1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel - The Firearms Forum

lonewolf204 · 08-02-2011, 03:05 PM

What's yalls opinion on the 1911s with the bull barrel and no barrel bushing vs. the regular 1911s with a barrel bushing? How's the accracy between the two?

LDBennett · 08-02-2011, 03:17 PM

While a tight bushing on a standard barrel is a start at getting better accuracy out of a 1911, a loose fit of the slide to the frame and of the barrel to the slide will most certainly kill accuracy. A cheap addition to the barrel bush is the Wilson Combat Dwyer Group Gripper. Through a small spring in the recoil spring guide, and a notch in a special barrel link, the barrel is pushed up into the slide with enough force to make the barrel/slide return to exactly the same place with every shot. In my case it reduced my group sizes by about 30% (with the fitted barrel bush).

No amount of heavy barrel is going to make up for a loose slide to barrel fit and/or a loose slide to frame fit.

But this is just my experience (and that of Jerry Kuhnhausen):

http://www.amazon.com/Colt-45-automa...2316130&sr=1-1

LDBennett

JLA · 08-02-2011, 03:29 PM

I prefer a precisely fit barrel bushing myself.

lonewolf204 · 08-02-2011, 04:01 PM

LD, I have that book and like it very much. I have a few 1911s and like them the way they are now, But I have seen some Kimbers without the barrel bushing and with a bull barrel. I was just asking for opinions to see what other people thought of the bull barrel. I have not shot the bull barrel and was just wondering about it and I know a lot of you have a lot more experiance than I on the defferance. I thank you for your response.

PanhandlePop · 08-03-2011, 10:46 AM

I have both types of 1911s. I can't tell that there is any difference in accuracy or function. I do prefer the bushing style, more traditional, I guess, and I find field stripping to be simpler. Regardless, I wouldn't pass up a great deal on a bull barrel 1911!

Spooge · 08-03-2011, 04:18 PM

The conical/bull barrel is supposed to help reduce muzzle flip; I have 1911s with both types of barrels and have yet to see any evidence of that.

Double D · 08-03-2011, 04:27 PM

My colt defender is a bull barrel gun and for a 3" gun it is very accurate. I have been carrying my smith commander, but my colt has been calling my name some lately.

LDBennett · 08-03-2011, 08:59 PM

Spooge:

Your impression is right. The physics of it says that the recoil force is above the wrist and that distance above the wrist creates a lever for the recoil to work on, causing the gun to rise. A sherical bushing can not make a difference in muzzle flip, in my opinion and that of science, as I understand it.

LDBennett

08-02-2011, 03:05 PM	#1
lonewolf204 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oklahoma Contributor Posts: 784	1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel What's yalls opinion on the 1911s with the bull barrel and no barrel bushing vs. the regular 1911s with a barrel bushing? How's the accracy between the two? __________________ Fear is only a word in the mind of the weak! -->

08-02-2011, 03:17 PM	#2
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,710	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel While a tight bushing on a standard barrel is a start at getting better accuracy out of a 1911, a loose fit of the slide to the frame and of the barrel to the slide will most certainly kill accuracy. A cheap addition to the barrel bush is the Wilson Combat Dwyer Group Gripper. Through a small spring in the recoil spring guide, and a notch in a special barrel link, the barrel is pushed up into the slide with enough force to make the barrel/slide return to exactly the same place with every shot. In my case it reduced my group sizes by about 30% (with the fitted barrel bush). No amount of heavy barrel is going to make up for a loose slide to barrel fit and/or a loose slide to frame fit. But this is just my experience (and that of Jerry Kuhnhausen): http://www.amazon.com/Colt-45-automa...2316130&sr=1-1 LDBennett

08-02-2011, 03:29 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel I prefer a precisely fit barrel bushing myself. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-02-2011, 04:01 PM	#4
lonewolf204 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oklahoma Contributor Posts: 784	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel LD, I have that book and like it very much. I have a few 1911s and like them the way they are now, But I have seen some Kimbers without the barrel bushing and with a bull barrel. I was just asking for opinions to see what other people thought of the bull barrel. I have not shot the bull barrel and was just wondering about it and I know a lot of you have a lot more experiance than I on the defferance. I thank you for your response. __________________ Fear is only a word in the mind of the weak!

08-03-2011, 10:46 AM	#5
PanhandlePop V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 252	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel I have both types of 1911s. I can't tell that there is any difference in accuracy or function. I do prefer the bushing style, more traditional, I guess, and I find field stripping to be simpler. Regardless, I wouldn't pass up a great deal on a bull barrel 1911!

08-03-2011, 04:18 PM	#6
Spooge Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 2	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel The conical/bull barrel is supposed to help reduce muzzle flip; I have 1911s with both types of barrels and have yet to see any evidence of that.

08-03-2011, 04:27 PM	#7
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,054	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel My colt defender is a bull barrel gun and for a 3" gun it is very accurate. I have been carrying my smith commander, but my colt has been calling my name some lately. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

08-03-2011, 08:59 PM	#8
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,710	Re: 1911 barrel bushing vs. bull barrel Spooge: Your impression is right. The physics of it says that the recoil force is above the wrist and that distance above the wrist creates a lever for the recoil to work on, causing the gun to rise. A sherical bushing can not make a difference in muzzle flip, in my opinion and that of science, as I understand it. LDBennett