Model 41 barrel issue

[Troystat]

I have a 1970's era model 41 that came with a 7.375 inch barrel. The pistol functions very well. I just picked up a 5 inch "Field barrel" The barrel seems in decent shape and appears identical to my existing barrel except for the length. The problem is that when you install the field barrel the slide drags where the top strap covers it. I don't see any bend in the top strap but it does seem like the field barrel is 7 or 8 thousands thicker than my original barrel. Should I just get rid of the field barrel or stone the underside of the field barrel so it clears the slide?

thanks

 

[Nevada Ed]

If it is a factory barrel, it should work......
but a gunsmith or a little work if you know what you are doing
should fix the problem.

Just depends on how the fit is and how things match up.
A quarter thread turn can mean a lot.

Good luck.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Check barrel to frame for any gap - possibly slight stoning will help. Can remember only one case where bending the bbl extension was necessary - easy to over bend.

 

[Troystat]

Thanks Tom, I ran the blade of an engineers square along the sight rib and it seems like the bbl extension is straight but there is no clearance between the slide and the extension, the extension does seem thicker than my original barrel which is a bit odd. The barrel itself locks up on the frame just fine. I think I should leave it alone for a while and think about it before I do anything. Taking it to my pistol smith is probably the smart thing to do.

 

[chief38]

I bought a 5" Field Barrel last year and shoot much tighter and more accurate groups with it than the original 5.5" Bull Barrel. Mine was a drop in fit, but I love the damned thing!. It makes the M41 7.5 ounces lighter which to me is GREAT!

Without your gun in front of me I won't give advice on how to fit it, BUT I would fit it if it were me. IMHO it is better than the original barrel, 5.5" or the 7" version and for me it was a game changer! I was seriously contemplating selling my M41 and picking up a used High Standard - but now that contemplating has gone right out the window.

Picture below is with the factory open sights - heck, I do not even own an electronic sight. PS: I could not shoot a group like this one with my original 5.5" bull barrel - that's for sure!

 

[Troystat]

Ended up filing and stoning the underside of the top-strap and now the slide clears and seems to function. I checked with my gunsmith and he was saying that the older 41 barrels had slightly thicker topstraps and sometimes bind on the newer 41's Will be taking it to the range tomorrow.

 

[chief38]

Let us know how it works and how you like it.

 

[Troystat]

Took it to the range yesterday, first shot stove piped and the next 69 shots where fine. Sure feels different than the 7.375 inch barrel. Need to shoot it more to see how accurate it its.

 

[chief38]

Took it to the range yesterday, first shot stove piped and the next 69 shots where fine. Sure feels different than the 7.375 inch barrel. Need to shoot it more to see how accurate it its.

I know the theory of heavy barrels on .22 target guns but never bought into it. The lighter barrel is the cat's meow for me! I like the lighter and shorter barrel so much I've put the original 5.5" Bull bbl. into storage with Rig Grease as I will more than likely never use it again - that is UNLESS one day I break down and get a Red Dot sight for it. Then the 5.5" bbl. might be the designated Red Dot bbl. We'll seeeeeee.