New barrel/bushing for my Sistema

[Cofaler]

Got the bug to do a little work to one of my Sistemas, sort of like what PvtRyan did, and want to start with a a new barrel and bushing. Not trying to build anything fancy, just a nice reliable every day carry piece. Does anyone have any experience or a recommendation concerning an aftermarket barrel and bushing? I've looked at the WC matched sets in Brownells and a few others, would like to draw on some experience here. Thanks

[pa_guns]

Hi

I tried two approaches.

I got some Springfield take off barrels from one of the guys here.

I bought a couple of RIA barrels from Ivan (also here).

Both dropped into the Systemas and fit way better than what had been there before. Accuracy wise both were about equally good / bad with the original bushings. I figure I'll go to EGW for the bushings.

Bob

[Cofaler]

Sounds reasonable. For my purposes a take-off would work fine. Pvt Ryan said he used a bushing from MGW that was oversized on the outside and required fitting to the slide. That sounds like a good thing to me, I don't mind using a wrench to field strip it, and for a carry gun I wouldn't want a match-tight barrel to bushing fit.

[pa_guns]

Hi

EGW will machine up a properly fit bushing for next to nothing. I can't see that going crazy doing something odd makes a lot of sense.

Bob

[Cofaler]

Bob,
Sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean by "going crazy doing something odd". Could you explain? Thanks,
Mark

[pa_guns]

Hi

To me welding up a bushing and then taking it back down again is a bit much. I can understand it on an very special part, but not on something out of a Systema.

Welding is kind of a hit or miss proposition. You can do damage to the part with heat. Grinding the bushing back to round takes a lot of time, even if the weld is done very carefully. That's a lot of work to save $15.

Regardless of what out of size part you start with, fitting a bushing is not trivial. It's hardly rocket science either. It's enough work that I'm glad to send EGW a couple more bucks to do 95% of the work ...

Bob

[Cofaler]

Bob,
No, I never considered welding up the bushing, I got the idea the outside id on the MGW was slightly oversized and he actually mounted it on the rubber sanding drum holder from a dremel and turned it down a little at a time until the right fit was achieved. Welding up the bushing would be way over the top to me. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Mark

[Joni Lynn]

Bob, you're almost close enough to drive over to their shop and pick up bushing in person.
I agree with the idea of getting EGW bushings, they can make them so very close and they don't cost an arm and/or leg.

[pa_guns]

Bob, you're almost close enough to drive over to their shop and pick up bushing in person.
.....

Hi

That's my plan once I get the 4 Systema's set up and ready to go.

Bob

[larenegade]

Systema?? Are you talking about a 1911 45acp or what ? I have never heard of a systema. I looked the word up on-line and found reference to airsoft pistol. Is that what you are talking about? Will you explain for this old fashioned 45acp nut, I'm lacking in this area.

Thanks,

[pa_guns]

Systema?? .....

Hi

Once upon a time the US actually *exported* stuff like pistols. Hard to believe but true. :D

In the early 1900's South America was a major market for military weapons. Argentina went out looking for a new pistol in the 1920's. After a number of ups and downs Colt won the contract. They shipped 10,000 pistols from Hartford, and then set up a factory in Argentina to make 1911's.

Since the tooling and production methods were all Colt, the Argentine pistols are very close to what Colt was making in the 1920's. They are closer to an A1 than to the WWI version, and are slightly different than either one. Some people will claim that they are "virtually Colts". I think that's stretching things more than just a little ....

The nickname Systema comes from the "Systema Colt" markings on the pistol. They were manufactured into the 1960's so there are a number of marking variations. The last batch that came into the country were pretty battered.

With a new set of grips on it, one looks like this:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n68/pa_guns/Syst2left.jpg

With a few more parts:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n68/pa_guns/syst3right.jpg

Hope that helps.

Bob

[larenegade]

Thanks for the lesson, I learned three things today about my favorite toys. What is the collector value of these and can they be found nowadays? I would want one judging by what I see, for a carry gun. I like the feel of a well made worn weapon! All the sharp edges worn down so "Melt Job" is not needed, that is obvious.

Do they function correctly? I would love to find a couple of 1911's in that shape to work on. It is hard to take a Colt that is in great shape and start filing and such to learn on. Those dreaded mistakes one finds when learning how to do things for the first time can be expensive. That's part of learning though and mistakes aren't forgotten when they are expensive are they!

Appreciate your answering my question.

Sincerely,

[Cofaler]

I've got two of them, and feel the money I paid for both was well spent. Check Gunbroker, there is usually a couple on there. A lot of what you see out there now are pretty worn, and seem to go for around $350-$450 or so, and I think they make great project guns. Some of the really clean less common pieces will fetch quite a bit more. I know what you mean about the feel of a worn gun, I carry one of mine. Good luck

[pa_guns]

Hi

Any of the first 10,000 shipped will be worth quite a bit. They are 1920's Hartford made Colts. Markings and condition count a lot on collectables, so there are major variations in values of original pistols. Anything that has been refinished and rebuild is going to have modest collector value.

The last batch of Systema's that were sold went out through Gander Mountain for $250 or less. Based on the ones I bought, they aren't carry weapons in "as sold" condition. The rebuilds sell for about $100 more, and seem to vary in terms of what was done to them.

I think that the last batch make a *great* project pistol. For out of the box carry, I would check out a few other options.

Bob

[Hawkmoon]

Systema?? Are you talking about a 1911 45acp or what ? I have never heard of a systema. I looked the word up on-line and found reference to airsoft pistol. Is that what you are talking about? Will you explain for this old fashioned 45acp nut, I'm lacking in this area.

Thanks,
You won't find much info on "Systema" because it's spelled "Sistema" -- with an 'I'. Look through our Foreign Contract forum area and you'll find several threads discussing them.