Does barrel bushing fit effect lock up of slide/barrel lugs?

[kitchue]

Does the barrel bushing effect the locking up of the barrel to the slide?

I fit a wilson match grade barrel bushing to a norinco. Some slight modification to the slide and none to the barrel itself. It fits tight and yet removeable by hand. A bushing barrel wrench would be nice though. Racking seems nice and smooth. I cant remember the numbers and my caliper batteries just died.

Just wondering, if the barrel bushing effects locking up of the slide?

Thanks,
sean

[John]

Not sure I understand your question. The barrel bushing affects the locking? It can if the bushing is not properly relieved, it can cause springing of the barrel. Take off your slide from your frame. Leave the barrel and bushing in it and turn it upside down. Now press the barrel's feet down towards the slide. Is the barrel jumping up a little when you release the pressure? If so the barrel is springing, in other words the bushing is not relieved enough to allow the barrel to move all the way up in the slide (when installed on the pistol).

Is that what you are asking?

[kitchue]

Basically, its the same thing I'm asking...After installing the barrel bushing I thought about how a tight or loose bushing can effect the barrel, etc.

But this little test is great. I'll try it tonight.

Thanks,
sean

[John]

A tight bushing ensures that the barrel returns to the same position every time the slide is forward. So yes, it improves accuracy by repeatability. If you go to the extreme though, you may find that reliability suffers (if the fitting of the bushing to the barrel and to the slide are not done properly).

[kitchue]

Went home at lunch to give this a test. No springing of the barrel.

And as I was doing this test it all came to me. Of course the barrel bushing affects the barrels locking of the lugs. If installed incorrectly, the barrel would spring due to the incorrect angle that the barrel bushing was at. Got it.

Thanks,
sean

[wichaka]

You mention "A slight modification to the slide" What modification was that?

[kitchue]

Had to sand off the blueing and then some to get the barrel bushing into the slide and turn. By hand with a 1/2" dowel and 400 grit paper. Took time thats for sure. Checking repeatedly every little bit or so. I have the bushing tight but not tight enough to remove by hand.

I might add add that the blueing was deeper than just the surface (like on a higher end gun). The tooling marks were very pronounced on the norinco. If the tooling was smooth, I believe the barrel bushing would have fit just fine.

Thanks,
sean