nowlin 1911

[Agbullet]

Anyone Know anything about them. How do they compare to the other customs.?

[huntershooter]

John Nowlin Sr. built a .38 Super "comp gun" for me years ago. He was pretty obsessive about accuracy and could build a scarey accurate pistol (5 rds. into 3/4" @ 25 yds.)- one hole groups. His barrels/parts are some of the best. I think Nowlin is underated in terms of "Custom Builders". I know SA custom shop used to use his barrels exclusively-don't know if that's still the case.

[45_4life]

S/A uses Nowlin barrels in the custom 1911s.

[Agbullet]

thanks for the info. I dont know much about Nowlin except for a gun review and web page. Would like to get firsthand reviews on their guns

[carsten1911]

A buddy got a Nowlin with a 2011 frame.
The gun is excellent, VERY accurate , VERY fast back on target/ low recoil, mostly due to the bull barrel and easy to shoot and hit with. From the outside it totally lacks the smallest imperfections, i cant tell about the inside, though.

The trigger pull is a bit long for my taste (i shoot bullseye), but very smooth at about (estimated) 3,5 pounds.

Would i recommend it? Only if its only purpose is holes in paper!To me it falls in the class of toy guns, its not a "real" weapon, .45 or not.

Carsten

[Maj Tom]

Anyone Know anything about them. How do they compare to the other customs.?
Since they have changed management I haven't heard a positive word about them. Just what I've heard and I just completed a very bad experience with one of their barrels.....

[ArmscorBA]

Who owns them now?
Ivan

[hitachifixer]

John Nowlin Sr. passed away a few years back. Yes I`ve heard his guns were very nice. John Nowlin, his son, as far as I know runs the business. I have dealt personally with John and he has been as honest with me as the day is long. HOWEVER, I have split three of his barrels in .45 ACP. One gun he repaired, the other two he sent me a check and bought the barrels back. He claimed they had a "bad run of barrels," yeah right, near two years apart??!!!! I don`t mean a small crack, I mean split down the bottom from the chamber to just about 1/4" from the muzzle. All gunsmith fit barrels also.

[Maj Tom]

John Nowlin Sr. passed away a few years back. Yes I`ve heard his guns were very nice. John Nowlin, his son, as far as I know runs the business. I have dealt personally with John and he has been as honest with me as the day is long. HOWEVER, I have split three of his barrels in .45 ACP. One gun he repaired, the other two he sent me a check and bought the barrels back. He claimed they had a "bad run of barrels," yeah right, near two years apart??!!!! I don`t mean a small crack, I mean split down the bottom from the chamber to just about 1/4" from the muzzle. All gunsmith fit barrels also.
Dave Williams just fit a Kart in my Custom Springer to replace a split Nowlin!!!!!!!

[hitachifixer]

Geeee, you must have had a barrel from the "bad batch" Yeah, right!!!!!!!!

[carsten1911]

HOWEVER, I have split three of his barrels in .45 ACP. One gun he repaired, the other two he sent me a check and bought the barrels back.

Hey Hitachifixer,

give me a hint on what kind of wedge you use on them... after some hours of splitting WOOD with a steel wedge i am really done...cant imagine how to split STEEL? :D

Kidding...

Split barrels? ==> :scared:


Carsten

[hitachifixer]

The first one let go with what I thought was at least a triple charge, according to John Nowlin you can`t put enough powder in a .45 case to destroy his barrel. They blamed it on detonition where the powder explodes instead of burns. It exploded all right, my slide, barrel, bent the dust cover. Didn`t blow out the mag so I agree it wasn`t a double charge.
The next two sounded like a squib load, just sort of let the gas escape out the bottom crack in the barrel. Didn`t hurt anything but the barrels. I`m sure had I fired another round it may be a different story. All my guns now have Kart barrels in them.

[Maj Tom]

The first one let go with what I thought was at least a triple charge, according to John Nowlin you can`t put enough powder in a .45 case to destroy his barrel. They blamed it on detonition where the powder explodes instead of burns. It exploded all right, my slide, barrel, bent the dust cover. Didn`t blow out the mag so I agree it wasn`t a double charge.
The next two sounded like a squib load, just sort of let the gas escape out the bottom crack in the barrel. Didn`t hurt anything but the barrels. I`m sure had I fired another round it may be a different story. All my guns now have Kart barrels in them.
Mine let go the same as your last two. Another round wasn't an option as the barrel was jammed tight and required cutting the slide stop pin to remove. I too replaced it with a Kart.....

[clughog]

Glad I ran across this thread...you guys have me running scared now. I was about to buy a pre-fit barrel and bushing from Nowlin in 9mm to convert a Colt XSE .38 Super Commander I plan to buy soon. Sure having second thoughts now! I wonder if Nowlin's 9mm barrels hold up any better than these .45s?

[hitachifixer]

While I`m sure some excellent results are obtainable from the drop in barrels. After having two Kart barrels fit by my gunsmith, there is no possible way to get the drop in as tight as a gunsmith fit set up.

[Greg in OKLA]

I have had dealings with them twice,and neither time was very pleasent.i wont go into details,as I dont believe in slamming people/companys with long drawn out storys.Maybe they were just having a bad day both times,everybody does.But I doubt I will ever have any interaction with them ever again.

[fed_wif_a_sig]

I have to stand up and say I dont know about splitting barrels, but Nowlins sends a ton of barrels out into the world and thats the first I've heard of anything bad on them. You'd be suprised how many makers manufactors ect use Nowlin barrels and parts.

While an officer in Oklahoma I had the pleasure of having three 1911s and a J frame work on by Sr and know folks that still work there (full time and part time). I rate their work right up their with Bill's work (Wilson that is).

Many a many compitition shooter shoot Nowlin, its why they dont have to advertise much, because those in the know already know and they have more work than they need.

Sorry you had issues, but I will say this, noone should be scared off from their service or products. One 1911 served we very well on the SRT team and put many a many rounds down range and still is kicking today.