Firearms General (235)
from Coonan:
"Great news, we’re shipping pistols! We expect to be shipping up to 10 pistols a day to fill the orders that have been placed, and are making every effort to ship all pre-orders so you have them by December 24th"
So, who bet against me that the Coonan would ship before the Vltor Bren-Ten (formerly known as the Fortis)?
Congrats Coonan!
For those unfamiliar with the mighty 1911 chambered in 357MAGNUM (the revolver round not the 357Sig) here is a pic from their website Coonaninc.com
Awesome!
Looking for a custom 10mm? Try the Springfield Armory Custom Carry!Sp
Written by reg mathuszSo, I have been musing some sort of custom 1911 for awhile. I, however, have a hard time raising and then spending the significant amount of money required. Note that I am not saying that it isn't worth it, just that it is quite a hit to wallet.
So, much to my surprise Springfield Armory WILL put together a Custom Carry in 10mm!!
Note: This is from the SA Custom Shop. They are quite a step up from a production pistol like a TRP (and the TRP is quite a pistol in itself). The CC's are VERY well reputed for craftmanship rivaling other custom brands (although less talked about). I only asked about the CC with a few extra options, but I am sure other models could be done also like the Custom PRO.
The price difference vs a 45 was negligible. Thought I would share, as I muse my finances for 2011.
Kudos to CDNN/MTM (MetalForm) 40 S&W magazine review Part 2
Written by reg mathuszSo,
Kudos to CDNN Investments!
CDNN agreed to exchange the magazine for another one. All I had to do (after contacting them) was send it back with a copy of the invoice and note. I had a replacement mag (at no charge) in a few days!
This one locked back 2 out of 3 1911's I tried it in. Unfortunately, the one it didn't lock back (ever) was the Colt in 40 which I need it to.
I switched out the Greider 10mm slide stop from my Dan Wesson and viola it locks back in the Colt. Hmm..
Looks pretty good on the Delta too. Actually the Colt #4 slide stop looks pretty good on the DW CBOB.
So, some thoughts.
-Try to find some full follower 40 mags. Maybe Colt, Mec-Gar, Kimber, Wilson?
-Replace the Colt #4 with a Greider or other 9/38Super/40/10mm stop
-Tweak the MTM and try to gets it to work (they were only $12.99)
-Just use 10mm mags.
If you haven't read it, I had a 40 barrel fit to my Colt Delta Elite: http://reg7.site90.net/?p=129
I have been using my 10mm mags in the 40 conversion with excellent results. However, the difference of in the COAL of 10mm vs 40S&W made me think that getting 40 mags would be better and allow me to keep the ammo separate. No problems yet, but safety first.
I got three at CDNN for $12.99. They are blued 8shot. I figured they were a good deal even if I just used them at the range. I have a mixed review.
Here are a couple of pics. Again, sorry for the low quality, they are from a camera phone:
MTM follower. Surprised at this design. It is not super stable, allowing a lot of tilt/pivot. One of the three mags didn't lock the slide back when empty. The mags are only a 8 shot. It is almost as if they should be 9 but couldn't get it to work.
MTM feed lips. While the short feed lips seem to work well with the 10mm, adding the spacer for 40 means that the round is pushed further forward. Simply inserting and removing the mag causes it to shift forward/back. The lips are also not very tight, the round pops up slightly--can't be good for the mag (stretching the lips) and making mag ejection hard.
MTM baseplate we are used to.
This is kind of a mixed review. One mag didn't lock back the slide manually in 3 1911's I tried. Strangely, 2 of the 3 mags did not eject clean out of my Delta Elite (they drag in the well), although the eject fine when empty so it is not actually a problem.
I got these on sale at CDNN for $10 (regularly $12.99). They are not cutting edge as they are blued 8shot. I figured they were a good deal even if I just used them at the range -- I was pleasantly surprised by these mags.
Here are a couple of pics (along with my stock Colt mag). Sorry for the low quality, they are from a camera phone:
MTM
Colt for contrast. Similiar, no?
MTM. Holds the rounds surprisingly well.
MTM baseplate...odd that it is not marked, all my other MTM's are
The MTM 10mm's lock back in the three 1911's I tried them in. Insert and eject fine (loaded or empty). Have a non-tilt follower that feeds rounds at a good angle. All in all a pretty good deal.
Ok, I have been remiss as one of first kids in the neighborhood to get an FNX I haven't posted any pics here or done a proper review. You may have already seen these pics on internet forms like fnforum or glocktalk. I will be adding more and doing a full review/range report shortly.
Who is FN? They are the folks that John Browning designed many firearms for them to make. The most famous pistol is probably the Browning HiPower which FN made (yes, all Browning HiPowers are actually made by FN). Additionally, FN makes a lot of military firearms including the M249 SAW and the SCAR (check out their website FNHUSA.com if you are curious). They have a long tradition in making high quality firearms.
For those that are unfamiliar with the pistol it replaces the FN FNP and is a double/single action pistol. In 9mm it has a 17shot capacity and is extremely light. It features all ambidextrous controls (mag release, safety, slide lock). The safety allows cocked and locked carry which was a big selling feature to me. It is a polymer frame that comes with 4-interchangeable backstraps and 3 mags. The rest you can see in the pics and/or read about a little later.
Left side - tasteful markings
Right side - Made entirely in the U.S.!
The FN Shooter's Pack
Backside of the above BladeTech paddle holster, light years better than BT's previous paddle designs
A few freebies from "FN Days" at my local shop
More coming soon...
You should check out C5Leather.com. The product is handmade with good turn-around and prices.
You can also customize your options, colors, etc.
I bought a Montana IWB for my DW Commander (CBOB). I highly recommend getting a holster that has the clips/straps off of the holster (to minimize width) and offset weight. Some of the other features I liked: reinforced mouth, sweat guard, single direction snaps (only come off in one direction), duotone.
Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe IWB with fullsize 1911
Written by reg mathuszI felt like carrying my Colt Delta Elite yesterday. It didn't feel heavy and despite the 5" barrel was comfortable. CCW "comfort" really depends on what you are used to and what you are willing to put up with. One thing I have noticed is that if I don't position the pistol just right I get a little leg pain. However, yesterday it was perfect. I didn't even notice the weight/size until today when I switched to a smaller pistol.
Concealing a fullsize 1911 pistol IWB is definitely doable. Is is as concealable as a pocket pistol? Well, duh, obviously not. Wearing a shorts and t-shirt? Yes, concealable, but not if you are going to sit down, bend over, make a lot of motions with your arms. Or at least not as much as say an M&P 9c, a mini-Glock or one of the even smaller new super mini-pistols.
But, here is a pic of my Delta in my Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe. Great holster. Very concealable, and the open bottom design means it will work with other 1911 pistol sizes too.
Because this gets asked all the time....
Because this gets asked all the time....
and one 23 vs M&P compact
More...
It seems that a lot of folks are not familiar that Springfield made a number of 10mm 1911's include a linkless.
I wasn't $-savy enough to buy one at the time but I did get some neat literature in my 45 that I bought in 1990. Incidentally, Springfield also built the dual-extractor Omega and a standard link 1911 in 10mm.
Why I don't like Chip McCormick (CMC) 10mm 9rd mags
Written by reg mathuszI bought 3 Chip McCormick (9rd) 10mm magazines from MidwayUSA for my Dan Wesson CBOB. All of them experienced intermittent slide lock after shooting round #8. I should have just bought standard 8 round mags.
Before you ask, yes I did try different brands of ammo and the pistol functions flawlessly with the stock 9rd DW mags (actually made by CheckMate for DW). The stock mags, incidentally, feel heavier duty and have a stiffer spring.
Here is a pic of what happens. The follower rides too high and catches the slide lock. I suppose I could have bent it to work, but 10mm ammo is not cheap, and I would rather pay more and have something that works. I ordered a couple more mags from DW, and guess what they actually work.
Well, I am glad that MidwayUSA has a great return policy. Spend a little more and get a good mag.
Crossbreed sells the SuperTuck Deluxe for fullsize and compact M&P's (the same is true of other pistols like Glock and Springfield XD's). They advertise that you can use either holster for either FS or C.
So what is the difference you ask? I emailed Craig and got the answer, but it is a little easier to see than explain.
Here is my M&P fullsize 9mm in the fullsize holster:
Notice how the pistol comes to the end of the holster.
And now my M&P compact 9mm:
Notice how there is a little extra leather past the muzzle.
And there you have it!
Obviously, I chose the FS holster (since you are looking at the holster in the pics). The little overhang of leather is not noticeable. If you get the compact holster and have a fullsize obviously the pistol will hang out of the holster slightly.
1911 10mm to 40S&W conversion: New 40S&W barrel for my Colt Delta Elite 10mm
Written by reg mathuszI get asked this a lot.
Yes, you can add a 40 barrel to your 10mm pistol and it is pretty easy.
Here are some pics of what I did to add one to my Colt Delta Elite.
First, find a barrel. This is pretty easy depending on your pistol. Here are a couple of sources:
1911 5" - Numrich (Kahr)
1911 4.25" - Brownells (Storm Lake)
Glock - Lone Wolf Dist.
Tanfoglio - EAA
I bought one from Numrich for about $80. It is a very nice 416 stainless barrel. The crown is actually nicer than the stock barrel:
A 1911 is old school (i.e. not modular) so it requiries fitting. It should be minimal and any gunsmith will be able to do it. Other platforms probably will not.
I was going to buy the Wilson video, watch it and fit it myself. However, I sat on the barrel for about 3 months before I decided to just take it to my local smith and have it fit. It took him a few days and cost me less than $50.
Here is what it looks like:
What about mags and springs?
Good questions.
I put it in a 20# Wolff with a standard guide plug that I already had.
I also used the stock 10mm magazines and it has worked perfectly with several brands of ammunition.
If I was to rely on it for self-defense --not sure why I would underload a 10mm--but I would get a couple of 40S&W 1911 magazines with the spacers. The OAL differences of the two cartridges is pretty great so I would be worried about potential feeding problems. Since this is just to use cheap(er) range ammo, it is not an issue for me.
Pretty neat setup for minimal cost.
