Smith & Wesson 686
Working on a Smith & Wesson 686 right now. These are so fun. They were made right and you can really achieve a lot out of them. The slop that is so common in revolvers of the modern vintage is not there. Certainly I work on all the new stuff, but you can tell the difference in the older guns. What should you buy? I’m glad you asked. If you want a gun that is going to be able to be worked up to a great level, get an older Smith that isn’t shot out. The new guns are perfect for defense and hunting. They will meet all of...
read moreRevovlers: Trigger Return
I was thinking about how revolvers are so complex. They really are like the proverbial mouse trap. Everything must be fitted precisely to work in the right way. Take for instance the issue of trigger return. So many times a gun is fitted with a trigger return spring that is much lighter than the factory spring. This sounds good at first, but in the end, it ends up being of little benefit if it causes short strokes. The trigger must return, i.e. reset, as fast as your finger. If you install a return spring that is too light, it may cause...
read moreRuger Quality Control Issues
I wrote not too long ago that Ruger (one of my favorite brands) had been having some quality control issues. This week I ran across another issue. A friend of mine bought a brand new 10/22 for his son. After taking it shooting he reported that it was not holding the magazine. While shooting the magazine would simply fall out. I thought something had probably happened to the magazine spring, and that we could order a new one for about $2 and put it in with no problem. That was the first problem; no parts available. I checked with all my...
read moreLasermax for Ruger LCP
I had friend recently get me to install his Ruger LCP with a Lasermax laser. I had not seen this laser before, and I was impressed. One of the great things about the Ruger LCP is that it is so small and perfect for a pocket or backup gun. However, the sights leave something to be desired. In a word, they are almost non-existent. Enter the Lasermax option for the LCP. It is a compact laser that mounts on the trigger guard of the gun. Installation takes a few minutes and only requires a small phillips head screw driver like you would use...
read moreSummer's End
Summer is winding down, and I for one am glad. I’m sick of a hot shop that sucks the life out of you. I am also ready for the change of season and the busyness that comes with fall. Our shop is already coming out of the summer lull (who shoots when its hot?!!). We are excited about a few of the great projects that kept us rolling this summer. Two of these were outside the norm, but very interesting restorations. More to come on that later. This week I am setting up a few Ruger LCP’s with lasers for some customers. ...
read moreSwiftwick Socks
Many of you may not know the name Swiftwick socks. They are relatively new to the performance sock market, but they are a fantastic company located in middle Tennessee, and they are manufactured in the the USA in the small town of Cleveland, Tennessee. Their products are used by athletes in running, bicycling, and notably on the PGA tour. I was introduced to their socks about 2 years ago while training for my first ultramarathon (50K). I had been wearing a synthetic sock, but kept getting hot spots on my feet. A...
read moreGlock: The Rise of America's Gun (book review)
For my birthday this year my father-in-law gave me “Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun” by Paul M. Barrett. It is a very interesting book that looks at how the Glock came to be so popular in our country. Barrett does a good job giving the background without making it so narrative that it loses your interest. I had no idea that Glock started in America with a guy selling them out of an RV. It started small and became huge when police started adopting the guns. Glock also made headway by taking LE guns in on trade that gave...
read moreRuger Quality Control Problems
Not sure what is going on with Ruger’s SP 101 quality control right now. The last two new revolvers we have seen were not as clean as they have been in the past. One revolver had a hand that was improperly fitted causing the gun to bind up when the trigger was pulled slowly. The other we had had rust all over the front sight and the sight cut had been made smaller than usual. I also heard from a customer who had purchased a LC9 that he was having malfunction after malfunction. He also reported that when he racked the slide the rear...
read moreRuger SP101 Meprolight Sight for Sale
UPDATE: Sight SOLD! I recently had a customer desire to switch out his Meprolight front sight on his Ruger SP101 to a Big Dot. The mepro was literally on the gun for one week. It is in perfect condition already pre-drilled and ready for you to install on your SP. All I need from you is $50 which will cover shipping. So, if you have been curios about a new front sight on your SP101, you might take advantage of this one. BTW, this money goes to the customer.
read moreRuger SP101 327 Federal
We recently did another Ruger SP101 in 327 Federal. This gun got the whole package and the bobbed hammer. If you haven’t read up on the 327 Federal cartridge, you might find it interesting. Recoil is manageable and you get a 6th shot in the SP101 platform.
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