Bull Barrel w/o FLGR

[Bergeron]

I was reading my issue of Guns and Ammo's The Complete Book of the 1911 and was reading their review of the Wilson Combat Professional.

Of particular interest to me was that this pistol had a bull barrel and no FLGR. The setup that they used wasn't gone into in any real detail, but it appeared to be a reverse recoil spring plug mated to a short, GI-style guide rod.

Neato burrito, thought I. It didn't go into any detail about how this setup affects field-stripping, but I am curious. I've always considered the bushing/non-FLGR setup superior for field/duty use and the bull/FLGR setup better for competion or recreational use.

What do ya'll think?

 

[stans]

I'm thinking it would be:
A: A pain in the butt to reassemble.
B: Disassembly is more likely to result in the guide rod being launched to destinations unknown.
C: One more hole through which dirt and debris can enter the gun.

 

[mainmech48]

A couple of observations from several years of using a Springfield Champion with a similar set-up.

Take down and reassembly require some adjustment of technique, but aren't anything to piss and moan about. It's not the same as for a standard GM, but it's not rocket science and the manual has pictures.

The extra hole doesn't account for beans in the way of crud accumulation. YMMV if you only field strip and clean/inspect your CCW every six months or so or carry it in an open holster during sandstorms.

Personally, I like the 4" barrel on a full-sized frame for a carry piece, and prefer the slightly muzzle heavy feel that the 'coned' barrel gives. This was also my first 1911 with an integrally ramped bbl. While I can't say whether it makes any positive difference functionally, it sure doesn't seem to have any negative affect. It's run 100% with everything but Wolf ball with the lacquered cases.

Charlie Petty did a piece in "Guns" a while back where he tested a new .45 which came with a FLGR for both accuracy and function 'with' and 'without' the item.

Accuracy from a Ransom rest showed a statisically insignificant improvement 'without'. Functionally, there was no change at all either hand-held or in the machine.

Personally, I prefer the simple take-down without a FLGR. Even with Loc-Tite, I've had the two-piece rods loosen in extended firing, and the one-piece ones are more of a PITA to deal with than any non-guided bushingless system that I've run across yet. I also appreciate the fact that I can rack the slide one-handed should the need arise that the short GR allows.

 

[Bergeron]

Yeah, gets to be an additional hole in the front of the slide that would not be there with any other setup, but I really don't know if that would matter or not.

I am curious about proper dissassembly/reassembly. I frequently hear people state that a bull barrel is disadventagous in that you cannot "pinch check" the pistol or rack the slide by pressing against the guide rod cap. It would seem that by this method you would have a bull barrel gun that could be operated that way.

 

[MoNsTeR]

1. make sure that pistol is unloaded
2. place pistol in right hand as if you were going to shoot, but with index finger of right hand placing pressure on tip of slide stop
3. rack slide gently, slide stop will pop out
4. remove complete top-end

This works for GI setups as well as 2pc FLGR's. Reassembly can be a challenge though, particularly if you run a strong spring...

 

[mainmech48]

On my Champion 'Loaded' there is no problem doing a press check in the traditional manner, hence the lack of forward serrations on the slide. With any FLGR, this isn't possible. One of the reasons that most of the GM varients currently in vogue have the serrations, IMO.

The slide can be partially racked by pressing against a hard surface. The thing that keeps it from full retraction is that the 4" bbl and shorter slide don't allow for enough travel before the frame contacts the surface. On my full-sized GMs, it isn't an issue: there's enough room for full retraction. Full rack is possible with the 4" setup, but requires more focused attention and lots of the fine motor skills that are likely to disappear under extreme duress. One can get around this by using a high-profile fixed rear sight without the Novak slope, but it's getting hard to find any 1911-style pistol aimed at the CCW market that doesn't come with some kind of Novak-style set-up as standard equipment.

Personally, I'll accept the trade-off because I feel that the practical advantages of the Novak tritium sights and 4" barrel offer for my own CCW situation outweigh this single 'shortcoming'. YMMV.