1911 Barrel Bushing For Colt Gov. 80 Series

[O.T. Powell]

Ok so I have read that your barrel should be tight in your Bushing at both ends of your slide. My current Bushing is tight when the Bushing is at the muzzle, however, when I lock the slide back, I noticed a lil movement of the barrel in the Bushing. So I ordered a prefit match Bushing from midway USA without taking any measurements or anything. When I got the Bushing, the OD and ID of the prefit Bushing was too small for my barrel and slide. My thoughts now are to return the Bushing and order a custom Bushing from EGW exact to my measurements. I have read that your Bushing to barrel tolerance should be from 1 thou to 3 thou. Ok, so I want to order a EGW SS Angled Bore Match Bushing with carry bevel. I took my measurements and noticed that my barrel is tapered. At the end near the chamber, my OD is .573 . At the muzzle end, my OD is .582. My barrel Bushing has a bevel on the inside closest to the muzzle and the ID of the Bushing is .583 .. The other side of the Bushing ID measures .611. So when my slide is forward, there is a clearance of 1 thou when my slide is in default position. When I pull my slide back, that's when I notice a lil play of the barrel in the Bushing . .611-.573 that is .038 " of slop when my slide is pulled back.

My questions are:
Are everyones elses barrels tapered like mine? Why is mine tapered?

How much clearance should there be when the slide is pulled back?

When other guys talk about their barrel to Bushing fit is 1 thou, are they talking about through the whole length of the barrel or just at the muzzle end ?

Do they make bushings for tapered barrels that will he tight the whole length? Is that what the angled bore thing is? Should I take my barrel to a gunsmith and have it evened out so that its not tapered, then order the appropriate Bushing.

Lots of questions I am a newbie and a young guy to is trying to learn.

 

[rcmodel]

Ok so I have read that your barrel should be tight in your Bushing at both ends of your slide.

That is completely wrong.
It is true the barrel should be tight at both ends when the gun is in battery & locked shut.

But the bushing does it at the front, and the lugs on the barrel riding over the slide stop pin does it at the rear. Along with a few other fitting tricks that have nothing to do with the barrel bushing.

The barrel should be completely loose and rattle in the bushing when the barrel is unlocked from the slide, and the slide is open even part way.

The only time it should be tight is when the slide is forward and the barrel is locked in battery with the slide.

Match grade and other 1911 barrels have an enlarged section at the muzzle so it can fit the bushing tight when in battery, but immediately become very loose when the gun unlocks for more reliable cycling.
All the bushing needs to do while the slide is open is to keep the barrel from falling out on the ground!

If your present bushing / barrel has only .001" clearance when in battery, you ain't gonna get much better then that without "too tightitis" causing gun malfunctions.
And you will not get any better accuracy with a made to order EGW bushing, because they have to allow some wiggle room too for the gun to function.

Were I you, I'd keep the well fitted stock bushing you have, and spend the money you save on more practice ammo.

Unlike a new bushing, more ammo will actually improve your shooting if you use the ammo wisely for deliberate practice sessions.

rc

 

[BBBBill]

rcmodel steered you right, 100%. Don't change anything on the gun until you know that it's wrong/broke.

 

[O.T. Powell]

Thanks man! Good info. Just what I wanted to hear. I actually a new Reloader and have made plenty of ammo. My gun does shoot nice and accurate. I bought it used. They said it was a sherrifs gun. It does have Bo mar adjustable sights and a custom trigger. As far as any other mods I just don't know. It could already have a match grade barrel and Bushing for all I know. As I learn more about these guns I notice more and more mods on my gun like the lowered and flared ejection port. He proally took it to a gunsmith and told em to accurize it. Pretty much everything is the same as when I bought it accept for the grips. Bought I for 689 used. Thanx again guys! Anyone know how I could find outlet info about the gun? Like when it was made? Is there any way to estimate how many rounds have been thru the barrel?