Fitting an EGW Melt Bushing...?

[elijdub]

I bought an EGW Melt Busing (along with a Clark recoil plug and a Wolff single-spring) to replace the stock components of the recoil assembly in my Colt OACP. I think i'm content with the results of the Clark plug (though i'm still doing some research) and i'm definitely happy with the Wolff spring, but am having problems "fitting" the bushing.
I've included pics that can, hopefully, illustrate the problem i'm having....the "locking tab" on the EGW bushing is about 4 times larger than the "locking tab" on the stock bushing. Even after fitting the bushing to the slide (it's OD) and barrel (it's ID) i'm concerned that it will not be able to fit into the gun due to the large size of the locking tab. I hope i'm accurately describing the part of the bushing im concerned with....it's the ramped piece of metal that is on the exterior circumference of the bushing and fits into the "key hole" made where the barrel and recoil plug meet.
Any thought on it's size, or how to deal with it? One thing i thought about is maybe they've accidently sent me the bushing for the Gov't-sized gun....?
Thank you!
BTW, i have sent pics to EGW (who've been incredibly helpful and said they'd be happy to help me figure it out)...but they're closed for the weekend and i'd wanted to do some work on it in the next day or two while i have some time off ;).

I think the problem can be seen best here:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/003-3.jpg
Sorry for the fuzzines of the second pic:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/002-3.jpg
This last one illustrates the size of the locking tab on the EGW...
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/001-3.jpg

[Dave Berryhill]

.....the "locking tab" on the EGW bushing is about 4 times larger than the "locking tab" on the stock bushing. Even after fitting the bushing to the slide (it's OD) and barrel (it's ID) i'm concerned that it will not be able to fit into the gun due to the large size of the locking tab.
If it's too big then you make it fit. A couple of suggestions:
1. The felt pen is your friend. Mark the bushing with a dark felt pen, install it, move it around and remove it. Look for shiny spots. That is where contact is being made with the slide.
2. When fitting a new bushing, always install an old, loose-fitting barrel in the slide first. When the bushing gets stuck in the slide then you can pull outwards on the barrel while rotating the bushing with the wrench to remove it.

[elijdub]

Thanks for the tips Dave. The felt-pen trick is a great idea. Unfortunately i don't have an older barrel to fit the bushing on first...i'm just going to have to be careful.
Report to follow....!

BTW, you wouldn't be concerned with the vastly differing size in the "locking tabs" of the two bushings in the pics? Do you think i can make the EGW fit without having to take half of it off?

[DuckRyder]

I don't see how the length of the locking tab could cause any difficulty, provided that it is not so long that it won't rotate fully into position...

Give her a try and see if it will fit...

[elijdub]

The thing is, i have tried (without having fit the inner and outer diameters....) to place the tab into the "key-hole", and there doesn't seem like there's enough room between the barrel and the bushing to get the additional length into place.
I think what i need to do is actually finish the "fitting" first :o ....then re-post afterwards, at which point i should have a better idea ;).
Back after some "fitting".... (thanks for the replies thus far!)

[Dave Berryhill]

....Do you think i can make the EGW fit without having to take half of it off?
I doubt that you'll need to take half of it off but so what if you do? Take off just enough to make it fit.

[elijdub]

Roget that... I'm just not too proficient at "gunsmithing" ;).
I'll make it work though... Get back to y'all here shortly ;)!