[Grandpas50AE]

We had a thread recently in which there was a link posted to a video of Greg Martin at Wilson Combat showing disassembly/reassembly of a 4" 1911 - no tool needed; using that method, a bull barrel gun is at least as easy to disassemble/reassemble as a bushing gun.

As others have stated, I have seen no difference in accuracy between the two methods, and I have plenty of each type. All my 4" 1911's have the flatwire recoil spring and guide rod, including the Kimbers that I converted to it, and all function just as well as the standard GI set-up.

I don't know of anyone making a bushing-ed gun in 4" or less, but bushing-ed or bull makes no real difference to me either way. I suppose the bull barrel has the advantage in timed rapid fire if having weight added to the muzzle to reduce muzzle flip, but an offset to that is the slow-fire advantage of the 5" having a longer sight radius. Seems like a wash to me unless you have a specific purpose for the gun that those two pro/con attributes would lend and advantage to.

 

[Grandpas50AE]

Technically, I can disassemble either style very quickly. It’ s the reassembly of the non-bushing style that drives me nuts about have the time. The other half, the slide stop pops right in while I’m trying to contort my left hand to hold the slide in place.

Use your right hand to hold the slide in place, and it will be easy for your left hand to pop the slide stop in place. I use the power of both hands to position the slide, then hold in place with right hand, leaving left hand free to slip the slide stop pin into place.