1911 Barrel Bushing

[edsel6502]

So I'm at Reed's running through Louis Awerbuck's excellent pistol II class.

Its towards the end of day one and its my last firing string. I pull the trigger on me Dan Wesson commander bobtail. The darn thing goes boom like it should but it also goes "sproing!".

It seems that my barrel bushing broke and it launched the plug and bushing towards the backstop. Once class was over, I managed to find the bushing and the plug. On closer inspection the lug on the bushing got damaged. Mama Edsel's favourite bambino is not happy. This is not supposed to happen to a new gun with only 800 rounds through it.

Anywho, I'm shopping for a new barrel bushing. And I happen onto EGW (evolution gun works). I'm kinda new to 1911s so I'm try to figure out some terms.

I.D = Inside Diameter. I basically measure the inner "ring" of my barrel bushing?

O.D = Outside Diameter. I measure the outer "ring" of my barrel bushing?

Angle Bore? Straight Bore? <- Me no understand

I am waiting for DW's customer service to get back to me so they can send me a new bushing. But I want a new one from EGW as the folks on m1911.org seem to recommend it.

So am I understanding the terms correctly?

[slick_711]

You do have your terms correct.

I've heard of people measuring the inside of their bushing, and the outside of their barrel, and then taking a figure in the middle for their I.D., and doing the same with the outside of the bushing and the inside of the slide for the O.D. This supposedly gives you a tighter fit for a better, more accurate bushing fit. It makes sense to me but I haven't personally done it so I couldn't tell you how well that would work. Maybe check with EGW or post on m1911.org and see what people recommend. But yes, you have the right idea to get a bushing that will fit your gun from EGW. The above is just theoretical second hand info to get a 'better fit' bushing.

[blackrifle]

For the best results, you'll want to get a oversized bushing and have a good gunsmith fit it properly but I'm sure Dan Wesson will send you out a new one. Make sure the slot inside the slide (where the lug rides) isn't damage.

Do you have photos of the barrel bushing lug? I'm curious to see what happened. I wonder if the lug is undersized or if the slot for the lug is not in spec.

[mike100]

the oem DW bushing is(was) a loose fitting piece of junk anyways. The match bbl is sized and tapered for a tight bushing fit and I used a Kings 'semi-match' bushing for a full size i had turned down to 1/2" length. The clearance was a thou and a half at the bbl to bushing (.0015). Tight, but not overly so it doesn't seem to affect reliablility.

I did this because I had the kings bushing in my small parts, but it is a nice drop in fit.

[mike100]

For the best results, you'll want to get a oversized bushing and have a good gunsmith fit it properly but I'm sure Dan Wesson will send you out a new one. Make sure the slot inside the slide (where the lug rides) isn't damage.

Do you have photos of the barrel bushing lug? I'm curious to see what happened. I wonder if the lug is undersized or if the slot for the lug is not in spec.

On mine, it was loose as hell and was just getting battered. DW also supplies a fairly stout commander spring as well. luckily the slide and frame are very well made to dimension, but the bushing and FPS plate were cheap (easily replaced cheaper than sending the pistol back).

[dfletcher]

I have the new Bobtail and Pointman - so far so good. I think I'd send the gun back to DW and have them do the work. They should cover shipping both ways. The bushing fit is critical to accuracy, I'd want the manufacturer doing the work. True, it's not difficult fitting a bushing even an oversized one, but what would you do if the gun came back from a gunsmith & it didn't group well - or had another "ballistic bushing" episode? As soon as someone other than the factory handles a new gun you unfortunately give them the opportunity to blame someone else for the problem. I'm not saying DW would do this, but why take the chance.

Someone mentioned the slot in the frame as a possible culprit. Unless you can point to the bushing alone as the problem (perhaps the lug is sheared off?) I think that would be a reason to send it to the factory.

[blackrifle]

On my DW CBOB, the bushing and FPS fit very well. Nice and tight. My buddy's DW CBOB had a loose bushing as well. The DW spring is a Wolff spring from what I understand which would explain it's stoutness.

Out of all my 1911's, my DW CBOB has had the least amount of modifications done to it...just a short trigger, Ed Brown Hardcore Hammer ("Stainless") and Ed Brown 2-piece FLGR. I changed the hammer because mine came with a MIM Nowlin hammer. For me, a MIM Hammer is a no-no. I might get crazy on it and change the grips too...

[edsel6502]

Thanks for all the advice.

Frist I'm having one heck of a time get through to DW customer service.

I've left email and voicemails and nobody has gotten back to me yet. Uggh..

I'll try to take photos when I get home. The camera phone I've got has got a limited focal plane and will not focus on a close and small object for detail.

And thank goodnes the slot inside the slide is not damaged.

EDIT: Yay!. DW just called me back. I be getting my parts soon.

[JiminCA]

Call EGW and tell them what you're trying to do. Odds are good that they already know the exact dimensions required by your gun and can send you a bushing done to those dims.

Unless you are handy with a micrometer taking your own measurements can be a bit tricky.

The EGW drop-in bushings you can get from Brownells fit a Colt perfectly. Fantastic. Might be the same for EGW but call them to be sure.

It'll be the best 25 buck upgrade you ever do to your gun.

[Black_Talon]

Call EGW and tell them what you're trying to do. Odds are good that they already know the exact dimensions required by your gun and can send you a bushing done to those dims.

Unless you are handy with a micrometer taking your own measurements can be a bit tricky.

The EGW drop-in bushings you can get from Brownells fit a Colt perfectly. Fantastic. Might be the same for EGW but call them to be sure.

It'll be the best 25 buck upgrade you ever do to your gun.

Spot-on post. ^^^

edsel6502 - Mike the ID of your slide and the OD of your barrel (at the muzzle) and give EGW a call. Tell them you want an angle-bore bushing, tell them your dimensions and in a week or so you'll have a brand-new bushing.