Bar Sto Delta Barrel

[EdMc]

I finally fitted the Bar Sto 'semi fit' barrel to my Colt Delta. Thanks to Yondering and several other sources it's in and works.  Had to take some material off one side of the hood, relieve the bushing and do a little filing/conturing on the lower lug.

Below is a photo comparing the Delta barrel with the Bar Sto semi fit.

[sqlbullet]

That is good bit of extra meat around the case on the Bar-sto.  Looks good.

My Schuemann barrel should be here today for my P12 conversion.  I will have to break out the files and vice for my first go at a 1911 barrel fitting.  Wish me luck!

[EdMc]

I do wish you good luck. Since this was a semi fit I didn't need to use a lug cutter and do a lot of hood and upper locking lug work. A lot easier than fitting a 'match' type barrel. 'Course now I have to use a bushing wrench. Never needed one before on a.......

[sqlbullet]

I recently learned a different way to take down my 1911 guns that largely eliminates the need for a bushing wrench.  It is a little difficult to master and requires a little more hand strength, but has the big advantage of not working the bushing while the barrel is locked.

The tutorial is available on the 10-8 performance site.

It looks harder than it is.  I mastered it after a couple times.  As you can see, by the time you rotate the bushing the barrel is out of battery and all spring pressure is removed.  I didn't need a bushing wrench on mine the traditional way, but did have to use some force to rotate the bushing.  Now it spins freely by the time I reach the point I rotate it.

I would love to hear from you if this method eliminates the need for a wrench.

[EdMc]

No, the bushing is that tight in the bush to slide fit. While fitting the barrel I had just the barrel and bushing fitted to the bar slide many times and had to use the wrench. Fitting only the bushing w/o the barrel necessitated use of the wrench. I suppose I could have worked on the OD of the bush but I did not.

Obviously at my skill level I can't out shoot the stock Delta barrel, I just wanted more support. Neither am I an experienced gunsmith, as you know.  As far as take down, I cock the hammer, turn the bushing to release spring pressure and then remove the slide stop. Reassemble in reverse and it's much easier to install the slide stop w/o spring pressure. Maybe not correct but it works for me.

[sqlbullet]

I thought this looked harder, but tried it.  I was amazed at how non hard it was after doing it about three times.  I had previously seen my gunsmith, Steve at Mars, break a 1911 down this way, but didn't really think much about it.

[Intercooler]

Which one is the Delta? They both look almost identical. No ramp?

[4949shooter]

The stock barrel is on the right. You can see it has less support under the cartridge case.

Colt barrels are not ramped, in contrast to Kimber barrels, which are.

[EdMc]

IC, the Delta barrel is to the left in the photo. About 120 degrees of the casing is unsupported. The Bar Sto is to the right with just the small area unsupported at the feed ramp. It is not a Wilson/Nowling etc type ramped barrel. These types are available but required machining of the pistol frame to fit. Due to the camera angle the small feed ramp doesn't show well.

The Delta barrel is cut much like the 'newer' barrels for a standard 45 ACP. To allow easier feeding, I guess. The older GI barrels had a small feed ramp and the national match barrels were like the Delta barrel.

[4949shooter]

Fooled me with that one. I see what you mean now.

[EdMc]

My bad, I should have used a different angle with the camera.