KART PRECISION BARREL 5" BARREL, .38 SUPER FITS N/R

I've had Fred's exact fit barrel in my bullseye Colt 45nm for some years now and have started to take the accuracy for granted. The gun is like a fine swiss watch and a much better shot than I am. So I just bought a 10mm Colt Delta Gold Cup on Gun Broker (what a beauty), loaded up my best bullseye recipe and headed to the range. What a let down. So I started comparing groups with my 45 bullseye gun and am sending a check to Kart for a Colt 5" / 10mm exact fit barrel today, there's just no comparison. The Delta Gold Cup may never be the equal of my bullseye gun but it wont be because of the barrel.!

I know my way around guns pretty well, but I've never fitted a bushing or barrel before. With Brownells' "bushing installation kit" and Kart's barrel-fitting kit, I was able to not only get the job done but get it done RIGHT. I don't have the shop tools some folks may have, but you don't need many tools for this installation. I got it all done over the course of one weekend; the bushing I did in a couple of hours on Friday night; the barrel I did over most of Saturday, and finished things up on Sunday. Again, I've never done this before, so I was taking my time (you can't put metal back)... but, for the most part, I can't say there were any problems. I do have to say I wasn't impressed with the instructions; the people who wrote them (and illustrated them) clearly KNOW what they're talking about... but I didn't, and their instructions were often confusing and, in a few instances, poorly worded. I had other references on hand, though, plus access to the Internet where I could look things up... so I never got to a point where I felt like I'd hit a brick wall. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME and you can do this.

The gun into which I installed the barrel and bushing is a Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec. Sure tightened things up and I can't wait to shoot it. I've read nothing but good reviews on Kart barrels in 1911s.

I installed the Kart .40 S&W barrel in a Kimber 10mm 1911 to allow more ammo options in today's tight ammo market. The Kart Easy Fit Tool Kit #472-015-000 provided an alignment block, .003 feeler, bench bushing, Swiss file & marking paste. I chose to use the Brownells Barrel Alignment Block # 080-000-041 instead because it drops into the slide rails. The Kart Swiss file was great for adjusting the .003 clearance on the sides of the barrel hood. I used a Brownells Bushing Fitting Mandrel # 080-804-100 with a drill press and #320 grit shop roll material ONLY to give a VERY nice fit of the Kart bushing to the Kimber slide. I did not need to use a file for this step! Fitting the hood length to give the .001 - .002 clearance required more time and the Kart bench bushing helped immensely because of the numerous steps of file several strokes followed by testing fit. Be very cautious when adjusting the barrel pads. I was careful to use the marking paste, take a couple of file strokes, then test lock-up. Note that VERY LITTLE material needs to be removed!! I recommend removing the extractor during this process because I discovered that the Kart barrel extractor recess needed a slight enlargement to give proper clearance similar to the original Kimber barrel. The Kart Swiss file was perfect for this adjustment. The only other "surprise" was that I needed to polish the barrel feed ramp to provide hesitation-free feeding with all of my different bullet types. I used a Cratex Medium Bullet Point #8 (#190-025-082) in #4 Mandrel (#190-001-004) to do this. Subsequent testing indicated that firing pin impact was dead center on the primer. VERY SATISFYING INDEED!!

If you take your time and read the instructions, and make sure you totally understand the funstion of the 1911 platform, and take your time with the file (1 stroke, check fit, do it again)you will have a barrel fit that is better than anything you can get from a professional smith.

I am a builder of custom 1911s , I am able to get 5/8" 5 shot groupes at 25 yds on a regular basis with a ransom rest.

Fitted right with normal fitting shoots better than I do

I purchased this barrel nearly 2 years ago. It has performed very well during that time.

This is the best N/R .38 Super barrel on the market, hands down, and don't nobody argue with me. It is so easy to fit that my German Shepard could do it, but for lacking the opposing thumbs thing. That's not the point, though--it shoots and lends itself to incredible accuracy; I've used KART barrels in .45acp in several target only guns, this one is for tactical purposes and it is a winner. Only downside at all is the white metal aspect to the rear, but a couple of touches of super blue on that surface ends the issue in a heartbeat, no rust problems at all. You cannot beat the price for the quality involved, period.

After installing this product, I could not be any happier with the results I had obtained. I did have to do some minor fitting of the barrel and bushing but if you take your time and use the brownells easy fit installation kit you too will be surprised of the accuracy you can obtain. I feel like I have a brand new super accurate match grade target pistol!

I recently purchased this barrel kit and it was easy! I used it to build my first custom 1911. Total fitting time (after reading the instructions) was about an hour to perfect lockup. I couldn't believe the affordability and the simplicity of the instructions. A couple of hand files, a tube of lipstick and just some simple patience. Having the pre-fitted link and bushing were just icing on the cake. I've got two more builds coming up and will be using this kit on both of them. Accuracy was on par with any of the higher priced "match grade" barrels I had looked at.

BREAK OUT THE DIGITAL CALIPERS,A FILE, SOME PRUSSIAN BLUE, SIT BACK AND SPEND WHAT JUST MIGHT WIND UP BEING THE MOST REWARDING 1/2-3/4 OF AN HOUR YOU EVER SPENT AT THE BENCH. YOU WON'T REALLY APPRECIATE THE RESULTS UNTIL YOU TAKE THE GUN OUT TO THE RANGE. I WAS ABLE TO GET 5/8-3/4 IN. WITH 185 SWC HANDLOADS @ 25 YDS, BENCH RESTING. WISH I COULD DO THAT ONE HAND !!

I've installed 6 of these barrels. If you follow the instructions and take your time, you will produce an outstanding match barrel shooter! Don't forget to purchase their installation kit. It is a very worthwhile investment. I have never been disappointed.

Uses a three point surface orientation in the lug recess that centers the barrel during lock-up. Very simple to install; takes less than an hour. We did a Brazilian 1911 clone with this set up and it outshot several custom rigs on the range the first day we had it out.

I have fit two of these barrels into two Caspian custom builds. Others on my SWAT team have shot my guns and they tell me I cheat due to the accuracy of the guns. I attribute the level of accuracy to the barrel. They are rock solid and feed everything I put into the gun. As for rust, I had my guns Melonited to include the barrel and they have had no issues.

Replacing an original barrel with this kit is the easiest (and least expensive) way to solve accuracy and feed problems. It usually takes me about two hours work start to finish. Maybe I'm more meticulous in getting a perfect fit. I've been using these barrels for over three years and have never heard of one rusting.

I'm only giving this barrel a 3-star rating solely due to the fact that if you don't keep your gun out of the weather, or if you live in a high humidity area (as I do) or other situation where rust is easily set-in, the barrel is going to tarnish and rust. And it happens quickly! I would prefer that it withstand the elements better as I am constantly in and out of harsh environments.

As for performance, I have been VERY pleased with this product. It performs just as promised and as I have come to expect from Kart. Its a DEFINITE "buy" product...just keep my previous statements in mind.