Is it possible to use a Colt enhanced barrel in a standard non-enhanced slide? Not sure if they are compatible since the hood of the barrel looks different on the two. Thanks!!

You answered your own question. The hoods are a different size, they are the same as a Gold Cup. So you can use them on a Gold Cup slide or any other that's made for a narrow hood, but they won't interchange.

Wichaka thanks for verifying that. I wasn't sure and after a cursory examination of the barrels I noticed the hoods were different. Thanks, I was thinking about getting another barrel and this stainless enhanced barrel was available locally. I will keep looking for a "standard" barrel. Thanks again.

Don't know what the logic was behind that change, but if it was to force
us to come back to Colt for service/replacement barrels, they mighta screwed up...since they also provided slides that were perfect for fitting a standard
dimensioned hood to...

Wichaka...have you noticed that sometimes the new "Dimple" throat is a
little off-center in some pistols...and the sometimes it won't always work as promised? About one in five that I've run across need a bit of tweak to
get'em to feed...

Tuner

I've not had the chance to inspect much of anything new. The guys have been giving me their older stuff to build.

I have noticed in the past that some of the hoods aren't the straightest, or have poor quality maching and are a poor fit. Will have to go out and look for the dimple throat. Is it on the actual throat of the barrel or ?

Okay my memory is now kicking in, is that the notch that some makers put on the throat of the barrel so they are apt to feed HP's? If so, yes, yes, and YES. How are they supposed to work if they're not aligned with the ramp & mag.? Quality control........oh for those by gone years, when Colt and others were producing good stuff.........or at least more consistantly.

wichaka said:

Okay my memory is now kicking in, is that the notch that some makers put on the throat of the barrel...

Yep. That be the one. Kind of a cross between the old "Wadcutter" throat
and the GI "Hardball" throat. The theory is that it offers better case head support while still allowing the gun to feed profiles other than ball. If it's
well-executed, it works pretty well. If the dimple isn't centered, all bets are off. I've had to massage an average of one in three that I've seen to address
3-point jams/excessive stem bind. Not major surgery, but still a PITA if
a man doesn't happen to be handy with a Dremel and a scrape.

Note to all: Overzealous "Dremeling" has ruined more guns than the dream
team of Clinton, Clinton, Brady, Feinstein and Schumer. Be careful!

Luck!

Tuner

Your opinion may differ from mine here Tuner, but ya know if the gun is put together well, there is no need for the dimple thing. It was an answer that had no relevant question.........other than "....we're too lazy to have much quality control so.........uh........well.........here ya go, that'll fix it."

If one pays attention to a bit of detail, there should be no need for a dimple, gadget, gizmo, or freak thing that has no redeeming firearm value. Just put the gun together with a bit of patience and care, and..........wow, look at this..........it will work and function flawlessly. What a concept.
Your case in point Tuner, even the thing that was supposed to fix the problem is failing, i.e. the dimple. Because there's no quality control there either.

Just have patience folks, make a post for Tuner (he'll talk you down) and everything will be okay.

Although I think we're seeing a swing of the pendulum to the quality control side again. And none too soon.

Okay I'm off my soap box now.

Wichaka...Sounds like we're on the same wavelength here...or as I put it
to a certain Old Fuff who understands the problem...Brothers from another mother.

Colt! Springfield! Kimber! Everybody!
Just build'em to spec and use good small parts. Fer crissakes, go back to a
spring-tempered steel extractor, and stop with the 'Near Steel' crap. Put good
springs in your magazines. Tell the bean counters that you're gonna start buildin' workin' guns again, and to go sit down and shut up. Hire good people
who have some experience to put'em together and inspect'em. Bump the
MSRP up a couple hundred bucks to cover it. We'll buy the guns!

I stay so busy fixin screw-ups from the factories that I don't have time to
go shoot my own pistols. Simple stuff! Maybe if guys like me and wichaka here stop fixin' guns for the guys who don't wanna do the Warranty Shuffle for
6 or 8 weeks...and still don't have reliable pistols when they get'em back, you'd stop thinkin' that you're actually buildin' good pistols and start doin' it right...again. Your grandfathers could do it, and they didn't have all that fancy CNC machinery.

You'd save a bundle on warranty repairs alone. That money could be redirected to pay good assemblers and armorers and inspectors, or allow
them (the good ones) the time to do their jobs right the first time.

let the custom pistolsmiths ply their trade instead of spendin' half their workweek gettin' these abortions to run and stay together! Go look at a
Norinco! The Chinese showed ya how it's supposed to be done...and they did it with reclaimed, salvaged steel!

If you build it, they will come!

Howzat for a rant?

Cheers!

Tuner

Ya know I've been chewin' on this one for a couple days now, and just can't find a way to say it any better. Touche'

I'm tellin' ya...Brothers from another mother!