Best 1911 Slides of the YEAR (Long, For The Money, & 9mm)

| Last Updated:
November 1, 2023

Trying to find the best 1911 slide? It won’t be an easy task if you’re not exactly sure what to look for.

You’ll want a slide that will work well with your gun so it can move back smoothly with every shot you take. Your goal is to make your 1911 function as best as possible. And you can’t do that with just ordinary stock or factory parts.

Thankfully, we’ve handpicked four of the best 1911 slides currently on the market. This will give you an idea of what you can get without having to deal with the cheap models that will likely break or jam on you in a short amount of time.

Comparison of the Best 1911 Slides

IMAGE PRODUCT
  • Best 1911 Slide for the Money
  • Front and Rear Cocked Serrations
  • Machined and Forged From Stainless Steel
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  • Best Long Slide on the Market
  • Completely Assembled and Finished
  • Crafted From 4140 Bar-Stock and Heat-Treated for Excellent Durability
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Benefits of Upgrading a 1911 Slide

The obvious reason why most 1911 owners upgrade their slides is due to the fact that factory or stock slides just won’t cut the mustard. An upgrade can mean major advantages and benefits for you and for the overall use of your gun. Here are some benefits and advantages that you might enjoy should you choose to upgrade your 1911 slide:

Ease Of Use

Let’s face it...you want a slide that is easy and smooth when you pull it back. Especially when you’re trying to load your gun or even disassemble it for the purpose of cleaning or installing other accessories. You don’t want it to jam on you each time you use it. A lot of upgraded 1911s will be smoother in movement compared to a stock slide.

Better Control

If there is one benefit that we want to enjoy aside from accuracy, it’s better control. You want a slide that won’t slip out of your hand every time you use it. While you’re in competition, controlling your 1911 is high at the top of your list of priorities. The last thing you want is to drop your weapon at a time when you need it most.

Better Accuracy

Finally, you’ll want a slide that will benefit you in terms of accuracy. While having a good set of front and rear sights is fine, an upgraded slide will always play a role in making your 1911 a little bit more accurate.  

1911 with Caspian - 1911 Slides (Source

How to Choose a New Slide For Your 1911

It’s important to look at some possible factors in choosing a 1911 slide before you purchase one. The not-so-smart thing to do is find one, pick it up off the shelf or click “buy now”, and call it good.

The last thing you want to suffer from is buyer’s remorse because you chose a cheap 1911 slide that will jam and not work properly. Why waste your money on a reckless decision? With that in mind, here are what some past buyers have considered as factors that drove them to make a decision on their 1911 slide:

Material

Knowing what type of material your slide is machined from is important. That’s because you’ll want a slide that will sustain round after round, regardless of how often you use it. Whether you use it every day or every weekend, you’ll want a slide that will still function after you have fired off so many rounds.

Serrations

Most slides will have serrations in both the front and rear. This is designed to ensure that the gun does not slip out of your hand when your hands are sweating or if you’re in adverse weather conditions outside. This is something that you’ll appreciate if you’re a competitive shooter who is worried about your gun slipping out of your hand, especially at a time when the competition is on the line. One slip up can make the difference between winning and losing.

Installation

If you want a good quality slide for your 1911, you’ll need to find one that won’t be a headache to install. Most slides will be easy to install with little to no gunsmithing skills to ensure a perfect fit. Sometimes, some filing or stoning may be needed. If the idea of installing a new slide intimidates you, you can always rely on a professional gunsmith to install it for you.

Review of the Best 1911 Slides

Below are four of the best 1911 slides currently on the market at the time of this writing. Each has its own unique features, but its purpose is just the same. You should carefully look through each one and take note of what sticks out in your mind as to why you might like it. If you're not a fan, just simply skip to the next slide. One of the four below could be yours if you like it well enough to purchase it. With that said, let's get to it:

Best Overall:
Caspian - 1911 Slides - .45 Acp

Pros

  • No Slippage at All in Wet Conditions
  • Heat-Treated for Exceptional Durability.
  • Looks Very Good in Terms of Aesthetics

Cons

  • Some Users Have Complained About Bad Novak Cuts
  • Some Filing May Be Required to Ensure it Fits Properly

Our first slide for review is currently the best overall on the market. This is brought to us by the Caspian. It is a custom-quality slide that is made to fit almost any 1911 frame. These begin as high-quality, extra strength forgings and are then heat-treated to RC 38-41 before being machined for superior stability.

They polish the slides and bead-blast the rest of the surface for a non-glare, matte finish. The forward-angled, deep-cut rear cocking serrations are designed to help guard against slippage when you’re racking. Whether your hands are sweating or outside in rainy weather, you won’t have to worry about the gun slipping out of your hand.

This is available in 4340 carbon steel and 416 stainless steel with breech faces in either .45 ACP, .40 S&W, or 9mm. If you’re looking for the commander and officers models, those are in .45 ACP only.

Choose between two pre-cut dovetail options: a Bo-Mar BMCS or Novak Lo-Mount rear cut and a slide without side cuts. Both are coupled with a Novak front cut. The recon slide is a government slide with ball cuts at the front that line up with the light rail on the Caspian Recon frame.

Bottom Line

A slide that is crafted from carbon steel or stainless steel is guaranteed to be a super strong unit for your 1911. If you’re looking for a slide that will take beating after beating, the Caspian is probably your best choice for a slide. One of the other features that stands out best is the serrations that prevent the gun from slipping.

If you’re outdoors target practicing or competing, you’ll want to keep hold of your 1911 when it’s raining outside. You can’t predict the weather, but you can be prepared for whenever it might do its worse. With that in mind, the Caspian will be your best competition buddy if you so choose.

Best for the Money:
Ed Brown - 1911 Slide 45acp

Pros

  • Fits a Trijicon Sight Perfectly
  • Still Solid after 1000 Rounds Fired
  • An Excellent Slide if You Don’t Want a Slide That Needs Milling

Cons

  • Some Sanding or Filing May Be Required to Ensure a Perfect Fit, Possibly Due to a Potential Manufacturing Error

Every gun owner and enthusiast enjoys firing off a 1911 for their desired purpose. It doesn’t matter if you have enough money to play around with or if you’re on a budget, you deserve an excellent slide that will function quite well.

If you’re on a budget, not to worry. There’s a slide that you can upgrade to without ever having to break the bank. The Ed Brown brand is one of the most reliable among 1911 owners. And there’s a reason why that is.

This is a government model that comes with the unique feature of being pre-cut for the Trijicon RMR Mounts with Integrated Sights. By including this cut, the slide will allow for a simple installation of the sight assembly & RMR optic.

Other mounting options require an unsightly mount placed in the rear sight cut or sitting high on the slide. The Ed Brown 1911 RMR Slide saves time because you won’t need to machine the slide so you can install a unique Trijicon mount.

What you’ll get will be a low profile, rugged optic & iron sight set up. This also features front and rear cocking serrations. This slide is machined from forged stainless steel and is ready to be fit at any given time.

Bottom Line

Is having a slide still working after firing so many rounds high on top of your wish list? If so, then check it off. Because the Ed Brown 1911 Government Slide is just that. If you have a Trijicon sight, this is the perfect gun to mount it with.

Not bad for a slide that you can get at an affordable price. If you’re on a budget and want a slide so good you feel like you’re getting away with stealing, get the Ed Brown Government Slide.

Best Long Slide:
Fusion Firearms - 1911 6" Slide

Pros

  • Very High Quality for the Price
  • Very Accurate With Very Little Recoil
  • Still Works With No Issues After Firing 100+ Rounds

Cons

  • No Cons Available

If you’re looking for a long slide for your 1911, then you’ll want the Fusion Firearms six-inch slide. This product is completely assembled with a recoil system and is tested for maximum durability.

Thick combat rear serrations, red fiber-optic front sight, and an LPA TRT fully adjustable rear sight are prominent features. These are precision CNC machined from solid 4140 Bar-Stock and heat-treated for superior durability from the company’s Diamond Series. The top ends come fully finished and assembled. Each slide is test fired on a slave frame to ensure that it will properly function.

The entire assembly includes everything you need to make sure your slide is installed properly and with the greatest of ease.

Bottom Line

Fusion Firearms is a brand that you probably don't hear about. But not to worry, they do create high-quality parts for your 1911. If you place a high standard on accuracy and durability, there's a good chance that you'll be happy with something like the Fusion Firearms slide.

At six inches in length, this is for the owner who wants to upgrade their long slide. If you're on a budget, this is probably one of the best you can afford.

Best 9mm Slide:
Fusion Firearms - 1911 5" Slide

1911 slide

Pros

  • Very Durable
  • Still Functional After 200+ Rounds
  • The Best 9mm Slide on the Market for 1911s

Cons

  • None Available

For the last 1911 slide, we stick with the Fusion brand. This time, it is the five-inch slide. This is also the best slide if you're using a 9mm 1911. This is completely machined for .45 ACP or 9mm/38 Super caliber barrels. This slide is precision CNC machined from 4140 bar-stock and is heat-treated for maximum durability. This features thick combat front and rear serrations and standard dovetail.

These slides are finished with an "in the white" style finish and are oil dipped. These have firing pin holes and the top ends are reamed to take the 9mm and Super 38 firing pin. This slide has the .45 ACP breech face so it will work with .45 cartridges without any issue.

Bottom Line

As stated in the previous review, Fusion is a brand that is worth getting to know and hear about even if you haven’t bought one of their accessories yet. If you’re looking for a good slide that works with 9mm or .45 rounds, this is the type of slide you’ll need.

Since it’s heat-treated, you’ll know for sure that this will take a serious beating no matter how much you use it. Don’t be surprised if it can still function very well after you fire off hundreds of rounds.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best 1911 slide, be sure you know exactly what you’re looking for. Remember that your decision will come down to your personal needs and preferences. Also, you’ll need to find a slide that will fit the frame of your 1911 perfectly. So, be sure to choose wisely as you shop around.

Michael Lutes

Michael Lutes is the managing editor and owner at Gun Mann. He is a veteran, gun enthusiast, 3 gun competitor, and 2a advocate. Mike has a passion for innovation and education across the industry to create great content, training, and insights from the best and brightest.

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