1911 barrel bushing

[hotwheelz]

I picked up a CAI .45 commander size to start tinkering with and learn how to do some of my own work. The barrell bushing that was on it didnt fit right so I bought a new on got it to fit up right evreryting is working well but the gun hits 6" low at 15yrds groups are good but Im not sure if I did something wrong while installing? I must also say that I didnt put any rounds threw it before and I didnt take the old barrell bushing to the range to see if it had any affect. It has original combat type sights so there really is no quick adjustment to be had there. Any ideas ???

[NSP64]

changing bushing can effect point of impact. If it allows the barrel to be forced down, it will shoot lower. In 1911 style pistols you can go to a gold cup bushing that has spring steel 'fingers' and they center the barrel. There has been some complaints of the 'fingers' breaking but I have never experianced that.

[MtGun44]

Yes, bushing change an definitely change POI. I have seen one finger break on a collet type
Colt bushing.

Did you put in a longer link by any chance? This with DEFINITELY lower the POI, as it pushes
the rear of the bbl up.

Bill

[hotwheelz]

changing bushing can effect point of impact. If it allows the barrel to be forced down, it will shoot lower. In 1911 style pistols you can go to a gold cup bushing that has spring steel 'fingers' and they center the barrel. There has been some complaints of the 'fingers' breaking but I have never experianced that.

I wish they would work on a commander but to long...

Yes, bushing change an definitely change POI. I have seen one finger break on a collet type
Colt bushing.

Did you put in a longer link by any chance? This with DEFINITELY lower the POI, as it pushes
the rear of the bbl up.

Bill

No new link ..

[HeavyMetal]

Depending on how you installed the barrel bushing you may also be getting some "spring" in it.

Unload the gun and then let the slide go forward into battey.

Now take your thump and press down over the chamber area exposed through the ejection port in the slide.

The back of the barrel should not move! If you feel it move up and down as you apply pressure with you thumb you have springing and it needs to be remove and this may change you point of impact back where it belongs, maybe!

If you have not read Kunhassens book on 1911's please get a copy and read up on fitting a bushing.

Second thought: someone else may have added a longer link to the pistol before you bought it. Adding the tighter bushing would diffinately change POI.

Longer link's are supposed to make the gun lock up better. In reality all they do is contribute to malfunctions! 99.999% of swapped links are a waste of time.

Kunhaussen's 1911 book also explains how long they really should be, I suggest you pull yours out and check the center to center length on the pin holes!

Bar-Sto used too use finger collet bushing for both GM and Commander barrels. I had a GM barrel from them , and still do, that is on it's third barrel bushing. The original collet bit the big one during a match in 1980 3 years after I bought it.

Bar-Sto now only use's solid bushings and they have no trouble with them.