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Author, left, found Avenger milder, more controllable than Gold Cup. Above, Avenger loads for Sierra J70-grain JHC in .45 Win. Mag. or .45 ACP cases. Note longer case crimps into bullet cannelure; the ACP case is too short to crimp. slide tended to bind in several spots and it stopped cold a quarter-inch from lockup. The link was a bit too long. SLIDE CYCLED SMOOTHLY The link pin was punched out and the holes in the link were slightly enlarged, using a cut-down, fine-grit Cratex tip in a Dremel Moto Tool. The link sides were also polished with the Arkansas stone and the slot in the lug, in which the link pivots, was polished with a flat needle file covered with 600-grit metal polishing paper. Replacing the pin and reassembling the gun, the fit was super tight, but the slide cycled smoothly by hand. I placed a Wilson Shok Buff washer on the spring guide to protect it against heavy loads, retaining the standard Gold Cup Spring. I lubricated it with Break Free, and the gun was ready for testing. Thejob was done quickly with no alteration to the gun or clip, and 045 interchangeability was fully retained. As a self-taught pistol butcher, it gave me much satisfaction to have the work turn out so well. Before outlining handloads, let me describe my first eye-opening session with the Al Avenger. I made up 13 different handloads u'sing three bullets, three powders, and brass formed from either Federal .45 ACP or .45 Winchester Magnum cases. The charges were taken from the data sheets with the SSK kit. Due care was employed in assembling these rounds, but no special accuracy methods were involved, although I did accurately weigh each charge. I had two objectives in that first session: I wanted to check functioning and handling by shqoting rapid fire strings, and I hoped to find a few loads which showed the Avenger's accuracy potential. As it happened, I got much more than I bargained for. First, I fired a series of five-shot strings, two-hand, standing. The gun was defi- 60 S S ]I, INDU8TRIB8 aT. I, DBLL& mUVB BLOOMINGDALB. OHIO 43810 SSI-, .1~[)JSi!lI(S I"'C. lr.tro.:l.. t.a Q b, 30\. Ihe: Av,."v"'s p~,."Ht's bulloels of f,om !70 ll)rouuh 210 gr"H'\ ""(:('1"1.:",' ally .. ~11. Th(' s(on
~; .' .. .. ~ ••• ,•. •• ,.;.~.. ·lli. • Eight different.41 Avenger 'oads printed these 25-yard machine rest groups, averaging on'y 1. 19 inch. They show potentia' match accuracy of the Avenger. nitely more controllable than the same cine using A5 ACP with loads ofsimilar power. In fact, I fired one 2.2 inch group and several other good ones, and I don't shoot that well. Then I got down to serious bench testing, knowing that my pistolstnithing had produced a smooth, reliable gun. TEST FIRING Mounting the gun in a Lee machine rest, I fired five-shot groups on a reversed target at 25 yards, clocking each shot over the Oehler Model 33 Chronotach Skyscreens. I have confidence in the Lee rest and my ability to turn out reliable, repeatable results with it. The first group was 1.56 inch, measured center-to-center ofthe widest hits. Then they began to get even better: 1.38 inch and 1.20 inch. The fourth was 2.12 inch, but it was definitely overpressured,judging from the primer cratering. In fact, several of these loads caused cratering of the CCI # 350 magnum large pistol primers. The first four loads were in full-length A5 Winchester Magnum brass; then I switched to a series in old Federal A5 ACP cases, expecting poorer accuracy. Here are the groups which followed, in order: 1.51 inch, .89 inch, 1.25 inch, 1.36 inch, 84 'inch, 1.16 inch, 1.43 inch, and 1.11 inch. Eight straight groups and all different loads with two· different bullets. And all grouped into 1.5 inch or less. That may be the best series of diverse handloads ever fired from a big-bore semi-auto. The velocities ranged from a mild 854 feet per second to a hot 1,287 fps. Hand cyCling shows chambering of a .41 Avenger round in a Co't automatic. Only one conclusion was possibl~: the Al Avenger is a great caliber. In later firing, I have seen nothing to lower that opinion. If anything, it has become even more solid. I also made a load with a 21O-grain cast semi-wadcutter; it printed a 1.5l-inch group. The average size for all 13 groups fired that day was a splendid l.33-inch. .,That is far better than many custom accurized .45s will average with factory match ammo. Such results cannot be accidental, or lucky. One or two lucky groups, yes. But 13? Everything has to be just right. Yet, I had done nothing beyond my usual handloading and test-firing methods. There is no reason why most any other shooter could not h~ve done as well, using the same hardware and methods. VARIOUS LOADS Now, let's consider specific handloads, picked to show the versatility, power a,nd accuracy of the Avenger. My favorite bullet in this caliber is Sierra's nO-grain jacketed hollow-cavity (JHC), because it is very accurate and it can be pushed to maximum power with mild recoil. For instance, a nice medium load was 6.5 grains of Winchester 231 powder in Federal A5 ACP brass with CCI # 350 magnum large pistol primers. This gave that fine .89-inch group at 1,027 fps. Winchester 231 is cleanburning and often yields exceptional accuracy. In the same brass, 7.0 grains made the .84-inch group at 1,072 fps. These loads have fine target potential, but I have yet to confirm or optimize them. The maximum charge ofWinchester 231 with the Sierra nO-grain JHC bullet was 7.5 grains in my gun, in .45 Winchester Magnum-type cases. CCI # 350 primers are a bit soft for this load and cratered too much; even so, the load clocked 1,162 fps and I had two groups of 1.38 inch and 1.34 inch yielding 510 foot pounds of muzzle energy. With harder CCI #200 rifle primers, the cratering was nil and the same charge gave 1,155 fps and produced a 1.54 inch group; but eight grains was too hot. Although all the loads listed here are based on SSK data, my velocities were definitely higher than the data indicated, and my maximum reasonable charges were smaller. This points up again that heavy loads must be worked up carefully for each gun. The differences were so sizable and consistent that they require comment. A major factor undoubtedly is temperature. My firing was done in 80-90 degree summer weather, and each degree adds 2-3 fps to velocity. Also, the chamber and bore ofmy gun may be tighter than the original barrel used for the SSK tests. Mild cratering of primers is acceptable, although such loads should be limited to stronger, full-length brass-not the weaker A5 ACP cases. I had no blown primers or brass; but it is possible that some cases might bulge or blowout in the unsupported area around the extraction groove. None of my cases bulged, but brass does vary in strength and resiliency. The use of harder primers, such as Winchester-Western's (W-W) 7M-l1lF magnum large pistol or CCI # 200 rifle primers, is best for heavy loads. Heavier gun springs also help to prevent primrr cup extrusion into the firing pin hole. For the heaviest loads, I substituted Wolff springs in my Gold Cup: a 22-pound recoil spring, a 28-pound hammer spring, and an extra-power firing pin spring. The gun would not cycle with light loads, but the springs protect it and make acceptable loads out of touchy ones. Continued on page 77 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER . JANUARYIFEBRUARY 1983 61
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JANUARYI FEBRUARY, 1983~ Vol. 8, No
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