Choosing a new barrel ... Any suggestions?

I am in need of replacing my 45 barrel, had a barsto previously. Looking at Kart, any other suggestions?

Thanks 
Jeff S

Kart is pretty much the standard in 45 target barrels they shoot lead and fmj very good, barsto is good too but of the ones ive owned they tend to shoot fmj ammo better than lead.

The Barsto barrel in my Springfield Armory 1911 shoots X-Ring at 50 yards with the following load:
200 gr LSWC bullets from Penn Bullets
3.8 gr N310
.468 crimp
Starline brass
11 lb. recoil spring
Clark slide mount with Ultradot

KKM too.

Kart or KKM
Availability is a consideration... Either will do well. I really like the VERY short, small, chambers on the KKM. I am  able to single point the KKM chambers, to zero the bore and prevent any chance of reamer lead off.  Can't do that with a KART.   On older guns with a lot of stack, the KKM lugs can come up short.. I have begged for gunsmith only barrels with no chamber, but it's not going to happen.  Now, if you want the  ultimate barrel, you can custom make your own..

Personally have Kart and Barsto barrels in my precision paper punchers.  My primary driver is what the gunsmith recommends.   Holding guns built by Forest Davis, Joe Chambers (the original), Dan Norwood, and KC Crawford.  The builder has a vested interest in building the best.

If you shoot lead I highly recommend the Kart barrel. In my experience the KKM has a tighter bore and seems to shoot jacketed better than lead. They'll all be close though )
Jon

Greetings,

Recently, a friend had Bar-Sto supply him with a barrel that had no chamber on request. The barrel does have a slight cylindrical leade at the breech end that is part of their rifling process.

Earlier, we tried to get Fred Kart to do the same. No go. He needed the chamber start for the rifling process and was not about to retool.

By the way, the Bar-Sto was a 40 S&W 1911 blank for a custom project.

Cheers,

Dave

I have been asked, "When making a barrel from a  match blank, would I machine the cone integral to the barrel..?"
Personally, I would not. I would  use the threaded cone which allows the adjusable fit up..
I have had very good success with the threaded cone..

Jon Eulette wrote:If you shoot lead I highly recommend the Kart barrel. In my experience the KKM has a tighter bore and seems to shoot jacketed better than lead. They'll all be close though )
Jon

+1  That has been my experience as well.  For a jacketed gun I recommend KKM,  and a lead gun I recommend Kart.

I should just post +1 what the others said.  My opinon though is the installation is MOST of the benefit you will get from accuracy.  Kart for lead or jacketed, Barsto for Jacketed, KKM or Storm Lake are also good.  If you are going for just a drop in barrel, go cheap.  If you want a tight match barrel, (and the reason for my post) Ask your gunsmith what they prefer.

Dissected barrels.. KKM on the left..Kart, Bar Sto, and Colt..
The bore ID s, land/groove depth, land width, land to groove ratios are identical, and so close to the same among these samples, that it's not a factor to consider..
Accuracy varies within the same manufacturer..Only your barrel tester knows..  

Do I see a left hand twist in the KKM?

Axehandle wrote:Do I see a left hand twist in the KKM?

Yes, you can see that it's opposite of the other samples..Look close..

Would the recoil characteristics of a one or the other benefit a left hander?

Sectioned barrels.  Surprisingly thin walls.  I never thought about that.

Most barrels are .575" diameter. That equates to .062" wall thickness for .45 barrel.
Jon

FWIW Forest Davis, the Retired AF gunsmith, told a tale about how they took grease gun barrels with the left hand twist and built Air Force match guns back in the 50s.

james r chapman wrote:Would the recoil characteristics of a one or the other benefit a left hander?

I have never been able to tell the difference by feel.. Years back, when Shilen stopped selling 10 twist 38 blanks, one response to inquiry, was the felt torque difference was less with the 14 twist.. and the faster twist was unnecessary for a revolver...I considered that answer a ruze...In reality, cracked/split forcing cones were somewhat common, and a change in the product  was a knee jerk reaction.
My lady shooter is ambi.. She often changes hands to rest one arm.. She has never indicated a felt recoil difference between hands/twist..