There is an ad in another forum where a guy is selling a multitude of National Match barrels.
He states that most of them are flared for NM bushings.
I have never heard of such a thing, can anyone set me straight?

It means there is a slightly raised (larger diameter) band at the muzzle. If they were originally standard barrels this is accomplished by turning the OD of the barrel a few thousandths, except abut 1/4" at the muzzle end, to allow the bushing to slide freely over the barrel, except the band at the muzzle that the NM bushing is fit snugly to. Standard when doing an accurizing job "back in the day". NM barrels came this way.

I'd guess he's talking about the muzzle end being oversize. That was for hand fitting to the bushing.
That was standard on a NM Colt bbl as well as oversize dimensions elsewhere on the bbl like the hood & lug.
All meant to allow hand fitting for the best possible fit

Or, it may mean those barrels usually installed in compact 1911's without any bushing. They are larger diameter and tapered toward the muzzle to snugly fit inside the front of the slide without any bushing.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

No, these are National Match barrels that were always meant to be installed with a bushing. Old school stuff that pre dated any of the Officers Model type barrels.

My first rework of a norinco 1911a1 I fitted a new surplus USGI barrel to a national match barrel bushing so I had a 100% lockup in full battery. With zero movement. A very carefully, slow fit up. I have no barrel spring in either direction. The lug engagement is within spec too. I fitted the nm barrel bushing to the slide first so the last 1/8 turn the bushing wrench is needed not tight but snug. When I first purchased the norinco the barrel bushing was more loose in the slide than the barrel. She was well used.

At the range she shoots 1 1/2" groups with clusters and cloverleafs. Using Russian wolf 45acp ball ammo.

My point is the nm barrel bushing when fitted correctly works. I wanted to do a cheap bargain basement build to see how accurate it could be. So it's not the cost of the parts it's the way we fit them. My first time shooting it I was a tad tight on the barrel to bushing fit. Some more lapping of the two mating parts fixed that. The barrel has 100% lockup still.

My first build came out ok.

1911? If you are buying one get him to measure the end o.d. Should measure .580. Your bushing needs to measure the same. You can get a N.M. under size bushing from Clark guns. They measure about .578. The standard 70 series bushings are about .582.