PM45 to the range before Xmas trip

[wyntrout]

Well, I took my PM45 to the range today to "familiarize" myself with Boomer before taking it to Colorado with me. It's a good thing that I did. Everything was going well and I was thinking no malfunction on this trip... how nice. Then it started shooting single action with the slide locked back after each shot. This was with a 7-round extended grip magazine that had always functioned perfectly. After checking the mag for splitting at the top rear and looking over the slide lock, etc., it still locked back after each shot, so I took the slide off and looked the slide lock lever over... no problem with it or the magazine. I then looked at the slide lock spring... broken... there was a clear break in the side that holds the pin in place... bummer... didn't have my spare with me! I do have one and will take a spare from the P40 with me to Colorado... so glad it happened here at the range.

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2254-1.jpg

I don't recall one of these breaking like that, but here it is! I do have a spare, but it was at home. Kahr sent me two when my original one was warped and bent in several dimensions.

I only took Boomer with me to shoot, but something else caught my eye before I started shooting. Next page.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

first I have ever seen like that. just ur luck..

[wyntrout]

At the gun show Sunday, I saw and handled a new Springfield XD45 Tactical... black with 5" barrel... priced at $509. I didn't want to "impulse buy" even with my recent Lotto luck, so I waited until I could check things out online. It would have been a good deal.

At the gun store/range, I looked at the .45's... as usual... and lo and behold there was a used XD45 Tactical... just like I had looked at. It was LNIB, but the case looked like it had been under a car seat and roughed up a bit. At $479.99 it didn't seem like a great deal, but talking with another guy who seemed familiar, it wasn't a bad deal. I couldn't get a lower price but I did get a couple of months added to my range membership and a lot of good will with the owner... so it WAS a good deal for all concerned.

I shot it first... the first 3 shots were a tight group in the center at 7 yards... then I started using the rest of the target... as usual, too. I was impressed and really like the pistol... the when the SHTF "battle gun" I had wanted.

I need to get a few more magazines... maybe 3 more, and set up my web belt for carrying this... something to grab for troubling sounds or possible home robbery at night.

A few pix and then I have to start supper for my baby... Alaskan King Crab Legs... 2 pounds... an impulse buy at Sam's Club.:D

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2240.jpg

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2235-1.jpg

The first 3 rounds were in the center at about 11 o'clock... then I used the rest of the target. :rolleyes:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2263.jpg


http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2262.jpg

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/12%20Dec%202011%20PM45%20%20and%20XD45%20at%20the% 20range/IMG_2271.jpg

I'm pretty happy with this pistol... very nice shooter!

I have to go start dinner, so will be back in a few hours after Wifey goes to bed after dinner.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I might have to send the slide off to get those new Trijicon Hard Duty night sights... with the yellow glow ring around the front Tritium dot:

http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product1.php?id=HDNS

That and a few more magazines should get me set up for just about anything.

Later... gotta cook!

Wynn:)

Oh! One more thing... I shot MFS 230-gr FMJ... great... and Blazer AL-cased 230-gr FMJ. The latter is seemingly a hotter load, and everything was louder in Boomer!

[jocko]

nice looking gun wyn.

I have been known to use most of any target I shoot it. I just hate to waste good target paper shooting 2" and under groupls, so I JUST DON'T DO THAT.

[wyntrout]

One more comment before I leave... with my CWP, it took about 10 minutes for the complete sale and then I was in the range shooting! Yay Florida, but boo for leaving us having to pay $5 for the NIC when the lawmakers could have exempted permit holders.

One more thing... (my wife's on the phone) the mag-loader included is a POS compared to the Magpul UPLULA. The latter is so much easier!!

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

The "Boss" said later is okay for dinner... and we can watch NCIS while we dine!

Man! The XD45 is a big gun, but it's easier to hold than the Glock 21's I tried at the show. I thought the XD45 would fit me for a high-capacity .45 and am pleased so far. I need to research taking it apart, etc. The grip safety is no biggie and the trigger seems a decent short pull, though I can still jerk it or whatever it is that I do that spreads the rounds around and uses more of the target. :D

About a 1/2" short rack of the slide resets the trigger for dry fire or another go at a recalcitrant primer. The grips are okay... not too aggressive and no problem when shooting a lot. It feels like I'm shooting a 9mm when compared to Boomer, though... dang, but that sucker is louder and has more kick... not too bad, though.:)

Well, I had better get a' cooking! Wifey's probably getting hungry!

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

first I have ever seen like that. just ur luck..

Wynn, I wonder if there is something else out of spec on that gun that is doing a number on that spring?

Great find on the XD45!

[wyntrout]

I don't know, but I don't recall any other SL springs breaking like that. I still have the original slide lock. Kahr sent me two of the stainless ones and two sets of springs, screws, and washers. I returned the slide locks because they weren't DLC... black.

It's weird how I was thinking that this was going to be an exceptional range trip with NO malfunctions and immediately the slide locked back with one shot on a full 7-round mag... and then each shot after that locked to the rear. That's an important little spring and I would advise having a spare or two of those things... with the gun. You may never need it, but if you do... "priceless"! I was glad that I had another gun to shoot. I DID have my spare recoil assembly with my homemade nut.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

This gun has an ambidextrous magazine release... nice... and the slide lock release lever and the take-down lever... no other junk that takes up space. I wondered about there being a magazine safety disconnect... thankfully, NO!

Hmmm... no manual, but I'm sure that I can find that at Springfield's site. Why do people not keep all of that stuff together and pass it on to the buyer. I always have the box and everything else, especially the danged manual! There was not one piece of paperwork in the box, though the other stuff was there... no problem. If I can tear my self away from THIS site for a few minutes, I can download the manual and probably a video or two as well.

Wynn:)

[gb6491]

Congrats on the new pistol Wynn:)
There's a link for the manual on this page: http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php
..or you can use this:
http://stevespages.com/pdf/springfieldarmory_xd.pdf
Regards,
Greg

[kahrseye]

Nice gun Wynn. I owned and shot a XD Sub compact and absolutely loved it. Easiest gun I ever shot well. Only reason I sold it was to fund a Kahr which is alot easier to carry. Wouldn't mind owning another for range shooting. They are a well made weapon.

[wyntrout]

Thanks, guys. I already downloaded everything and took the slide off... piece of cake.

I just weighed the pistol + magazine + 14 rounds of 230-gr Gold Dots... right at or just under 43 ounces... 10 ounces of my favorite ammo! I think that my S&W 645 weighs that much with 8+1 rounds... and I think that WAS with ammo. This is a big gun but it's easy to shoot and more like a 9mm... a smaller one, of course, when fired.

This holiday stuff is getting in the way of my online shopping... gotta wait until I get back after Christmas. I want to order 4 more mags... Ivanhoe seems the best deal... and see about maybe Springfield installing some Trijicon HD Night Sights... the Yellow front sight model. I tried lining up the HD sights on a glock at the range... different, but I think the wider round notch and highlighted front sight will help MY old eyes get aligned more quickly. I didn't try the hooking the rear sight deal for one-handed slide racking... might have hurt myself and torn my shorts! That's more more heavy jeans use.

I really appreciate the LONG sight radius with this pistol... but it ain't for CCW... for my, anyhow.:D And for sure, I won't be putting this cannon in my pocket!

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I just added this pistol to the personal property rider on my homeowner's insurance. Everyone should think about doing that... guns and the accessories. It sure adds up. This one added $6 to the regular $119 total.

Wynn:)

[jeffe007]

Even with USAA Insurance? That's who I have and they're usualy dirt cheap! I figured u did too since urs retired AF.

[wyntrout]

Of course, I have USAA Insurance... all kinds! It doesn't seem expensive when you have about $7,500 worth of guns and accessories. That stuff adds up. I have 10 pistols and one shotgun. I didn't bother with the air-powered stuff.

Wynn:)

[gb6491]

... I didn't bother with the air-powered stuff.

Wynn:)
Ooh, I like air powered stuff...if you don't mind me asking, whatcha got?
These are my babies:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314950
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Ooh, I like air powered stuff...if you don't mind me asking, whatcha got?
These are my babies:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314950
Regards,
Greg

That looks like it would be fun to play with.

[wyntrout]

Dang! I was just finishing up a post about the cheap stuff I have and POOF... gone! There's some key combination that my clumsy fingers find that just makes the present "window" in Firefox vanish. I used History to get back here, but, of course the text was gone! WAH! :rolleyes:

I have two pistols... a cheap Daisy break-action BB pistol and a Crossman(?) S&W 4506 look alike that is CO2 powered and fires .177 pellets from cylinder like magazines tha hold 8 pellets... about 400 or so fps... not enough to kill an armadillo with multiple hits between the eyes at close range... I found out... an axe works, though, for a coup de grace... in an emergency. I bought a machete after that but never had to use it. I don't like to harm animals, but armadillos can cause a lot of damage digging under your A/C heat pump condenser and sheds and fences.

I also have a Gamo Shadow Express that shoots shotshells with about 20 #12 pellets... pretty ineffectual-beyond-10' rat shot, or with the rifled chamber insert .22 pellets at about 800 fps. It came with only a bead front sight on a "vent rib" that serves as a clamping surface at the rear for .22 RF-type sights. There was no rear sight and the cheap BSA 3-color optical sight I got for it hasn't been easy to "sight in" shooting at a cardboard box full of magazines in front of the fireplace. I've knocked numerous divots out of the bricks in the fireplace when pellets went through the box just above the tops of the magazines! I put that project waaay back on the "back burner". :D

If at first I don't succeed, I keep trying, but at some point I just get tired of fooling with things. I have a lot of stuff like that, but I love gadgets!

Wynn:)

[dwordinger@netzero.net]

I got an XD45 Tactical several months ago and liked it so much I bought some more of them. Then I took them to Springer Precision (http://www.springerprecision.com/) and gave them all a trigger job. The weren't bad stock, but I like them even better now.

The XD is obviously a different gun then my PM45, so its of little use, or absolutely meaningless to compare them, but I can't tell which I enjoy more.

You made two good choices (other than out of all those PM45s on the market choosing the one with a broken slide stop spring).

[wyntrout]

If the slide lock is original... not sure... it would be the only thing original on mine. It's on its third slide lock spring now. I have two more spares I got for the P40, so I'll take one of those with me... just in case. I'm taking the spare recoil spring with the homemade end nut, too.

Wynn:)