Chamber Reaming Question

[Hylander]

I am planning on installing a Kart EZ-Fit barrel into my 1991A1.
I have read that most barrels need finished reamed, is this the case with the EZ-Fit ?
If so, can this be done by hand and where would I get a Reamer ?
This will be my first attempt at installing a barrel.
If it matters I will be shooting mostly 200gr. SWC seated to 1.243 - 1.245

[DuckRyder]

I have... Be careful to lower the fitting pads evenly.

Read the instructions carefully, and be sure you understand the process before starting.

I would consider the fitting kit required unless you already have the contents of it.

Allow WAY more than the "hour" like about 6...

[log man]

I am planning on installing a Kart EZ-Fit barrel into my 1991A1.
I have read that most barrels need finished reamed, is this the case with the EZ-Fit ?
If so, can this be done by hand and where would I get a Reamer ?
This will be my first attempt at installing a barrel.
If it matters I will be shooting mostly 200gr. SWC seated to 1.243 - 1.245

The Kart EZ-fit is said to be finish reamed, but I would still ream it for the throat as the SWCs need that extra space for the bullet shoulder. I recommend Dave Manson reamers and yes it can be done by hand. I thought you were happy with your replacement barrel, or did the bug bite you? Careful you'll re-barrel everything you can get your hands on. LOL

LOG

[Hylander]

The Kart EZ-fit is said to be finish reamed, but I would still ream it for the throat as the SWCs need that extra space for the bullet shoulder. I recommend Dave Manson reamers and yes it can be done by hand. I thought you were happy with your replacement barrel, or did the bug bite you? Careful you'll re-barrel everything you can get your hands on. LOL

LOG

The Replacement barrel fit fine and shot OK, however it was Colts Dimple barrel and didn't feed any better than the old one.
I just can't leave things alone :o

[niemi24s]

The Replacement barrel fit fine and shot OK, however it was Colts Dimple barrel and didn't feed any better than the old one.
I'd take that as a good clue that your gun's feeding problem is caused by something other than the barrel.

What is there that leads you to believe the third (Kart) barrel will help?

Not sure if the old wheeze "Third time's the charm" applies here.

Regards

[Hylander]

I'd thake that as a good clue that your gun's feeding problem is caused by something other than the barrel.
What is there that leads you to believe the third (Kart) barrel will help?
Not sure if the old wheeze "Third time's the charm" applies here.
Regards

My original barrel is bad and not fitted proper, so that one is a no go all together.
My original barrel feeds better than the Dimple barrel did.
I was gong to have a proper throat cut on the Dimple barrel and a new Bushing installed, but for about $50 more I get a new barrel & Bushing.

[Hylander]

Thanks for all the input
Just got done ordering;

5" 45ACP EZ-Fit Non-Ramped Barrel
Easy Fit tool kit
Wolff #16 Recoil Spring

[1911Art]

I fitted an Easy Fit with the kit.

It took me a lot longer than the instructions indicated - I went very slow and checked the hood to slide fit carefully and filed the fitting pads with lots of Marks-A-Lot and checking.

The instructions worked very well for me - read them carefully and more than once.

I didn't ream the barrel - that's the point of the "Easy Fit". I shoot mostly 200g SWC with some Nosler 185g JHPs. My reloads get checked with a Dillon cartridge gage and the gun has been shot many thousands of rounds with not a hiccup.

I load Laser Cast 200g SWCs to 1.245" COL; some suggest measuing the projection of the shoulder above the case mouth - COL is easier for me.

[Kulas]

hello to all you guys! I'm a new member here. Will using a finish reamer on the chamber affect the accuracy of the pistol in any way?
I was told this, but I am new to the 1911(or any pistol for that matter) so I wanted to check with you guys. Thanks!

[niemi24s]

Hi Kulas: :wc: to the Forum!

Well, it's been almost 12 hours since your first post and nobody with any practical experience with a finishing reamer has chimed in - so I'll give you what I know from what I've read about them.

Finishing reamers don't affect the accuracy of the gun unless the chamber gets reamed too deep. If reamed too deep the headspace is too great and accuracy will probably not be as good as it could have been if reaming had stopped at the proper depth.

Finishing reamers are used after a barrel is manufactured to:

• Obtain the proper headspace after a short-chambered barrel is fitted to a slide. Some barrels are made with short chambers on purpose - so the headspace can be "tweaked" after fitting.

• Obtain the proper headspace if a gun happened to be manufactured with inadequate headspace. This is probably pretty rare.

• Obtain the proper chamber diameter if a barrel happened to be manufactured with a "tight" chamber (diameter too small). This may be rare too.

• Clean up some of the tool marks in the chamber of a poorly made barrel.

If a gun & barrel have the proper headspace, chamber diameter and chamber surface finish, use of a finishing chamber reamer can probably do nothing for accuracy except make it worse - unless.....

.....the barrel leade geometry is incorrect. In this case the throating section that most chamber reamers are made with (or a separate throating reamer) may correct a problem in the leade and improve accuracy.

Much of what I know is from the websites of the David Manson and Clymer reamer companies. Google them for additional info.

Regards

[Kulas]

niemi24s, Good to know it does not normally affect accuracy. I will try to rule out the extractor and other more common culprits for the three point jam, after that then I would have to finish ream the barrel(very carefully). :D

Thanks for the welcome and the reply.

Regards

[niemi24s]

I will try to rule out the extractor and other more common culprits for the three point jam, after that then I would have to finish ream the barrel(very carefully).If you have a gun that's experiencing 3 point jams, about the only features of the chamber that might be involved are:

• The chamber's roof is very rough
• The corner where the barrel ramp meets the chamber is sharp and not rounded with a slight (0.02 to 0.03 inch) radius

Finish reaming may not do much for a rough chamber roof unless it's reamed so much that headspace is beyond limits, and it won't do a thing for the corner except make it sharper.

3 Point jams can be caused by ammunition, magazines and the gun itself. Recommend you start a new thread for this jam problem giving all the details - including pix. Also, search for the dozens of threads dealing with this problem.

Regards