Garrison Joe

Magazine is short, and only holds four rounds. Lots of WB stages shoot 6 shotgun targets. I would feel at a disadvantage shooting that rather than a full length magazine, which can hold 6 rounds of 2 3/4" shells (sometimes with a little work and a couple of parts). So - legal? Yes. The wise choice? No Generally there are a lot of regular Model 12s around. Because of that, I'd go the conventional route and get a standard M12. good luck, GJ

Regarding the name, the model is Model 12 (on the top of both of those pages), variant is Featherweight. Making it a Model 12 Featherweight. I'm pretty certain that the admin of the Winchester Collectors org would agree, but you can contact him if you want. As for "no takedown collar" - I see no collar on the pages you display. It's got a takedown mechanism that allows only for barrel removal, but has no "takedown collar" (receiver extension) that allows both the barrel and mag tube to be dismounted. As for character attack by calling someone an "ex spurt" - I've seen that trick before. No interpersonal conflicts, please. If you want to discuss real stuff, let's do it. good luck, GJ

Winchester collectors hold that the Featherweight is a Model 12 variant, and from comments above by other WB rules followers, would be easily considered as a full-blown Model 12 for WB matches. It's the only non-takedown-collared version of the Model 12. good luck, GJ Reference link: Winchester Collector Org Admin Thread on Featherweights

It was my GUESS, not an assumption, made because I was trying to fill in the details that you left out in your earliest post. You still have not explained the business transaction you had with the dealer, even if he is a friend (that should make little difference). I still stand by my statement that CZ Group, the relatively new owners of Colt, would benefit from hearing of your problems with a new gun from their factory. Perhaps it was made back with previous ownership. But if made by CZ's workforce, they will want to know of the serious problems you had and decided to fix on your own funding. good luck, garrisonjoe

A mounting slot for some sort of flash hider perhaps? GJ

I would have made the dealer on that lemon take it back and get another in, ASAP. Clearly not serviceable. I guess you were buying from a dealer who would not honor factory warranty and get a replacement ordered on his own funding or from a factory rep? Really poor dealer service, and a gun that sounds like it was made on Friday before Labor Day. CZ Group ought to have heard about that many problems! good luck, GJ

Is the cut blued, which could indicate a modification at an armory? A 1 mm deep slot cut into a small part of the barrel probably will not affect the ability to fire it safely. Might it have been an attempt to add a early telescopic sight? What is a "sight level" on a Krag carbine, anyway? Do you mean the rear sight? good luck, GJ

(I certainly am not everybody), but I load 4.2 grains of WST behind any lead slug in the 225 to 230 grain range, to usually make about 160-165 Power Factor. Each 1911 I have loaded for shoots slightly different velocities for the same loading, though, so you need to check the load in your gun. good luck, GJ

Never seen anyone that I would have do pistol smithing who would charge those rates. Especially not for fire-control smoothing and even new sights. Last paid smith job I had done - new sights on a 1911, including dovetail milling and a front sight from scratch - $250. COULD you find a guy ready to charge $1500 to tune it up? Sure. Should you? No. But, I either do my own tuning, or (if I didn't) would send to a reasonably-priced gunsmith for the tune of any NEW gun under about $2000. good luck, GJ

The new production from Colt will be rougher and less tuned than the ones made in the hay-days of Colt Series 70s (1972 to 1985 or so). You certainly would NOT want them to still be making their collet barrel bushing. It was destined to break a leg off and jam the gun - mine did during a match! It's well worth a trip to a good pistol smith to have the gun tuned, trigger set to the pull weight you like (3.5 pounds is my preference), and mag well enhanced for the WB allowed funneling. If you have ever had a 1911 bite you on the web of the shooting hand, I would have the smith add more clearance between the top of grip safety and the tip of the hammer. I would also have the smith replace any MIM (molded and sintered) internal fire control parts with forged-billet-steel. They are easier for him to get a smooth surface on anyway, so if you use a good smith, he should automatically swap those parts out. But then, I'm going by my experience. I put in billet sear and hammer and thumb safety and 100,000 rounds later have not had a bit of problem. Sights on production now are pretty good. About as high as any replacement sight set. If you were expecting to change out the sights, though, now would be the time to do that, too. A new front sight ought to be dovetailed into the slide so it will be driftable and easy to exchange. And much more rugged in use. good luck, GJ

What's your most important requirements that a new gun would have to meet? In other words, what fails to give you full confidence with that Springer you have? My experience is that if the gun runs reliably, I can tune the rest quite easily to satisfy my operation of it. good luck, GJ

Yep, the factory design of the firing pin was not well thought out, had stress points in them, and were not made of the same quality steel as is available today. 12s are famous for broken FPs. good luck, GJ

That would be Condition 4, as defined by Jeff Cooper. Wild Bunch was developed using a Condition 3 carry from the loading table to the firing line - hammer down on empty chamber, and a loaded magazine inserted. And after unloading table, hammer down on totally empty gun. If folks are practicing using Condition 4, they are not really getting ready for a big match. good luck, GJ

Older 1911s made with a "military" throat (intended for 230 FMJ ball) often used to have big problems with 200 gr SWC bullets or early (1960s) hollow point ammo. Usually a gunsmith could throat the gun properly for SWC lead or JHP. Or suggest the use of "hybrid" design magazine lips that gave a more controlled release point than the military hardball tapered lips. When that was completed, any ammo would usually run if it could drive the slide properly. I too have shot many thousands of rounds of H&G 68 lead bullets through the 1911 Series 70 I've had since 1974, with no problems when seated with the top land right at the case mouth and lightly taper crimped. But I shoot a Truncated Cone bullet now just to be able to share ammo with other shooters who may come up short. good luck, GJ

Scarlett's ammo will be a lot softer shooting (lower velocity) than the "big factory" 230 grain ammo. I'd try her .45 auto ammo! good luck, GJ