Joshua M. Smith

05-21-08
Firearm: Charles Daly 1911 FS 5”
Ammunition: Fiocchi 230gr JHP

Having had some extra money come my way recently, I set out to buy a new 1911, namely, a brand new Taurus PT1911. I went ahead and ran through my personal safety checklist even though it was factory new. Imagine my disappointment when I heard a “click” when pulling the hammer back after putting pressure on the trigger with the safety engaged – the safety was not well fitted. They had no others with the ambidextrous safety, so I passed up the pistol for now.

I got to asking around about some 1911 magazines I had sold them a couple years back. The clerk on duty dug up three of the five after some searching, and found an additional two and a mag pouch. I bought all five magazines, two of which are WWII issue, one marked “S” and another marked “C-S.” All are Colt.

After I got home, I tested them for reliability. Two would not drop free consistently – an unmarked one and the “C-S” failed that test. However, three fired out as if they were new, and there is more than enough spring pressure in them.

As an aside, I have two different views of the “perfect” magazine for the 1911. The first is the seven round Wilson 47, or the 47D (8 round) loaded with seven rounds.

The second is the Colt hybrid style with a bumper pad. I had been looking at ordering several Metalform mags due to their similarity to this style. I can put that on the back burner now; I’ll just dig up some stick on bumpers for these.

The second test was to take the remaining three and fire my carry ammo out of each. This gunstore had acquired 150 rounds of Fiocchi 230gr hollowpoint. Since 230gr hollowpoint in standard pressure is somewhat difficult to find here, and the prices per box were less than Winchester “White Box” at Walmart by nearly $5, I bought all three boxes. Fifty rounds later through the three good magazines showed me that I had nothing to be concerned about with respect to function. I didn’t test the ones that hung a bit when dropping free as they’ve been designated “range mags” and will likely only see ball.


I already had the pistol. The rest are today’s purchases.

The Fiocchi round’s bullet looks like a copy of the XTP. Checking their website, the bullet is only identified as a hollowpoint, but I did note that Fiocchi loads a 200gr XTP bullet to +P pressures, so the resemblance is understandable.


This is the usual setup with the addition of a log.

When I attempted to test the Hornady 230gr +P TAP FPD, that bullet blew through six jugs and was not recovered, so I had to scrub the test. Not wanting to repeat that performance, I put the log there to stop anything which may have made it through the jugs. I need not have worried.


Here’s the shot…


The bullet decimated the first jug…


… and continued on through three jugs…


… while shedding its jacket.

I do not consider a defensive bullet shedding its jacket to necessarily be a bad thing as long as penetration is present. In this case, it was.


I found the core perfectly expanded between the third and fourth jugs, completely sans jacket.

Earlier, while I was testing the magazines, I plunked several bullets into a stove length which was waterlogged from recent rains.


This is the result of firing this round into saturated wood.

The bullet showed no indication of separating.


This is the result of firing it into water after passing it through denim. As is often said, water will act upon a bullet in the most radical manner of any of the test mediums. Comparing the shot into wood to this, I’m convinced.

Having bought 150 rounds of this fodder on blind faith, I’m glad it performs. I’m set for a while for carry ammo it would seem, and now the most difficult decision will be whether to carry the Wilson mags, or the Colt.

__________________
Is it better to live by a corrupt society's standards rather than face persecution for not doing the same? This is the dilemma we now face. We must hold fast to our convictions as we confront this dilemma. Knowing one's self goes a long way in the crisis. - Me

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