The 1911 Barrel Bushing

[schmeky]

I have several 1911's (need some more though) and I have one I haven't shot for a long time. I remembered it was never "consistently" accurate. It might put a 3 shot cloverleaf together, then "spray" 3-4 other rounds. So I thought it must be me and just moth-balled the pistol.

I have been doing quite a bit of 1911 shooting lately and have gotten some inpressive 6-7 shot groups from a couple of my favorites. So, I broke my ole' Mr. Inconsistent and shot it along with my favorites.

Mr. Inconsistent is still inconsistent. So I got home and started cleaning my pistols and discovered the barrel bushing fit on the gun in question has the sloppiest, worst fitting bushing I have ever seen.

I know the barrel bushing on a 1911 is very important. Just wondering the difference I might see after I have a gunsmith install an oversized fitted bushing? Taking it for repair today, hopefully have it back in a week or two.

 

[brickeyee]

If the rest of the barrel installation is correct a fitted bushing will help.
The problem is that the barrel feet are also usually not fitted either.

 

[Walkalong]

May help, may not. Like brickeyee said, there may be more issues, but it also may be an easy fix for your gunsmith and work out great.


If you want a serious accurate 1911, get a match barrel and bushing fit to your gun.

 

[Conqueror]

If it's really sloppy, it can definitely affect your accuracy. And a bushing is inexpensive and can be fit at home. I say go for it! Match bushings are only $30 or so, if it cures your problems then it was money very well spent.

 

[10X]

Local gunsmiths likely have a bunch of bushings in their parts box. A couple of phone calls may be worthwhile. Take the gun with you and they may select the best one for you. If you want a serious fix and can get a micrometer to measure your barrel diameter and slide dimensions where the busing fits, EGW will make a bushing to your specs for a very reasonable cost. Best to call them or email.

brickeyee rightly observed if the bushing is sloppy the fit at the rear, lugs and barrel feet also may be sloppy. Once you get a replacement bushing, you may still need fitting. If you want to go the inexpensive route, get a Group Gripper ($30) from Wilson Combat. If the barrel is sloppy in the rear, the Group Gripper will make an immediate difference. You can then decide whether to leave the Group Gripper in or go the expensive route and get a replacement barrel fitted by a competent smith.

Good luck.

 

[SuperNaut]

I had some leftover flash on one of my 1911's bushings. Once I filed it off, the gun became a lot more accurate. Funny how a little nub of metal can throw POI off by several inches.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

A Briley, Ed Brown, Wilson, EGW, Caspian, Bar-sto, Kart, etc., etc. bushing won't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear but a loose, sloppy bushing can sure make a 1911 a scattergun. Unless you're accomplished (or adventurous) you're wise to trust the fitting issue to a 1911 pistolsmith.

 

[Jayhawker]

What is acceptable barrel to bushing clearance?

 

[Marshall]

What 1911 is it?

 

[schmeky]

As a side note, the bushing in this pistol is different from any other I have ever seen. I need to take a picture and post it.

On the bushing O.D. that mates with the slide I.D., the bushing has three triangulated raised pads that actually contact the slide I.D. So, the only points of contact are very small in relation to actual bushing surface area.

I hope this makes sense. All the other bushings I have ever seen utilized the entire mating area of the bushing O.D. to contact the slide I.D.

This is a "built" pistol using an Essex slide and match barrel. Not sure of the bushing maker, but I don't like the design of this particular bushing.

Thanx for the replies. THR members are the best.

 

[JDGray]

My Springfield bushing was very sloppy (.012 play), and I fit an EGW bushing to .001 clearance. The result was night and day

 

[Jayhawker]

Marshall

A S&W standard 5" .45 ACP.

 

[schmeky]

Just dropped the pistol off to a gunsmith. He indicated the barrel seems to be fitted very well, his comment was, "barrel bushing is very loose".

Will be interesting to see the before and after results.

 

[Conqueror]

On the bushing O.D. that mates with the slide I.D., the bushing has three triangulated raised pads that actually contact the slide I.D. So, the only points of contact are very small in relation to actual bushing surface area.

Sounds like an SVI Tri-Loc bushing. Shame someone buggered it up, SVI makes very high-grade components.

 

[Slamfire]

Recently I called Ed Brown about bushing information. I asked what the clearance ought to be between the barrel and the bushing, and I was informed that they consider .002" acceptable.

 

[schmeky]

Sounds like an SVI Tri-Loc bushing. Shame someone buggered it up, SVI makes very high-grade components.

May be. But to only have a 5% (estimated) contact area as opposed to 100% contact area seems counterproductive.

I want to take a picture of this bushing to post. Will be a week or so, but I still want others to be aware of the problems I'm having to avoid this situation.

 

[Conqueror]

The bushing doesn't see huge forces, so I think it's probably better to have 5% very tight contact than 100% sloppy contact. Having limited areas of lockup probably allows for more careful fitting, since you can focus your attention on the lobes.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

One of my Kimber Gold Match's selling points was the bushing, I had no idea till now it could make that much difference.

RFB

 

[Tom Fury]

Something to try

+1 with Ghost tracker re aftermarket bushings. Suggest Ed Brown drop in. Had good success with one. Eds' stuff seems a little tighter somehow and provides an interim step (less expensive) before going to match bushing installation.

That said, last I looked, for what he charges, Bar-Sto barrel installed at Bar-Sto is a bargain; if you're going to throw money at it, there are instances when going all the way is a better option.

Cheers, TF

 

[schmeky]

Tom,

Are you saying Ed Brown installs Bar-Sto barrels/bushings?

In reference to Ed Brown parts, I have a Colt full size 1911 that from day one had a sub-standard manual safety. It was notchy and imprecise. Ordered an Ed Brown safety and I fitted it myself (done this before) and this pistol now has the best feeling and functioning manual safety of all my 1911's.

Ed Brown is good stuff.

 

[Conqueror]

Briley also has excellent prices on 1911 barrels and parts.