Colt Series 80 1911 Replacement Bushing

[BridgeTooFar]

I figured this would get more views in this category, but if it belongs in the gunsmithing section, mods, feel free to move it.

I'm thinking of replacing the "collet" barrel bushing on an early 80's Colt Series 80 1911 with a solid bushing. I understand that the barrel in those guns has a flare at the end, and I want to be sure to get the right one.

I found this one http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=184349 through Midway.

I'm just wanting to be sure this would be the best (or at least an acceptable) replacement.

The pistol is stainless and I believe the matte finish would be best on it.

 

[Harvey]

That bushing you reference would be fine, but keep in mind that the fit (or tolerances) to your barrel may or may not be tight enough for optimum accuracy. If fact most bushings are provided over-sized for smithing (lathe turning) to a proper fit.

As often as not one would purchase a barrel and bushing as a matched pair for best results. But to buy a bushing as a drop-in item? ... you take your chances.

In any event, good luck.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

That bushing you reference would be fine, but keep in mind that the fit (or tolerances) to your barrel may or may not be tight enough for optimum accuracy. If fact most bushings are provided over-sized for smithing (lathe turning) to a proper fit.

As often as not one would purchase a barrel and bushing as a matched pair for best results. But to buy a bushing as a drop-in item? ... you take your chances.

In any event, good luck.

Thanks for the advice.

Because I'm a novice at 1911's in general, I have a follow up question - when you say the bushing is "over-sized" does that mean that the outside diameter or the inside diameter is to be turned? As in, is it over-sized with reference to the bushing to slide fit or the bushing to barrel fit?

Also, if my barrel is not flared, then I think maybe something's wrong with my collet bushing as it gets VERY tight as you move the bushing from the chamber area to the end of the barrel (mostly at the very end of the barrel). There is a much greater tolerance (or much more space between the bushing and the barrel) when the bushing is between 1/4" behind the muzzle and further back. And, the bushing is extremely tightly fitted when gun is together and the slide is forward.

Like I said, I'm very much a 1911 novice, but I definitely think the barrel is flared at the end or there is a problem with the collet bushing (although, I defer to the experts on this one).

Thank you again for the reply.

 

[Harvey]

Mr. Dooley, in the best case scenario, a raw bushing will have its inside diameter turned to precisely match the barrel. But if you say your collet bushing is quite tight in full battery, you may want to leave an ideal situation alone. Tight is a good thing.**

I suspect that over time and a few hundred more rounds your pistol will be about as tuned and accurate as anyone could desire.

I'd give it some more range time before doing anything that may or may not be necessary.

Again, good luck.

PS: read about your collet bushing and bell-ended barrel here:...http://www.m1911.org/prodte26.htm

** at least that's what she said.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Accurizor collet bushing is supposed to be tight. One cause of the problems reported is people routinely yanking them off the flared muzzle. Which is why Barsto quit offering their somewhat similar device. So don't do it, you don't have to pull the bushing off the barrel to clean the gun.
It is supposed to be VERY tight with the gun in battery. You should retract the slide slightly to take the gun down instead of horsing the expanded bushing around with a wrench.

If you use the gun for self defense and want a solid bushing for confidence that you have one less thing to break, ok. If you take some measurements and contact EGW they will furnish a bushing that will fit closer than GI but take little or no work to install.

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_26&products_id=207

If this is a "range gun" quit worrying about it and go shooting. Broken collet bushings get a lot of hype but are really pretty scarce on a percentage basis.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

Thanks again, guys. I may just leave it and see how it does. It was my dad's gun, and I just don't want to do anything to it that might mess it up (in terms of breaking the collet busing and having it bounce around inside the slide, etc.), which is why I thought the solid bushing might be a better idea.

 

[9mmepiphany]

your barrel does flare at the end, that is part of the Series 70 system: the collet bushing and the matching flared barrel for a tighter lockup when the slide is in battery. that's why you should retract the slide a bit when turning the bushing off for field stripping. what cause much of the breakage of the "fingers" of the bushing was non-true machining of the face of the slide and the resultant uneven stress on the fingers and their interaction with the barrel.

if you want to change to a solid bushing, i would highly recommend that you get a complete barrel/bushing set. optimally, i'd recommend a gunsmith fitted set from Bar-Sto...but your shooting ability/use might not justify that level of quality

 

[Oro]

It is supposed to be VERY tight with the gun in battery. You should retract the slide slightly to take the gun down instead of horsing the expanded bushing around with a wrench.

+1 to that. This is actually how Colt instructs you to do it, most people ignore the instructions.

One thing to note is that the "flare" on the muzzle of a MkIV '70 or 80 barrel is NOT wider than a standard barrel. The OD of the barrel at the muzzle is the same as all 1911 style Colt barrels - 0.579". The diameter is turned down a little bit back from the muzzle to create the slight flare, but the OD is not oversized compared to a normal barrel. The barrel OD/slide ID of a gun like this is the same as (or should be) any Colt and any OTS drop-in bushing should work.

I would encourage you to leave it as-is. The accurizer bushing is reliable, and does a great job doing what it's supposed to do - be more accurate. Conventional bushings break, too, and it's not shown that collet bushings break any more than standard bushings. It's a whole lot of "I heard that..." and very few facts. I've acquired a few '70/80 guns that have had the collet bushing removed. I always put one back in to improve performance.

 

[Clarence]

Personally, I hate collet bushings. You can order one that is made to the dimensions of your barrel and slide from EGW. It will still probably require some light finishing with emery cloth but it is not a big chore.

 

[harmonic]

I asked the same question.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=402985