Standard barrel to Bull

[Pepe308]

I'm new to customizing but got bitten by that bug so here I am planning to customize a single stack 1911. I've read and heard from friends and forum members about refinishing, sight replacements, triggerjobs, and trigger assemblies already. Now I plan to have a bull barrel in it, is there too much work needed? What other parts must I have besides a bull barrel? Any comments and suggestions are very much welcome, thanks in advance! :)

[John]

You will also need a reverse plug. Since there is no bushing to keep the recoil spring cap in place, it has to be a reverse one, with lips around its rear. That means your slide needs to be machined a little to accept the plug (I think). The reverse plugs usually come with a full-length guide rod, but I don't see why you can't have a regular one and a closed cap at the front, but I haven't seen one being sold yet.

Comments? I don't know why you want to go to a bull barrel configuration. I prefer the bushing since it is a cheap part to replace if something goes wrong and it gets destroyed. The slide is much more expensive. And if heavy shooting makes the barrel loose in the bushing, you just change the bushing and you are done. If the slide becomes too loose what do you do?

[Candiru]

I agree with John; I've never understood the point of a bull barrel beyond adding a slight amount of weight to the front of the gun. Can someone enlighten me?

[Sniper350]

The guys make sense on this matter ........ the bushing is a wear item costing $20 US funds for the best of them.

If your bull barrel & slide fitment loosen ......... the only choice you have is to fit a new barrel costing $150 -$200 !

You will get enough accuracy from a quality "standard" barrel that it will most likely out shoot you. I think the bull barrel came into its own on its cool factor. But few thought beyond their noses ............ where the barrel to slide fitment would eventually loosen, resulting in a very expensive barrel replacement to solve the problem.

JF.

[niemi24s]

IMHO, the only reason for a bull barrel is cosmetic.

[HardBoiled]

Meaning to pick one up for my Springfield Operator, just haven't gotten around to it yet........

http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/parts_accessories.shtml#3

(Solid reverse plug for use with a short guide rod and bull barrel)

[Pepe308]

Again, thanks guys for the replies. I'll going to replace the bushing to an Ed Brown or an EGW, save a lot of machining on the frame and slide.

[John]

Meaning to pick one up for my Springfield Operator, just haven't gotten around to it yet........

http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/parts_accessories.shtml#3

(Solid reverse plug for use with a short guide rod and bull barrel)
Great information, good to know that such a thing exists! Kudos to Guncrafter for making it.

[HardBoiled]

Great information, good to know that such a thing exists! Kudos to Guncrafter for making it.

Yeah, seems like a great company. They make a nice lanyard mainspring housing as well.....if your into that sort of thing. I stuck one on my Warrior, even though I don't really believe in the use of lanyards exept in certain situations, heh.

I used to think the reverse plug with FLGR wasn't all that bad for a target/comp. gun until the little tool broke once slamming the slide shut and dragging a broken piece of the tool on the bottom of the barrel along the way. The gun is fine but the instance got my attention in a hurry!

In fact, I might try a short rod with the factory reverse plug until I get the closed end one, (not even sure it will work, but I don't see why not), just thinking about that tool breaking again makes me cringe.