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Gunsmithing 1911 Commander Bushing or no

SporterII

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Nov 23, 2006
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As in 4” bill barrel, vs. 4.25” bushing with standard spring Government guide rod.
What does this really mean for a 9mm single stack Commander sized 1911. Carry and some training/games.
I had a Dan Wesson Vigil that was reliable and easy to hit with.
 
A "bull barrel" will place a tad more weight up front. The potential advantage is a little less muzzle flip. Good pistolsmiths aren't going to necessarily make one design more accurate than the other, and you'd be hard pressed to see a difference in overall group sizes between the two on the proof targets from the semi-custom manufacturers (WC/Nighthawk etc...).
 
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The 1911 Commander size is the 4.25" barrel. I really like the heavy "cone barrel" WC employs in both their full / commander size. I have their Compact Carry in 9mm, 4" with the bull barrel. Both are bushing-less, and do add a nominal front end weight, neither which will not correct poor shooting form any more than heavier tungsten guide rods.
Wilson Combat 1911 with Coffee Photos 2020IMG_7205 copy.jpg
IMG_7643WILSON COMBAT COMPACT CARRY 9 MM 06.30.23A.jpg
IMG_7645WILSON COMBAT COMPACT CARRY 9 MM 06.30.23A.jpg
 
Seriously, the Hi Power fixed the 1911 issues, is double stack and sized for the 9mm ctg.
 
This Belgium 9 mm Hi-Power still retains its magazine dis-connector mechanism is often complained about cause of a ratchity trigger feel unless all the parts are smoothed over. Many have just removed the mechanism. The wooden grips are handsome but way to slippery for my hands.

Browning Hi-Power 9 mm with Coffee Photos 2020IMG_7215 copy 2.jpg
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It doesnt really matter if its a bushing or bull. What does matter is who builds it and if that 1/4" makes you shoot better or worse one way or the other
 
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People seriously think that is better than a 1911?
Sure.
"Better" is contingent on many factors, but I have a bunch of each, some bog standard, some worked over, but I'll pick the BHP over 1911 nearly every time.
Is the trigger as good ? No, but that's only one consideration.
IMG_0530.JPG


I bought a Wilson lightweight Carry, to, er, carry, but I end up carrying the BHP.
( also have many more modern guns, but still almost always end up with the Browning.)

IMG_0531.JPG
 
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For a 9mm in a 1911 platform, do yourself a favor and run the Metalform 9mm magazines. They space the cartridges to the back of the magazine in order to be able to contruct a helper feed ramp at the top front of the magazine tube. These magazines have been the only ones to ever feed hollow points from a full mag reliably in any 9mm 1911 I ever had. The only drawback with these mags is they only hold 9 rounds, but reliability is more important to me.

As far as a 4.25 bushing or 4" bull barrel, they both shoot good. A 4.25 bushing build will enable you to play with off the shelf recoil spring weights a lot more than some of the proprietary bull barrel recoil system builds.
 
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