Ideal rate of twist (MLP firearms and shooting thread)

[Roberteaux]

Anyone know of a reputable, reliable 1911 maker that isn't super expensive? They're on a fixed income.

ARMSCOR, a Filipino manufacturer, produces lots of M1911 types, along with a couple of designs of their own.

The ARMSCOR .45 1911 is sold while branded as "Rock Island Armory" firearms. The original tooling was all Colt, but some years ago the factory upgraded and is now using CNC machine tools to produce their inventory.

The current prices range from $399 for a milspec M1911A1, up to about $700 or so for a fancier model with extra features that the military type didn't have going for it. There's also a compact model, which is basically one in the same as the milspec item... but which features a slightly shorter pistol grip and barrel. This shorty model is actually one-in-the-same as a Colt Combat Commander.

As to quality: one is likely to find more people who favor this type than those who have a negative things to say about it. Most curiously, the full-sized version tends to be very popular, even among owners of much higher-dollar models.

But of course, some won't like it. Ford vs. Chevy, or some other shit like that, I'd guess. But really: milspec is milspec is milspec.

However, to be truthful: I did purchase a RIA compact model and for a while it gave me a hard way to go. I had to soften the sharp edges at opening of the barrel chamber a little with a Dremel, then polished the feed ramp. I did that because the RIA compact used to choke on 180-grain truncated hollowpoint ammunition. It was only fifteen minutes worth of work, but that solved the problem.

Shortly after that, however, it started to goof up again-- double-feeds, stuff like that.

It took me a while to figure out what the problem was this time: it was that the recoil spring was actually too light for the model. The compact model calls for a 24-pound spring, but the one I found in my RIA model only provided 18 pounds. I don't know if it was simply a worn-out spring, or if the factory put the wrong spring into the pistol.

But once I got all that sorted out, the sucker runs like a scalded cat and is absolutely reliable.

I still don't carry it much, though. Kind of a clunker to lug around despite being a shorty, and I have a lot more faith and trust in revolvers than semiautomatic pistols to begin with.

But if I was gonna buy another M1911, I wouldn't hesitate to get an RIA model.

As I said: milspec is milspec... and thousands of dead enemy soldiers can't be wrong whereas the effectiveness of the cartridge is concerned.

Best luck!

--R

 

[edro]

Remington has some nice ones for a good price... Rem bought Para....

 

[SteveC]

That is very interesting...... Like a finger extender too....

I don't mind loading mags but that is a cool concept.... Handy for folks with finger strength issues.... Before I'd trust it, I'd have to run one a bunch of times both paced and rapid fire though.... If there is a crank, there is added mechanism inside the mag, which increases opportunity to bind... That would bother me.... When I see or experience and gun fart, depending on the jam, I'm gonna look at feed ramp first and then the mag is gonna be scrutinized....

Still think it is cool in that it is integral to the mag itself and not and extra chunk of hardware....

Nope. Nope. Nope.

More points of failure. Not something you want in a magazine. There are plenty of other (not part of the mag) loading assist devices for those who cannot load.

 

[Teledan]

I told my mom and dad about some of the recommendations you guys have. She still really wants a Judge, but I'm just not sure how much it kicks and how much she can handle, considering she has trouble with her LC380. I'll be looking into all the guns you guys have suggested and try to figure something out for her. I don't like how unprotected she is without my dad around, and he's very much disabled, now, so even that isn't totally comforting. I'd like to find something for him, too, but he's easier. He'd be happy with any 1911 in .45 ACP, Glock 17, or Glock 19. He's got a lot of training on those. Anyone know of a reputable, reliable 1911 maker that isn't super expensive? They're on a fixed income.

If you're going to look at the P365 you might also check out the Springfield Hellcat. Although by the sounds of it, she may be better off with a revolver. One thing to keep in mind with the semi-autos is that she will need to load magazines. I was a bit surprised at how hard it was to load my P365 mags when I first got it. They make speed loaders that definitely help but if your mom has arthritis, that might still be too difficult.

 

[Bigfoot410]

I told my mom and dad about some of the recommendations you guys have. She still really wants a Judge, but I'm just not sure how much it kicks and how much she can handle, considering she has trouble with her LC380. I'll be looking into all the guns you guys have suggested and try to figure something out for her. I don't like how unprotected she is without my dad around, and he's very much disabled, now, so even that isn't totally comforting. I'd like to find something for him, too, but he's easier. He'd be happy with any 1911 in .45 ACP, Glock 17, or Glock 19. He's got a lot of training on those. Anyone know of a reputable, reliable 1911 maker that isn't super expensive? They're on a fixed income.

A city manager I'm doing work for has a massive gun collection. He has them everywhere. Avid hunter too. Knows his stuff.

I asked what his favorite gun he owned was. He said the Judge was the cat's ass for all the reasons you'd expect.

Good enough for me to want one too now.

 

[Leee]

Nope. Nope. Nope.

More points of failure. Not something you want in a magazine.

BINGO.

You can take all the time in the world to load magazines.
Use any trick at your disposal.
Stand on your head, whatever…

But a feeding malfunction that costs you mere seconds may have untenable consequences.

… …

@Teledan - I looked at the Hellcat side by side before I bought my P365.
I’m a Springfield fan anyway, and it’s a very cool gun.

Manual safety is what tipped it for me.

Everyone I know with a Hellcat loves it as much as I love my P365.

 

[I Break Things]

Thanks, guys! Plenty of food for thought here. I'll go over everything and try to find something for my mom. Her neighborhood has gone to shit, and my dad is thoroughly disabled. I don't feel like they're safe anymore.

 

[Jeremiah]

So I went to my local gun store (well not local, but the one I go to since it has a range and rentals and my preferred gunsmith, you know what I mean...). After speaking to one of the RSO's who happened to have worked at S&W, I've eliminated the Python. He isn't the first one I've heard reports of quality issues with the new ones, which is what mine would have to be, since I don't really have access to vintage models and find the ones on Gunbroker to be prohibitively expensive.

I also eliminated the GP100, independently since I just find it to be a little too goofy looking for my taste. I'm not carrying a revolver, I am buying it specifically to be a range toy. So I guess aesthetics are factoring in a larger amount than they did when I was choosing a semi-automatic pistol, which I needed to 100% go bang if all hell broke loose.

I'm looking at things like balance as well and have started leaning toward the 4 inch models. So I'm down to the 686 right? Simple...not so fast. Enter the Model 27 that PineFD and Scott mentioned. I'm looking at the 4 inch model of those and when comparing it to the 686, it seems nicer to me. Now I know the frames are completely different, so I'm going to a more well stocked gun store tomorrow to hold both (my rental place didn't end up having a single revolver of any kind to try, just my luck). I know there's also the Model 19 that has a K frame

Please take all of the above with a grain of salt. I'm learning a lot by talking to people and posting here, I just want to make as informed a decision as I can.

 

[scott1970]

So I went to my local gun store (well not local, but the one I go to since it has a range and rentals and my preferred gunsmith, you know what I mean...). After speaking to one of the RSO's who happened to have worked at S&W, I've eliminated the Python. He isn't the first one I've heard reports of quality issues with the new ones, which is what mine would have to be, since I don't really have access to vintage models and find the ones on Gunbroker to be prohibitively expensive.

I also eliminated the GP100, independently since I just find it to be a little too goofy looking for my taste. I'm not carrying a revolver, I am buying it specifically to be a range toy. So I guess aesthetics are factoring in a larger amount than they did when I was choosing a semi-automatic pistol, which I needed to 100% go bang if all hell broke loose.

I'm looking at things like balance as well and have started leaning toward the 4 inch models. So I'm down to the 686 right? Simple...not so fast. Enter the Model 27 that PineFD and Scott mentioned. I'm looking at the 4 inch model of those and when comparing it to the 686, it seems nicer to me. Now I know the frames are completely different, so I'm going to a more well stocked gun store tomorrow to hold both (my rental place didn't end up having a single revolver of any kind to try, just my luck). I know there's also the Model 19 that has a K frame

Please take all of the above with a grain of salt. I'm learning a lot by talking to people and posting here, I just want to make as informed a decision as I can.

I'm a sucker for an N frame, although the practicality of the L and K frames cannot be denied...but they ain't N frames. If you go the route of the 27, you may save a few bucks if you can find a 28 instead. Same gun just not as fancy.

 

[Jeremiah]

That was a huge gun. That I’m currently waiting to complete paperwork on, lol. It felt big, but like it could handle the round, if that makes sense. I got a Glock 43x as well to balance out the size, because why not?

Thanks for everyone’s help. I see a 686 in my future but after holding both, this was my gal.

The grips look much thicker than the stock grips from the Smith & Wesson website. They resemble the target grips from altamont. They also make standard size panel grips that seems similar to the stock size. I'll give these a try and then see whether it's worth it to try to change them.

 

[TheX]

How fun is this?

 

[SteveC]

That was a huge gun. That I’m currently waiting to complete paperwork on, lol. It felt big, but like it could handle the round, if that makes sense. I got a Glock 43x as well to balance out the size, because why not?

Thanks for everyone’s help. I see a 686 in my future but after holding both, this was my gal.

The grips look much thicker than the stock grips from the Smith & Wesson website. They resemble the target grips from altamont. They also make standard size panel grips that seems similar to the stock size. I'll give these a try and then see whether it's worth it to try to change them.

Conga-Rats on your new S&W Revolver.

Well done, sir. I hope that you experience a lifetime of enjoyment from it.

Good call on passing on the new 686.... take your time and find an old one. They are out there. Might be a bit spendy, but so what?

 

[scott1970]

That was a huge gun. That I’m currently waiting to complete paperwork on, lol. It felt big, but like it could handle the round, if that makes sense. I got a Glock 43x as well to balance out the size, because why not?

Thanks for everyone’s help. I see a 686 in my future but after holding both, this was my gal.

The grips look much thicker than the stock grips from the Smith & Wesson website. They resemble the target grips from altamont. They also make standard size panel grips that seems similar to the stock size. I'll give these a try and then see whether it's worth it to try to change them.

That's a fantastic revolver! It looks like it has a nice set of Goncalo Alvez target grips on it. They're a handful, but I've always found them to be very comfortable.

 

[Jeremiah]

My hand is definitely getting used to the size. I compared it to my Glock 19 and my thumb meets my middle finger at the exact same spot when I'm holding the gun. I still have ammo on the way, bought some .38 special and .357 magnum from Fiocchi, so plenty of rounds to get a feel for it. In the meantime, I'm just using it as my latest fidget spinner, not as much dry firing as cocking and uncocking with each hand, haha.

 

[scott1970]

The sweet spot on N frames for me is a set a magnas and a Tyler T. I'd do all my N frames that way if I could. The combination feels great and looks great, too.

 

[Whom]

@edro have you been waiting for a 10mm carbine? That is reasonably priced? And uses resoonably priced known reliable mags?

BC-10mm | .10MM Right Side Charging Pistol | 10.5" Parkerized M4 Barrel | 1:16 Twist | Blowback System | 9.5" MLOK | No Magazine

Bear Creek Arsenal | .10MM Right Side Charging Pistol | 10.5" Parkerized M4 Barrel | 1:16 Twist | Pistol Length System | 9.5" MLOK | No Magazine This BCA AR-15 complete .10MM pistol has a 10.5" M4 barrel with a parkerized finish, and features a 1:16 twist

www.bearcreekarsenal.com

BC-10mm | .10MM Right Side Charging Rifle | 16" Parkerized Government Barrel | 1:16 Twist | Blowback System | 15" MLOK | No Magazine

Bear Creek Arsenal | .10MM Right Side Charging Rifle | 16" Parkerized Government Barrel | 1:16 Twist | Carbine Length System | 15" MLOK | No Magazine

www.bearcreekarsenal.com

The factory is just 40 minutes from here. I wish I could get a tour.

 

[THDNUT]

NGD!! Yippeee!

Check this out.....

I rode over to Cabela's (now Bass Pro Shops) this morning 45 minutes after they opened. I was looking for small pistol primers. There were none so, I wandered over to the Gun Library for the hell of it. They had put this out for sale minutes before. I spotted it and had to look it over in hand.

A little back story on this revolver. This was for sale in that store about a year ago for $2799 new. Someone bought it. They recently brought it back in unfired condition to sell. They may have had money problems or something, but, who knows?

I'm including the sales receipt to show why I just had to buy it. Oh well another safe queen.

 

[Jeremiah]

1000 dollars off? sheeeeeeit

 

[MikeyTheCat]

If you're going to look at the P365 you might also check out the Springfield Hellcat. Although by the sounds of it, she may be better off with a revolver. One thing to keep in mind with the semi-autos is that she will need to load magazines. I was a bit surprised at how hard it was to load my P365 mags when I first got it. They make speed loaders that definitely help but if your mom has arthritis, that might still be too difficult.

Just get one or two of these by UpLULA. There are other brands as well but these make loading super easy.

 

[Whom]

I got one of those. Really kicks ass.

When I remember to bring it.