45 at a similar event with the Glock, SIG, Beretta, and other quality self-loaders. Self-loading pistols should have their recoil spring changed every 3,000 to 5,000 rounds in the case of the 1911. Revolver springs seem to never go out of whack, as they are not compressed when in storage. Even handguns that will perform well without cleaning at a high round count still demand lubrication. 22 handguns will go more than 300 rounds without a malfunction if they are not cleaned.Ī modern 9mm self loading, firing good quality factory jacketed bullet loads, may go several thousand rounds before function begins to become sluggish due to the buildup of unburned powder-but we really don’t wish to abuse our firearms. 22 is the dirtiest cartridge in common use. Due to the powder used in this caliber, the. The question that is often asked is how often should we clean the handgun? The answer really depends upon the firearm.22 caliber rimfire handguns should be cleaned most often. The springs eventually wear and need to be replaced. The finish is worn and the pistol becomes worn as it is used. If a handgun isn’t cleaned properly, eccentric wear will impede function. Many will run dirty, but they will not run dry. Just the same, these handguns need maintenance.
The SIG P226 came out on top in a rigorous test in which 228,000 cartridges were fired in a grueling program. The Colt 1911, as an example, is famous for operating when soaked in mud or snow.
After all, many of these handguns are based on service pistols that were designed to function in horrific situations. When we fire these handguns on the range, we should have every confidence that they will fire time after time without any type of problem. Tolerances held by Kimber, Colt, Glock, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, SIG, and CZ are excellent. Here we are over 30 years later, and I still look for the features set forth by the military test in the 1980s.The more I test and use handguns, the more respect I have for the operating reliability of these machines. My thoughts were if the handgun did not meet military requirements, why should I buy it? I would look at a handgun and if it did not meet the military requirements, I usually did not consider the handgun for purchase. Those requirements made impressions on young men such as myself.
I wish there was more focus on the past and present military requirements. Reading the recent articles is like a trip down memory lane. The Sig P226 was a very close second, which is why various law enforcement and military units picked the P226. Reading those articles is like walking down memory lane.ĭuring the 1980s, there was a wide variety of handguns that were dropped on the market: Ruger P series, Beretta, Glock, Sig, to name a few.
With the adoption of the Sig P320, various websites such as Ammoland have been publishing excellent articles on the Beretta. If the Beretta was good enough for the military, then it was certainly good enough for me.Īt the same time as the military test, there was also the FBI test, which made things very interesting. Not only was it the first handgun that I bought, it was the same one that passed all of the military test. When I turned 21 years old and bought my first handgun, it was a Beretta 92F. I read magazines such as Shooting Times over and over, as if trying to absorb every word. I knew the military was making history and wanted to read as much as I could. For some reason, I was especially interested in the military trials being conducted for a new handgun. In 1986, I was 18 years old and was an avid shooter. The Beretta and hammer fired handguns are losing ground to ever more popular striker fired and polymer framed. With the new military handgun test and the adoption of the Sig P320, we are witnessing another changing of the guard. The military went from the 1911 to high capacity 9mm handguns. Police departments all over the nation went from revolvers to semi-automatic handguns. For those of you who are not old enough to remember the 1980s, it was an era of rapid handgun evolution. Ammoland has an excellent writeup of the Beretta M9.
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