubed, you'll be fine.

Nice pistol MW. Did you get a fo five or 9mm? Also, please learn about useing oil on the 1911. Minimum at that. If you are shooting lots of rounds in a session, lock back your slide and let a few drops make their way down its rails to relube. Grease is too heavy on the close fit guns.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
Nice pistol MW. Did you get a fo five or 9mm? Also, please learn about useing oil on the 1911. Minimum at that. If you are shooting lots of rounds in a session, lock back your slide and let a few drops make their way down its rails to relube. Grease is too heavy on the close fit guns.

Good input, thanks!

On my tightly fit 1911's and 2011's, I use Castrol 75W-90 full Synthetic gear lubricant.
It is sticky, much more so than any gun oil.
And it isn't thick like Slide Glide or Lithium grease and conventional gun grease.
It has significantly less "gear lube" odor than conventional 75W-90 gear oil.
But it isn't odorless... Use at your own risk if "gear oil" odor bothers you.
Differential gear lube is for hypoid gear sets (ring and pinion gears), with sliding interfaces between the gear teeth.
Pistol slides on frame rails are sliding interfaces.