best barrel for 1911?

[vtrigger77]

What are the best barrels for a full size 1911 .45acp? I want to upgrade my RIA GI but only internally so i figured i could start with a barrel. What do u calgunners think?

[foxtrotuniformlima]

Best ? That is easy. The one that is fit properly.

Amongst the manufactures, there are several who have good QA/QC.

In no particular order,

Barsto Precision Machine
KKM
Storm Lake
Schueman
Kart
Nowlin

I'd get a Barsto provided the wait was not too long.

I had a gun with a Nowlin that was a tack driver.

Some of the top custom gunsmiths use the Schuemann barrels.

[postal]

Just wanted to be sure....

You know that a good barrel requires fitting? A lot of fitting?

A 'drop in' or 'semi drop in' is not so good accuracy wise... and still usually takes fitting... or it's a really sloppy fit if it actually 'drops in'.

This is usually a gunsmith job to change out a barrel in a 1911.

[jakuda]

Just a FYI, if the gunsmith knows what he is doing, the stock RIA barrel can be welded up and fit with a properly fit bushing and slide stop to shoot 3" 10-shot groups at 50 yards from a ransom rest. Mine is around 2.25" with good (but not great) target rounds.

Most gunsmiths will prefer to use a known barrel manufacturer like Kart, and only use them with their work. Others will take what they get, and do the best they can.

If you really wanted to do everything yourself, the easiest option maybe to get the Kart EZ-fit barrel. Measure with a micrometer the dimension of your slide for your barrel bushing outer diameter. Then measure the diameter of your new Kart barrel to get the inner diameter (add a thousandth of an inch or whatever you want for your tolerance). Then go buy an EGW bushing with the dimensions you want.

[vtrigger77]

Thanx for the info looks like i have a lot of homework to do lol

[brassburnz]

I have a Barsto that I really like in a .45 acp. I also have a 7791414 marked Colt National Match barrel that shoots really well. You can often find them on Ebay for a great price.

[voiceofreason]

The fitting matters more than the barrel itself for the most part.

Alan Tanaka might be able to do it for you nicely.

Would rather save the money and get a better 1911 to start with personally. Or spend it on ammo and training/practice to be a better shot.

Like modifying a base Civic to runs faster.