First 1911

[wyntrout]

Thanks, Swampman. I kind of want the adjustable sights to be able to adjust for goofs like this.
It's interesting that all of my autos have the Browning locked-breech, but the three .45's are very different. My 645 is too big and I HATE the ambi-safety/decocker on the SLIDE.

The Champion 4" is a nice size, not light but more compact. If I can figure out the sights at Springfield, I'll go with them. I'll have to discuss it with someone there, though. Oh, it has a bull barrel with an integral feed ramp and no bushing... different from the full-sized ones.

Bawanna', those Check-Mate magazines sound and look very promising. I read quite a bit about them and the people who've tried them like them. We'll know more in a few days. I haven't checked to see where Top Gun is but Priority Mail shouldn't take more than 2-3 days. I sure hope those work with the PM45 and actuate the slide lock on empty.

I would have gotten the 8-round SS mags with the two-sized rubber bumper pads, but they were out. I only got two with the small pads and the rest flat, welded bases... cheaper by a few dollars each.

Wynn

[O'Dell]

Hey Wynn. I found a couple of 3rd gen S&W's, but both are 40 cal - no 45 at present, but he has a bid in on some. One is a 4043. I like the SS slide and alloy frame on this one, but it has that DAO trigger I didn't care for on the stolen 4586. The other is a 4006 TSW which is all SS and 10 oz heavier, but has the DA/SA trigger and would be newer. He says he has some clean ones in both guns, so I wouldn't have to work as hard as I did on the 4586. Both will have working night sights and two eleven round mags. Do you have any info on these two models? I'm leaning toward the newer 4006, but haven't definitely decided.

[wyntrout]

Sorry, sure don't. I've never had or fired a .40 and I forgot to try the DA on my 645 the other day just for comparison. All steel is heavy for sure. That's why I marvel at my PM45.

Wynn

[kramm]

Wyntrout,
Those Checkmate 7 rd mags. will fit the pm45 but they are long and stick out the bottom. Thats what came with my D.W. CCO. I tried them for fit in my pm45 but didn't actually fire it.

[wyntrout]

When I get a chance, maybe tomorrow, I'll post some pix and info on my research. After reading about these Check-Mate mags, I ordered a bunch of them early Monday morning from Top Gun. They just came in USPS Priority... $9.95 for the whole order of 8 magazines. I got one Officer's model 7-shot SS with welded base to try in my PM45. It fits and seems like the best fit to actuate the slide stop. A trip to the range to test that during use, is necessary, though. I have great hopes for this brand. If it works as I hope, I'll use that "emergency repair" silicone tape to build up the gap between the grip and the base, and this may become my carry setup... 7+1.
These IMPROVED hybrid lips and new patented follower, with front skirt and adequate or ample metal to actuate the slide lock, may just be what we were looking for... especially in the follower... and its matching stronger spring, which I think is the weak link with earlier testing of other mags and springs. The Check-Mate mags are a matched set of new improvements, so I expect them to work well. They insert, lock, and fall freely! Actual range use will tell, though.

Wynn

[kramm]

Be sure to let us know how they work. It'll be awhile before I can get to the range. We just got blasted be a snow storm. I'm sure the road to the range I use will be closed for quit awhile.

[wyntrout]

Will do. I just tried the Check-Mate follower and spring in the 5-shot Kahr mag. Six rounds easily fit and the snap caps cycle through the gun with hand-racking and the slide is held back on empty. IF it locks the slide back on the range, we may have a winner for adding capacity to the Kahr magazines. 6+1 beats 5+1, IF reliable.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

Check Mate magazine test at range

Well, the PM45 5-round mag will easily hold 6 rounds with the CM follower and spring installed and the Kahr base is used, however, it's not a good fit without modification, which I didn't try to do at the range. I had numerous malfunctions with failures to feed and stovepipes with empties and live rounds.
The cartridge is presented at a higher level to the chamber and doesn't always go INTO the chamber. Also, on firing the last cartridge, the first coil below the free end of the magazine spring below the front of the follower, pops out and there is no slide lock. This happened with the PM45 AND the Springfield 1911... numerous times.
I bought 5 SS welded-bottom (8-rd) and 2 removable extended base for the Springfield, and 1 Officers SS welded bottom (7-round) to try with the PM45.
At the end of the test I had 3 of the 8-rd SS welded bottoms that hadn't malfunctioned with the spring jumping out. I tested them at least 3 more times than the others without them malfunction, yet. The slide locked back fine with these.

First 2 mags from Champion shown using base of front sight on top of rear post. Not bad at 7 yards but tough to use at 15 yards. Need something a bit finer to aim with.

[wyntrout]

I finally figured out what was slowing my compter or making it halt so long while processing files... my Seagate Back Up program that came with the 2TB GoFlex drive. I kept trying to remove it and it said wait. I turned the PC off and unplugged the power. Then I used Program Manager to try to end all of its processes and they kept re-appearing, so I went to the Control Panel and removed the danged thing. PC seems okay now and can post more than one picture without going nuts!

More pictures of the Check Mate magazine malfunctions I had including the K5 mag with the CM follower and spring installed, and the target from that test:

[wyntrout]

Well, so far today, I replaced the flasher bulbs in the front of my wife's 2001 Volvo S40. Then the danged right front beams wouldn't come on! That was weird... checked connections and fuses, then replaced high beam... no luck. Removed small panel and checked light switch on dash... nothing. Then had brainstorm and tired high beam switch... LIGHT! So I replaced the Low beam and all is well. Now I need some more spare headlight bulbs... seem to go out in pairs, sometimes... weird.

I sent off an email and pix to Top gun and they forwarded it to Check Mate, so maybe we can get to the bottom of the springs popping out. I hope!

More pix:

With the CM Officer's 7-rd SS mag, I wrapped that sealing silicone tape around the bottom to build up the magazine gap. That tape is really handy... stretches, activates, and seals well. That gives 7 rounds in less space than the 6-round factory mag with extended grip, but obviously, the feed lips and spring problems need adjusting. I'll wait until the factory says something about the springs popping out, though. I like the 6 rounds in the K5. There's extra space using just the CM follower and spring... about 6 1/2 rounds, so not too tight.

Well, now I guess that I can clean my guns... been so busy with everything else and slowed up by the computer problems. I thought the Seagate software might be the culprit, but I had to drive a stake through its heart to stop it.


Wynn

[wyntrout]

Hey, Bawanna'. Whatever Wilson Combat mag that came with my Springfield, didn't lock the slide back on empty. It just wasn't a good day with my magazines! I got the front sight off last night/tonight with a plastic "dowel". The rear one is still on because the danged set screws must be glued in. I tried acetone, WD40 before that, and then some heat with a small butane torch... no luck. Didn't hurt the sight either. The darn Allen wrench is .050" and twists... the metal does... afraid it's gonna break, and not loose! At least that front post and sight are out of the way now. I was thinking about whittling a low front blade out of something, but the "pin" hole for the original sight is there, and the blast will probably blow anything less than metal away. Hmmm... maybe aluminum, to fit the dovetail, but a very minimal, low blade... or nub.

I've posted the pictures of the test "subjects" since my computer is up to speed again.
I put a CM follower and spring in one K45-5rd mag. I cut lengths of that "fix anything" silicone tape in two lengthwise and built up the bare space between the grip and the 7-round OM base. I was going to trim it better around the base, but I left a bit to help with the sharp rear corners of the base.

After I hear from Check Mate on the malfunctions, I want to try tuning the magazine lips for the OM-7 for use in the PM45... and maybe the spring/follower in the K45-5, too. 6 rounds in the regular Kahr magazine would be nice. The OM-7 doesn't protrude as much as the 6-round extended grip Kahr magazine, but I would have to wrap that silicone tape with some slick electrical tape so clothing won't catch on it... and 7+1 capacity!

Wynn

[Bawanna]

Your having a heck of a time with magazines there Wyn. That Wilson if a 8 rounder almost has to be a 47D and they just work. All mine work in my PM45 just fine including slide lock.
The 47OX which is the same thing but for an officers model (shorter frame) don't always do the slide lock which perplexes me no end. Can't see any reason why it shouldn't.

The sights on that Springer baffle me too. How they can be that far off is mind boggling. The rear sight in the pictures looks ok but apparently needs to be much higher if your using the top of the slide in front.
Something is just totally goofed on that sight set.

[wyntrout]

If I ever get started and finish cleaning my guns, I might try making a front sight... a very low blade to try, maybe, but I really need to bite the bullet and send it to Springfield. I wish they had more pictures of the sights to at least see what they look like... AND what each type of "cut" is like. The rear was stock, I guess, but the front dovetail was added and I don't know if it's any "standard". If I could get the rear off, I would send them to you. The seller said they were installed in '05, but the "standard" front tritium sight looks kind of dim to me.
I'm still waiting to hear from Check Mate and won't "adjust" any mags until they contact me.

Edit: Added pictures of mags and sights. Front dovetail and rear sight. i scraped the red stuff out of the dovetail. The rear is "tight"!!

Wynn

[wyntrout]

Here's the Springfield Champion Mil-Spec 4" bull barrel with integral ramp and the inside front sight pin hole. The barrel is still dirty from the range.

A few pictures of my comparison of the sights vs. the boresighter. Difference is more easily seen at the 15-foot distance I checked from the kitchen counter to the far wall.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

Yeehaa! Got the rear sight off. Used a 3/32 drill bit to drill the set screw hole out a bit so that I could use a .050 hex bit as a punch and to try to screw it out. Then used a CR V T6 bit for the same thing... broke off the tip, but when I got my plastic dowel and tapped the sight it moved! Then I tapped it off.

Now I just have to find some sights for the regular military cut on the rear... 0.330" by ~0.094" by 65° and the front 0.330" by ~0.062" by 65°. Base of the dovetail front to back and depth of cut in frame.

Wynn