I picked it up today. Here are my initial findings and impressions.
The recoil spring is very weak. It would not push the slide back into
battery when the slide was fully retracted. When given a little bump,
the slide would go into battery.
While holding the pistol as if to fire, the grip safety will not
release if my thumb is on top of the thumb safety. I have to put my
thumb along the top of the grip panel in order to depress the GS enough
to release.
The magazine is very well built. I suspect that it will endure being dropped to the deck during training sessions.
The magazine does hold the slide open after the last round is fired.
The sights are easy to see. They are a three dot arrangement and there
are two additional front sight posts included as well as an allen wrench
for installing and adjusting the sights.
Once I lubed the slide, it stopped sticking to the rear. I did install
the additional "cache disk" that was included. There was a cache disc
already installed on the recoil spring, so I added the spare in an
attempt to give the spring a little more "umph." It seemed to work.
I fired 3 brands of ammo. Federal, CCI, and Winchester. I don't
remember the specific flavor of each. I was just checking function so I
didn't make any detailed record. I will say that the accuracy was not
stellar. But I suspect that a practiced hand could hit a clay disc at 25
yards with reasonable consistency. I will conduct a more precise test
the next time that I go to the range.
I fired 100 rds of ammo through it with no cycling problems. Each round fed, fired, and ejected perfectly.
Overall the pistol seems well made. At least as well made as a Buck mark.
The stocks are real wood. I have no idea what type of wood, but it
doesn't seem like some cheap pallet material. They look like they would
belong on a typical mid range 1911.
The trigger is stiff. The trigger is adjustable, but I did not have the
time or inclination to work with it. It isn't break you finger stiff.
But it does take conscious effort to keep the sights on target while
applying pressure to the trigger.
It does have an ambidextrous safety. It also has a Colt Series 80
"style" firing pin safety along with a magazine disconnect. The magazine
must be 95% inserted in order for the hammer to release.
The serial number is very shallow. I am surprised that ATF authorized
such a shallow number. It is painted and easy to see, but any attempt to
refinish the frame with any method more aggressive than a Krylon over
coat will destroy the number.
The manual warns against using thinner as a solvent as it will damage the finish on the slide.