Tag Archives: Pistols

Weapons

Ruger’s 1911, the rumors are true.

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To have another Gun Maker coming out with a 1911, isn’t surprising.  But for Ruger to jump into this crowded pool actually makes sense.  Much like S&W before they entered the game, Ruger has been making 1911 parts for a long time.

The “SR”1911… because Ruger can’t say 1911… actually looks pretty good. I like the fact that the slide is Forged, even if the frame is cast.  Ruger’s casting is the best in the industry. I’ll give them points for not putting on forward slide serrations.  I’ll even go so far as to give them props for not making the slide a huge freaking billboard.     The simple Double Diamond checkered grips also look good, with a simple Colt style medallion inset into the wood.  As much as I’ve been hating on Ruger… I have to give them a nod here.  Well done, Ruger.  Well done.

Now if you would just change your Distributor Only business model so dealers could actually make a buck stocking your guns – yeah… that would be great.  Because as it is now, I hope I don’t have to sell one, because I’d make more money selling anything else.  Ruger and Glock… there’s no money in selling the things.  So am just not excited about these things.

Weapons

Kel-Tec P-11

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So I picked up a Kel-Tec P-11 today.  I honestly don’t know why, but had to.  The size and weight make for an attractive Sub-Compact, as is the 9mm caliber… being a much better defense option that the ever popular (but I don’t know why) .380.   I have yet to test fire it, but I did clean and examine it and it looks fine.  If I have any problems, I can send it back to KT for them to go through it.   Lifetime Warranty makes any Kel-Tec a safe bet, and they stand behind their guns.

I’ll detail strip it down, Slipstream it, and then test fire the crap out of it.  If I like it at that point – it will remain in the Ogre Inventory.  If I decide I don’t like it, I’ll sell it or trade it.

Weapons

ATI Commander Update

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Had some emails asking about how this gun has held up.  Well, I’ve not shot it much lately primarily because I’ve been off my feet letting my knee mend.  But before me knee issue, I’ve put a number of rounds through it.  It has about 350 rounds fired of mixed ammunition.  PMC, CCI, Speer, Cor-bon, and Remington UMC.   I did have one hiccup in the first round of firings, a failure to feed.  That was with some Remington UMC ammo…. which any time I do have a failure in any gun – it’s usually Remington UMC ammo that has the hiccup.  I really don’t like that ammo.

I put in a heavier recoil spring.  Reason being, it felt like it was under sprung.  Just a couple pounds more…. feels just right now.  Since then, I’ve not had a single failure of any sort.  Then again, I’ve not fired any more Remington ammo through it.

Ejection remains very consistent.  Accuracy, while yet to be put on paper, has been Minute of Water Bottle.  My impression is that it’s very accurate.  However I still need to paper this gun along with a couple others.  (My Springfield GI and the Sterling)  When I am more “On my feet” I’ll do that.  Until then I’m only speculating on the accuracy.

The gun shoots better than other 1911’s that cost much more.   Cosmetically, the gun remains unchanged so far… as far as Finish goes.  It’s only sporting the swapped grips I mentioned in another post.  I’ve yet to have the finish altered in any way.  So other than a spring and some wood, this ATI remains stock.

I do want some more appropriate grips for it.  The very nice reddish wood grips don’t quite look right.  They are too nice.  And I need an appropriate holster.  Simple brown leather.

I remain well pleased with this little Commander.

Crusader

Ogre Edition 1911?

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I’ve been thinking about what a Crusader Ogre Edition 1911 would be.  I don’t have any photoshop skills, so I can’t do up a picture to show you.  But let me paint the picture for you in the mind. A stainless Dan Wesson V-Bob, a Commander length… with a blued carbon steel slide, and a muzzle treatment like a Nighthawk T3, and Straight 8 night sights.  Done.  Simple.  Oh, and it would be a 10mm.

 

Weapons

Springfield XDM Compacts

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We got in a few of the .40 XDMC’s…  You know, while at SHOT I took a look at them and at the time they just didn’t blow my skirt up.  However after handling the production gun here… taking some more time to examine it…

I like it.  It’s the first XDM that I could see myself getting if I was in the market for a Sub-Compact sized Poly-Striker.   The grip is short, but it works.  The 3.8 inch barrel and related sight radius makes getting a good Sight Picture easier than on other sub-compact guns.   And the XDM’s lines seem to work better with this hobbit sized grip.    I give it my nod of approval.

Weapons

Cool Rims

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The lowly .22LR is the most common and popular of the rimfire category… and the stuff that comes out for it is pretty amazing.  I find myself in modes where it’s almost like I consider a .22LR to be a “Kid’s Gun” or something.  Honestly, I think since I got a .17HMR, I’ve only fired about a dozen rounds of .22LR.

But .22’s are not just for kids anywhere, not by a long shot.   .22’s are getting serious.  We’ve seen the .22 Colts and M&P 15-22, and of course the plethora of modification options for the Ruger 10/22…  But what you are about to see here… These are just staggeringly cool on a whole new level. Continue reading Cool Rims →

Crusader, Weapons

ATI GI 1911 Commander, an observation

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As readers will know, last week I picked up a 1911 Commander from ATI.  “American Tactical Imports“.

I remain impressed with the overall quality of the gun.  It’s so far proven to be a great buy.  At the time of purchase, and even since I had first seen them, I had only one complaint.  The wood grips look like they are cheap plastic.  Now I have another complaint.

Continue reading ATI GI 1911 Commander, an observation →

Weapons

Top 5 1911’s

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One of The Horde has asked for a Top 5 1911 list.  This is difficult, because saying 1911 is like saying Pickup Truck.  There are different types, classes of truck.  Class wasn’t specified.  So this is going to be an overall pick, cross classes.

1.  Springfield TRP
2.  SIG 1911 TacOps
3.  Dan Wesson V-Bob
4.  STI Ranger II
5.  Springfield 1911 GI

Three of the five selections are full sized, 5” guns.  The other two are Commander length guns.  There are no three inch guns on my list for a reason.   The smaller sized guns get more finicky in terms of reliability and for me, that’s a huge disqualification.  The full size and the Commander length guns are where it’s at.
If I was going to pick a few more, the other guns on my list would be the guns in the Colt CCO type configuration with a Commander length barrel and slide on an Officer’s length frame.  Such as the SIG C3 and RCS.  Both would make the list for sure.  Also, if I had another spot, I’d have to put an STI Tactical 4.15, which would also be the only double stacked 1911 on this list, and the only one in 9mm.
If I was going to pick something on the more Budge Minded level, the options are fewer, but some stand out.  The pistols from ATI have a strong showing with tolerances on par with guns that cost 3 times as much.  The newish Remington R1 is a nice pistol, if you can find one.  The Para GI Expert is a very similar gun at a similar price point, and it’s a good one.  Then there are the guns from Taurus which are solid values and surprisingly good shooters.
Notice I am not talking about the Semi-Custom Production guns from makers such as Wilson Combat, Les Baer, and Ed Brown.  They are certainly good, but the cost level is puts them far and away above the reach of a lot of shooters, without a drastic or tangible increase in returns for the money.