I am doing some work on my norinco 1911 and I stumbled onto this by 1911tuner which gave me pause since a new bushing is soon on the list of things I intend to work on:
http://forum.m1911.org/showpost.php?p=48850&postcount=7
To sum it up, Norinco has straight barrels, no flare at the muzzle which makes it risky to fit them with a tight bushing. Someone on a Swedish forum suggested the Briley spherical bushing. Based on what I've read here some consider it an answer to a question nobody asked, but maybe I've found a suitable question? To be more precise, could the Briley spherical bushing alleviate the possible problems one would get by tightly fitting a Norinco barrel?
What do you guys think? Maybe getting a new barrel would be an option but I am in Finland and the barrel is a part that requires a license so it would be rather involved to get that, also the only barrel I can get hold of is a stainless ACI barrel, I do not know anything of their reputation and have not been able to uncover anything particular either.
At any rate it would be nice with a solution that left me able to keep the old barrel. Although it has other issues I think that makes it suboptimal, such as there is absolutely no space between barrel and frame ramp, I understand some spacing between the two is preferred, still it feeds perfectly anyway.
The Briley spherical bushing is an excellent part and properly fitted, will work fine.
The Briley takes less skill and effort to fit and eliminates the possibility of binding; (barrel spring)
Keep it wet..(lubed)
Using a standard tight fitting made to order bushing will do you well, in which EGW can make to your specs for around 25.00
What you said, an answer to a non-existent question.
As Wichaka said, measure the external diameter of your barrel and the internal diameter of your slide. Then with these numbers call EGW and have them make you your tight-fitting bushing. It will work like a charm.
So the issue regarding the cylindrical Norinco barrel is not an problem with an EGW bushing?
I was otherwise considering an EGW bushing, angle bored that I could fit myself.
I've seen very few barrels that were sprung. I know some people have said on here that a barrel may be sprung, but you have to look so very close to tell... I ain't buying it.
I think there's a concern tactic with the Briley... buy ours, and your barrel will never get sprung.
My answer... fit the barrel like it should be, and it won't do that either... and you can save some money with a regular bushing.
Quote:
alleviate the possible problems one would get by tightly fitting a Norinco
barrel?
Roland;
"tightly fitting" sums it up. The Norinco barrel is a non issue providing the
diameter is uniform & consistant. Example: Install a bushing with zero
clearance at the slide and .0005 - .001 at the muzzle. If the barrel is
locking up at the upper and lower lugs, 99 times out of 100 the barrel will
be in tension... (sprung) often times to the point that the slide will not
close properly.
The "old school" {answer or remedy} is to hog out the bushing at strategic spots to allow the barrel clearance to link up and down. Now, so much for tightly fitted and maximum contact... There are two ways to achieve a solution. The Briley bushing is fast, easy and requires little skill to fit with no chance of spring, and provides accuracy above and beyond the norm. The other is to calculate the lock up angle of the fitted barrel, and bore the bushing to accomodate that angle. The latter offers the best result for the serious competition gun, but requires special tooling and machinery... I only use the Brileys during the initial barrel fitting to eliminate the effects of springing, which is present in every fitting job...
Brileys are standard in competition guns from the S&W Custom shop that have set and hold many records. They are an option, not unlike a match barrel, Bo- Mar sight, mag well, checkering, Accu-Rails or dozens of other improvements to the 1911.
Sometimes it's nice to have a little down-to-earth perspective on stuff like "the perfect zero slop barrel-bushing fit".
0.254mm (0.001 inch) of barrel-bushing slop in a M1911A1 will result in a bullet impact slop at 50m (54.7 yards) of 1.15cm (0.45 inch).
I have a Briley in three of my guns, one in a Smith 845 (factory installed), and two in 1911s I built.
They are a fantastic product when ordered the correct size by measuring the barrel with a micrometer, you can order one the exact size and lapp it in. Properly fit to the slide there is zero movement when in lockup, and no chance whatsoever of barrel spring.
PLUS, they're cool!