Combat Commander w/barstow barrel

[clare44man]

Wow, just took my new toy out an shot it today. Best shooting 1911 I have ever owned! First three shots standing at 10 yds were on a 1" targ dot, then I got excited and opened up the group. Picked up a ss Combat Commander with a barstow barrel and night sights. Trigger (s80) was a little heavy (ok, it was a LOT heavy), lightened that a little, but it still needs a professional trigger job. I picked this up to resell and put the money towards a Colt engraved govt that I have on layaway, but I may have to rethink that plan! 44 Man

[John]

A set of pre-fit hammer/sear can work wonders for your trigger pull. I do not remember who made the ones I have in my .45, but whoever has tried the gun all these years, is drooling with envy. Cylinder and Slide has some sets like that, it makes a gunsmith obsolete (don't tell Tuner I said that).

Rgds

[clare44man]

Must be the memory is getting a little old there John? I remember the time when we didn't have to label reloads, always remembered what powder was in there. Now I have to label everything and make sure I put it back in it's place......or I can't remember where I put it!!! Thanks for the advice, I'm still trying to decide whether to keep this one or sell it. I'll kick my self if I do sell it.......but that engraved one looks sooooooo pretty! And that one has a great trigger already! 44 Man

[John]

Say that again 44man, say that again. My wife says I 've got Alcheymer (is that pronounced like that?).

I don't know, it must be that I live in a gun-hungry country, or else I can not explain why I just feel really bad when someone says he is going to sell a 1911. It depresses me, I guess! :)

So why not keep both? Duh, don't answer that, I know.

Rgds

[clare44man]

John, if you are still watching this post, I tried something today. I have an extra stainless Colt Commander barrel. I installed it onto this gun and shot a couple of groups at 15 yds. Then I put the bar-sto barrel back into it and shot again. The barsto shot slightly tighter, but I would not be ashamed of the groups with the Colt barrel. Part of it could be that this gun has a very tight barrel bushing. You must have a barrel bushing wrench to remove it and it is a very snug fit on both barrels. I assume it came with the barsto barrel but I don't know. The next time I get a 1911 that doesn't quite shoot up to parr, I'm going to fit a good bushing before I do anything else. 44 Man

[John]

Right you are, in general the bushing plays a bigger role, in the pistol's accuracy, than the barrel itself. Be careful however, the bushing's fitting does not only include the fitting of the bushing to the frame and the fitting of the bushing to the barrel. You have to take into consideration, the lowering of the rear end of the barrel, when this last one unlocks. Something gunsmiths call "springing" if I am not mistaken. The bushing has to allow the barrel to tilt down at the rear, so the opening of the inside diameter of the bushing is not uniform and round. I wish I could explain that better. Have a look at Kuhnhausen books, I am sure they mention that.

Rgds

[clare44man]

I understand John about needing clearance to link down. Thanks.

[jdslack9999]

John,
It's not Alzheimer's, it's oldtimer's...I've got it too (so my wife claims). It's also known as CRS syndrome (Can't Remember S***)

[John]

That's what my wife says too. Now when was it the last time she told me that? Darm, can't remember!

[ltdave]

I picked this up to resell

Clare44Man...

im down the road a piece from you. (port huron) let me know if you need someone 'in the neighborhood' to help you out with this commander...

david

[clare44man]

Ok, just when you are begining to think you understand something, you get thrown a curve. I picked up a satin nickle series 70 combat commander last week. This gun had an ugly and poorly fitted 5" barrel in it. So I dropped in the stainless commander barrel mentioned above to try it out. Now you have to realize that this gun has 'field expedient' bushing in it. That means you can turn it easily by hand. In fact, if you took out the recoil spring plug, I almost think you could shake it enough that the bushing would fall out of the gun. Anyway the point of all of this is; I shot the gun yesterday. This gun with the stainless Colt barrel and loose bushing, shoots as well as the stainless commander did with this same barrel was in it. And that gun had the tight, fitted bushing! So much for bushing theroies! The more you know the less you understand. There are just too many variables! 44 Man