Why do modern semi-autos have lugless barrels?

[capp325]

If you look at the lockup design of most modern semi-automatic pistols, the barrel is kept in place only by the pressure exerted by the guide rod/ recoil spring assembly. In contrast, older Browning-designed guns such as the Hi-Power and 1911 have the barrel engaged to the recoil spring assembly AND additionally to the slide via locking lugs that are cut into the barrel hood and the underside of the slide. The older design provides for a better barrel to slide fit and thus theoretically superior accuracy. Is there any disadvantage to the locking lug design or is it merely a cost of manufacturing issue?

 

[Lee Enfield]

You are mis-understanding what is going on.

The Glock, Sig ect. do in-fact utilize a modified "Browning" type locking system.

Instead of several lugs on the top of the barrel which engage mating surfaces INSIDE the slide, these guns have a single massive lug which engages a mating surface FORMED BY and doubling as the ejection port.

 

[Rudy H]

John Browning would have slapped himself in the forehead for missing this technique. But then hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[capp325]

Instead of several lugs on the top of the barrel which engage mating surfaces INSIDE the slide, these guns have a single massive lug which engages a mating surface FORMED BY and doubling as the ejection port.

You are right, of course. I feel kind of stupid now, I didn't really think of the ejection port area as a lug but that's what it is. Still, I wonder if the multi-lug design provides for a better lockup. The Hi-Power seems to have a tighter barrel to frame fit than Sig, HK, Glock, etc.

 

[Lazerus2000]

BTDT ....
Match fitting a multi lug Colt type barrel is an exercise in patience and perseverence.

And don't get me started on fitting the Colt style link, and the lugs, and the barrel bushing and the hood to slide fit, or the extractor tension and recutting the extractor hook, or the firing pin stop, or the slide stop, or porting the slide, or ramping the barrel .....
argggghhhhhh ....
it hurts just to remember all that "fitting" that goes into a properly set up Colt Govt type pistol.
And we haven't even gotten into a trigger job.
[;{(

As I said in one of my previous posts, I have personally seen every single part of a Colt Govt design break at one time or another. The lugs also get peened/beat up if the unit is slightly out of time. The links break or wear oval, the link pins break or get loose, and the slide stop itself breaks. And I've even seen a SS barrel shoot the entire link right off.

As a great philosopher once said ....
"parts left out cost nothing and rarely break."

John Browning was a genius ... circa 1900.

Gaston Glock is a genius ... circa 2000.

All in all, I'll keep my simple Glock,
thank you very much
LAZ 1

 

[G37]

I actually want someone to make a 1911 Style pistol that takes Glock barrels ; that'd be the ultimate setup me thinks hehehe.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

I actually want someone to make a 1911 Style pistol that takes Glock barrels ; that'd be the ultimate setup me thinks hehehe.

wouldn't that be like bringing matter and anti-matter together?

 

[Winz]

I actually want someone to make a 1911 Style pistol that takes Glock barrels ; that'd be the ultimate setup me thinks hehehe.

What does that entail exactly? 1911 frame angle? Single stack or double? Single action? Safety?

Glock barrels as in the big lug and/or polygonal rifling?

 

[G37]

^

Sorry... 1911 for everything (mags, grip, safeties, trigger, etc.) but the slide takes a modern-style (big lug) barrel.

Does such a pistol exist?