trouble with my new Detonics Combat Master

[1911Tuner]

Third Time's the Charm

Lordy!

Okay...Bring the little Detonics to me. Gimme 30-45 minutes with it...If I can't get it to run with full-sized mags with Wolff 11-pound springs...Less recoil spring load...AND Golden Sabers, I'll buy the gun. Yes...Most of the chopped production pistols are oversprung out of the box. They're sprung heavily because the manufacturers either don't know how to get'em to run with the proper spring loads...AND prevent frame battering...or they haven't studied the problem in-depth.

As far as the problems aluminum frames and steel followers...Use 7-round followers. They have enough length-of-leg to keep the follower from pitching forward on the last round and chewin' up the frame like the 8-round Devel-type followers do.

if you can make the trip...PM me and we'll arrange a real-world tune-up...one that won't void your warranty.

 

[zougou]

Thanks for the replies

BluesBear -- thanks for the tutorial, I was thinking that a person couldn't change the magazine spring. BTW, how're things? Well, I hope.

Lion in Winter -- I would like to point out that I'm not bashing the pistol nor the company. I wasn't planning on doing anything drastic to the pistol. It might very well be that I'm limp wristing. I have stick arms and 100 rounds in a sitting is a lot for me, but I was trying to maximize my range time.

1911Tuner -- that's a very kind offer. I think at this point I need to try a few more rounds just in case 215 is the magic number or something. You wouldn't happen to live near Portland, Oregon, would you?

 

[Walt Rauch]

As a point of interest, the Combat Master uses three rather than the usual two recoil springs in a captive system.

Contrary to the usual practice, Detonics is holding the spring information close.

 

[BluesBear]

zougou, I'm in the Seattle area and I have a dozen assorted magazine that have proven reliable in every gun they've been tried.

Come on up and we'll go to the range and figure it out.

Of course since I'm a transplanted Brit-Billy you'll have to endure tea instead of Turbocoffee™ but we could still gitterdun™.
(besides we could telephone Tuner if we run into some dicey bits)

 

[19112XS]

I would venture a guess that Tuner has correctly "tuned" more pistols over the internet than a lot of "gunsmiths" have CORRECTLY repaired in person. "Limp wristing" is a catchall expression usually used when either the "gunsmith" or manufacturer won't take responsibility for a situation they've created or can't solve. I have seen and duplicated a one handed, light thumb and forefinger only, above the head hold with minimal wrist support. If the pistol is correct, it will function normally even with this decidedly less than ideal grip.

 

[saltydog452]

Ditto on what 19112XS said..

salty.

 

[buzz_knox]

First, I had no idea that Detonics was even back in buisness. Same owners as before or did someone just buy the name?

Jerry Ahern bought the company.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

Detonics always was a cult brand like Seecamp and others who relied on
alleged covert associations with allegedly pseudo-sneaky organizations to generate interest and cachet for the brand. That type of marketing only works to a point.

In my opinion, they are one of the most poorly conceived carry pistols to ever hit the street. They are entirely oversprung with the recoil spring retainer loctited into place. The forward mounted rear sight is just plain stupid. They have a plethora of sharp edges. And lastly, they are about as well-balanced as a brick and weigh almost as much as one.
I was bewildered when I saw their pistols at the SHOT show. I was Shocked and dismayed at the amateurish construction and configurations after learning the prices. State of the art 20 years ago!

Golden Sabres should feed like buttah' in any 1911.

Jerry's articles always showed that he is a real expert when it comes to gunleather. Resurrection of this dog shows he knows little about 1911's.

I will take one of the Micro Kimbers or SA's, warts and all, before I ever tote one of these Detonics doozies. Keep in mind that although the Kimber fire-control parts are MIM, the frame and slide and barrel are precision machined from forgings. $50 worth of hammer, sear, disconnector are easy to replace-a frame or slide is not.

Does ANYONE still thumb cock their 1911? If you do, please take some professional firearms instruction post haste!

 

[BluesBear]

The forward mounted rear sight is just plain stupid.

The original concet was to enable one to cock the gun if the need arose. The abbreviated hammer spur on the original design was just too small to work with a slide that has a conventionally shaped rear.

Does ANYONE still thumb cock their 1911? If you do, please take some professional firearms instruction post haste!

Which that logic why even have a hammer spur at all on a 1911 pattern pistol?
Actually I'll wager that there still are some people who occasionally use Condition 2. And that doesn't make them any less capable. It's still faster than Condition 3. It's all a matter of how you practice and how you prepare.

Now I'll agree with you that the Detonics pistol isn't for everyone.
But then they aren't trying to be.
And I don't see anyone attempting to force you to own one.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

why even have a hammer spur at all on a 1911 pattern pistol?

Its really just vestigial at this point.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff can remember when more men carried their 1911 pistols with the hammer down on a loaded chamber, then did so with it cocked and the safety lock engaged. When I carry the pistol I may go several ways depending on the circumstances. But I still favor the wide-spur style of pre-war years because it is easy to thumb cock if or when I might choose to do that. I could never understand why anyone would want to give up any viable options. I'm not sure, but I think that Browning might have put it where it is for a reason ...

 

[MICHAEL T]

Old Fuff like you when I grew up people carried hammer down and cocked on the draw. Never heard about all this Ball over penatration stuff either. People must been a lot tougher or thicker in old days

 

[Old Fuff]

Well you know how it is, these immature young guys that are under 70 are wet behind the ears and still have a lot too learn ...

 

[BluesBear]

Well, I may only be 50 but every .45 auto I've had in the past 25 years has had one of these.

In fact, this is the third gun of mine this hammer's been in.

 

[Old Fuff]

You have no right to have that hammer!!! It's one of the "wide kind" that I like. So therefore take it out and send it to me at once! I have gun #4 that's just waiting for it ...

 

[zougou]

Wow, that's a big hammer spur. Mine is short and stunted looking compared to that.

 

[BluesBear]

Then I guess I shouldn't show you the SHORT, solid, one piece trigger that's in the same gun should I?

It's kind of difficult to see in the pics, but the deep blue of both the trigger and the hammer really make the gun look sharp.

I have another blued wide hammer and blued short solid trigger laying around here somewhere waiting for the day I get another LW Commander.
I don't think that other trigger has ever seen the inside of a gun. The other hammer appears to be slightly used.

I should still have a couple of parkerized wide hammers around here that I used to use in my 1991A1s.
Hopefully after I get into the new house they'll turn up.

 

[Old Fuff]

I like one-piece steel triggers too ..... (HINT!!)

I'll sent you a Jiffy-Bag so you can mail them to me ...

 

[zougou]

:banghead: D'oh! I'm going to make that 3 hour drive so I can drool in person...

I think the Detonics has an aluminum trigger -- actually I'm not sure if it's considered to be 'short' or not. How do you tell?

By the way, what kind of camera are you using? I'm assuming it's digital.

 

[jeepmor]

Waaaambulanceee..... please

Dissembling a magazine is not "gunsmithing" but, if you would note the message is to support the advice to change an OEM part - the magazine spring - and substitute one of heavier strength, this is "gunsmithing".

That the Remington Golden Sabers run in a full sized 1911 is meaningless in this context of a much reduced 1911 platform - apples and oranges.

As to small 1911s being "over sprung", some examples would be worthwhile knowing.

If we go back to one of the posts, note there is discussion of trying other magazines. Using a standard or over sized magazine in a micro compact has it's own problems such as it's spring weight not balanced to the short slide/recoil spring.

Why not give the company a chance to advise on the gun before "tuning" which negates any warranty?

Your not a do it yourself type of guy are you Lion?