1911 Barrel / Drop in?

Harry J · February 20, 2018, 02:26 PM

I am looking at having a barrel install on myRIA full size.I am building a target pistol for informal competition. I have talked to a few people on drop in or oversize barrels. I know oversize requires extensive fitting but from what I have been told it's very pricey. One person said a drop in Wilson Combat barrel cost $200 to fit. He had a Springfield I believe. Another who has a RIA like mine said he fit a Storm Lake drop in in about 30 minutes. Just how "drop in" are drop in barrels? Also what should I expect to payfor labor for a oversize full install?
Thanks for any advice.

RickB · February 20, 2018, 05:13 PM

The value of the "gunsmith fit" barrel is in the fitting.
People will often ask, "What's the best barrel?", when a better questions would be, "Who best to fit the barrel?"
I certainly would not spend $400 or more having a barrel fitted to a $400 gun.

"Semi drop-in", or sometimes called "Pre-fit", barrels can generally be installed with hand tools, though you still have to know from where excess material needs to be removed.
I bought a Storm Lake pre-fit, and literally had to remove material from just about every surface, after consulting a gunsmith about where to remove material!

A good compromise, if you're at all handy, is the Kart . . . I think they're now called X-Act Fit, used to be EZ-fit, which can be fitted to a very high standard using only hand tools supplied in an installation kit.
I've installed two EZ-fit barrels, and while the instructions suggest it can be done in an hour, I spent something closer to four or five hours on mine, measuring twice and cutting once.

Harry J · February 20, 2018, 08:27 PM

Thank you for that info. I have not heard of Kart. I will look into that. I have a good assortment of metal working and finishing tools, micrometers and gauges. You are right about spending the money. This is for fun not a national championship.
Thanks again.

tangolima · February 21, 2018, 11:34 AM

I fitted one of these for a client. They seem good barrels. Not to hard to fit.

https://www.fusionfirearms.com

-TL

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

T. O'Heir · February 22, 2018, 01:16 PM

Where you are matters.
$200 to fit a barrel is insane. Even though it's entirely a hand done thing. West Coast Armory in Bellevue WA, for example, wants $120 to fit a .45 barrel.
Brownell's did a survey. Fitting a 1911 barrel runs $90 to $150 plus the cost of the barrel.
Near the bottom.
https://www.brownells.com/userdocs/m...ricesurvey.pdf
However, drop in barrels are ok, but do not quite fit for accuracy purposes.

Harry J · February 22, 2018, 01:28 PM

Thanks tangolima. Fusion looks interesting. And the labor chart is handy. I'm holding on to that. Thanks T. O'heir.

tangolima · February 22, 2018, 01:31 PM

A full-tilt gunsmith fitted barrel needs about 2 hours to fit. It requires jigs and milling machine. I can see bill of $100 or more. A fusion arms barrel is mostly prefitted. One hour with hand tools will do.

-TL

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Hunter Customs · February 23, 2018, 11:40 AM

When fitting a barrel in a 1911 handgun I prefer doing what's termed "Hard fit". To hard fit a barrel you should fit the radial lugs, lower lug, all areas of the hood and the barrel bushing. I do 98% of that fitting on a mill and a lathe and it takes longer then 2 hours. Before I start the fitting process I take readings of the radial lugs in the slide, this is often times overlooked......For the novice a drop in barrel will work well but it will not compare in lockup to a hard fit barrel......Keep in mind barrel lock up is what gives you repeatability which in turn gives you the best mechanical accuracy.

RickB · February 23, 2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

$200 to fit a barrel is insane. Even though it's entirely a hand done thing. West Coast Armory in Bellevue WA, for example, wants $120 to fit a .45 barrel.

"My" smith, a short drive from West Coast, charges $225. Everyone I know uses his services, so his prices can't be too insane?

February 20, 2018, 02:26 PM	#1
Harry J Member Join Date: January 12, 2018 Posts: 16	1911 Barrel / Drop in? I am looking at having a barrel install on myRIA full size.I am building a target pistol for informal competition. I have talked to a few people on drop in or oversize barrels. I know oversize requires extensive fitting but from what I have been told it's very pricey. One person said a drop in Wilson Combat barrel cost $200 to fit. He had a Springfield I believe. Another who has a RIA like mine said he fit a Storm Lake drop in in about 30 minutes. Just how "drop in" are drop in barrels? Also what should I expect to payfor labor for a oversize full install? Thanks for any advice. __________________ If you cannot speak well of someone, it is well you not speak of them.

February 20, 2018, 05:13 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	The value of the "gunsmith fit" barrel is in the fitting. People will often ask, "What's the best barrel?", when a better questions would be, "Who best to fit the barrel?" I certainly would not spend $400 or more having a barrel fitted to a $400 gun. "Semi drop-in", or sometimes called "Pre-fit", barrels can generally be installed with hand tools, though you still have to know from where excess material needs to be removed. I bought a Storm Lake pre-fit, and literally had to remove material from just about every surface, after consulting a gunsmith about where to remove material! A good compromise, if you're at all handy, is the Kart . . . I think they're now called X-Act Fit, used to be EZ-fit, which can be fitted to a very high standard using only hand tools supplied in an installation kit. I've installed two EZ-fit barrels, and while the instructions suggest it can be done in an hour, I spent something closer to four or five hours on mine, measuring twice and cutting once. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

February 20, 2018, 08:27 PM	#3
Harry J Member Join Date: January 12, 2018 Posts: 16	Thank you for that info. I have not heard of Kart. I will look into that. I have a good assortment of metal working and finishing tools, micrometers and gauges. You are right about spending the money. This is for fun not a national championship. Thanks again. __________________ If you cannot speak well of someone, it is well you not speak of them.

February 22, 2018, 01:16 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Where you are matters. $200 to fit a barrel is insane. Even though it's entirely a hand done thing. West Coast Armory in Bellevue WA, for example, wants $120 to fit a .45 barrel. Brownell's did a survey. Fitting a 1911 barrel runs $90 to $150 plus the cost of the barrel. Near the bottom. https://www.brownells.com/userdocs/m...ricesurvey.pdf However, drop in barrels are ok, but do not quite fit for accuracy purposes. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 22, 2018, 01:28 PM	#6
Harry J Member Join Date: January 12, 2018 Posts: 16	Thanks tangolima. Fusion looks interesting. And the labor chart is handy. I'm holding on to that. Thanks T. O'heir. __________________ If you cannot speak well of someone, it is well you not speak of them.

February 21, 2018, 11:34 AM	#4
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,813	I fitted one of these for a client. They seem good barrels. Not to hard to fit. https://www.fusionfirearms.com -TL Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

February 22, 2018, 01:31 PM	#7
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,813	A full-tilt gunsmith fitted barrel needs about 2 hours to fit. It requires jigs and milling machine. I can see bill of $100 or more. A fusion arms barrel is mostly prefitted. One hour with hand tools will do. -TL Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

February 23, 2018, 11:40 AM	#8
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	When fitting a barrel in a 1911 handgun I prefer doing what's termed "Hard fit". To hard fit a barrel you should fit the radial lugs, lower lug, all areas of the hood and the barrel bushing. I do 98% of that fitting on a mill and a lathe and it takes longer then 2 hours. Before I start the fitting process I take readings of the radial lugs in the slide, this is often times overlooked......For the novice a drop in barrel will work well but it will not compare in lockup to a hard fit barrel......Keep in mind barrel lock up is what gives you repeatability which in turn gives you the best mechanical accuracy.

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