FWIW on SF Pistols
 

I handled the "Deployment Pistols" for my units last rotation over here. I called Glock, Sig, H&K, Kimber and Springfield Armory to discuss specially engraved pistols. Glock would do the LE/Military pricing but not the engraving, Ok deals,. nothing spectacular. Sig would do the pricing as well as the SF Crest, fairly standard deal but we had to have a certain amount of each caliber and size before we could place the order. H&K rep said that they had no special pricing or engraving "at this time" (Jan '07). Springfield Armory quoted me special pricing with or without engraving our Bn Logo on their XD line as well as discounted pricing on extra mags, also without having a minimum order in each specific caliber/size. Wasn't super duper deals, but they did work with us. Kimber, for a minimum order of 25 guns got us Gold Combats with our Bn Logo engraved on the grips and one side of the slide as well as the SF Crest on the other side of the slide and in addition, a special serial number run. No extra mags or anything "else" extra, but the price of $1089 seems pretty good. I will post a pic upon my return. S&W is offering a deal on their M&P .45's and 9mm's. Anyone wishing to take on this burden for their units, email me and I will give you whatever contact info I have as well as what to expect timewise for delivery. Also, just for grins, called DPMS about their LR 308 line with engraving. They said to let them know what we were looking for and they would work with us. As I didn't receive any interest within my unit, I never followed up on it. Sorry fo the long winded post, I normally listen more than I yak, but hopefully there is good info in here somewhere for somebody.

Para I remembered reading this a while back, and while browsing the gunsamerica classifieds I found this and figured I'd give you a heads up.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/941289107..._PRX1445CB.htm

Para,

Give me a call in the 2 shop or stop by next week.

I have one sitting next to me about 5 feet away. I'll bring it in and I'll discuss the intracacies with you with what I've found with mine.

I really don't care HK's civilian customer service. I am sure, well, I hope, that their military customer service is better. It seems that they could give 10 shits less about their civilian customers. But I have to say, the HK USP I had years ago ran like a champ...

The unit I work with here at Camp Slayer is ordering this pistol too... You can't really complain about the price, $750 is great for the pistol and all the goodies that come with it.

Gonna have to see about getting one...

Y-

These still available? If so is it through Para?

Rumor has it yes. I'm not sure if they've got any that are setup for your assignments. Most are 3rd Grp specific. Mine has the Crest on one side, and my battalion signature symbol on it.

I can check around the area and see. Usually follows a rotation in the sandbox to get enough interest for them to accept it.

thanks jbour

We are going to try and get a bunch of the SF pistols from Para without a bunch of the engravings, just the SF-45A markings. THere are a ton of guys that want them here. If you are interested please just PM me so I can get a rough count, we have about 10 so far ready to drop money on them. Para says we need at least 12.

What they told me they need from each of us is an AKO account for verification of service. I am going to bet though that we can work out a copy of the ID card if need be for any really unusual situations. Price quoted me last time we talked to them was $775. My shop will handle the transfers for free and if you are down range we will hold them until you get home and locate an FFL in your area to receive the weapon. We also will not charge anything above the cost from Para but the required shipping.

I hope I did not over step my bounds here, but we are trying to get a buy going and figured that I would offer up what we were working on. If I did, please erase this and smack me upside the head.

Ordered one today, gotta wait 8 weeks :(

Are those 45s? NICE!

Great price and a great piece of memorabilia that is functional. I really like mine. The thing groups well and is very reliable. I only have two problems with it:

1. The factory MAGs stink. They don't seat well and they seem to encourage an occasional malfunction in the 14th and 13th round if I use it in a 14+1 load. I could go down to 12+1 and be fine, that being said, I want my other two rounds. Rather than sending away and having my mags retooled has anyone found any aftermarket ones that I can just buy?

2. Since the magazine well is so fat it is a little big for me in a weaver or modified weaver grip. I think this is giving me a tendency to group a little low and left. Has anyone installed or used any slimmer aftermarket grips? It doesn't look like the pistol has a lot of room to play with but any bit might help.

Edited

Contact the factory about the mags. Mine hold the indicated number of rounds and feed just fine, but I have not numbered them and ran through all of them a bunch of times yet.

The size of the frame is the same now as when you purchased it. The grip panels themselves are very thin and do not allow for much reduction, short of grinding off the grip screw escutcheons and checkering the frame itself. The original frames were even larger and more squared on the corners. There are a couple of companies that reduce the frame by grinding off material and checker the frontstrap, I have one and it feels good, but I am not sure I would do that to a special piece like this.

Still shooting Weaver? I hear that there is a new thing called Isoceles. :D

TR

I'm going to give the pistol about 300 more rounds before I contact the factory. I might have been quick to blame the mags, I am almost conditioned to assume factory mags are garbage as I have experienced and vicariously felt that problem with other 1911 models.

I'm with you on feeling reluctance to modify the frame of this piece. I just want to dial in my group without adjusting my point of aim. It may just take some more experience with the weapon as I am used to firing a Kimber and Sig, both single stack.

I shoot both isoceles and weaver. I've heard so many arguments and I think each has its pros and cons. Maybe with this firearm I would be better served with an Isoceles. I think it is easier and more stable just less mobile. Thoughts?

The Magazines?
 

Are you sure it is a failure to feed problem because of the "Factory Magazines" Even though the 1911 type pistol has been around for a long time, there can be other factors that cause a failure to feed. Barrel Fit John Browning's orginal idea was for the barrel to tilt up to engage the locking lugs in the top of the slide. However with modern CNC machining the variations within the frames, slides and barrel fit have been reduced to tighter tolerences so some barrels fit tight and others loose in production pistols. Browning did not care how far up the barrel went into the slide as long as the locking lugs engaged the barrel and lock up was complete. The most difficult part is fitting the bottom lug because the slide stop pin has to exert even pressure on both lugs because that is the only way the gun can lock up exactly the same way every time. If one lug hits harder than the other lug it will exert uneven pressure on one side and this will lead to a subtle stress and in effect, warp the barrel a little and after firing as little as 3 rounds the slide will not fully lock up and put the 4th round into the chamber." The above information has been gathered from a number of sources e.g. Les Baer Custom Pistols, John Miller former Army Marksmanship Unit Armorer, Fred Kart, Kart Precision Barrels, Irv Stone, Bar-Stone Precision Machine, and Jerry Kuhnhausen author "The U.S. M1911/1911A1 Pistols" Volumes 1 & 2. Ammunition could be another source of the problem to feed, try different brands and put about 800 rounds of a good commercial manufactured ammo thru the gun. If you still experience problems have a good pistolsmith familar with 1911 type pistols check the gun. Regard's, tom kelly