Best 1911 Replacement Barrel?

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HFreedman

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Just curious, I've got a WWI era Colt 1911 (1914) and although it's all original, I'd like to put a new barrel in it for the odd time that I do shoot the gun.
I was looking at maybe putting in a new colt mfg barrel, but not sure where to find them in Canada.

Just wondering what other people have done to their historic 1911's.
 
HFreedman said:
Just curious, I've got a WWI era Colt 1911 (1914) and although it's all original, I'd like to put a new barrel in it for the odd time that I do shoot the gun.
I was looking at maybe putting in a new colt mfg barrel, but not sure where to find them in Canada.

Just wondering what other people have done to their historic 1911's.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I suggest not shooting it at all.

Another member on this forum had the same idea, he replaced the barrel with a more modern one for occasional shooting at the range.

It didn't take many rounds before the slide ended up bulging and the once original pistol was ruined.

You're risking ruining a nice piece of history every time you take one of these old 1911's to the range. They simply weren't built to last, the slides were not even hardened in 1914.

You can always leave this one in the safe and take a modern 1911 to the range. Maybe put the money you were going to spend on the barrel towards a Springfield 1911, I've heard they're great shooters with a vintage inspiration. Could you live with ruining this 1911 if something goes wrong?

I'm sure the "every gun was made to be shot" crowd will be around shortly to argue against me.

-Steve
 
I have to agree with Coyote Ugly and Steve on this. In my opinion it isn't worth the risk of ruining a piece of history like that just to shoot it. Buy a cheap Norinco and have some fun but keep your irreplaceable piece of history safe.

I believe in the "temporary custodians" idea of collecting. I try to keep my matching original Mausers in as good or better condition than when I got them. Every one has their own opinions on collecting but it's something to consider. Every time some one damages or bubba's a milsurp, that piece of history is gone for good. Some have less history than others but I feel they all deserve to be kept care of as best as we can.

I have mix masters for shooting. I think these are the best for shooting because if something does break or become damged/worn its easy to replace and since it wasn't matching to begin with, it really doesn't matter if you add another replacement part. You're also not out any money other than the repair. In the case of 1911's a new manufacture is an excellent alternative. Many are made pretty much with the same features as the originals to keep the same feel and function when shooting.
 
I've personally seen a few WW1 era Canadian and US Colt's turned from $1000-2000 pieces into a $300 bag of parts by running modern ammo through them at the range. If it's a rebuilt mixmaster, have at 'er. The chances of it letting go are not really high, but they are high enough that I personally would not risk it. YMMV.

I shoot a modern Auto-Ordnance 1911A1 that is a near exact copy of a WW2 Colt at the range all the time. It shoots just like an original, but benefits form modern hardening and better steel. If it ever lets go, only I will care.

 
I'm on the same page as you guys, this thing has only left the safe once in few years and I don't plan on shooting it anytime soon.
That said, I like the idea of knowing that all my firearms in my safe can be used if needed - so I just like the idea of having a modern barrel ready to go as opposed to using the 1914 barrel.

So, on that subject I'm still looking for suggestions.
 
I agree, leave it as is and do not shoot it at all. One shot is all it takes to ruin a valuable piece.
A lot of guys on this forum own original matching German K98k's and if they go to the range they take a Russian Capture K98k.
Works the same but not irreplaceable.
 
HFreedman said:
I'm on the same page as you guys, this thing has only left the safe once in few years and I don't plan on shooting it anytime soon.
That said, I like the idea of knowing that all my firearms in my safe can be used if needed - so I just like the idea of having a modern barrel ready to go as opposed to using the 1914 barrel.

So, on that subject I'm still looking for suggestions.
Click to expand...

Well if you want a barrel "just in case", then I would suggest going the cheapest route. Maybe a Norinco barrel? I honestly know almost nothing about fitting barrels to a 1911, so I'm not sure that would even work but maybe a possibility? My Norinco shoots outstanding groups with both cast and jacketed bullets of all sorts and I believe it to be chrome lined. I would think a new or used Norc barrel could be found for pretty cheap.

Also as Steve mentioned maybe the barrel swap alone wouldn't be enough to guarantee it safe? What about the slide and the rest of the metal?
 
If this is a 1914 "Canadian Contract" 1911, you could be wasting hundreds of dollars in the pistols value by swapping out parts! Do your history on the gun first, post pictures!
 
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