Recent content by GaryK

I have replaced loose factory bushings with tighter drop in bushings from Ed Brown, Wilson, or other mfgs with good luck. They usually went in with very little or no fitting and resulted in a noticable increase in accuracy.

If it is an inexpensive gun that you don't want to spend the money to have professionally reblued you might try Brownell's Oshpo cold blue. I once reblued the barrel on a old Savage 24 in the condition that you describe. Wearing rubber gloves I removed the barrell and completely cleaned and...

The best use that I have found for my Dremel tool is sharpening my chainsaw. I have never found much use for it when tinkering with guns.

I polished a mauser bolt once. It came out pretty good. I used a buffing wheel and white stick polishing compound. You can buy buffing wheels and polishing coumpound in several grades from Home Depot. I put mine in the chuck of my drill press. This setup has worked well for me for years. It...

I have used Oxhpo on a number of guns with good results. I once had a S&W revolver with about 75 to 80% of the original blue left. I stripped the gun and degreased it thoroughly. I applied several coats of Oxhpo according the instructions on the bottle. It made a striking improvement to the gun...

Does anyone have any experience with using a Ceiner .22 lr slide on an Essex frame. Actually I would like to hear how they work in general. I am especially interested in accuracy and function. I am thinking about building up an Essex frame and buying a Ceiner top end to make a low cost 1911...

I agree with REMODEL I doubt that the new barrel made much difference, certainly not $300.00 worth. I understand where you are coming from in wanting the gun perfect though. They are our passion and we often obsess over minor flaws. I know that I do.

I would send it back to Springfield. It is a new gun. Let them figure it out.

I have seen several Ruger Bearcats with one chamber drilled to .22 mag. They claimed that they worked okay. Perhaps Ruger uses the same size bore for both or splits the difference.

Can someone recommend someone who can reblue a 1911 slide for me? It has a strong plum color that I would like to fix. I am looking for someone who can turn it around in a reasonable period of time. Thanks.

I would try S&W or Brownells.

Home Depot has brass rod stock in several sizes. Just buy one and cut off a 5-6" piece and use it. You can file or grind a radius on the end if you like.

Fuff, funny you should mention 1911s built on Essex frames with GI parts. I bought a 1911 that was built on an alloy frame using GI parts a couple of years ago. I foolishly sold it. I don't remember the brand of the frame but believe that it came out of California. I made a few bucks on the deal...

I replaced the barrel in my Norinco with a Springfield takeoff barrel that I bought from a custom 1911 smith. It dropped in without any fitting problems. I have shot it a fair amount since without any problems. I have heard of several others who have done this with similar results. I have a copy...

I recently put a Kings beavertail on a mid 70s Colt Combat Commander. It was the one that they said would be a drop in fit. It wasn't. I had to do some grinding to make it fit. It came out okay and fits the Colt frame pretty well though. I could have made it a lot easier and had the job come out...