Anybody use Weigand EBF fixture for 1911 barrel fitting?

[HogCommander]

Wondering if any MDS members have experience with Jack Weigand's EBF fixture for fitting 1911 barrels. I have the fixture, have taken my measurements for the barrel hood, but haven't made the first cut yet.

Just wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with this particular fixture. If so, would be grateful for any wisdom/tips. Thanks.

 

[Jmorrismetal]

I have never used a fixture when I have cut them but as long as it holds it tight, should work ok. Not like your going to be making heavy cuts anyway.

They do have a bunch of videos showing the process step by step.

https://www.jackweigand.com/EBF1911.html

 

[HogCommander]

Just fit my first 1911 barrel!

Well I got the barrel fit and it runs. Didn't get quite the tolerances I was trying for (0.0005 on either side and back of the hood, same for barrel/bushing and bushing/slide) but came close on my first attempt at doing this.

Used the Weigand EBF fixture, a Clymer finishing chamber reamer, and a made-to-order bushing from EGW. Barrel is from KKM Precision and it went into a Caspian wad gun that was built in 2012 by a professional gunsmith.

Didn't have time to set up the Ransom Rest so I just used a two-hand hold resting on top of my gun box. 25 yard target is 10 rounds of Federal Gold Medal Match 185 SWC and the 50 yard target is 10 rounds of handloads (Zero 185 JHP over 4.3 gr VV N310). Gonna try to Ransom Rest it sometime this week and see if it will hold the X ring at 50...the ultimate test for a Bullseye gun.

 

[dist1646]

Well I got the barrel fit and it runs. Didn't get quite the tolerances I was trying for (0.0005 on either side and back of the hood, same for barrel/bushing and bushing/slide) but came close on my first attempt at doing this.

Used the Weigand EBF fixture, a Clymer finishing chamber reamer, and a made-to-order bushing from EGW. Barrel is from KKM Precision and it went into a Caspian wad gun that was built in 2012 by a professional gunsmith.

Didn't have time to set up the Ransom Rest so I just used a two-hand hold resting on top of my gun box. 25 yard target is 10 rounds of Federal Gold Medal Match 185 SWC and the 50 yard target is 10 rounds of handloads (Zero 185 JHP over 4.3 gr VV N310). Gonna try to Ransom Rest it sometime this week and see if it will hold the X ring at 50...the ultimate test for a Bullseye gun.

Nice!!!!

 

[Magnumite]

Nice work, nice shooting!

I watched those Weigand videos. Have the itch for a good bench top mill now.

Your 50 yard load, that a personal favorite. I know the powder and bullets are popular for BE.

 

[HogCommander]

Thanks! Got some time on the Ransom Rest today and consistently got 1 flyer that printed above the other 9 shots. The consistency of where the flyers printed makes me think there's some operator error on my part when using the rest. This photo is from a 10 shot Ransom Rest group at 50 yards using handloads that I shot today. The X ring is 1.7" and the 10 ring is 3.3" for frame of reference.

Full disclosure, I'm a Bullseye shooter with aspirations of learning to build my own guns but have only taken a few steps in this journey. For those considering building performance 1911s...it's very satisfying but be warned that it can be a very expensive addiction (time, tools, fixtures, cutters, measuring devices, etc)

 

[outrider58]

Damn fine shooting HogCommander!

 

[Magnumite]

Do you know which shot in the group that flyer is?

 

[HogCommander]

Do you know which shot in the group that flyer is?

Unfortunately I don't know which one was the flyer. Didn't think to scope each shot as I was using the rest but will try that next time.

I suspect it may be the first shot of the first magazine because that's the only one that I chambered by manually cycling the slide. The rest were chambered via the recoil from the preceeding shot. I used two magazines of 5 rounds, and switched magazines after 4 rounds (still one in the chamber) to avoid manually chambering the first round of the second magazine.

If there are any Ransom Rest gurus lurking about, would definitely be grateful for any wisdom/tips.

 

[John from MD]

Nice job and yes, gunsmithing can be expensive.

You also need to tune the load to the gun now that you have fitted a new barrel. If you don't hand lap the barrel, prepare to adjust your load again in 3 to 500 rounds (depending on barrel material).

When I built Bullseye guns, (going back to the late sixties), I tuned the gun for a 200gn SWC using 3.8 grains of Bullseye powder. At that time, you had to ramp the barrel and open up the ejection port etc. as we were using surplus frames and slides. We didn't have Wolff springs in those days either.

Regards,

John