Tutorial

Heretofore, I’ve picked up 45 ACP empties at the indoor range I use in Scottsdale AZ. The ROs have even been so kind to sweep empties from others in my direction (after the other shooters have left) because they had observed me doing so. Over many weeks and months, then, I’ve accumulated quite a collection.

Here are some less-than-obvious values to good equipment.

• The bullet goes where the gun was aimed when the hammer was released.

That should be obvious but, as a beginner I knew my wobble was much worse than the inaccuracy of the gun. My “off the shelf” Springfield Armory “Mil-Spec” 1911 (the Parkerized version) would shoot a 6-8" group at 50 yards. That was good enough for scores of 8, 9, 10 and X. Pretty good.

For everything except the bore, I use Mil-Comm MC25 Firearm Cleaner/Degreaser followed by TW-25B Lubricant (grease) any place metal slides on metal (look for the wear marks). For protection from finger-oil, I use a very lightly oiled rag anywhere I might touch the bluing but then vigorously wipe it as dry as possible.

Email posted to Bullseye-L

If you’re looking for a reusable “snap cap” for your Smith & Wesson model 41, you might want to take a look at what I created. I’ve used it for hundreds of dry fire “shots” and it shows little signs of wear. It is cut from a commonly available trash can and can be made in just a few minutes. I call it the “Trash Can Snap Cap.” No disassembly of the pistol is needed for installation or removal but a small tool such as a miniature screwdriver or pair of tweezers will facilitate installation and removal.

On the Monday after Christmas, I called Coach Pat [Dolan] at the phone number he’d given me during the Bullseye competition two months previously. I introduced myself, said I was very interested in taking him up on his offer of coaching, and asked when he might be available and what range was convenient for him. In thirty seconds we found that 1:00PM that same day was good for both of us, and that he preferred the facilities at the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club where the Bullseye Competition had taken place.

Note: Ed Harris is the “Ed” in Ed’s Red; that’s not me.

Do you need to apply a correction to a set of fixed sights? If you know how far away from center the bullets hit the target, the following formula will let you calculate how far you need to move the sights.