1911 Barrel Recrown - needed?

[dust_101]

Ok folks, just got my last setup for this 1911, BUT the barrel (.416 Stainless) is sticking out a bit from the bushing.

I've mic'd it a few times and it is avg. around 0.0850" out past the bushing. The crown is a standard domed crown, and I think that distance is small enough that I can just use a new cutter and trim it down...

I think.

My question is more of this, is it worth it!? It kinda bugs me, just need to have it look right, but is the risk of messing up the crown worth it?

 

[BBBBill]

Do you have a lathe?

 

[dust_101]

I personally do not, but for any of the work I do on my guns that need the correct tooling, I just head across town to my smith's shop and he will either do the work with me, or let me use his setup.

I'm just not sure if 0.0850" past the bushing is worth turning down, or if I'm better off just leaving well enough alone and get used to the bit of the barrel sticking out a touch...

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Uh... Every 1911 I've handled, the barrels stick out just past the bushing. I don't have one in my hand, but your measurement sounds about normal. The only way to really know would be to check the patent spec's. Still, I wouldn't worry about less than one tenth of an inch. Instead of recrowning, if you really don't like how the barrel sticking out a little looks, you'd probably be better off fitting a match grade bushing that has a little more forward thickness than a standard bushing.

-Steve

 

[ocharry]

well you could fit one of the thick flange angle bored EGW bushings,,,,and only have a few thousands(maybe .010-.015) sticking out ,,, and you will get the benefit of a nice tight bushing and possibly better accuracy

my .02

ocharry

 

[dust_101]

That was one thing I neglected to mention, the current bushing is a Colt NM, I'd rather keep it vs getting one of the EGW ones, nothing against theirs, just love the NM look with the stamped numbers.... actually now that I think of it I think I have one on all 3 of my 1911's, even the one GI has a NM bushing in the case with it for when/if it goes to the range

 

[rcmodel]

I just measured two National Match guns.

One is .045" and the other is .050".

Assuming you have already fit the locking lugs & barrel hood.
But I'd shoot it some and see where the dust settles before I cut it off just yet.

rcmodel

 

[krs]

Cutting back the crown to flush is one of the things the custom shops do usually with a beveled crown - 11 degrees is popular.

I'm not sure that it has a functional advantage if the crown is good beforehand, but I did it on one of my guns and now think it gives a finished off custom look.

Kinda' nice on some pistols, kinda' silly on others. Depends on the overall pistol.

Unless the crown is damaged there's no good functional reason to cut a muzzle flush with the bushing.

 

[Riss]

Only really necessary if you either want that look or if you have determined that your crown is bad and needs to be recut.

 

[rcmodel]

Personally, I'd leave some extra barrel sticking out.

That allows recrowning at a later date if it becomes necessary due to damage.

rcmodel

 

[krs]

That allows recrowning at a later date if it becomes necessary due to damage.

That's probably why the fancy gun builders do it - if their buyer bings up the crown on one of their guns they "have" to rebarrel the pistol to bring it back to new condition, and charge a fancy fee to do it, all the while telling the buyer that the 11 degree dish is 'tactical' because it keeps the muzzle away from damage.

They're not so dumb as us regular folks.

 

[Bob Rodgers]

That's probably why the fancy gun builders do it - if their buyer bings up the crown on one of their guns they "have" to rebarrel the pistol to bring it back to new condition, and charge a fancy fee to do it, all the while telling the buyer that the 11 degree dish is 'tactical' because it keeps the muzzle away from damage.

Darn, you've let the cat out of the bag. Yep, that's exactly why we do it. And that "fancy fee" we charge? Well that goes toward the next payment on the Lexus.

 

[NVMM]

Hey Bob Rodgers, your not one of them fancy gun builders are ya?

 

[BBBBill]

...Darn, you've let the cat out of the bag. Yep, that's exactly why we do it. And that "fancy fee" we charge? Well that goes toward the next payment on the Lexus...

U R an evil man!

 

[krs]

There ya' are, folks, straight outa' the horse's mouth!