1911 GRIPWRENCH. New tight bushing wrench

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1911a19mm

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Just wanted to ask, how many 1911 owners are running tight barrel bushings? Mine was fitted to be as tight as possible and still function properly. It shoots great, better than me! Taking it apart requires tapping out of the bushing with the barrel after stripped. I saw this wrench http://youtu.be/pkT45huDRuo
and want to ask thr what they think. Looks like it solves my problem. I want one! Thanks for having me and I hope I can contribute to helping their owners on this forum.
 
That seems God awfully tight. Even my Wilson is not that tight, and it's tight. Wow
 
Someone said in another thread, if you have a match fitted barrel/bushing you should not be rotating the bushing with the gun in battery, you should take it out of battery to rotate the bushing.
 
It doesn't really need to be so tight that it must be tapped out - unless we're talking about a bullseye gun. On a carry gun I would loosen the bushing's fit to the slide ever so slightly - just enough that you can remove it from the slide with only your fingers.
 
Gripwrench

I live in Canada and we can't carry pistols here- wish it wasn't so! I am definitely looking for a bullseye gun! Accuracy for me outweighs reliability, it is only used at the range. I am not worried about malfunctions, I've never had any, but my life is not depending on it. If I carried mine, I would prefer a loose bushing for sure, but I don't so make it TIGHT! A tight fitting bushing is the most affordable improvement anyone can make to their 1911 I think. :what:
 
Based on the manufacturer's instructions, I use the supplied barrel wrench (plastic one included with gun... Nothing as fancy as in video, above). It is tight enough that the tool is very helpful. But, not so tight that I feel that I'm forcing anything. I've tried the other method of field stripping - remove slide stop first then remove slide then remove bushing with the barrel out of battery - similar to the way all of my other semi auto handguns strip. It is doable and will eliminate wear on the bushing IF IT IS ASYMMETRICAL. Personally, I'm going to do it the way the manufacturer recommended because for me:
The risk of dinging up the gun field stripping under spring tension is a concern.
I don't think my bushing/barrel fit is being compromised.
I think the barrel locking lug fit is more critical than bushing/barrel fit. Not that bushing is unimportant...
I do apply a drop of fresh oil to the barrel and push the slide back enough to get the barrel out of battery before using the wrench. That would greatly reduce the effort required. And if your recoil spring can be removed from the front you can reposition the bushing before returning the barrel into battery... My recoil spring is a good buddy with my guide rod and does not like to let go...

There are many options... My advice would be to follow the manufacturers recommendation if available first.

I hope this helps.

Edited to add: I have a short guide rod (in my 1911 that is...)
 
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1911 slide hammer

Are precision parts designed to be clashed together for regular maintenance? I cringe when I slap my slide with the barrel lug. Tap tap smack. Awe out she comes.
 
I note in the vid that the technique he's using for removing the bushing and field stripping the gun is the older way and is harder on the gun.

He also has a full length guide rod which makes field stripping more difficult.

But, as mentioned above if he took the gun out of battery and turned the bushing he'd find the rest is easier.

tipoc
 
Topic I can hear his GI guide rod rattle down to the muzzle on the video

Highlander, do you mean wrench to "turn" and then they come out with fingers? How does the wrench help get the bushing out once it's turned?
 
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I'll pass. I use the blue Dillon plastic wrench it works fine on 2 match grade barrels that are very tight. Seems kinda creepy with the guy pointing at the barrel and stuff on the Video.

YMMV

be safe
 
I guess I am old school and like my 1911 loose. I can take out my bushing with my fingers. I dont use any tools at all to take my 1911's apart. If I detail strip them I only use a punch.
 
1911a19mm I use the wrench to depress the recoil spring cap partially rotate the barrel bushing enough to remove it from the slide.
Carpet tunnel and many years of sheet metal work has done in my grip and finger strength.
 
Good grief. It's my opinion that there's no need to be anywhere near that tight. As for disassembly, it's a toss-up. Yes, the barrel and bushing are under some tension when in battery and it's going to be harder to rotate the bushing until you take some of the tension off by pulling the slide back. When you do that though, you've got a recoil spring under tension - don't put your eye out! :) Choose your method - you'll likely never wear anything out by doing it one way or the other.

(As for a full length recoil spring guide - Whether you use one is not the question, but I have never understood people that say it makes it harder to disassemble. Just take the spring out separately, be sure the barrel link is swung out of the way and take it out. It is not the least bit difficult. Just sayin'.)
 
Topic I can hear his GI guide rod rattle down to the muzzle on the video

Highlander, do you mean wrench to "turn" and then they come out with fingers? How does the wrench help get the bushing out once it's turned?
Click to expand...

Sorry my error (the retainig plug looks like the end of a FLGR). In the vid he does have a GI guide rod.

Still I wonder why he's not removing the slide as a unit and then removing the bushing, etc. Or at a minimum pushing the slide back and then turning the bushing.

I figure it's because he doesn't know he can do that. As a result he is making his job harder.

tipoc
 
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As for a full length recoil spring guide - Whether you use one is not the question, but I have never understood people that say it makes it harder to disassemble.
Click to expand...

The FLGR makes it impossible to simply push the slide out of battery and then turn the bushing. You can still remove the slide as a unit with the FLGR and then remove the bushing, barrel, etc. But the FLGR then makes reassembly a bit more difficult because you can't have the slide out of battery when turning the bushing with the spring plug in place.

tipoc
 
The FLGR makes it impossible to simply push the slide out of battery and then turn the bushing.
Click to expand...

Pop the slide lock out.... I guess Ive owned too many cone/bull barreled guns and have made that a habit that, I do it on my bushing guns too.
 
Tarosean,

You mean the slide stop? That's what I advised just above. Remove that and remove the slide as a unit.

tipoc
 
Wow it's weird to hear all the people here talking about needing a wrench or certain tools to take apart a gun. I understand it for range use but I sure would not want that kind of gun to use for self defense. My self defense guns can be taken apart with not tools other than my fingers . I carry a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec based 1911 and Glock 30 and Glock 17 .
Are you guys using these as self defense guns or range guns ?
 
I understand it for range use but I sure would not want that kind of gun to use for self defense.
Click to expand...

what possible scenario involves field stripping your gun during a self defense situation?
 
I didnt say anything about a self defense scenario. I just like my self defense guns to be very easy and tool free when it comes to disassembly.
 
I didnt say anything about a self defense scenario. I just like my self defense guns to be very easy and tool free when it comes to disassembly.
Click to expand...

Why, specifically self defense guns?
Just curious.

It wouldn't bother me at all, a lot of high end 1911's need a wrench to remove the bushing. I admittedly haven't handled many Wilson Combats or Les Baer's but I'd imagine most are to tight to get out by hand. But I think most people would be fine with them as defensive guns.
 
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