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Text File | 1989-12-31 | 15.1 KB | 289 lines

>>> SO, YOU WANT A TUNED UP .45 PISTOL! <<< Combat Arms 2869 Grove Way Castro Valley, California 94546-6709 Telephone (415) 538-6544 BBS: (415) 537-1777 This handout is designed to acquaint you with the modifications available for the .45 ACP single action pistol that will make it more accurate, while not sacrificing reliability. These modifications are of interest to the police officer, competitor and the casual target shooter. There are several options available to the shooter and each is explained. The modifications take between 1 and 12 weeks, depending upon the work done to the weapon. You should be aware that the investment you make in your .45 not only increases its accuracy ( phenomenally if you get the complete accurization work done ), but also increases the value of your weapon. To begin with, you should start with a Colt Series 70 or Series 80 .45 ACP pistol, regardless of whether it is a Government Model, Combat Commander, Officer's Model, Gold Cup, etc., but avoid the Lightweight Officer's model and the Lightweight Combat Commander. Also acceptable are ex-military M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. The currently produced Springfield 1911A1 can also be made a great gun for an extra $40.00. There is a 20% surcharge on having these upgrades performed on an AMT, Auto-Ordnance, Llama, Star or other inexpensive variant. This is because the heat treating of the steel in the weapon is not of high enough quality to easily permit the modifications, the parts are difficult to obtain for some of the foreign weapons or because the weapon will not accept a Colt part without a lot of extra time spent on fitting and re-shaping the part. The Colt Government Model has a forged receiver and slide. It is also less expensive ( believe it or not ) to start with the Government Model and perform the modifications to it, rather than start with one of Colt's more expensive models that may already have some of these features standard. Because you are starting out with a lower investment in the Government Model, the total bill will be less than, say, starting with a Gold Cup. The reason I recommend the Springfield is for those shooters on a budget. Regardless of whether you start with a Colt or a Springfield, once the work is finished, the two weapons will shoot the same and be equally reliable. The advantage of the Springfield is that the Springfield M1911A1 plus the tuneup costs roughly what a Colt costs before the tuneup. So, get the Springfield if you're on a budget and the Colt if you prefer the quality assurance of the Colt name. The Colt has a finer finish. TRIGGER JOB: >> The most common request is for a trigger job. This consists of disassembling the pistol, removing the appropriate parts, replacing worn or damaged parts, stoning and fitting the components for proper response. BARREL BUSHING: >> One of the problems with a new Colt production pistol is the standard spring barrel bushing. Replacing this with a solid and properly fitted barrel bushing increases accuracy by reducing barrel movement before the bullet leaves the barrel. SLIDE TIGHTENING: >> On a standard production weapon, the slide is loose on the frame beyond acceptable limits for accuracy. On some weapons that have been fired a lot this is especially noticeable. The slide problem is corrected by peening and fitting the frame so that it fits the slide much tighter. This tightening results in a major accuracy improvement. GRIP SAFETY: >> The grip safety must be under the correct spring tension to permit it to function more reliably and positively. This modification, which also smoothes the grip safety's movement, is especially needed on weapons which have been shot a great deal. EXTRACTOR: >> The extractor needs attention in order to assure positive removal of the spent cartridge case from the chamber. It should be adjusted, fitted and polished. EJECTOR: >> Attention must be given the ejector so that the spent cartridge case is properly ejected from the breech. Also see the section on lowering the ejection port. MAGAZINE RELEASE: >> The magazine release generally needs adjusting in order to make the magazine release function easier. At this point I want to mention the proper way to insert a magazine into the weapon. Do not just slam the magazine into the magazine well, like they do in the movies. Depressing the magazine release button, as soon as resistance is felt while inserting the magazine, will reduce wear on the upper left side of the magazine. Be sure to use only Colt magazines in a Colt weapon during competitive shooting or when the pistol is being used for defensive, life endangering purposes. BARREL RAMP: >> Polishing and contouring the feed ramp on the barrel and on the frame will permit the weapon to feed target loaded wadcutters, full metal jacketed ball ammunition as well as hollow points. If you use the weapon for both target shooting and defense, this is especially important. Law enforcement officers must have this done. ********************************************************************** Each of the above mentioned modifications is included in the complete accurization process, which also includes attention to several other minor details. By purchasing the complete accurization package, you will save money and get more for your dollar. ********************************************************************** ADJUSTABLE TRIGGER: >> This skeletonized trigger with adjustable trigger stop is a must for the competition shooter or the individual who wants top performance. This trigger will return to battery faster than the factory trigger. LOWERING EJECTION PORT: >> Once the extractor has pulled the spent case from the chamber, it is the job of the ejector to cause the case to exit the weapon. Lowering the ejection port makes it more positive even than the standard lowered ejection port on the Colt Gold Cup. The work consists of lowering and flaring the ejection port in order to assure positive ejection. AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY: >> I recommend that left handed shooters have an ambidextrous safety fitted and installed. This is also valuable for those right handed shooters who prefer to fire the weapon with either hand and is a must for the competitive combat shooter and law enforcement officer. RECOIL BUFFER: >> Reloaders and any owners who shoot hot loads or who shoot lots ( more than a couple of thousand ) of regular loads will benefit from having an improved spring loaded recoil buffer fitted and installed. The new buffer prevents the slide and frame from battering each other with different types of ammunition and greatly extends the life of the pistol. FLAT MAINSPRING HOUSING: >> If your hands are small, you will benefit from having a fitted flat mainspring housing ( like on the Combat Elite, Officer's Model and Gold Cup ) replace the standard arched one that comes with the Government Model,Delta Elite and Combat Commander. This new mainspring housing is available with checkering to assure a positive grip. BEVEL MAGAZINE WELL: >> Magazines can be inserted more easily if the magazine well is funneled and flared ( also called "beveling" ). This beveling is even better that the standard bevel feature on the Colt Combat Elite and is important to the police officer and also to the competitive shooter who is shooting against the clock or competes in combat matches. FIXED SIGHTS: >> If you prefer fixed sights, higher visibility fixed sights can be installed. ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS: >> Target and combat shooters will benefit from the addition of a low mounted Colt Elliason adjustable rear sight and a new and slightly higher ( 1/16" ) front sight. This work also includes flattening the top of the slide, serrating it to prevent unwanted reflections and re-blueing the entire slide. This adjustable sight is the same as the standard sight on the Colt Gold Cup but is mounted so that it is lower. EXTENDED GRIP SAFETY: >> To prevent the hammer from biting into the web of the hand, it is suggested that you have a Clark extended grip safety fitted and installed. EXTENDED SLIDE RELEASE: >> You may wish to have an extended slide release fitted and installed. EXTENDED SAFETY LEVER: >> If you have small hands or a stubby thumb, I recommend an extended safety lever. This is available in an ambidextrous model. PACHMAYR GRIPS: >> It is suggested that you put a set of Pachmayr Signature grips on the weapon for greater comfort. There are 4 major styles available: the GM 45, the GM 45C, the GM 45CS and the GM-H. The GM45 is the standard for right or left handed shooters and has a thumb swell. The GM 45C is the same as the GM45 but has flat sides, no thumb swell for easier hand-to-hand shifts and no "toe" for faster magazine access. The GM45CS is the same as the GM 45C but with added sculptured reduction on the left side for convenience in reaching the magazine release. The GM-H is the same as the GM 45 but in camouflage. MAGAZINE BUMPER PADS: >> Installing a Pachmayr bumper pad on the bottom of the magazine is a good idea. It permits you to more positively insert the magazine into the weapon and to also cushion the magazine's fall during magazine ejection under actual or simulated combat conditions. The bumper may be installed either by you or a qualified gunsmith. Yes, it costs extra for the gunsmith to install them but he does it correctly. Many customers prefer the convenience of having the installation done rather than doing it themselves. Whatever you do, do not just glue the bumper pads onto the bottom of the magazines. They need to be attached with screws. MAGAZINES: >> There are a variety of magazines on the market for the Colt .45 and its imitators but I have seen nothing that works as consistently as the new Colt factory magazine. In the final analysis, you will save yourself a lot of headaches by sticking with the Colt factory magazine. Law enforcement and competition shooters need at least four Colt factory magazines and casual shooters need a minimum of two of them. Under absolutely no circumstances should a law enforcement officer even contemplate using a non-factory magazine. MISCELLANEOUS: >> Some modifications have questionable value and, to my way of thinking, are beneficial only if you feel better having them on your weapon. These include bobbing or clipping the hammer to avoid having the hammer bite into the web of the hand. My objection to that is this removes mass from the hammer and can cause problems of not having the primer hit hard enough. Get the Colt Combat Commander hammer installed instead of cutting the existing hammer. Another option is having a longer ejector installed. Most reputable gunsmiths will tell you, in private, that this is not needed. However, if you feel better having it, buy it. Also available are a special tension recoil spring and special tension firing pin spring. These special tension springs are not needed if you purchase the spring loaded recoil buffer,which will enable you to be able to shoot every kind of .45 ACP ammunition, from wadcutters to hollow points. CLEANING: >> Clean your weapon with Break-Free CLPTM. Use of a high quality weapon grease is acceptable on the frame rails upon which the slide moves fore and aft. Bear in mind that magazines need cleaning occasionally. There is no such thing as to clean a gun or too frequent a cleaning. If you use the weapon, clean it! Pleas e do not use WD-40TM or 3-in-1TM oil on your weapon. These are too thin for use on a gun. All work is done by reputable gunsmiths who are .45 specialists and shooters as well as gunsmiths. My own Colt is an example of the work done by one of these gentlemen. Here is a listing of the effects of this work on the accuracy of the weapon. As you can see, the cumulative effect is what gives you the most accuracy. >>> IMPROVING THE MECHANICAL ACCURACY OF THE .45 <<< PROCEDURE % INCREASE IN ACCURACY ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tightening the slide 15% Install a match grade barrel 10% Fit an accuracy bushing 20% Correct the headspace 10% Remove rear barrel side play 20% Perfect the vertical lockup 20% Totaling these percentages up gives you 95%. This leaves a 5% increase in accuracy that is impossible and/or not financially practical to achieve. >>> EFFECTS OF SHOOTER ASSIST FEATURES ON ACCURACY <<< PROCEDURE % INCREASE IN ACCURACY ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Complete trigger job 50% Install Elliason sights 25% Using quality factory ammunition, etc. 25% Combat Arms * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: >>> I bet most of you thought that all you needed to do with a gun was bung some bullets into the chamber or magazine and then point and shoot; I know I did! This little article has given me a new insight into hand held guns and I have a healthier respect for both the weapon and those who make, maintain and adjust them. Let us hear your thoughts and whether you have had any experience with guns.