Barrels

[vector16]

I have been researching some 1911s. I plan to purchase one in the very near future. I have been looking at Kimber mostly. A good portion of the reviews say that the barrels show signs of rust quickly and that is because the barrels are not stainless steel, intsead they are corbon steel. I have found one Kimber that is in my price range that has a stainless steel barrel and one that is not in the range I want to pay. All the other brands do not really say what kind of steel the barrels are. some of the Wilson Combat barrels at Corbon steel also, but some are stainless steel.

I am not sure now if my other guns are carbon steel bareels or stainless steel. Like my glocks or S&Ws.

Knowing that Carbon steel will rust and stainless steel will not rust, which one is better? Should I go with the Kimber Raptor II, Stainless Steel barrel or should I go with the Kimber Warrior II with the Carbon Steel barrel for about the the same price?

Is there a treatment that I can do to the carbon steel barrel to prevent it from rusting? I planned on buying a high quality 1911 and now I just don't know.

[67goat]

I have been researching some 1911s. I plan to purchase one in the very near future. I have been looking at Kimber mostly. A good portion of the reviews say that the barrels show signs of rust quickly and that is because the barrels are not stainless steel, intsead they are corbon steel. I have found one Kimber that is in my price range that has a stainless steel barrel and one that is not in the range I want to pay. All the other brands do not really say what kind of steel the barrels are. some of the Wilson Combat barrels at Corbon steel also, but some are stainless steel.

I am not sure now if my other guns are carbon steel bareels or stainless steel. Like my glocks or S&Ws.

Knowing that Carbon steel will rust and stainless steel will not rust, which one is better? Should I go with the Kimber Raptor II, Stainless Steel barrel or should I go with the Kimber Warrior II with the Carbon Steel barrel for about the the same price?

Is there a treatment that I can do to the carbon steel barrel to prevent it from rusting? I planned on buying a high quality 1911 and now I just don't know.

The treatment is use and maintenance. Rust is mostly an issue if you let the oil dry up while the gun just sits in your safe. If you keep it properly maintained and use an appropriate storage lubricant if you plan not to use it for a long time, you shouldn't have issues.

[sffred]

Kimber's are great out the box. (For me personally, I would leave it alone)

I believe carbon steel has a longer barrel life than stainless steel barrels. Even tho' stainless is more accurate, but usually a pistol will always outshoot it's shooter. So even if you change the barrel to stainless you would not see a difference. IMHO keep the factory carbon steel barrel.

If you want to protect your barrel, I would recomend the "militec" treatment. It's a DIY and its easy to clean!

[vector16]

I would recomend the "militec" treatment. It's a DIY and its easy to clean!

Thanks very much. That is what i was looking for. Now that I know I will not have to worry about it.
After I use this stuff on the gun I will not need to use anymore gun grease or oil befor I go shooting right?

[sffred]

Thanks very much. That is what i was looking for. Now that I know I will not have to worry about it.
After I use this stuff on the gun I will not need to use anymore gun grease or oil befor I go shooting right?

I would recommend using grease on the rails. (Tetra gun grease) it helps prevent wear from metal to metal friction.

[vector16]

I would recommend using grease on the rails. (Tetra gun grease) it helps prevent wear from metal to metal friction.

Thats great I have galons of Tetra gun. That is the only one I use on any of my other guns. I was told that Tetra gun was great on polymer guns. That is the majority of what i own so that is waht I use. I could not be happier with it.

[CS Sports]

"I believe carbon steel has a longer barrel life than stainless steel barrels. Even tho' stainless is more accurate"

I've not found either statement to be true.

Rust usually isn't an issue on a barrel unless you are operating in a marine environment or are just plain lazy about maintenance.

And, just FYI, the type of stainless typically used in gun barrels certainly can rust.

[vector16]

Thats great to know. we do live in CA, I live about 5 mile from the beach. I take the gus out shooting at Lytle Creek in the desert mnts so am not to hung up about a "marine environment". I dought if I would ever have the b**ls to shoot a gun under water or want to take it scuba diving. LOL
I have heard that the carbon barrels are more accurate and the SS is more brittle and can not deal with the pressure issue as well as the other.

[-hanko]

Thats great to know. we do live in CA, I live about 5 mile from the beach. I take the gus out shooting at Lytle Creek in the desert mnts so am not to hung up about a "marine environment". I dought if I would ever have the b**ls to shoot a gun under water or want to take it scuba diving. LOL
I have heard that the carbon barrels are more accurate and the SS is more brittle and can not deal with the pressure issue as well as the other.

Carbon, theoretically more accurate.

SS is NOT "brittle". .45acp is a very low pressure round. What you have been told is BS.

I'd go with non-stainless but I doubt you'll see a difference in shooting. Have it fitted by someone who knows what he's doing.

1911forum.com is really where you need to spend some time.

-hanko

[vector16]

Carbon, theoretically more accurate.

SS is NOT "brittle". .45acp is a very low pressure round. What you have been told is BS.

1911forum.com is really where you need to spend some time.

-hanko

They do not come with regular steel. Carbon on most and SS on 2. I am on 1911forum.com with this same post. I also have the same user name if you want to go check it out. I have learned alot on both sides and different things too. Like over there they are more likely to talk about what to purchase and why to purchase. Over here I get, get what yiou want and here's what you do to protect your purchase. Both side are ver informing. I have this same post on about 12 other sights as well. I am getting alot of great info and making notes of the tings I feel are the most important. Like the Militec and CLP. I have some stuff that is like that but have never used it. Whe n I looked up how to use it it gave me "this is great stuff, man" and that was it. I looked up Militec and I I got a whole 1/2 hour video instruction of how, when and why to use it. I would have never known aboutthe stuff if I were not her too.

[limitdown]

Use non-chlorinated brake cleaner for "scrubbing" and cleaning.
Then use CorrosionX lube in potential rust areas. I've found CorrosionX to be the best for preventing rust.
I use CorrosionX on my fishing equipment for offshore fishing (trolling, popping, jigging). Guns that I take on my boat are also treated. Saltwater is probably metal's absolute worst enemy, and CorrosionX holds up.

[vector16]

What about Militec I heard that is some of the best out there?

[-hanko]

They do not come with regular steel. Carbon on most and SS on 2. I am on 1911forum.com with this same post. I also have the same user name if you want to go check it out. I have learned alot on both sides and different things too. Like over there they are more likely to talk about what to purchase and why to purchase. Over here I get, get what yiou want and here's what you do to protect your purchase. Both side are ver informing. I have this same post on about 12 other sights as well. I am getting alot of great info and making notes of the tings I feel are the most important. Like the Militec and CLP. I have some stuff that is like that but have never used it. Whe n I looked up how to use it it gave me "this is great stuff, man" and that was it. I looked up Militec and I I got a whole 1/2 hour video instruction of how, when and why to use it. I would have never known aboutthe stuff if I were not her too.

Just edited the post for clarity...shoulda' said "non-stainless" but either should work and I doubt you'd see a difference.

Every lubricant announces it's the best in the world.

Militec and CLP are fine.

-hanko

[INFAMOUS762X39]

I love my Kimber TLE. No issues what so ever, rugged, Accurate, eats all sort of brass and steel ammo. Just keep the barrel oiled/clean during storage and your gtg.

Like sffred said, they are Fantastic out the box. After 1500+rds, Only thing I have done is installed a C&S Light Sear Spring and lightly/safely hand polished the vital trigger internals etc

[Lead Waster]

I believe the advantage to stainless steel is that it's shiny.