Parts for Accuracy

[ColoKeb]

My SS Mark IV 80 (about 1994) has poor accuracy. I know the previous owner worked on it. It feeds fine.

Gunsmith says it may need a barrel and a bushing..$235 bucks. That eats up a lot of the gun's value.

I know the bushing has a washer ring on it now.
Would getting a stock bushing and a self install be likely to help?

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A friend says borrow a BBL of another Colt and test fire? Is that a good idea, and does it diagnose anything?

[Tom]

You can get a custom bushing from EGW. Just give them the I.D. of your slide and the O.D. of your barrel, and they can fabricate a new bushing for you. And it won't cost you nearly that much.

[log man]

An EGW or other bushing that fits better, tighter, will help, but how much? The unfortunate thing is Colt among others fitted their barrels to ride the link, not the pin which is an asset to accuracy.

LOG

[ColoKeb]

Read about the EGW bushings. Please tell me how to get the slide inside dimension....do I field strip, or what?

[niemi24s]

I know the previous owner worked on it.What did the previous owner do to it?A friend says borrow a BBL of another Colt and test fire? Is that a good idea, and does it diagnose anything?Don't think this will tell you much - if anything. Gunsmith says it may need a barrel and a bushing..$235 bucks. That eats up a lot of the gun's value.• What did the 'smith say was wrong with the barrel?
• How much play is there between the barrel muzzle and slide?
• How much vertical play is there between the aft end of the barrel and the slide when in battery?

Regards

[Hawkmoon]

I know the bushing has a washer ring on it now.
Would getting a stock bushing and a self install be likely to help?
It sounds like you are describing a Briley Spherical bushing, which is a premium part designed and intended specifically to maximize accuracy. If that's what you have, replacing it with a standard type bushing, even one of EGW's fitted ones, is unlikely to offer any improvement.

[robalo23]

I reciently purchased a Kart EZ fit national match barrel and bushing for $159.00 from midway. took 2 hrs of slow fileing and sanding but I got a great fit. The accuracy difference in my Taurus 1911 from factory barrel to the Kart barrel is just amazing! The instructions that came with the barrel were easy to understand and follow. The only gripe I have is its a stainless bushing and the gun is black. If you are remotely interested in do it yourself projects Id recommend this.

[sevenL4]

What's your definition of poor accuracy? The Briley bushing may not have been fitted to your slide properly. Take it apart and measure the inside dimension of the slide and the outer dimension of the bushing. Then do the inside of the bushing and outside of the barrel. You will need those measurements for an EGW bushing anyway. I have always had good accuracy with Colt barrels. My definition of 'good'; 2 inches at 25 feet offhand. If you decide to change barrel and bushing, PM me. I'll make you an offer.

[jwenum]

Just a thought-have you had anyone else try shooting it to see what's really going on?Don't know your experience level.1911's are a different breed,but we love them anyway.