I have a '70 series Gov't Model and years ago I had a local gunsmith install a Wilson's solid bushing because of all I had read about the original collet bushing possibly breaking and locking up the gun.
The solid bushing is so tight it requires a bushing wrench to disassemble the gun. The gun has never been accurized as far as tightening slide to frame and I don't need a bullseye gun, just one that is reliable and will hold 'em in a 10" circle at 25 yds.
Is there any way I can fix the bushing so I can turn it by hand, or should I leave it alone?
Try backing the slide out of battery about 1/8th inch before trying to turn the bushing. If that doesn't help, you can use some J&B Bore Cleaner to lap the bushing in the slide to get a little more clearance, or have a smith mount the bushing on a mandrel and spin it with a lathe and use a smooth mill file to reduce the diameter a thousandth or so.
Is it the inside of the bushing that is most likely binding of the lugs on the outside that mate with the slide?
Will emery cloth work?
Most likely the lack of clearance between the bushing OD and the slide bore ID. The fit between barrel and bushing can have a huge effect too. I have a few pistols with fitted bushings that I can turn easily in the bare slide... until the gun is assembled and in battery.
Emery cloth will work, but is slow goin' and you'll have to be careful not to get it out-of-round. Don't cut the lug.
I took the barrel completely out of the slide and tried to turn the bushing... it was still too tight to turn by hand. The collet bushing turns easily by hand. I guess that means it's the bushing lug right?
When I first got this pistol, it had all kinds of extraction/ejection problems, so I finally took it to a retired Air Force gunsmith (Mr. Bob Day) who had a reputation for building some winning bullseye guns and the first thing he said was who has been messing with the feed ramp in this pistol! Since I bought the gun used, I knew it wasn't me. So he agrees to take it and work on it stating that "I hope the receiver ramp can be repaired" He called a week later and said the gun was ready. He showed me two minute cracks in the magazine feed lips and about 500 rounds later the gun has yet to have any failures! He didn't say exactly what he did nor did I ask. Oh yeah.... he charged me $20! I'm not looking for a gun with bullseye accuracy... more for dependability, and I would like to be able to disassemble it without any tools if possible.
Quote:
...it was still too tight to turn by hand. The collet bushing turns easliy
by hand. I guess that means it's the bushing lug right?
Possible... but more likely the bushing OD to bore ID clearance is too tight.
Copy that!
The reason I thought it might be the lug is that it initially turned freely then suddenly tightened up after about 1/8" of movement.
So I can just put the JB on the outside of the bushiing, insert it, take my bushing wrench and give it some turns?
Quotes:
Could be the lug...but probably the bushing or bore is slightly out of
round.
And:
So I can just put the JB on the outside of the bushing, insert it, take my
bushing wrench and give it some turns?
Yep. Keep the excess lap off the front of the slide, or you'll take the finish off. Easy touch with the wrench too... or the same thing applies.
Had This Experience w/ my Warrior
When I bought my Warriror a year back, I had difficulty rremoving the bushing even with a tool! So, after I broke the gun in, I tired of the over tight bushing. I lubed it up well, set the slide back (as noted earlier by another person) about 1/8 or 1/4 inch, and simply worked the bushing back and forth a few times. It is still snug, but I can now remove it with fingers.