Kart E-Z Fit

I fit a Kart to a Springfield that was a total dog. Prior to fitting I was getting 7 shot, 5 inch groups from the Ransom Rest at 50 feet.

After fitting the Kart the groups went down to 3/4" at 50 feet with 7 shot groups. This was with factory Fiocchi 230 grain hardball.

My stock barrel was VERY poorly fit by Springfield and had made 2 trips back to the factory with no improvement at all so I took matters into my own hands.

The fitting was very easy. The rear of the hood needed slight metal removal and the two pads on the lugs I barely touched.

I am VERY happy with the improvement. My brass is now reloadable, I get dead center primer strikes, and I can even use any mag at all with it. 200 rounds of hardball with no ftfs or ftes with my Wilson, McCormick, Metalform, and Colt mags.

It was a 1000% improvement. It turned the Frankengun from hell into a real shooter.

I haven't experimented yet with different bullet types. That is the next step. I used the factory hardball to insure proper functioning and to gage the accuracy improvement.

I will be loading some SWCs and others to check them out in the coming weeks.

Two thumbs up to the Kart.

The Kart comes with a prefit bushing as well. I did not use it with my accuracy tests because the OD is oversized. I was so anxious to test I didn't have the OD turned down. If that improves the accuracy even more I will actually start to love the Frankengun!

[This message has been edited by slickpuppy (edited 09-20-2001).]

Actually, when I fit a regular Kart match barrel, the way I fit the top first lug is like haveing the "mounds" there and I don't believe wear will be a problem with either system. There is very little friction-type wear at that point, and not a whole lot of pressure either, if the slide stop is done right.
Sometimes I'll do a "triangle" fit on the top lug and even that seems to wear a long, long time. These methods are a far cry from what we did 40 or 50 years ago and I do believe they're better...although we did build some great shooters with our cave-man technique.

On the barrel bushing fit. With no lathe, you could make a mandrel to hold it from inside and spin it with a drill press while using an abrasive wrapped on a file to turn it with, or a file, or a diamond hone, or whatever you figure will work. The area between the locking lug and the face of the bushing will require some ingenuity on your part to take it down without marking the lug or the bushing face. There several ways to do it but I'll leave that to your imagination ...unless some of the other guys give you some good ideas.

I know what Kart barrels are. Yes, I ran a chamber reamer in the E-Z fit like I did the gunsmith fits. I also ran a reamer in an Ed Brown Bull barrel. I like the chamber I get with the reamer I have and my guns HAVE to run!I think it is a good policy to have a standard chamber for every gun you build. Please remember that I have been building Custom Caspians for almost 20 years and I do very little work on stock 1911's. I rarely install stuff in factory guns because that has always seemed like a waste of time for me. I don't do any work on 80 series Colts. I don't do any work on stainless steel 1911's The only work I do now is for old clients who won't let me be a couch potatoe.Most of that is taking care of new stuff they have aquired and needs to run. My customers have always been people who make a living packin' iron. The" games people "left me cold. I did a little of that but quickly left the world of yuppies with guns. I have sen too many Junk guns new in the box to want to do that kind of work. I love you guys for what you do, but it's not my game. regardless of what you think of me, I'm trying to help you. That's all. I just don't have time to be subtle or crafty or impress you with my vast knowledge. My guns work. That's where I stand.