Fitting a Match Barrel to a 1911 Slide

[schmeky]

I recently purchased a new 9mm match grade stainless steel barrel for my new Colt Custom 1911 in .38 Super. I had a local gunsmith install a new barrel pin and link in the new match barrel.

When I installed the new barrel, the slide would not close and lock-up fully because the lugs in the new match barrel will not properly engage the lugs in the slide. Obviously the barrel will have to be fitted to the slide.

My question is, is this a "no-brainer" for most any gunsmith? If not, who in the Louisiana/Texas/Arkansas region would you recommend. I want it done right.

I would really appreciate some input. Thanx.

 

[BB93YJ]

Clarks's Custom Guns. In Princeton, Louisana. (Think Shreveport...). Doesn't get much better than Clark's.
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/

Although Jim Clark Sr. ( http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/jimsr.htm )
passed away a while back, his son runs Clark's now. His daughter, Kay Clark Miculek runs a gunstore in Princeton, and if that last name of her's sounds familiar, she's married to Jerry Miculek, the revolver wizard.

 

[HSMITH]

It is NOT a no-brainer. If the guy knew anything about fitting one he would have seen that the hood was oversize and the lower lugs hadn't been cut. The link he put on is the wrong size too, IF he measured for it correctly or measured for it at all. The barrel is probably short chambered as well.

Send the GUN to someone that knows what they are doing.

 

[10X]

To correctly fit a barrel to a 1911 requires a lot of skill. Send it to someone who know what they are doing, such as, Clarks.

 

[cdrt]

Ditto on Clarks. They've done two Bullseye pistols for me. A .45 Heavy Slide and a .38 Special Heavy Slide conversion. If anyone can make it work, they will.

 

[Sunray]

"...had a local gunsmith..." You should have had him fit the new barrel too. Very few barrels, especially match barrels, are drop in parts. Any good smithy can do it. Mind you, your local guy could have mentioned this to you. He may be one of those smithies who only does what he's paid for at the time.

 

[Jim Watson]

He may be a parts changer best limited to rabbit gun repair, too.
Refitting a 1911 is not rocket science... it is tougher. If you can get it to Clark's, that is a reliable resource.

 

[Magnumite]

"Refitting a 1911 is not rocket science... it is tougher."

Now there's a comparison for ya'

 

[Rex B]

I've been down this road recently.
I agree it's a gunsmith chore for a match barrel. I have found the word "match" in the name usuallu means the critical dimensions all have some extra meat, so that it can be precisely fitted. For a 1911, that means you need to buy a few specialized tools from Brownells, which can quickly exceed what a gunsmith will charge. In your case, the next tool would be the file designed to fit those lugs to your slide, plus a good book to show you how. I liked "Gunsmithing: Pistols & Revolvers" by Patrick Sweeney
But if you want to learn, and are willing to invest time to learn and money for tools and books (or coaching), a reasonably handy person can do this. If you attempt it, at least have a competent gunsmith check your work (and headspace) before you fire it.
In my case, I bought barrels that dropped in with little or no fitting. But they are not up to match grade.

 

[schmeky]

I want to thank everyone for their replies. Clark Custom Guns is only about an hour from where I live. Think I'll drive over and drop the pistol off there.

Again, thank you very much.