30 replies to this topic

[Jon Merricks]

I heard a place called A-Zone in colorado had them a couple of years ago but I cant find any info on them.  Can any body help?

[bonedaddy]

Jon, one source I talked to is KKM Precision in Carson City NV.   (775)-246-5444.   The shop is in the process of moving right now and barrels are probably two months out.  (I mentioned that I saw the ad in theMarchApril issue of Front Sight.)  I've been contemplating a Tungsten sleeved barrel  ever since shooting one a couple of years ago.    Another source I heard about is well known gunmaker Johnny Lim.  
     Tungsten is a major pain to machine.  It dulls the best carbide cutters fast.  Sleeving a barrel with a tungsten cylinder is a painstaking job best reserved for a real pro, in my opinion.   If only a mild demand develops for these barrles, long lead times could become the norm.
   I'm really thinking this one over carefully.  It's all about recoil management.  And it isn't exactly like my bull barrel .40 cal STI at 165 PF is beating me to death.
What I will spend on a tunsten barrel alone, and I do my own fitting, is as much as a new CZ-75 production gun.   Tungsten is really "gee whizz" cool stuff, I just don't know if I want to invest that much time and money yet.   Lemme know what you find out and what you're  thinking.   Anyone else?
                             -Sam

[BrianH]

A couple of months ago I supplied a friend with some machinable tungsten for his 40 lim. gun, and he loves the way it feels.  Kinda gives the gun the feel of having a short comp on the end.

The real problem is the cost; machinable tungsten is about $200 a foot (for 1 inch material)....my shop just had some left over from another prototype job.  It was made to order, so I think it was more expensive than the stock stuff.

I'd agree with bonedaddy in that the cost and trouble may not amount to enough of an advantage (or pleasure factor) to make it worth going into.  I guess it's up to you.  Personally, I'd stay away from solid tungsten barrels, but that's another story.

[no whiners]

Will the stuff (mallory) that I use to weight engine crankshafts work?  It's a tungston alloy.  If memory serves me correctly it costs $60-70 a foot and machines freely.  I've made guide rods out of it with great results.  I was under the impression that in limited and limited10 that the barrel could be a bull but could NOT be sleeved.

[Jon Merricks]

Ok Here's the deal.  A friend of mine is shooting a bull.  So of course needs extra weight.  He found a couple of tungsten sleeves for around $100.00 each.  He has had them on several barrels.  Over 100000 rounds later there still in great shape.  Everytime he needs a knew barrel the sleeve is just heated up and unscrewed then put on a new barrel.  Like in my case I already have a good barrel and fit.  So why not just buy a sleeve.  I can have the same thing done with steel but just not as much weight as tungsten.

NW I'm not sure but I think your under the wrong impression.  All tungsten barrel's are sleeved and I've heard of bull barrel's that are sleeved as well.  If you do have access to tungsten and dont mind me giving you a call drop me a line on the messenger.

I think having a tungsten sleeve is better than just getting a tungsten barrel because, You can pick the barrel of your choice and it will save you lots in the long run.  Thats my thinking.  What do yall think?

[ong45]

As far as i know, both KKM and limcat both use sleeves on thier barrels. I had a limcat barrel put in my Ltd.40 a couple of years ago and it is fantastic , i would say at least a 10 pf difference in the way the gun feels while recoiling. I think the barrels are about 300$ before fitting .

[BrianH]

The KKM ad not only says "tungsten barrels", but if you look at the picture it's a solid bull barrel.  If it's sleeved, maybe they should say so.....(and also say whos barrel they're sleeving....)

[Jon Merricks]

Ive never heard of a solid Tungsten barrel.  (But I'm just a newbie).  I know for sure that the Limcats are sleeved.

[Jon Merricks]

Anybody know Andy Ginn  in Arkansas he used to own
A-Zone Custom Pistols, Colorado Springs, CO.  This is the person that used to have the tungsten sleeves.  I think he may shoot at Old Fort Gun Club in Arkansas.  Or a Gary Kimball he owned A-Zone before Andy.

[ipscman]

I purchased a KKM tungsten barrel. After about 5,000 rounds the sleeve came off the barrel - thankfully not during a match. I sent it back, they repinned it and it is came off again after 200 rounds.

A friend of mine had the same thing happen to his this weekend.

Kevin at KKM has decided not to sell these until this problem is solved.

In the meantime Johnny Lim sells them but there is a wait. I've been told "two weeks" three times. Coming up on the seventh week. I'll keep you posted.

Chuck at Shooter's Connection has one with the Wilson feed ramp. I need the other ramp so can't use it in my STI.

Hope this helps.

Mark
TY41880

[Jon Merricks]

The barrel I saw was threaded then the sleeve was screwed on and I guess it was lock tite or something like that keeps it in place.  You have to heat it to take it off.

[ong45]

The limcat barrel in my .40 has about 20k rounds through it and it is still together. The accuracy is also still good . The wait is well worth it
James Ong

[eerw]

Hi Jon..I know what you are talking about...Yes..when Andy was here he did several of the sleeves..I shot one for about a year...
He is in Ark. now..not sure of his contact #...Gary Kimball..retired from pistolsmithing..which is a shame..

Andy attached a sleeve of tungsten to a barrel by threading it on like a comp..then fitted the outside diameter for lockup on the front..like a bull barrel..worked very well at adding a substantial amount of stationary weight..

[Jon Merricks]

Thanks, I have tried to get intouch with Andy but havent had any luck.  If you happen to find out where in Ark he maybe or somebody that knows him let me know.

[Jon Merricks]

eerw  how did you like his set up.  The guy I know that has two of his sleeves has over 100k threw them with no problems.  Shoots very flat.  You dont happen to have your old one laying around do ya? :)

[eerw]

Hey Jon..Unfortunately I don't have it anymore..another guy in the club..liked it a lot..A Lot..

I liked it..it shot very well for me...I shot it fairly fast and it tracked very well for me...I had no problems with functioning and reliability...when I see it from time to time..the new owner says no problems..I shot everything from 155 HP to 220 lead in it..and it shot all equally well..If I can track andy down..I will forward any contact info to you..




(Edited by eerw at 8:26 am on July 3, 2002)

[Jon Merricks]

Thanks eerw

[Jon Merricks]

OK I found some, with some help.  If any body wants any let me know and I can hook you up.

[TMC]

I'm interested.

[Erik Warren]

Lay it on me. (I was talking to Bruce Gray at the FGN about fitting a tungsten barrel to my flippy Limited gun. He said he preferred Bar-Sto. I said only Limcat and KKM make them. He said get a sleeve and he'd put it on a standard barrel.)

[ipscman]

Hi Guys,

KKM has stopped making them. A flood of them have broke and they won't sell any more till they figure out what's wrong.

LimCat sells them but they are made by Briley or Barstow.

Retail about $295.

Johnny has a web site at: http://www.limcat.com

I like mine but my experience level is limited. I went from unclassified to A in six weeks but still feel like I'm a total newbie.

TY41880

[Jon Merricks]

I'll have some more info shortly.  

[Jon Merricks]

I'm still waiting on details.

[Jon Merricks]

There were only three left.  If anybody wants one they cost $200.00 shipping included.  The only person I know that is using them has not had any problems with them.  One of his sleeves has over 65k rounds and been on a couple of diffrent barrel's and still no problems.  Looks like it will save me money now and in the long run.  

[TMC]

Jon,

Do you know the O.D.? I have a Para and want to make sure it will lock up tight.  Also, how are they attached, threaded or press fit?  If threaded what thread size?


Thanks