Match barrels, do they make a difference?

[tjhaile]

but you can do that with a stock glock 17...actually pretty much a stock anything

Yes, but how many shooters can do that? My point is that as a rule of thumb, this is about how well you would have to be able to shoot with a stock pistol before you would notice any accuracy difference. This is something I remembered from a post at Modern Service Weapons a while back:
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=9932

Probably 99% of shooters would be better off applying the cost of a match barrel towards ammo and purposeful training instead.

 

[silverfoxdj]

This too. But if you shoot enough cast bullets, you slowly lap the barrel. My springfield loaded would lead a bit for the first 500 rounds or so, but then every time i cleaned it after, it went longer and longer before any leading became noticeable....now i can shoot 1000's of rounds, and no leading builds up. I have a K38 that never leads......at all! it's a keeper...and with 148 gn wadcutters running about 650 fps, will put 6 rounds touching at 25 yards...(well normall 5, then i bugger the last one trying to keep the group LOL)

I've got the K38 please help me with the other 5 rounds lol

 

[Garand]

I bought a mix and match 1914 Colt Commercial Model a few years back, with an exceptionally burnt out non original barrel. Since it retains little collectable value I went and replaced the non original barrel with a brand new Norinco .45 barrel. On the range it didn't give much more than 1 minute of Saskatchewan Barn door accuracy.

Last year, I decided to use the pistol during a CAS "Wild Bunch" match, I changed barrels again for the match to a Wilson Drop In Match barrel and believe it or not the gun will now take out stationary clay pigeons at 20 yards. I'm sold on match barrels.

 

[gunzik]

If you have ever tried to learn guitar, it's a very similar thing. A bad player needs the best instrument possible. A good player can make a cigar box sound good.

Match barrels are tighter in their chambers and bores. The part you might notice is the chamber tightness, if you shoot a lot of reloads or commercial reloads. You will get some FTF / FTE from those with a tight chamber.

An excellent crown on a nice tight barrel could give you a LOT more accuracy. If your pistol is consistent, you will follow. It will be easier to get good, like any other good instrument.

I have even re-crowned some "factory match" barrels, with excellent results. Taking a few extra minutes to make the muzzle absolutely perfect, or as close as we can come with good machinery and care, could also pay some serious accuracy dividends. Getting your factory barrel re-crowned ($30? What's the going rate for this 10 minute job?) could make as big a difference, but will leave you with the more reliable chamber, no failures ... and less expense. Worth trying before you drop the big bucks on a big name.

 

[Antoine22]

A match barrel is only a variable in the equation of accuracy. If your barrel is loose in your bushing and you have poor lockup and sloppy frame to slide fit, you could have the best barrel out there and it won't change anything.

 

[enefgee]

I think if you're talking about 1911 match barrels that are properly fitted, then yes, they do make a difference that a slightly better than average shooter could discern. If we're talking Glock or M&P drop in "match barrels" not so much - there may or may not be a difference in the second case, you just need to be a much better shot to tell the difference.

 

[wayde]

match grade barrel

it can make a big difference but only if it is fitted properly along with bushing and slide