American Handgunner May/June 1977

33opinion, it's a hell of a lot better than red plastic front sight insertsunder any conditions.Looking down at the top of the gun, a slot cut through the rearof the barrel hood readily shows if a round is chambered-if it'slight enough to see. This "loaded chamber indicator" is ofdoubtful value to me for that purpose but it is effective as a"gutter" to vent powder, lubricant, and other debris from the faceof the breech.The thumb safety is a fairly wide, long, serrated combat typerig. It isn't wide enough to cause problems in a holster. It is wideenough to be fast and act as a thumb rest while shooting. Particularcare is exercised to insure the safety is properly adjustedand operates smoothly and at the proper amount of resistance.If they aren't properly adjusted, they can be practically impossibleto disengage with the thumb of the shooting hand. If adjustedto operate without enough tension they can simply fall outof engagement or pop on safe after the gun is fired and the slidereturns to battery. I've had all of the above occur in GI or commercialColts plus a few other malfunctions I haven't mentioned.The grip safety is long enough to prevent pinching theweb of the hand by the hammer.The original mainspring housings are Pachmayr Signatureunits. Later production will incorporate a stainless housing serratedto match the serrations on the front of the grip-frame. Thetrigger is wide, skeletonized and incorporates an overtravel adjustmentscrew-a la Colt Gold Cup.The bottom of the magazine well is beveled to guide a slightlymisdirected magazine into the well. Dimensions of the magazinewell are generous to allow easy insertion and free ejection ofmagazines when the magazine release is depressed. The magazinesare of stainless construction and feature a rounded followerand the "new style" feed lips similar to those found on GoldCup magazines.One note of caution regarding magazines. Don't trust a newone. It may not feed. It may be oversize and a tight fit in themagazine well. The follower or magazine itself may be off specificationenough to allow the follower to slip up over the projectionit is supposed to nest against. When this happens, the magazinerelease must be depressed with one hand and the magazinepulled from the gun with the other. Quite a few of these defec-The Hardballer is fitted closely, yet notso tight as to cause malfunctions. Goodmuzzle/slide fitting (top) contribute tothe Hardballer's accuracy. Though somethroating has already been done, the ownerof a new Hardballer will probably want tosmooth up the ramp just a bit more (bottom.)