Dawson Precision is perhaps best known for their 1911 style race guns.  They build beautiful guns on the STI 2011 frames for competitive shooting in IPSC .  While known for those 1911′s they also make accessories for a lot of other guns including the Glock.  This picture is of the DP Ice Magwell on a Glock 17L.  As you can see it would certainly aid as a funnel for faster reloads.  The magwell comes with a replaceable plastic insert that is designed to make the transition from the magwell to the frame flawless.  Cost is $72

Can you see why they call it a funnel?

The photo below shows a standard mag with the DP Glock extension installed.  This adds about 4 rounds of 9mm to the mag.  It also makes it easier to load and reload as you are shooting at the range.  They cost $32.95 and come with a new spring.  We can modify the follower for you so they function reliably when we install the base pad.

So, are you ready to bling out your Glock?

I was looking through the Glock Annual magazine the other day, and I was suddenly stuck by the thought that for the first time Glock seems to be playing a little catch up to some of the other brands that are on the market. For years they have been the leader in all things polymer. If your gun was black, it was a Glock. Now the Smith and Wesson M&P, Springfield XD and others are competing heavily for your polymer dollars.

The Generation 4 has been promoted heavily in all of the gun mags lately, and it certainly gets a lot of press in the Glock Magazine.  For years this magazine has been a little boring to say the least.  Most of the articles talk about Glocks being used around the world, and they rarely offer anything new.  In fact, so little changed with Glock that getting re-certified as an armorer was kind of a joke.  But that changed a lot with the implementation of the SF models, and the looks have definitely changed with the Gen 4 models.

Forget the the new grip surface.  Forget the cocking serrations.  Notice the interchangeable back straps.  For years other companies were offering this option on guns to fit a variety of hands.  Many wanted a reversible mag catch like the Beretta or the M&P have.  Now Glock has finally started.  They are playing catch up for the first time.

I will applaud them for at least catching up.  Many of the regular readers know my fascination with all things Colt.  The Colt company is fine example of an industry leader getting left behind.  They are almost irrelevant now because they have not kept up with all the options.  Want updated options?  You simply won’t look to Colt for their 1911.

What will be interesting to see as we move forward in the coming years is how much market share Glock will maintain in the polymer pistols.  Will they continue to be a leader in the industry or have they been content to not change?  By offering the back straps they are in a way admitting they had it wrong.  I would love to hear what you think on this subject, especially if like me you are a big fan of the Glock products.

One of the things that comes up from time to time is the usefulness of lanyards for pistols.  Some of the 1911′s offered today by custom makers are offering the lanyard loop again on the mainspring housing.  This leads us to ask, “Is this practical or simply tacticool?”

This is a tricky one, because there is no hard and fast rule to help you decide.  If you want a lanyard loop on your gun, so you can say you have one, it is probably not a good idea.  If you want a lanyard loop to hang your lucky charm on it, again, not a good idea.  If you want people to think you were part of the MEUSOC, not cool.

However, there are several people who can benefit from them.  Obviously active duty military and Law Enforcement could benefit from the weapon retention.  Hunters who are carrying a sidearm for backup.  We recently completed a lanyard loop install for a Glock Pistol that didn’t have one.  The customer is a kayaker who wants to make sure the fish don’t get to enjoy his pistol.

In certain situations lanyards can be a lifesaver or a matter of protecting your investment.  Other times, they simply make you a wannabe.  You have to decide.

The 1911 disconnector serves a very important role in the firing cycle of your 1911 trigger system, namely not allowing the gun to go full auto.  You will often see posts that will recommend modifying the disconnector in a trigger job. While there are certain things that an experienced gunsmith may do the disconnector, if you are home-hobby guy stay away.  Let me give you an example.

Several years ago I took in a 1911 from a bullseye shooter who wanted to slim down his collection.  This Colt 1911 NM was unbelievable.  What he didn’t tell me was that he was also responsible for the “trigger job” that was done to the gun.  I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the gun because I was running short on time.  I put it in the safe and left it there not really thinking about it again.  One day a customer came by to pick up a gun and saw the NM.  He immediately had to have it.  Once again, I didn’t think anymore about it  until he called to say he had a full auto pistol.

What happened?  First, I should have test fired the weapon before selling it.  Bad mistake, won’t ever happen again.  Second, I replaced the disconnector and the problem immediately went away.  Upon further investigation it was clear the first owner had altered the disconnector beyond serviceable tolerances.

Luckily this story had a happy ending because the customer was a good friend.  The disconnector was less than $20, and the problem was solved. However, it could have been a lawsuit or worse.  Make sure you leave this link in the system alone unless you have been specifically trained about its form and function.  It simply isn’t worth it.

I was sitting in the shop the other day watching it rain when one of our customers showed up to give me a box of ammo from a day of shooting we had shared together. It was a very kind gesture, but the next thing he gave me was over and above anything he ever owed me as a customer.

He handed me a what looked like a multi-tool.  Now I have to admit that I have a small problem with gadgets. . . I get hooked really easily.  So you can imagine how stoked I already was to see the tool, but then I opened it, and I got super excited.  It was a Caspian Pocketsmith.

These things are awesome, and they are the perfect gift to give your favorite gunsmith (unless you want to make a tax free donation to my children’s college fund!!)  I have fooled around with it for a while to discover how cool it really is.

It is a bushing wrench, pin punch, screw driver, pliers, hex head driver and a knife.  The best thing is that it is only $35 retail.  That means you can actually afford something for yourself.

Thanks SAM for being that kind of guy. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

The NRA recently published a great article on our friend David Sams.  Dave works on all types of guns, but is famous for his accurized conversion of the Beretta 92 when no one was doing it.

While he draws tons of attention from the world of Bullseye shooting, he is also well known for his custom 1911′s, custom rifles and AR pistols.  Dave is a great builder, but more importantly he is a great man.  Read the article and you will see that his knowledge of these weapons is unbelievable.

Congratulations Dave.  We at MCC wish you contiued success, and appreciate all that you have meant to us as a friend.

We get asked questions from time to time about troublesome 1911′s that have feeding problems.  Our experience is that this is exception to this style of pistol and not the rule, but every now and then a 1911 will start to experience a strange type of hiccups.  When this happens there are two culprits to rule out before you go any further.

1.  Magazine:  Are you using a cheap GI type magazine that came with the gun?  If you are, upgrade to something like a McCormick or Wilson mag.  Most feeding problems in autoloaders can be traced back to the magazine.  Both of the aforementioned mags are high quality.  We have found that Wilson’s mags cure even the crankiest of guns.

2.  Extractor:  Proper tension on the extractor is key to getting a smooth running gun.  Slide a round under the extractor when the slide is off, and it should hold it.  If not, you need to tweak it a little.  If you are brave, you can bend the extractor to get the desired tension.  If not, this is something your local gunsmith you should be able to take care of for you in a matter of minutes.

***If you take your 1911 to your local gunsmith and he doesn’t know where the extractor is on your 1911, RUN don’t walk out of the shop.  Find someone who is familiar with that weapon system.

I was recently showing a few of my personal 1911′s to a customer when I mentioned that I am indeed afflicted with a Colt disease.  Some call it Colt blindness because you refuse to see the facts.  Others call it an infatuation gone wrong because I can’t get over it.  Whatever its name it affects many shooters from all generations.  The basic symptoms are that your head confirms better 1911′s exist, but your heart won’t allow you to possess any of them.  For some reason if that little pony isn’t on the slide, it just doesn’t seem right.

Please understand that I am strictly speaking about production 1911′s.  Everyone knows that a 1911 built by a compotent gunsmith is better any day.  You also know that it comes with a very hefty price tag.  All of this is leading to a website you might find interesting if you are Colt addict.

ColtAutos.com is a great website for anyone who loves to read about and see other classic Colt guns.  This sight offers a wealth of information for the collector and it gives readers an opportunity to see some of the finest Colts that have ever been produced.  Of particular in interest is the gun of the month.

Each month a gun is highlighted and described for the reader.  It includes detailed pictures and pertinent information on why the particular gun is indeed special.  This month is a 1908 pocket model that is engraved.  This is an absolutely stunning piece.

Colt 1908 pocket model

These guns are very interesting because in certain circles they are seen a the perfect CCW gun.  They are very slim making them easy to conceal, and they bring a certain sense of pride to the owner that you can’t get from buying one off the rack.  We actually worked over one of these for a police officer who carried it as his off duty gun.  If you are interested in a little something more, check out Sams Custom Gunworks version of this pistol for modern CCW.

By the way a quick check of Gun Broker shows these available from $300-$1,500.

I thought it would be good to remind all of you that there are many good options right now that will allow you to keep shooting while ammo prices are rising.  If you don’t own a good 22 LR pistol, check out Smith and Wesson’s 22A or any of the Ruger pistols.  If you have a Glock, 1911, or Beretta, you can buy a conversion kit from Ciener.  They offer a wide variety of top ends. 

Rifles are easy to come buy in many configurations from lever action, bolt action or even uppers for your AR’s.  If you need a 22 LR upper check out DPMS.  With 223 ammo scarce, it is nice to run to Walmart to buy your ammo.  After all, what good is a gun with no ammo.

By the way, any of these guns make great gifts for your boss or loved one because they are on average very economical.  Most of all they are fun to shoot and allow you continue your training.  Just remember to keep all your fundamentals in tact while training with a 22.  Otherwise, you run the risk of wasting more money and most importantly time.

What is the best 1911?  This is a question that is debated a lot, and if you are considering a 1911, I want to help you make a wise choice.  The best 1911′s I’ve ever seen are from Sams Custom Gunworks, but if you don’t want to spend $1500 + and wait a year you will have to choose between several production guns.

Most of you are familiar with Springfield Armory and Kimber pistols, so I will limit my discussion to these two brands.  I personally have a problem called coltitus.  I seem to have a sick fascination with Colt products even though they refuse to bring their quality and options up to the new standards that have been set by companies like Kimber and Springfield, and it seems like in today’s market they are the two clear leaders in production 1911′s.

If you were to ask me today, I would without reservation push you towards Springfield.  They seem to be making some great pistols that are economical, and the most important thing is that their pistols run.  I have had a lot of shooters through the years purchase the Springfields without any complaints.  You simply don’t see the jam issues that several 1911 makers have.

I have had several experiences with Kimbers that jammed as a day of training or competition wore on, and I have seen one that almost ended a man’s class when his pistol would not shoot through a magazine without jamming.  No doubt Kimber makes some of the best looking pistols around, but for the money and reliability out of the box you can’t beat the Springfields as an overall package.  The decision really comes down to whether or not you want to put extra money in your gun.  If that isn’t a factor you might look at the Kimber, but be cautioned, just because they cost more doesn’t mean you are getting a better product.

If you are putting $1200 in a 1911, you should think about saving a little more for a custom pistol that will be rock solid reliable and accurate.  Otherwise, look to the Springfield line of pistols, and I think you will be pleased.