1911 users who've tried a few Match barrels - what's the better/best of them?

Nothing to see here!

I prefer Kart,but have had good experiences with Clark,Les Baer.

I get good accuracy from Briley barrels.

The key is fitment

Doesn't les baer still use kart barrels?? You need a very good smithy or a good barrel can be no better than stock.

Schuemann, Bar-Sto, KKM, Briley, Kart are all top barrel manufacturers.

I wonder who makes Brown and Wilson barrels? Are they made "in house"?

Any of the ones mentioned so far.

Just make sure you get it fitted and installed by someone that has their act together for maximum benefit.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Kart

I like Bar-Sto barrels and had an older Colt Match barrel that was amazingly accurate when properly fitted to the slide.

Just make sure you get it fitted and installed by someone that has their act together for maximum benefit.

Click to expand...

That trumps brand. A few years back Gun Digest did a test and fired a big variety of barrels from a barrel fixture, so fitment out of the equation. They all grouped within a few .01" of each other.

That said, I have a preference for Bar-Sto; my best shooting guns have them (one from Novak, the other another lesser name but good gunsmith). I like Scheumann a lot, too.

Wilson and brown in house !! NO. Buy'um fit'um like others do.

777, I've had good results with Bar-sto, KART, Schuemann, Baer. I suspect Brown is very good too. As has been stated, it's the fit.

BTW, I have an old Colt commercial Government model with the regular Colt non match barrel. It was welded up and refitted by Clark Custom back in the '60s. Still capable of 10 shots in approx. 2" at 50 yards from a machine rest. It's the fit...

Majority of new 1911 stock from box will shoot better than most owners can.

Wilson and brown in house !! NO.

Click to expand...

You are incorrect in your statement..
WC utilities the Nowlin style ramps, but make their own.

I gave my 'smith free reign on what barrel to put in my SA Mil-Spec and he used Kart. I believe it's true that the fitting is the key.

If you plan to fit it yourself, I'd recommend the Brown drop-in. If you want a Match barrel to perform to potential, I'd recommend a KKM and a smith who knows how to fit it.

Though true the barrels tested were all close from the fixture, not every barrel including "gunsmith fit" are manufactured with enough material in the areas needing precise fitting. Assuming you won't be building a shooting fixture but rather changing barrels, having a enough material to "fit" is critical for accuracy and longevity.

FMJ and lead

I recall a preference on barrels that were intended to shoot lead SWC or FMJ. Anyone know what works better?

Kart NM. Fitment here is key.

I can only speak from experience that I have had. In handguns I have owned KKM, Kart and Bar-Sto. I prefer Bar-Sto.

Absolutely agree with earlier posts of barrel fit being most important. I'm sure match grade barrels from the brands mentioned above are outstanding, but a match barrel that isn't fit properly to the bushing, slide, and frame is nothing more than an exercise in spending money. Frankly most pistols from quality 1911 manufacturers have perfectly good barrels. Most of us can't shoot as well as these pistols are capable of. Maybe a Grand Master level shooter can tell the difference in performance with a match barrel, but I'll bet most of us can't. I shoot STI pistols in competition and they are hand fitted so they are tight, smooth, and accurate. For me, adding a match grade barrel is pretty far down on the list of things I can do to improve my shooting.