Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I won and AMT Hardballer in the early 80s in a pistol match. It was considered a wonder, basically
a stainless steel Gold Cup when SS guns just didn't exist. SS was considered a very new and unusual
material, I think the Model 60 S&W was about it for SS guns. I shot it a bit and decided it wasn't
really very well made. It ran OK, but was roughly finished internally and I sold it off while they were
still considered a desirable gun. Not saying they were junk, but they were not up to the fit and
finish of my real Gold Cups which I used in competition. I think they were still figuring out
what alloys of SS to use, and that split bbl and sheared lugs was probably due to the wrong
alloy being chosen while they were learning what would work and what wouldn't.
The carbon steel 1911s are stout guns. I have several in the range between 50 and 100 K rounds
through them and they are in good shape. I have no doubt that some have run into the
200K range without serious problems.
My experience with dbl charges in 1911s is that the failure will usually blow out the brass
at the unsupported feed ramp area, crack the grips, blow the mag floorplate off and bulge
the mag sides into the frame cutouts enough to make it a bit difficult to extract the mag
body. No real harm to the gun beyond the grips, and sometimes they are unharmed
and the mag is intact. The only failed bbl I ever saw was a Barstow which launched
the entire upper right portion of the chamber (the part seen in the ejection port when
the gun is closed) far enough that we never saw it again. A SS bbl, and a double charge.
Not down on Barstow bbls, they are really accurate ones, but apparently, at least that one,
not up to double charges.
Bill
a stainless steel Gold Cup when SS guns just didn't exist. SS was considered a very new and unusual
material, I think the Model 60 S&W was about it for SS guns. I shot it a bit and decided it wasn't
really very well made. It ran OK, but was roughly finished internally and I sold it off while they were
still considered a desirable gun. Not saying they were junk, but they were not up to the fit and
finish of my real Gold Cups which I used in competition. I think they were still figuring out
what alloys of SS to use, and that split bbl and sheared lugs was probably due to the wrong
alloy being chosen while they were learning what would work and what wouldn't.
The carbon steel 1911s are stout guns. I have several in the range between 50 and 100 K rounds
through them and they are in good shape. I have no doubt that some have run into the
200K range without serious problems.
My experience with dbl charges in 1911s is that the failure will usually blow out the brass
at the unsupported feed ramp area, crack the grips, blow the mag floorplate off and bulge
the mag sides into the frame cutouts enough to make it a bit difficult to extract the mag
body. No real harm to the gun beyond the grips, and sometimes they are unharmed
and the mag is intact. The only failed bbl I ever saw was a Barstow which launched
the entire upper right portion of the chamber (the part seen in the ejection port when
the gun is closed) far enough that we never saw it again. A SS bbl, and a double charge.
Not down on Barstow bbls, they are really accurate ones, but apparently, at least that one,
not up to double charges.
Bill
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