11 Nov 02

We just completed an ADHG course down here in SC. Developments:

We had two Wilson 1911s. One only lasted for one hundred rounds. It then developed feeding problems so severe that it had to be pulled from service. The pistol is just too tight. The student completed the course with a G30, which worked fine. The other Wilson went through the entire course (1000 rounds in two days) and exhibited few problems.

We had one SA XD. It worked, and its owner indicated that Beretta 92 high-capacity magazines work just fine in it. They require one modification, but it is done at the SA factory. He bought several from them directly, and they all worked fine during the course. Good way to have a reliable, high-capacity 9mm pistol and not have to deal with "Clinton clips."

In my experience, ten-round "Clinton clips," currently supplied by all manufactures of (heretofore) double-column 9mm and 40S&W pistols are all not nearly as reliable as the high-capacity magazines for which the pistol was originally designed. I recommend that owners of these pistols ditch the "Clinton clips" that are supplied with the weapon and acquire a good supply of high-capacity magazines. They'll end up with a pistol which holds more rounds and is more reliable than the one now supplied by the manufacturer.

We had one SA 1911, done over by Jim Garthwaite. Not a hitch during the entire course. Jim really knows his way around a 1911!

We had one Kimber Mini in 45ACP. It worked well until the end of the second day, when it developed feeding problems. Its owner was shooting dirty, lead reloads. No surprise.

/John