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What is "match"?

Jorge
What is the definition of "match" parts, such as match barrel, match hammer, and match trigger as applied to 1911's?

Thanks.
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6 comments

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  • iceracerx
    "Match" is mostly a function of tighter tolerances. A "Match" chamber for example will be closer to the "ideal" (closer to nominal print dimension) then a standard production chamber (is allowed a size tolerance).

    "Match" barrels will have uniform rifling (again to nominal) vs a production barrel which is again built with a tolerance.

    A "Match" Barrel Bushing is a tighter fit with the barrel when the slide is in battery.

    Usually a "Match" trigger has a "Over travel stop screw".
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  • leeblackman
    Yea, its kinda like the word "Tactical." There really isn't any standard that makes something tactical, but its a buzz word. You paint a gun black, call it tactical, and add $100 to the price...

    But on the other hand, its supposed to imply that the gun was specifically made for shooting some type of match (event) with. Match grade, meant it was of quality to shoot in a match. There there is "matched" meaning was made specifically for. I didn't really catch that folks were coining this phrase because I thought they were saying match. Matched ammo, is ammo that was loaded specifically for one gun, as opposed to match ammo which is supposed to be of quality to shoot a match with.

    None the less, the word match is solely an implication of a standard. There is no official standard by any accredited agency that declares something of match grade or not for commercially produced guns.
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  • stevecrea
    In general, "match" parts imply a higher level of finishing and workmanship, and tighter tolerances. For example, a "match" barrel implies that the differences in the measurements of the lands and grooves throughout the length of the barrel are less than would be found in a "nonmatch" barrel, and therefore the barrel would be capable of a higher level of accuracy.

    However, as dano above implies, buyer beware. After all, no independent third party is likely carefully monitoring any of this, so it would be easy for an unscrupulous seller to represent many things that cannot be confirmed.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by Polite Psycho
    What is the definition of "match" parts, such as match barrel, match hammer, and match trigger as applied to 1911's?

    Thanks.

    The term "match" is used to imply parts that potentially contribute to increased accuracy over standard parts.

    That's it.

    Things like lighter firing pins or hammers (to decrease mechanical lock time); wide, or tuned crisp triggers; or quality target-type sights might properly be termed "match" parts.

    In general, true "match" parts are held to higher tolerances than standard parts (eg match barrels, bushings, etc), and ought to provide better accuracy. Unfortunately, this sometimes comes at the cost of decreased reliablity as higher tolerances can mean increased susceptibility to dirt or fouling.

    Of course in the real world, most parts labelled "match" never get used in formal high-level competition (eg "matches").

    Also, as dano implies, there is no universally agreed upon definition of what constitutes a "match" part. So yes, any manufacturer could call ANY part "match".

    Caveat emptor.

    Lastly, there are some guns (eg Colt python, Sig p210, older High Standard, Gold cup Colt) that were effectively built as match-quality guns right out of the box. So even though they aren't labelled as such, they should still deliver good accuracy.
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  • tsr1965
    Hi PP,

    Good to see you over here once in a while. Nice for you to visit.

    The term "Match", when used in conjunction with firearms has at least two meanings or uses that I know of.

    The first being to describe the way in which the arm was built, using greater care and tighter tolerences, and hand tuned to better functionality, for its intended purpose. This not only describes a part such as the barrel, but could pertain to several parts in the arm as you suggest.

    The second use would be by the marketing people. One of the words they use in their descriptive analogy of the arm. The description is usually designed as well or better than the arm, to extract several more Ben Franklin's from your wallet.

    Some like the folks from Wilson, Clark, Volquartsen, and others are good at using the term both ways...their equipment is always a cut above, but so is the price.

    Hope this stimulates your mind.

    Best
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  • perry shooter
    Hello I agree with most every post however one other thing that needs to be said when it comes to MATCH parts as they pertain to the 1911. The Match parts will most times be made larger in some critical dimensions .Lets take the barrel. The hood will be both longer and wider this will allow the pistol smith to fit the hood. for almost no forward to backward movement and no side to side movement to the rear of the barrel the top and bottom lugs will be oversize so the Pistol smith can fit these to the locking lugs in the slide on the top ones and fit the lower lugs to the slide stop Pin so there is no up and down movement to the rear of the barrel yet still have the firing pin hit center of the primer. "If you just put a longer link in the pistol and Jam the back of the barrel higher higher it will cause the firing pin on some guns to be severely off center and cause misfires. [:(][:(]. the Match grade slide is made so it will be tighter in the rail area so the pistol smith will have to lapthe slide to frame before it can even go on the frame. The barrel bushing will be undersized so again it will have to be bored & lapped to allow the barrel to fit inside and this same bushing will be oversized on the outside to necessitate fitting wit no slop to the front of the slide. A match trigger will be over size so that it will not even fit in the trigger groove of the frame and it will have to be fitted along with the over travel screw that needs to be fitted to function with the match Hammer and sear. The hammer will have shorter Full cock hammer hooks .018 and the hammer and sear nose should be prepped for proper SAFEtrigger pull. The match grade hammer and sear pins will be slightly over sized so the trigger pull will be the same each and every time. Match sights were taller and the rear sight was made so it was adjustable and movement was repeatable. The Military marksmanship teams were the first ones to contract with drawings of these dimensional differences.For the most part if a part is MATCH GRADE it is not drop in but will have to be fitted. IMHO just like a race car engine all match parts and Match pistols are not created equal. It all depends on who made the part and Who fitted said part. just like a race car testing the gun after it is built is the onkly way to determine if you have a match Pistol there is a GREAT book by Bill Jenkins on US MILITARY MATCH & MARKSMANSHIP AUTOMATICS . I build my own but Collect some of those from the old masters John Giles ,DINAN, Shocky etc if you want to see pictures email my profile. "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"
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