Long aftermarket barrels for the Colt .45 Automatic

[Oyeboten]

I see these every now and then at the Gun shows.

8, 10, 12, 16 inch Barrels, for the Colt .45 Automatic.

Do any of us here have them?


Are they usually a 'drop-in'?


Seems like it would allow a higher FPS for a given Cartridge, but, what would one use them for?

[rhmc24]

I'll be watching this one. The idea of making a super-long-slide 1911 had been stirring in my mind for a while. I'm on the lookout for a 8 or 10 inch barrel.

A long barrel should be a drop-in into a standard slide but the barrel-to-slide lockup geometry changes with lengthening the slide and I'm still working on that.

[Oyeboten]

If wanting a REALLY "Long" Slide, maybe make it out of Duraliminum! Or some Titanium alloy or other...or perforate it all over with carefully spaced 'holes', like Aeronautical or Racing components tend to be...


Otherwise, there'd be way too much inertia I'd think ( though one could lessen the strength of the Recoil Spring somewhat to make up for it )...and or, one would want to end up with about the same Weight anyway, as the original Steel Slide.


Just my conjecture anyway and I am far from being a Model O Gunsmith of course.


There's always a smattering of extra long aftermarket Model O Barrels on Gunbroker, too...


I think theye are fascinating, but what the heck use are they other than novelty and Range time fun?

Be a hassle or an embarassment trying to IWB one with a 12 or 16 inch barrel I think...Lol...

[rhmc24]

Valid concern for sure. When/if I make one, I think I would try it as-is and reduce the recoil spring if nec'y. A big weight reduction would be to make an open-top slide by taking off the top third from the front sight back to near the inside lugs. That would dilute the 1911 idea a bit. For now its all in the pipe dream department.

[Oyeboten]

Fun idea to try, definitely...


I have long wished that COLT would have offered longer slide and Barrel options for their original .32 and .380 Pistols...as well as for the Model O.

Even a 6 inch Barrel-Slide would be totally cool..! and still plenty practical-enough to be appealing for general use.


Bullseye Shooters would have loved it, too!