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View Full Version : Advice on a replacement barrel please


chibiker
8th January 2009, 15:32
Going to a gunshow this weekend to poke around but do have a bit of a mission. I recently recieved my Uncle's Augusta Arsenal rebuilt Colt. He definitely was the type to shoot what he owned and this one is no exception.
He also was a big fan of mil-surp ammo and the barrel of this pistol sadly shows the effect of corrosive ammo, cleaned it as best I could but there is major pitting/frosting and it's all but a smoothbore now.

Being that is a reworked pistol I am not sure what would be a typically used barrel. I ideally would like to have the right barrel (one used most commonly) for historical accuracy. Coolgunsite suggested a Springfield barrel, would there be any others? I don't even know if the barrel that is in it right now was the originally replaced barrel, I didn't have my camera with me when I had it apart. The joys of living in Chicago, it's like being divorced. I can't keep my guns here legally so have to keep them out of town at family's home and only get to visit them on weekends. I do remember it being marked Colt .45 Auto near where the barrel and lug joins and it is has the appearance of being a high polished steel or even kind of a chrome look to it.
I don't expect to have much luck locating a barrel at the show but you never know. Any other places I can look besides Gunbroker for a period barrel and what would be a fair price to pay for one?
I will get some pictures of it this weekend, sorry can't provide them now as I know this always helps. Oh, one more thing, the trigger is exactly the same as the one pictured on Coolgunsite as being a AA replacement trigger, does that indicate any time frame for the rebuild? Thanks everyone!

Scott Gahimer
8th January 2009, 17:37
Arsenals used what was available at the time when they rebuilt pistols. Any military barrel, even a post-WWII issue, would be fine. The barrels throughout WWII were all originally blued. However, if a barrel went through rebuild, they were typically Parkerized the same as the pistol.

A post-WWII produced barrel will be marked on top of the chamber and will be Parkerized. They will have a nice chrome bore.

If you are shooting your pistol now, the pitting and frosting may not be hurting you as much as you might suspect. With a new barrel, many don't shoot any better for accuracy.

chibiker
8th January 2009, 20:13
Thanks Scott....No, actually I have not shot it yet, but I intend to. My Uncle wouldn't have it any other way. My idea was to replace the barrel before shooting it as what is in it now can only be described as nasty... there isn't much more left of the rifling other than a shadow. I had this vision of pulling the trigger, big bang and then the bullet just falling out of the end of the barrel.....lol