Replacement "Shooter" barrels for Old Colt Autos.

BossHoss · January 23, 2010, 08:40 AM

I have a collection of Old Colt Autos . Ranging from 1902 to 1905, .32 .38 and .45 .

I have always wanted to use these as "shooters". Regular shooting and plinking on a semi-frequent basis. The one thing that keeps me from it, is using the original barrels, and wearing them out.

Does anyone make or market modern made replacement barrel for these guns?

I would love to preserve the originals and beat up the replacements.

Or am I just pipe dreaming???

I love shooting these pieces of Americana and want to do what I can to preserve the original parts. Any of them if possible.

Dfariswheel · January 23, 2010, 08:30 PM

No one I know of ever made replacement barrels for these old models.
These are long obsolete and the number of people who'd spend the money for new barrels is so small it wouldn't be economical to tool up for a replacement.

About all you can do is shoot mild loads and give them plenty of care.

hickstick_10 · January 23, 2010, 10:52 PM

reload for lead bullets.

youl have to do some serious shooting to wear it out

BossHoss · January 24, 2010, 07:54 AM

I was just dreaming , I quess.

Yup, soft leadies, and lots of solvent.

These barrels are so odd-ball it would take a great deal of tooling.

Even though the 05 is so rare, I can;t resist shooting it, 200gn light loads.

It would be a crime to just let them sit in the safe or in a glass case.

I just don't want them to be shot out when they get passed down in couple of decades.

gyvel · January 25, 2010, 04:40 AM

All of those guns are nearing, if not over the century mark. If I read your posts right, you are considering shooting them quite a bit. In each case, you are far more likely to break an irreplaceable part (the slide, for example) and it would be a far greater crime to ruin such weapons as these. You should just retire them to that "glass case."

James K · January 25, 2010, 11:03 PM

Another factor against making repro barrels is that those barrels, unlike the M1903 hammerless barrels, are quite complex with two sets of lower lugs. I am afraid Dfariswheel is right; don't look for new ones any time soon.

But on the plus side, a moderate amount of shooting, especially with lead bullets, won't wear out a barrel.

Jim

P.S. Don't forget to put the slide stop back in or bad things happen!

JK

January 23, 2010, 08:40 AM	#1
BossHoss Member Join Date: January 22, 2010 Posts: 25	Replacement "Shooter" barrels for Old Colt Autos. I have a collection of Old Colt Autos . Ranging from 1902 to 1905, .32 .38 and .45 . I have always wanted to use these as "shooters". Regular shooting and plinking on a semi-frequent basis. The one thing that keeps me from it, is using the original barrels, and wearing them out. Does anyone make or market modern made replacement barrel for these guns? I would love to preserve the originals and beat up the replacements. Or am I just pipe dreaming??? I love shooting these pieces of Americana and want to do what I can to preserve the original parts. Any of them if possible.

January 23, 2010, 08:30 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	No one I know of ever made replacement barrels for these old models. These are long obsolete and the number of people who'd spend the money for new barrels is so small it wouldn't be economical to tool up for a replacement. About all you can do is shoot mild loads and give them plenty of care.

January 23, 2010, 10:52 PM	#3
hickstick_10 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 477	reload for lead bullets. youl have to do some serious shooting to wear it out

January 24, 2010, 07:54 AM	#4
BossHoss Member Join Date: January 22, 2010 Posts: 25	I was just dreaming , I quess. Yup, soft leadies, and lots of solvent. These barrels are so odd-ball it would take a great deal of tooling. Even though the 05 is so rare, I can;t resist shooting it, 200gn light loads. It would be a crime to just let them sit in the safe or in a glass case. I just don't want them to be shot out when they get passed down in couple of decades.

January 25, 2010, 04:40 AM	#5
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	All of those guns are nearing, if not over the century mark. If I read your posts right, you are considering shooting them quite a bit. In each case, you are far more likely to break an irreplaceable part (the slide, for example) and it would be a far greater crime to ruin such weapons as these. You should just retire them to that "glass case."

January 25, 2010, 11:03 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Another factor against making repro barrels is that those barrels, unlike the M1903 hammerless barrels, are quite complex with two sets of lower lugs. I am afraid Dfariswheel is right; don't look for new ones any time soon. But on the plus side, a moderate amount of shooting, especially with lead bullets, won't wear out a barrel. Jim P.S. Don't forget to put the slide stop back in or bad things happen! JK