I considered posting this in one of the existing DAC threads, but I didn't want to hijack someone else's thunder.
I discovered like the rest of the folks that bought this kit, that "minor fit and finishing" was apparently a pretty broad category.
I'll try not to repeat what has already been covered in the other DAC threads, but forgive me if I do end up rambling a bit.
Assembly issues
There were numerous areas that required hand fitting modifying etc.
- several of the holes ( trigger pin etc. ) required finishing to size.
- Locking block required milling for both the slide locking lever clearance and on the inside of the block for trigger clearance. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3586856#post3586856
- The inside of the frame required grinding for clearance/function of the slide locking lever. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3575187#post3575187
- Inside of frame required grinding for trigger bar clearance
- Hammer / sear engagement required stoning to get proper function. ( I later ended up replacing the hammer because I wanted a Nickel plated one, for pimp gun reasons )
- Trigger bar required alot of finessing to get proper DA/SA.
- Lower Grip screw holes were off center for my new Hogue grips, so I welded and re-drilled. This is an ongoing saga because after welding the area became harder than hell ...... I re-drilled the holes with a carbide bit, but I ruined a regular HSS tap trying to thread the holes. A carbide tap is on order, but until then I only have one screw per grip.
- Fitting of the hammer stop ...... this was a pain in the a$$ !!! As far as I can tell, Dlask drilled the hole for the hammer stop pin too close to the hammer pivot. My options were to weld the hole and re-drill .....( not after the last welding episode ) Or to modify the hammer and hammer stop. My new hammer and old hammer started out with the exact same profile, so you can see how much I removed.
Milling the Hammer
Hammer Comparison
There were more fitting issues, but I'm sure they've been covered in the other DAC threads ......
RANGE DAY
Before heading to the range I did a last minute check of the pistols function etc. And I decided to test feeding and ejection of some rounds. I found it would eject spent casings, but not live rounds !!
2 minutes with the Dremel tool later .........
Later, at the range .........
Let me start by saying this is my first handgun ........ I fired the Browning High Power years ago in the Reserves, but I lost interest in it when the Warrant Officer running the range looked over my target and loudly pronounced in front of god and everybody that I "... couldn't hit a cow in the ass with a shovel ! " So here I am, some 22 years later, ready to give it another try !!
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED : 100
FAILURES TO FEED: 0
FAILURES TO FIRE: 0
FAILURES TO EJECT: 1
Well not bad .... the one that failed to eject was the last one in the mag, round # 50 to be exact. I couldn't find a cause, and the next 50 ejected flawlessly. After my first mag, the slide failed to lock back, but it never happened again.
My mags are the "clone" mags for the NP34 from Marstar. I gotta tell you it was a bit of a facepalm moment after reading Novega's thread and realizing I could have bought the Mec-Gar mags from Marstar for the same price !!
But I guess I can't ##### too much, the Norinco mags worked well.
So 100 rounds fired .... 30 of these I intentionally fired Double Action ( using the de-cocking lever between each round ) to ensure everything was working properly.
Here's a pic of one of my better 10 round groups from about 10 meters ..... when I was actually taking my time and aiming properly instead of just putting the gun through its paces .....
Well, now that I am happy with the function etc. my next task is to take it all apart again and finish it. I've purchased Cerakote from Brownells ..... its a spray on / bake on type finish that gets good reviews for durability etc ...... When its finally done and looking pretty, I post some pics of the final product.
To the rest of the fellas building this kit, take your time, do it right and you'll have a handgun you'll be proud of !
If an old "rifle only guy" can do it, anyone can !
I discovered like the rest of the folks that bought this kit, that "minor fit and finishing" was apparently a pretty broad category.
I'll try not to repeat what has already been covered in the other DAC threads, but forgive me if I do end up rambling a bit. Assembly issues
There were numerous areas that required hand fitting modifying etc.
- several of the holes ( trigger pin etc. ) required finishing to size.
- Locking block required milling for both the slide locking lever clearance and on the inside of the block for trigger clearance. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3586856#post3586856
- The inside of the frame required grinding for clearance/function of the slide locking lever. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3575187#post3575187
- Inside of frame required grinding for trigger bar clearance
- Hammer / sear engagement required stoning to get proper function. ( I later ended up replacing the hammer because I wanted a Nickel plated one, for pimp gun reasons
)- Trigger bar required alot of finessing to get proper DA/SA.
- Lower Grip screw holes were off center for my new Hogue grips, so I welded and re-drilled. This is an ongoing saga because after welding the area became harder than hell ...... I re-drilled the holes with a carbide bit, but I ruined a regular HSS tap trying to thread the holes. A carbide tap is on order, but until then I only have one screw per grip.
- Fitting of the hammer stop ...... this was a pain in the a$$ !!! As far as I can tell, Dlask drilled the hole for the hammer stop pin too close to the hammer pivot. My options were to weld the hole and re-drill .....( not after the last welding episode
) Or to modify the hammer and hammer stop. My new hammer and old hammer started out with the exact same profile, so you can see how much I removed.Milling the Hammer
Hammer Comparison
There were more fitting issues, but I'm sure they've been covered in the other DAC threads ......
RANGE DAY
Before heading to the range I did a last minute check of the pistols function etc. And I decided to test feeding and ejection of some rounds. I found it would eject spent casings, but not live rounds !!
2 minutes with the Dremel tool later .........
Later, at the range .........
Let me start by saying this is my first handgun ........ I fired the Browning High Power years ago in the Reserves, but I lost interest in it when the Warrant Officer running the range looked over my target and loudly pronounced in front of god and everybody that I "... couldn't hit a cow in the ass with a shovel ! " So here I am, some 22 years later, ready to give it another try !!
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED : 100
FAILURES TO FEED: 0
FAILURES TO FIRE: 0
FAILURES TO EJECT: 1
Well not bad .... the one that failed to eject was the last one in the mag, round # 50 to be exact. I couldn't find a cause, and the next 50 ejected flawlessly. After my first mag, the slide failed to lock back, but it never happened again.
My mags are the "clone" mags for the NP34 from Marstar. I gotta tell you it was a bit of a facepalm moment after reading Novega's thread and realizing I could have bought the Mec-Gar mags from Marstar for the same price !!
But I guess I can't ##### too much, the Norinco mags worked well.So 100 rounds fired .... 30 of these I intentionally fired Double Action ( using the de-cocking lever between each round ) to ensure everything was working properly.
Here's a pic of one of my better 10 round groups from about 10 meters ..... when I was actually taking my time and aiming properly instead of just putting the gun through its paces .....
Well, now that I am happy with the function etc. my next task is to take it all apart again and finish it. I've purchased Cerakote from Brownells ..... its a spray on / bake on type finish that gets good reviews for durability etc ...... When its finally done and looking pretty, I post some pics of the final product.
To the rest of the fellas building this kit, take your time, do it right and you'll have a handgun you'll be proud of !
If an old "rifle only guy" can do it, anyone can !
