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mmbasser
20th November 2008, 18:20
Hello, first post after lurking a while.

I recently dug out my M1911 that I refurbed 15yrs ago from what could only be described as a beater. At that time I purchased a match barrel and a new slide. I do not recall doing any filing on the slide or upper/lower barrel lugs....polishing yes, but not much material removal. It passed the timing tests that I knew about at that time, so I figured I was ok.

I started to recheck all my previous work starting with barrel fitting. I found that the vertical lug engagement as best I can measure is between .055 and .058. I measured both the slide lug cuts and the barrel lugs, and the engagement measurement seems possible, but from what I've read in the last few weeks, 0.050 is considered 100% engagement.

At lock up, I can push down the barrel just a slight amount, so I don't have real solid vertical lockup on the SS pin. Also, it's quite obvious that the firing pin is hitting low on the primer.....so that leads me to the question. According to Kuenhausen(SP?), this condition may require a new oversized barrel that can be hard fit, and centered on the firing pin hole.

Are there any other options short of welding & recutting something?

Thanks

PS the engagment was measured using 1911tuners popsickle stick method described in one of the sticky posts. ;)

Dave Berryhill
20th November 2008, 18:48
How does it shoot? If it's accurate, reliable and functioning properly then there isn't any need to work on the barrel unless you need true match accuracy.

Joni Lynn
20th November 2008, 20:00
Welcome to the forum.
Mr Berryhill has a good point, if it shoots well for you then that may be the answer.

niemi24s
20th November 2008, 22:38
. . . but from what I've read in the last few weeks, 0.050 is considered 100% engagement.100% engagement will vary from gun to gun, and as you've already figured out is the lesser of the #1 slide lug and #1 barrel lug heights. For a mid-spec GI M1911A1, 100% engagement is 0.0595 inch, but with a 278 link the actual engagement is only 0.0393 inch or 66%.

The amount of engagement that's considered just adequate depends on who's doing the considering, but most folks seem to proclaim something between 0.040 and 0.045".

Your 0.055 to 0.058 is very good, and is about the same as my accurized target Remington Rand with an Army (414) National Match barrel.

As for the off-center strikes on the primer, if it goes bang with every trigger pull I wouldn't worry. My gun's got a +17 link and the FP hits low on the primer too.

Options short of welding & recutting something? Certainly! Shoot & enjoy it!!

Cheers, and :wc: to the Forum!!!

mmbasser
21st November 2008, 03:49
Ok thanks, I'll move on to the next set of safety checks, etc...

Next new build wil probably bring a new set of questions.

BHP Fan
21st November 2008, 06:33
We'll be here.