Range time finally

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 18:24

Love living outside the city but it is a PIA to get to the range now.

I finally got the chance to take my 2 news guns to the range today.

First up was the Sig 238 in .380ACP

Very happy to say it as flawless thru 150 rounds of FMJ (Winchester & Federal) and 35 rounds of Winchester STHP. The STHP will be my carry round. The gun worked from round one with no issues. I used the 6 round factory mag and a Colt Mustang mag I picked up at a gun show. The Colt is a 7 round mag with a finger extension, makes holding the gun much easier as the pinky hangs off on the 6 rd mag. Accuracy was very good.

The gun shoots very softly and rapid follow up shots are very easy. The over sized sights make it all that much easier.

I know .380 is not everybody's cup of tea but for the trade off in size and weight it is worth it IMO. Anybody who favors the 1911 manual of arms and wants a very small gun to conceal would be well served with this gun. It just "feels" like a quality gun when shooting it. I might pick up a 2nd one next year.

Next up was the Regent 1911

This was not a successful as I had hoped

it would be. Thru 220 rounds of 230Gr FMJ ammo (Winchester, Federal, American Eagle) and 10 different mags (Kimber Pro Tac, Wilson ETM, Wilson 47, ACT and Ed Brown) I had 12-14 FTFs. Slide just not closing fully on the round. Happened with almost all the mags but was worse with the Ed Brown mags. I really have had great service from the Brown mags on all my other 1911s

The gun shot well and no doubt will be a very serviceable 1911 once this is resolved. It shoots accurately( GI sights suck though!) and cycles well. Trigger pull and reset was good as well. I am going to try a 18lb recoil spring in place of the 16lb it has now. It that does not correct the issue then I will move onto the extractor.

Not regretful that I bought it, just that it did not work out of the box. Not an 1911 expert at all but I have been around enough of them to know this is not a serious issue with this gun, it just needs a TLC to get it running.

Also fired 50 rounds thru the .38 Super

(I did take out the flat trigger and put the normal one back in before shooting it)

All I can say is that the marriage of the .38 Super round and the 1911 was divinely inspired. I have a .45ACP 1911 on layaway now, after that my next will be in .38 Super without a doubt. What a combo they make.

I would prefer a .45ACP for defensive purposes but for plain ole shooting I do enjoy the .38 Super more. I think it is a perfectly adequate defensive round as well.

On the way home stopped at a gun store, almost caved in and bought a new 1911. A Kimber TLE/RL Pro in stainless, no ideal why but I like the look of that stubby slide with the rail on it

I was good and walked away...

They had one of the Ruger ($719) and the Desert Eagle 1911 ($779). Both seemed very nice but those prices seem like something I could beat at a local show so I will wait.

If thing go as planned this weekend when I go to San Antonio I will get a new 1911, sorta of anyways. Let me just say I have not seen one of them on here yet....I will post about that if it occurs wen I get back.

Quack · 06-22-2011, 18:42

Should've left the flat trigger in

HotRoderX · 06-22-2011, 18:46

Very nice write up Glad to here the Sig ran like a champ.

Could it be the Regent just needs some more break in time?

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quack

Should've left the flat trigger in

Or put it in the Regent, hey maybe that is what it needs.

Honestly the only reason I took it out is that the one that came with the gun was fitted by Wilson at 3.5lbs, the flat one was fitted by me....enough said

I will use the flat trigger one day in a 1911 without a Wilson trigger job.

Hokie1911 · 06-22-2011, 18:47

So wait a minute. You're going to pick up a 2nd P238? Dual pocket carry???

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotRoderX

Very nice write up Glad to here the Sig ran like a champ.

Could it be the Regent just needs some more break in time?

Thanks, so am I. I was more concerned that the Sig would not run than the Regent. I think I can get the Regent running myself, no way I could with the Sig IMO.

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokie1911

So wait a minute. You're going to pick up a 2nd P238? Dual pocket carry???

Nothing as tough as a guy wielding 2 Sig 238s, slinging 14 rounds of .380 heavy metal

No I am going to try (again for like the 5th time) to get my wife a gun she will really carry. This one with it's size and easy shoot ability seem like a great fit. Plus I got new gun shooting fever so of course I want 1 more

Hokie1911 · 06-22-2011, 18:56

The only thing tougher would be dual-wielding Rainbow Titanium P238s.

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokie1911

The only thing tougher would be dual-wielding Rainbow Titanium P238s.

I am not getting one of those rainbow titanium ones......unilt they make some mother of pearl grips for them.....that would be freaking sweet

midliferally · 06-22-2011, 19:29

No flaming on the 238, Rug. I am currently pocket carrying one. I was also impressed at how the little fella shot. Enjoy and good luck on the Regent!

Fedor · 06-22-2011, 19:33

I kind of figured the Regent would be sub par.

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fedor

I kind of figured the Regent would be sub par.

I really think it will be fine, been shooting the platform for awhile and although hard to put into words it is possible to "feel" when a 1911 will run or not. This thing feels like it will run with some minor tweaking. Like I said recoil spring or the extractor are the culprit, both of which are easy to correct.

I certainly do not want to scare anyone off from buying one (a Regent 1911) so I would not agree with the term subpar. I think it is a $450 1911 and a good one at that. In all fairness to the gun it has just over 200 rounds thru it so it is a baby

I would buy one again, for $450 it is a stout well made gun. Feels very "solid" which is again hard to define in words but a real feeling non the less. I do not get that feeling with a PT1911 for example, not saying that the PT1911 is not a good 1911 but it does not feel "right" for me.

knedrgr · 06-22-2011, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruggles

(I did take out the flat trigger and put the normal one back in before shooting it)

FAIL

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by knedrgr

FAIL

Yeah it was a failed experiment

Like I said:

Option 1: Wilson fitted 3.5lb trigger
Option 2: Me fitted trigger of unknown weight and quality

Option one seemed too good to mess with. Honestly the flat was fitted pretty well but not as well as the Wilson.

Cobra64 · 06-22-2011, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokie1911

The only thing tougher would be dual-wielding Rainbow Titanium P238s.

He'd be stalked by the Penguin.

bac1023 · 06-22-2011, 20:33

Sorry to hear about the Regent. Mine has run very well, actually.

bac1023 · 06-22-2011, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra64

He'd be stalked by the Penguin.

Hokie1911 · 06-22-2011, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra64

He'd be stalked by the Penguin.

CMG · 06-22-2011, 21:37

Sounds like a fun day, even with the Regent bobbles.

I'm really fond of my P238 for mid-summer carry, and was doubly glad the Mustang mags work. I picked up several of them for the price Sig wants for a single factory mag.

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMG

Sounds like a fun day, even with the Regent bobbles.

I'm really fond of my P238 for mid-summer carry, and was doubly glad the Mustang mags work. I picked up several of them for the price Sig wants for a single factory mag.

Yeah CDNN has the extended mags for $18 now, I paid twice that at the gun show last week

I just order a 18.5lb spring from Wolff for the Regent so we will see if that helps. The current one is 16lbs.

Cerebrus · 06-22-2011, 22:35

When I got my Springfield Loaded, I had the same problems.. seems that they had installed a commander sized recoil spring in the gun.. I am guessing that the spring replacement should get that piece runnin like a champ..

new spring on the left, spring that came in the gun on the right.. even the big name makers can make make mistakes..

Enjoy the Regent!! sounds like it could make a great base gun for a build..

Ruggles · 06-22-2011, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerebrus

When I got my Springfield Loaded, I had the same problems.. seems that they had installed a commander sized recoil spring in the gun.. I am guessing that the spring replacement should get that piece runnin like a champ..

new spring on the left, spring that came in the gun on the right.. even the big name makers can make make mistakes..

Enjoy the Regent!! sounds like it could make a great base gun for a build..

Thanks for that pic and well wishes

I agree strange things happen, if the 18.5lb spring does not work I will get one of those 28lb recoil springs from Wolff

Of course I will not be able to work the slide but if I ever did I am sure that would close the slide pretty briskly

I will post the results of the new spring