American Handgunner July/August 1982

FIELD TESTING A NEWLY-ACCURIZED
.45 IS UP TO SHOOTER, NOT 'SMITH
BIG GAME-Whether it's acrafty bull elk or
distant pronghorn buck, here's ammunition
that will knock their socks off with its power
and accuracy! Compare PMC factory ammo
with Winchester, Federal or Remington and
you'll discover why more and more hunters
are switching to PMC.
2.
TARGET DR VARMINTS-Silhouette or paper,
woodchuck, or coyote, PMC gives you the
advantage marksmen seek... factory loads
with the precision accuracy of custom loads.
3.
MILITARY BALL AMMD-The PMC Arsenal
line of modern military rifle and pistol ball
ammuni.tion is the most complete line available
commercially. Police or military buff, here's
ammunition made to U.S. Military specifications.
Available in cartons, cases or cans.
Dealers Inquire.
Mail Coupon for Free catalog!
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Gentlemen: Please send me your FREE catalog.
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Field testing a newly-accurized pistol is
up to you, because most gunsmiths do
not have the proper facilities to perform a
critical200-round field test, without which
accuracy, functionability and reliability
are question marks.
Before firing any pistol, field strip it
carefully and remove grease or other preservative
compound and visually check for
readiness to fire. Before removing the recoil
spring plug, press the slide back Y2"
and use a properly-fitting bushing wrench,
if it is required. It is important not to
"wring" the closely fitted end of the barrel
and bushing together where they normally
A'tering spring tension will reduce 'ong
trigger inertia/ hammer follow-down.
come to rest in battery. Most barrels are
slightly relieved to allow easier bushing removal,
but this may not be apparent.
Always unscrew a solid rod follower,
should your pistol be fitted with one, to allow
bushing removal in the position \12" to
the rear of the critical fitted area. Never
forget this simple precaution, because a
single wringing together of barrel and
bushing could destroy your accuracy potential,
or at least lower it considerably.
Brace your wrist on a sandbag rest, depressing
the bag so that you are supported
in a natural firing position with free
upward movement. D'o not brace any part
ofthe pistol on the bag: Pistol rests, such as
the Lee and Ransom, are valuable for testing
handloads and small batches offactory
ammo; but they will not give you the pre-
. cise, actual firing conditions that a sandbag
will.
After firing 200 rounds of your match
loads yo will have put yourself on familiar
terms with your new accuracy job. Any
problems that are going to show up will
float to the surface in this session. Better
now than during a critical match.
First, check your sights. Front and rear
should be solid and impact should not
have drifted during the firing of 200
rounds, after initial sight-in. If the front
blade has worked loose, it was improperly
installed and should be replaced with a.
new sight. Never attempt to re-tighten a
loosened front blade without proper tools.
Loc-Tite alone will not retain a blade; it
must be swaged in place. Ifthe rear mount
is loose, it is either improperly anchored,
or it needs an adhesive on the screw
threads. On low-mounted BoMar sights, a
screw may be too long, causing interference
with the striker spring. Grind it off
and re-set.
If grip screws are loose, you can tighten
them with a properly-fitting screw driver.
Should the grip screw bushings or the
frame be stripped, preventing proper
tightening, you will have to obtain new
screws and bushings. Set the bushings with
LocTite or Epoxe, especially in alloy frame
weapons. Do not reef on the screw driver
as a substitute. Grip screws are put in dry
after the adhesive has set in the bushings.
If the pistol does not feed, try some
other magazines. The usual feed problem
with a new accuracy job is failure to lock
up all the way into battery. This becomes
S'ide must draw bushing clear of fitted
portion of barre' at tip of wrench.
apparent when you apply some 35 pounds
of trigger pull and nothing happens. Click
the slide forward into battery, then extract
the loaded round. Check the forward por- '"
tion of the extraction cannelure for extractor
marks. If present, the extractor needs a
very light stoning to remove the rough
spot, usually the bottom edge ofthe extractor
hook and possibly a ridge on the side
corresponding to the rim. Do not remove
appreciable metal and use only the finest
Arkansas knife stone. (Stoning also solves
most ejection problems.)
If the pistol grates when being cocked,
cycling the slide, check the recoil spring
Continued on page 28
8 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • JULY / AUGUST 1982