1911 Shoots low

[Gun Geezer]

Some months back I had to replace the barrel in my Series 80 Colt. I bought a new "drop in" barrel and bushing from Brownells.

This pistol now shoots 5 inches low at 15 yards! That is a real problem since the pistol has fixed sights.

What to do? New bushing?

 

[RyanM]

You can often buy fixed sights (both front and back) of different heights. Higher front sight and/or lower rear sight will lower the point of aim, and vice-versa.

 

[deadin]

The bushing and the link can affect barrel alignment. I think I would start there before I started changing sights.

Dean

 

[Azrael256]

Don't change the link. #3 (.278) is standard for a reason.

Call up Evolution Gun Works and talk to them about a bushing. If you can do a little measuring, they'll make one just for you. I'd start there.

btw, next time, don't buy anything that claims to be drop-in, especially a barrel.

 

[Art Eatman]

Folks have been known to take a file to the front sight to cure that.

Carefully.

, Art

 

[4v50 Gary]

Disassemble.

Place the emery paper on a pane of glass. Measure the height. Take the slide and keeping the rear sight flat against the glass and the front sight on the emery paper, push the slide back and forth. Reassemble. Test fire. If too low, repeat.

This technique ensures that the blade remains perfectly flat.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Hard to file a 3-dot sight

I guess i should have mentioned that the sights really cannot be filed.

I think Azrael256 has a good suggestion. Anybody know the number for Evolution Gun Works?

 

[Azrael256]

Have a look here: http://www.egw-guns.com/

 

[RogersPrecision]

5" @ 15yds on a 5" barreled 1911 would require .060" to be removed from the front sight. Factory front sights are .175" tall x .125" wide. The reworked (or replaced) front sight would be wider than it is tall.
No mere bushing replacement is going to cure this!
You need to have the barrel and its fit evaluated by an RKI (reasonably knowledgable individual).