Replacement 1911 Barrel

[cslinger]

If I wanted to drop an Ed Brown standard 5 inch barrel into my Colt would this be a simple drop in job? If not what work would be required?

Thanks so much,
Chris

 

[richyoung]

If you are looking for enhanced accuracy, I strongly urge that you get an oversize barrel, and pay a local gunsmith to fit it. There really is no substitute for a correctly fitted barrel, a bushing tightly sized to both the barrel and slide, and a properly fitted link and slide stop. This alone will give you 70 - 85% of the enhanced potential accuracy of a high-end production 1911 - the rest due to slide/frame fit,trigger weight/pull quality, sights, etc.

 

[richyoung]

To answer your question...it "should" drop in - a little minor fitting in the area of the barrel hood and link lugs is sometimes needed. Bear in mind that Colt has built a LOT of pistols -if yours is of recent production, and is still in stock condition, odds are better that no addistional fitting is needed. Its still a good idea to have a gunsmith check headspace, timing, and general safeness before test-firing, even if you elect to do the work yourself. What shop manuals, if any, do you have for the 1911?