- Joined
- Feb 16, 2018
- Messages
- 127
Recently I've been posting some pics to social media showing barrel fit, or not. I've had lots of questions about the pics but the most common one is, "How can I tell if my barrel legs are fit to the slide stop?". So I decided to start a "challenge" if you will since it is something I feel is really important on a custom hand built gun.
In the 1911University classes I tell students that the slide to frame fit is the "heart of the build" and the barrel fit is the "soul of the build". When combined with the other parts they make up the whole.
Now there is a lot more than leg fit that goes into a barrel fit, proper chamber finish reaming and polishing, bushing fit, link fit, hood fit all play into that "soul of the build" if you will. But, the barrel leg fit is, in my opinion, the one thing that separates a lot of guns because you either have it or you don't.
Generally speaking 50% contact on both legs with zero barrel bump (that's when the slide stop bumps the front of the barrel legs as the barrel is going back into battery) is considered adequate. And I personally know of several guns with fit in that range that have won numerous championships at Perry. However, the more you have, the better it is, within reason.
Keep in mind that a "Hard Fit" is not the same as a proper fit (again, in my opinion) as it causes the slide stop to wear out quickly thus loosing the leg fit along the way. If you have flat spots on the top of your slide stop pin from a "hard fit" barrel the fit simply will not last long.
So, with all that said, I'm starting #custom1911barrelfitchallenge with this pic. It's simple really. Take your slide off, clean the oil off the barrel legs, apply marker or dykem to the bearing surface, re-assemble the gun, cycle 25-50 times, take the slide off and take a pic. For example, this is WMG00001 that I built a couple months ago. It has 200 rounds through it currently. Basically 100% contact with zero barrel bump.
And if you don't want to name the make or model that's fine, although others might find it helpful. This isn't about calling out makers or smiths, it's about you becoming more educated on what you have and what you want. If you do this at least you'll know what you have. Let's make proper barrel fit on custom built 1911's great again!
In the 1911University classes I tell students that the slide to frame fit is the "heart of the build" and the barrel fit is the "soul of the build". When combined with the other parts they make up the whole.
Now there is a lot more than leg fit that goes into a barrel fit, proper chamber finish reaming and polishing, bushing fit, link fit, hood fit all play into that "soul of the build" if you will. But, the barrel leg fit is, in my opinion, the one thing that separates a lot of guns because you either have it or you don't.
Generally speaking 50% contact on both legs with zero barrel bump (that's when the slide stop bumps the front of the barrel legs as the barrel is going back into battery) is considered adequate. And I personally know of several guns with fit in that range that have won numerous championships at Perry. However, the more you have, the better it is, within reason.
Keep in mind that a "Hard Fit" is not the same as a proper fit (again, in my opinion) as it causes the slide stop to wear out quickly thus loosing the leg fit along the way. If you have flat spots on the top of your slide stop pin from a "hard fit" barrel the fit simply will not last long.
So, with all that said, I'm starting #custom1911barrelfitchallenge with this pic. It's simple really. Take your slide off, clean the oil off the barrel legs, apply marker or dykem to the bearing surface, re-assemble the gun, cycle 25-50 times, take the slide off and take a pic. For example, this is WMG00001 that I built a couple months ago. It has 200 rounds through it currently. Basically 100% contact with zero barrel bump.
And if you don't want to name the make or model that's fine, although others might find it helpful. This isn't about calling out makers or smiths, it's about you becoming more educated on what you have and what you want. If you do this at least you'll know what you have. Let's make proper barrel fit on custom built 1911's great again!
