Drop In Barrel For 1911

mballai

I am contemplating getting a new match grade barrel for my Colt Series 70 1911. The barrel it has is a good shooter, but I have had just about everything else customized on this gun save the barrel and I think that would finish it nicely.

There are several drop in barrels available. I assume that the only thing I would need to do is add a lug to it. Is this a do it yourself job? I'm not looking for a match pistol just some improvement for my home protection piece and favorite shooter. Recommendations? I'm think that I would probably go with a Les Baer prefit barrel.


Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

Jody Commander

Best after market barrel I ever used for accuracy without having A Gunsmith fit it up was the Kart, the last one I used shot into little over an inch at 100 feet, off sand bags.

Der Gebirgsjager

I don't think you could go wrong with the Les Baer barrel, or the Kart. It has been my experience that some of the barrels advertised as "drop in" often don't (drop in). Unless a customer specifies otherwise I usually use Ed Brown's, and they often require fitting to some extent. This is not difficult, and instructions come with the barrels. I am uncertain as to what you mean by "add a lug". It is often necessary to stone the lugs on the top of the barrel a little to mate with those in the slide. Sometimes stoning the rear of the hood and the sides of the lugs is necessary. In any event, if a barrel is made to such loose tolerences that one size fits all, like a G.I. barrel, you will not obtain the desired performance.

mballai

By lug I meant the little ring that swivels and hangs off the bottom of the barrel. Maybe that's not the right term and maybe the barrel comes with one or you take it off the old barrel and mount it on the new one.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

TOMBECK

SUGGEST YOU GET NEW LINK(S) BARREL BUSHING AND LINK PIN. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LINK LENGTHS THAT WILL CHANGE LOCK-UP. KART IS TOPS - CAN GET WITH OVERSIZED BUSHING THAT WILL NEED SOME FITTING.

mballai

I noticed that Wilson sells a drop in barrel with a bushing. My understanding is that the barrel and bushing should be matched and that is one of the more critical interfaces in terms of accuracy. My current barrel and bushing seem to have a very good fit in that regard.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

Der Gebirgsjager

Tom pretty well summed it up. Links are available in different lengths, and different lengths effect both locking and unlocking. I suggest that you go with what you've got until you determine whether or not you have a problem. Chances are that if you're not presently experiencing a problem in this respect, the present link would work satisfactorily with the new barrel. The link pin is usually staked in, so you'll have to place your existing barrel in a vise and punch the pin out with repeated taps until you overcome the staking. I usually go with new parts--they don't cost that much.

cpermd

Kart and Wilson are in my customs.
cpermd