[lacoppari]

The snap ring pliers were not great but better than nothing. I don't have access to hole gauges. I only have a good vernier micrometer and a not so good caliper. We'll see when the bushing arrives if it tightens things up. It should arrive in another day or so. It seems to be on tour around the eastern part of the country.

 

[lacoppari]

Checked the OD of the bushing that I am replacing. It measured 0.6935 inch OD. It wiggles inside the slide. I have a dial indicator that measures in ten thousandths of an inch. One revolution of the needle is 0.0080. After setting it up, the clearance of the bushing in the slide was more than the 0.0080 because the movement pushed the needle to the stops (beyond one complete rotation of needle) and would have gone farther.

 

[theraptur]

I measured my barrel OD at .875", then ordered the bushing from Harrison Design.

It fit so much better into the slide that I almost needed the bushing wrench to turn it far enough to get the spring cap in.

Haven't got a chance to shoot it yet, but wow, the fit is so much more precise and no wiggle. Plus that bushing looks good!

 

[lacoppari]

My bushing arrived a few days ago. Thus far I have been working on its ID where the barrel is gripped when the breech is closed. After working with emery cloth I have gotten it to slip over the barrel but it is somewhat tight. The ID of the bushing was enlarged by chucking up a small bore shotgun cleaning brush in my drill press and wrapping it with emery cloth.

How tight it should be?

 

[Oldpistol]

Stand up the barrel. Slight bit of light oil. Everything clean. Slip the barrel bushing over the barrel. Pick up on the barrel bushing. The barrel should just hesitate as it drops out of the bushing under its own weight. That is a tight fit but not too tight. Opinions vary a bit though.

 

[Oldpistol]

The above assumes an angle bored bushing, or similar. Meaning with the bushing, when installed in the slide, and the barrel in, there is no “springing”.

best wishes.

 

[lacoppari]

Mine won't do that. It easily picks up the barrel. Thanks for advice. Back to work...

 

[lacoppari]

Fitting the bushing has been completed. There is now no movement between the barrel and slide when the breech is closed. Reloaded some rounds for testing tomorrow if it is not raining.

 

[lacoppari]

Tested out the new bushing but groups showed vertical stringing. I realized that I did not provide sufficient relief so the barrel can be shoved into the locking lugs without flexing the barrel. I relieved the problem and the vertical stringing vanished. Groups are now acceptable and I could stop here. But I was never one to leave well enough alone. The larger contributor to group size now is horizontal. I have not determined if I am causing the horizontal spread or the gun is. After the first few shots the sights blur along with the target. Groups are under 2 inches at 25 yards.

 

[Oldpistol]

Sounds better. Assuming it is the gun, you can chase it further, or stop. Might want to shoot it off bags, for accuracy, and see how you do.

 

[lacoppari]

When I shoot off sandbags I rest my forearms on the bags just behind my wrist with no part of the pistol touching the bags. Should I rest the pistol on the bags and if so, what part of the pistol? The end of the magazine or the part of the frame that is just beyond the trigger guard? Probably should rest eyes between shots to reduce blurriness.

 

[Oldpistol]

I can tell you what I do. Pack bags everywhere. I use bags of projectiles. Under the dust cover, heel of the gun securely rested. Forearms boxed in. I try to make it so it is like a ransom rest with the trigger being the only point of movement. The gun recoils normally and I set up for the next shot. I try to support everything but the slide.

Opinions will vary.

 

[tgt_usa]

I have a 70 Series Colt 45 ACP with a Kart barrel and bushing that shoots better than I can shoot it. I also have a Clark Rowland conversion for the same pistol that does not shoot well. It produces 3-4 inch groups at 25 yards. Investigating this I have noticed there is slop between the barrel bushing and the slide. I did some more group testing by putting bits of electrical tape on the outside of the bushing that temporarily got rid of the slop between the bushing and slide. Groups immediately dropped to under 2 inches which is satisfactory for my purposes with this gun. My plan is to buy another bushing. What bushing should I buy?

Compensator easily came off using a little heat.

What I've found that I like is the Briley Spherical Bushing. Fits itself to the barrel. The 1911s I have with them are among my most precise ... though I've got some with very well-fitted conventional bushings that together demonstrate where the true limitation rests with the trigger nut.

 

[lacoppari]

This is weird. When I fully support the pistol my groups open up. When I support my wrists and elbows but don't let the pistol touch anything other than my hands, groups tighten and are good enough for my purposes. This happens with both the .45 ACP barrel/bushing/guide rod spring and the Rowland barrel/bushing/guide rod spring setups. It works the opposite way when I shoot rifles. Don't understand why. Operator failure I am sure.

 

[Oldpistol]

If you are satisfied with your groups, you are done. Which is good news.

 

[Magnumite]

Years back I did a good deal of bench shooting evaulating loads. I got more into the action type shooting so got away from it. And to be honest, hand held, calling shots, one can get a feel for what the gun and ammo can do. I now typically will rest my wrists on the bench or even shoot roll over prone to assess accuracy. If I an bullseye serious about load development, I’ll shoot of a rest (perch) and bags until I am comfortable what I am feeling from the pistol is correct. Then I’ll shoot the subject loads for record. Same as shooting offhand…takes practice.