New Springfield 1911-A1 Mil-Spec Question

[Norseman]

I have a new Springfield Mil-Spec 1911-A1 .45 (Parkerized) and I have 450 rounds of trouble free operation.  Excellent pistol!  But, I noticed that there is a slight gap between the frame and slide fit looking at the slab-side-at the FORWARD most point of the frame's dust cover area.  You can see the recoil spring slightly if you shine a light on the opposite side at the front dust cover area. It's not a large gap at all.  Very slight.  Is this within specs? Should I sweat the load?  Any expert opinions on this?   

[williamlayton]

I don't know that anybody knows if this WILL cause a problem- It is not fit as it should be, that is for sure.
The best choice is to find a good Smith and let him look at it.
Can it be corrected? Absolutely and that will be the most cost effective way to go.
You already have the gun---anything that he does to it will help accuracy and reliability and you have a good, accurate, reliable gun that you like.
Blessings

[Savage]

Certainly not an expert opinion, but I would say it likely will cause no problems. The cost to "Fix" your mil spec would likely be cost prohibitive. As it functions ok, if there is no unusual wear or damage visible after 450 rds then shoot the thing and don't worry about it.
Springfield has a reputation for good customer service should it become a problem at a later date. (Which it won't)
Savage

[Dee]

Norseman, I don't have any idea how many 1911s I have repaired, customized, or built from scratch (custom parts) over the last 35 years. What you see is common on some mil-spec pistols, and is nothing really out of the ordinary.
I also don't know how many so called mil-spec 1911 pistols have been built over the years by various companies. They all have a little different take on what is mil-spec. Springfield is one of the better ones.
Just enjoy the pistol.

[Norseman]

  Thanks guys.  I'm not really sweating out a small gap in the area mentioned above per se.  I would never had noticed it before untill one day I held it up to the light.  I realize the Springfield Armory MIL-SPEC is not a target pistol with that kind of tolerances and such.  I just never noticed it before.  I also have the Springfield Armory Loaded Target Model which has zero slide/frame slop and is a tack driver.  But I wouldn't want one grain of sand getting into it to lock it up, it's that tight, but works great. I wanted the Mil-Spec (three-dot sight) Parkerized for a woods gun while hunting and occaisonal CCW (Using the Clip-Draw IWB accessory-which works fantastic by the way).  The MIL-SPEC gun is very accurate anyway, no FTF or FTE. If it gets some sand or dirt on it the tolerances won't lock it up.   
  But, just for the fun of it, if you guys could put a flash light up to the same area on the opposite side of the slide and see if you all see a slight gap at the same spot that I am talking about in my original post above. . .it would be interesting to see how common this is.  I'll be standing by for replies. 

[Savage]

Norseman,
Actually did the light thing earlier. No gaps on the half dozen or so I checked.
Savage

[Dee]

Norseman, not to worry. I could take that slide, and that receiver, and make a match grade pistol out of it, with no more mods than any other paring of parts on a mil-spec slide and receiver.

[Norseman]

I called Springfield and asked them about it.  They said it was in spec.  Just for the heck of it I went to the gun show just to check out other 1911's for the same thing.  Only the high end Springfields (like my Springfield Target model) and other brands of their high end didn't show the slight gap.  Standards Colts did, the new SIG .45 1911 did, and also some others.  Even Glocks showed the same. I guess that it is nothing to sweat out.  This is to be my outdoor camping, hunting and CCW gun.  No sense in having a gun so tight a little dirt will jam it up.  It's a two incher at 25 yards (sand bagged) so I am just going to keep it as is.  It is in spec, for a working pistol.