[Don Puffer]

I hear the groans…but I’m going to ask anyway, since none of you know where I live. :smile:

From all I’ve read the bull barrel has some big advantages over the bushing-barrel, yet I don’t see them on many guns. Instead of trying to directly incite another discussion on the pros and cons of the bull barrel, I’d just like to ask the pistolsmiths why they think the BB isn’t the norm, and the bushing-barrel the special order?

- Don

 

[SF]

For USPSA/IPSC shooting in Limited class, bull barrel STI and SVI .40's ***dominate***.

I don't shoot open, but IMO the majority of open guns use comped bull barrels or cone barrels. Bushing barrels are seldom seen on these guns.

The conventional wisdom is that bull barrels reduce muzzle flip, letting you shoot a little faster. More weight at the muzzle also makes the gun a little slower swinging and harder to stop once you get it swinging. These are subtle differences. I personally like more weight at the muzzle for the reduced flip, and have never felt that it interfered with swinging the gun. OF course, I'm not Robbie, either.

SF

 

[stipilot]

For USPSA/IPSC shooting in Limited class, bull barrel STI and SVI .40's ***dominate***.

However, it's also important to note that the guys with the national championship trophies like Rob Leatham, Jerry Barnhart, and Todd Jarrett all win with guns using conventional barrels and bushings.

 

[hhsmiley]

However, it's also important to note that the guys with the national championship trophies like Rob Leatham, Jerry Barnhart, and Todd Jarrett all win with guns using conventional barrels and bushings.

It is important to also note that those guys would win with whatever gun you stuck in their hands! :smile: With them it seems like it's a lot more about ability than equipment. Sure, Tiger Woods uses the most high dollar Titelist golf clubs, but he'd still beat everybody else with clubs from Wal-Mart.

I for one like the way my bull barreled gun handles and it does seem to kick less than my guns with lighter, bushing barrels. Shot-to-shot recovery is very quick. I don't know that they are any more or less accurate than busing barrels. Accuracy is usually more a matter of how well the barrel has been fitted, and with any of the quality manufacturer's bushing or bull barrels installed properly accuracy should be good. Just my .02, hope it helps.

 

[Monty Grubbs]

Don, I know where you live! Sort of!

I am a big fan of bull barrels. I love the way my Kimber Compact works. It is accurate, and has what I consider to be quite unnoticeable muzzle flip. I would like to get myself a 5" 1911 with a bull barrel. There just don't seem to be many around though.

 

[Don Puffer]

Thanks for the input.

Monty: That's true, you do know where I live. I'm not too worried yet, but I'll be moving right after I ask about shok-buffs. :smile:

- Don

 

[Dane Burns]

Don a quick search here on the forum under "bull barrels" will get you a wealth of info and comments.

 

[Don Puffer]

Yes it did...thanks Dane.

 

[stipilot]

It is important to also note that those guys would win with whatever gun you stuck in their hands

Absolutely.

The point is the CHOOSE to go with a bushing barrel. Quite simply, they are faster with a lighter gun both in terms of split times and index times.

That said, shooters of lower skill levels seem to benefit more from the extra weight out front. It seems to me that threshold is probably somewhere in A class. Many A shooters an up prefer the lighter guns and B shooters and down seem to prefer the heavier guns but I do know one GM who has an extended dustcover, bull barrel, tungsten guide rod and he's 100% on several classifiers. The bottom line is it's really personal preference.

Mechanically I think there's good cases for both designs though I think in Officers type guns the bull barrel is a clear choice because of the problems with Officers Model bushings as a failure item. There's not much metal to them.

 

[Steve Morrison]

Let's not forget, those guys and others won with STI frames and bull barrels also. Most of them did not choose the bushing setup until after the power factor dropped from 175 to 165, a matter of no small effect on their decision.

FWIW a 175 power factor is much closer to typical carry ammo in a 45, 10mm, or 9x23 that 165 power factor is.

IMO, stipilot's observations regarding skill level and weight are right on.

 

[Kyle Farris]

ahhh...pretty sure that Robbie's limited gun is heavy, like an anvil.