1911 Match barrel/bushing/link

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AgentAdam

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I want to tune up my Auto-Ord WWII 1911 with a match grade barrel,bushing,and link. I will probably go with a Barsto or KKM barrel and a Colt NationalMatch bushing or should i go with a matching set from Fussion or similar?

Also im a little confused on tuning a barrel link and what over/under size i should go with.
 
do yourself a favor and buy the barrel from Ed Brown Products. as good a barrel as you can buy anywhere and it comes with bushing, link and pin. if EB can build the finest custom 1911 available, he has what you need.
 
You get more accuracy from the fitting of a barrel than from the barrel itself. Buy an oversize unit, also called 'gunsmith fit,' and have it professionally fit - no drop in, EB or other, will provide the same accuracy.
/Bryan
 
if you want accuracy, don't get a "drop-in barrel.

you should just send your gun to BarSto and have them fit the barrel with it's matching bushing and link. i'm pretty sure Barsto only sells their barrels with bushings
 
let's see here. do i want to spend $600 on a barrel for a $600 gun or do i want to listen to someone who fits his own barrels and has bought and used "drop-in" barrels. oh yeah, send your gun to bar-sto and add $80-$100 shipping to the equation. i'm out.--robby
 
Thanks for the ideas but im pretty stuck on Barsto or KKM. I didn't see links or bushings at ether of there websites so im assuming they will only fit them with what i send. I wouldn't mind paying upwards of 50$ to ship it to them and $50 for fitting but add another 50$ shipping it back would seem a bit excessive for a GI spec 1911.

I was leaning towards the Semi-Drop in so the tolerances will be loose enough for reliability but i will send it in if i have to. I was hopping to fit the barrel,bushing,and link myself. Its not excactly rocket science and i have done similar things to Glocks and Berettas.

I guess no one is going to go into detail of the over sized areas of a non drop in Target Match barrel or how to get a proper bushing and link fit to the barrel. I figured a NM colt bushing and a .004 shorter wide link would at least be better than GI spec. I'm not trying to make a 1000-2000$ match level gun or eek ever bit of accuracy out of the SS barrel. One of the reasons for a Ss barrel is for corrosion resistance.

So could anyone atleast tell me the pros and cons of a Para/Clark, Wilson/Nowlin, Barto, or no ramp at all?
 
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Watch out with the link. If you get it to snug you can screw up a good barrel or even you're slide. It could cause the lugs on the barrel, or worse, the slide lugs to round off. Either way you will have to replace the new barrel or scrap a perfectly good slide. Try getting a new oversized bushing and fit it to the barrel. That will get you some more accuracy and you can keep the same barrel. Try EGW or C&S for an oversized bushing
 
You're right - no one is going to write the book on how to fit an oversize barrel to a 1911 for you - wouldn't work anyway. A lot of the fit is achieved because of the experience garnered through a number of fittings - since all guns are not created equal - or even to a rough approximation. If you want to get a feel for all the details, get Kuhnhausens Vol I.

Measure your barrel at the muzzle, measure the slide 3 or 4 times and take the average. Then call EGW and ask for an angle bored bushing to those dimensions. If the old bushing was at all loose, that will give give an appreciable increase in accuracy. Anything further either requires welding up the hood and lugs and starting over or getting a new barrel.
/B

ETA: http://www.egw-guns.com/FAQBushings.html
 
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here we go again. $250 for the barrel + $150 to fit barrel + $150 to fit the bushing + shipping. you need to stop even thinking about the link as the #3 is the industry standard. one more time. buy the Ed Brown barrel that comes with the link installed and the correct bushing. you remind me of me, 15 years ago. you know enough to get yourself into trouble but not enough to get yourself out. all this is very expensive advice. i have ruined enough 1911 parts to buy a les baer presentation model.
 
Not to be hard headed but i am taking this all into consideration. I just cant get myself to buy an accuracy "kit".Its not like I'm going to mess up a Colt Gold Cup or something.I only have 480$ in the gun and bought it to work on and be a range beater. If i went semi drop in it would only be
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barrel $175(kkm)
bushing $15
link $5
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total 190$


If i do buy an aftermarket barrel from Barsto,KKM,StormLake,Jarvis,ect i will need a link and bushing anyways.

What are the dimensions on the #3 link? My GI link is defiantly over sized and the slide to frame fit isn't real tight.
 
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how do YOU measure a link? the #3 is .278" which is what will come from any barrel maker affixed to his semi-drop-in barrel. they come with the link attached so that YOU don't mess with it.
 
One must be careful and think. If you take a $500 gun and put $1000 into it, you still have a $500 gun.
 
Do you mind if I ask what the problem is that you're intending to solve by fitting a new barrel assembly?
 
finally, rbernie IS the voice of wisdom. being cool, just isn't always necessary. but, you can email me and i will help you all i can. let's say you weigh 150 lbs. i've ruined at least that much in 1911 parts. i just don't want you to learn the hard way.--robby
 
Adam,

Lots of good advice here. If you must have a target grade barrel, you may need to get off the Barsto/KKM thing and buy a Kart E-Z Fit. Best accuracy for the money. You can shoot the bullseye out at 50 yards with a properly fit "E-Z" barrel.

No one is going to walk you through a true Gunsmith, or hard fit barrel. I don't think you'll be able to tell any difference between a Barsto, KKM, Ed Brown, Kart, etc. if they are fitted properly.

You already have a drop in barrel, don't buy another one.
 
looks,corrosion resistance,tighter chamber, no bulges and tooling chatter marks like in my AutoOrd barrel,extended & threaded for "accessories",higher velocity,better fit & finish, ect,ect,ect.
A match grade barrel might not yield vast improvement alone but combined with a decent trigger job,larger target sights,and fitted EGW bushing and #3 link will help.

Would there be a less chance of galling if i used a carbon steel bushing on a stainless barrel?
 
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I hate to break it to you Adam, but in this forum there is either no one willing to help you with your 1911 problem or no one capable of helping you with your 1911 problem. I fall into the second group. I have asked for help several times and the end result is always "take it to a gun smith". My problem is I havent found a gunsmith that can do any better job than myself. Buy yourself a couple of 1911 books (gunsmithing and mechanics), and just go slow. fit-test-fit-test and leave the power tools alone. Good luck with your project.
 
I second the nomination for the Kart E-Z fit. It took me 6 hours; slower than most, but I took my time. That was 3.5 years and 12,000 rds. ago. The gun, a Springfield Loaded, runs perfectly and is pretty accurate. Yesterday, I kiddingly told my buddy ChuckB that the gun, after much fussing, is just about as accurate as when it left the factory.
BTW, I like Ed Brown guns and his parts are great, but the last time I ordered a barrel from him the crown was damaged. Of course he replaced it immediately, but I was surprised it had left the factory without being properly inspected.
 
"but in this forum there is either no one willing to help you with your 1911 problem or no one capable of helping you with your 1911 problem."

So sorry Charlie, but there is simply NO WAY to teach someone to fit a barrel within an internet thread.
Many top smiths are still learning. After years of 'practicing'.

:what:
 
I appreciate all of the help i can get and your sincere suggestions. My link measures .283 so a #3 should help and EGW can make a bushing to my slides I.D and my barrels O.D. The angle bored bushing sound like a good idea. Assuming they do there math correctly what type of clearance is optimal? As tight as you can get in bushing to slide fit and about .003 for the barrel?
 
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