Detonics .45

[NYTrooper]

Thanks

Thanks for all the input on this weapon and the suggestions to to get it into proper operational condition.

I'm far from knowledgable about this gun (hence my post) but have tried to do some homework.

The consensus DOES seem to be that it's not just the weight of the slide that's the problem. Apparently, the short slide travel tends to wedge the top round in the magazine before it's fully in positon to enter the chamber.

I'll try new springs from Victory and see what difference that makes.

If all else fails, it sounds like I may have a collectible!

Happy New Year to all!!

 

[Old Fuff]

For others; don't doubt the Fuff.

Of course you shouldn't, 'cuz he's never wrong...

Just hopelessly confused sometimes.

As far as the firing pin radius, hope this is right, the less the radius the later in the cycle it contacts the hammer, which provides a lot of slowing down of the inertia.

There... I fixed it.

In the Browning 1911 design, the link is the controlling factor in dwell time, and you can't do much to change it. From this perspective a cammed barrel (as in the later Hi-Power) is better.

Browning used a firing pin stop with a small radius on purpose. The Army later changed it to make hand-cycling the slide easier. Those that reduce mainspring tension to improve the trigger pull aren't too bright.

 

[Old Fuff]

---that it's not just the weight of the slide that's the problem. Apparently, the short slide travel tends to wedge the top round in the magazine before it's fully in positon to enter the chamber.

True, but there may be other factors at play as well. Extractor fit and tension is one of them.

I'll try new springs from Victory and see what difference that makes.

That should help, but it's not necessarily a cure-all.

If all else fails, it sounds like I may have a collectible!

Debugging a Detonics is sometimes difficult, and takes both thought and work, but usually once they work - they do work.

Happy New Year to all!!

And from me too.

 

[delta53]

I had a early

One and never had luck with it and magazines were a problem also. Way to much has to happen just right in a very small area for all to go well. I will never buy a micro 45 again I don't think they can be made reliable

 

[Old Fuff]

Like a lot of other guns, the early Detonics' had a lot of problems. They were sailing into uncharted waters, and a long learning curve lay ahead. Besides the obvious there were quality control issues, and most of the time the company, under different owners, was badly underfunded and had less then optical tooling. More recent production has been better, and I notice more owner satisfaction. Still one has to understand that reliability equal to that of an earlier Government Model while possible is still going to be unlikely. It's the nature of the beast.

 

[rogertc1]

Here's my Detonics MK1 sr# 40XX , Bought it new.
The Detonics was the FIRST factory custom 1911 style gun to go into production. You will also note that the grip safety is de-activated as what was in vogue at that time. Mine has the 2 part barrel and the first series hammer. In the research I did on mine and all the old magazine articles I have on it say that it was a relable pistol with ammo popular in the late 70's. (No internet back then you know.) Mine is very well made.

 

[RedAlert]

I've always wanted a Detonics. I missed a chance to buy one at the NRA show in Las Vegas in the 80's.

I remember hearing that the original magazines were at times problematic and that newer batches/designs of them eliminated many FTF issues. Perhaps this is what the OP is experiencing.

Ralph

 

[rogertc1]

The orgional stainless magazine is unique because it had an indicator that sticks out the bottom when full. They are well made. Something nobody brought up was that they also take a full sized magazines.