1911 Pistol w/ LONG barrel, any issues?

[Mr_Sheesh]

Friend asked if putting a LONG barrel on a 1911 (think his is a Commander? Uncertain tho.) would cause any problems; I told him I didn't know of any potential problems but that I'd ask around. Might cause a little bushing wear eventually? But I'd think it would be OK? Anyone know more on this? Thank you!

[GhostHawk]

I've seen it done. If it was me I would get a second bushing and fit it for the long barrel.

At one point one of the gun parts company's was offering 12" barrels for .45acp quite reasonably.

Would turn a 5" 1911 into a different sort of beast.
The only reason I did not do it was I did not have the tools to cut a dovetail or mount a good front sight on the end of the barrel.

Added weight would absorb recoil, extra length would given you more speed and I suspect it would cut muzzle flip. It just would not be ideal for confined spaces or working around corners.

[Dusty Bannister]

You would also encounter change in bullet impact location due to barrel time, and different weights and velocities. In the world of shooting sports, I have to think that if it was a good idea, a lot of people would already be doing it.

[oldsalt444]

How long of a barrel are you talking about? I'm a bullseye/precision pistol shooter and my 45 wadgun has a 6" barrel in a 5" slide. For accuracy, the part of the barrel that mates with the bushing needs to have the proper fit. Otherwise your groups could look like buckshot patterns.

[Plate plinker]

Many compensated guns are done in this manner. It works.

[Dusty Bannister]

Guess it will depend upon the definition of "long" barrel, or "longer" barrel. There was a mention of a 12" barrel early on but not by the OP.

[country gent]

The longer barrels may create some small function issues due to added weight, timing. On a 8"+ barrel the added barrel in front of the bushing can have an effect on the chamber / hood dropping down to unlock from the slide. On a long slide with full length slide this weight leverage of the barrel is negated by the full length slides having the bushing back just behind the muzzle. But then the heavier slide may require a different recoil spring to fully function.
My 1911 wadcutter gun in 38 spl has a 6" barrel with 1" in front of the bushing. it feeds and functions great accuracy is top notch. the recoil spring on this lock up 38 spl is 6 lbs.

With a recoil operated system there is a point where added barrel length is going to be unlocking with some pressure still present.

[tazman]

The longer barrels may create some small function issues due to added weight, timing. On a 8"+ barrel the added barrel in front of the bushing can have an effect on the chamber / hood dropping down to unlock from the slide. On a long slide with full length slide this weight leverage of the barrel is negated by the full length slides having the bushing back just behind the muzzle. But then the heavier slide may require a different recoil spring to fully function.
My 1911 wadcutter gun in 38 spl has a 6" barrel with 1" in front of the bushing. it feeds and functions great accuracy is top notch. the recoil spring on this lock up 38 spl is 6 lbs.

With a recoil operated system there is a point where added barrel length is going to be unlocking with some pressure still present.

It would have to be a very long barrel. On a standard length barrel, the bullet is gone before the slide begins to open.
Here is a link to a slow motion video of a 1911 45acp firing a 230 gr Winchester round. The pistol starts to recoil and the bullet exits the barrel before the slide start to move.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F506XIMEz0M

With the bullet traveling at 800fps(easily achieved) at the end of a 5 inch barrel, an additional 12 inches of barrel would be traversed in less than 1/800th of a second. I believe it would take much longer than that for the slide to unlock according to the video..

[Dusty Bannister]

Keep in recoil and muzzle flip. And remember I mentioned "barrel time" Quite evident with contenders who have no barrel movement or barrel unlocking. It all has an effect on bullet impact. Still no verification of the actual barrel length contemplated?

[35remington]

Since the added length adds weight and slows rearward slide velocity, the gun really cannot unlock with any practical barrel length with pressure present. To understand otherwise is really misunderstanding how the pistol works.

Back in the day Jim Boland would make carbine length barrel 1911’s. They had no functional issues and did not unlock with “pressure present.”

The slide does start to move when the bullet does.....but again, the added weight of barrel sees to it a longer time is needed to reach the link down point, which counteracts the short additional time needed for the bullet to traverse the longer barrel.

Worry not about that.

[reddog81]

A 16 inch barrel only adds 150 to 200 FPS in .45 ACP. If I were to go from a 4" to 5" or a 5" to a 6" inch 1911 it'd be for the extended sight radius as much as the small FPS change.

On your average 1911 the barrel is slightly thicker at the muzzle were it fits with the bushing. A longer barrel would need to have this thicker portion match up with bushing i.e. You can't take a 5" barrel and just expect it'll work on a Commander sized slide.

FWIW the slide absolutely does start to move at the exact same time the bullet starts to move. The dramatic weight difference between the slide and bullet means the slide only move a small fraction of an inch and the video linked to in post #8 is not slow enough to show it. If the slide remained stationary while the bullet was in the barrel what makes you think it'd move once the bullet leaves the barrel? The slide and barrel do remained "locked" together until well after the bullet leaves the barrel, but they are moving in unison until barrel and slide unlock. Any sensible length and you're probably fine but you'll run into problems eventually.

[35remington]

It is hard to imagine where any barrel length would cause a problem. A 100 foot long barrel would be so heavy and slow the slide so much any effects would counteract. In addition, even if it would unlock expansion of the gasses would be so great residual pressure would drop to near nil levels anyway.

Ego.....no problem no matter what. A long enough barrel would eventually add enough mass the gun would not cycle, but this would occur at a length where the gun would resemble a pole vaulting apparatus rather than a recognizable firearm.

[jcren]

223408

Iver Johnson got it working for a 16" carbine.

[mcdaniel.mac]

I'd figure how much weight you're adding. Silencers additing more than 6oz require a booster (aka Nielsen device) to counteract the additional mass. My Octane 45 weighs 12oz. Additionally the added length can add leverage to the weight, so you may need to consider a stronger recoil spring if it's more than a few inches. Lastly, the additional mass often causes additional wear and tear, which should be a consideration.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Right now I am just learning theory / info, have thought of getting a longer than stock barrel if I eventually get a suppressor, so it could be threaded (by someone competent to DO that LOL) - I know that the sight radius wouldn't be lengthened, and if the suppressor's larger diameter it'd be in the way of the sights, so I'm working through the parts of the puzzle as I get time when I can't do other things but can think and ask questions. (Messed up knees can mess you up!) Thank you all :)

[35remington]

Start with the existing spring and adjust if needed. If not, just have fun.

[Bent Ramrod]

When the extra barrel lengths were all the rage in 9mm, there were a lot of failures to feed caused by “limp wristing,” which was essentially holding the gun in the way that one did with the shorter barrel. You had to stiffen your wrist to take more of the recoil, or the slide wouldn’t come back far enough to pick up a new cartridge.

Don’t know if this is a problem in .45 caliber, but you might keep in mind that a change in hold may be necessary.

[35remington]

A 100 foot long barrel would probably result in a stuck bullet in the barrel.

Just say no! Lol.

[reddog81]

A 100 foot long barrel would probably result in a stuck bullet in the barrel.

Just say no! Lol.

But your groups at 35 yards would be awfully impressive! Just line the barrel up with the bullseye and pull the trigger.

[35remington]

No hole, no score or group though!

[dbmjr1]

Here you go. A longer barrel for your 1911.
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/451911barrel16roto.aspx

[Green Frog]

No hole, no score or group though!

35 yards=105 feet. A 100 foot barrel would have a long dwell time, but very little travel in air! It would make it possible to have holes in the paper at 35 yards, scoring and making groups. Holding such a barrel would be another matter!

Froggie

[tazman]

Assuming the bullet actually left the barrel. The friction might well jam the bullet inside the barrel.

[35remington]

Yes. Bore drag, a high expansion ratio, and a small gas volume of fast burning powder would make a stuck bullet very likely.

[Forrest r]

When the extra barrel lengths were all the rage in 9mm, there were a lot of failures to feed caused by “limp wristing,” which was essentially holding the gun in the way that one did with the shorter barrel. You had to stiffen your wrist to take more of the recoil, or the slide wouldn’t come back far enough to pick up a new cartridge.

Don’t know if this is a problem in .45 caliber, but you might keep in mind that a change in hold may be necessary.

+1^^^^^

We used to fit 6" 9mm bbl's to our 5" 1911 38-super race guns. The extra inch of bbl was a huge + with the 9mm/158gr bullet combo's we'd run.

[mold maker]

Man, I'd hate to have to remove a stuck boolit from 100' barrel. It would extend onto the neighbors' yard.

[reddog81]

Yes. Bore drag, a high expansion ratio, and a small gas volume of fast burning powder would make a stuck bullet very likely.

It's called being facetious... Don't get too worried! No one is hammering out a 100 foot barrel in their garage.

[35remington]

I’m not worried. It was just an amusing thought process.

[reddog81]

I’m not worried. It was just an amusing thought process.

It'd be an interesting test to see what the difference is between lead, plated, or jacketed bullets and light loads vs hot loads would have on how far a bullet could make it before running out of steam inside the barrel.

Once the pressure drops to zero does the bullet stop within a couple inches or does it keep truckin' along for a couple feet or more just from momentum???

[Mr_Sheesh]

100' barrel, uh how would you TRANSPORT that beast? Put trailer wheels and trailer lights and a hitch on it, and have a couple flagging vehicles help avoid idiots running into it? Too long. So: 95 feet tops :p

Also - How are you going to conceal that beast? Nope.

That 18" one could do. I'd probably want to match a decent bushing to it and save the existing bushing and barrel for when sanity returned to me, if ever :P

I'd maybe try a slower powder for longer barrels but have to see how that works. I doubt BLC(2) would do, tho it does great with 18" barreled 223s and 308s LOL

[Geezer in NH]

IMHO long barrels beyond the slide in the 1911 looks absolutely STUPID. :shock:

[69daytona]

Have a 1911 with a 15" barrelthat I got from my uncles collection, shot it with my 200 gr swc target loads and had a few FTC with the stock 16 lb spring, changed it to a 13 and have no problems and accuracy is very good, also tried it with my 230 hardball rounds, worked perfect with the 16 and not much recoil.
Have to admit it looks strange but it's not my only 1911 so I like to play with things that are different.

[sureYnot]

Nm. Got two comments mixed together.