My new Detonics

G

George Hill

Staff Alumnus
After MONTHS of personal debate and going back and forth over this...
I went ahead and signed the adoption papers, paid the cash and took home my DETONICS .45 Combat Master. :D
This is the Chopped and Channeled .45 that started the compact trend.

When test fired - it functioned PERFECTLY.
However, due to the short barrel and heavy 230 grain slugs, the group it shot (nice 2 inch group) printed about 2 inches low. Dead center, but 2 inches low.

I am thinking that my All 230 Grain Hydra rule must be broken for optimum performance in this little pocket rocket.

I'm thinking about using the tried and true 185gr +P Remingtion JHP. But even with the +P nature, the velocity should still be rather low - maybe too low for reliable expantion... so FMJ may be the ticket.

Any thoughts regarding this matter?

Regarding this Detonics - its Stainless and very interesting. The recoil spring plug is captive via a full length guid rod that screws into an anchor block. I can stip it by only removing the slide stop... much like a CZ-75.
The frame where the rear sight normaly rests is milled down and the rear sight is dovetailed in just behind the ejection port. Curious... but it still works. Makes for easier carry I suspect.
The gun has a natural melt to it - there are no sharp edges anywhere and the top of the slide is rounded a bit... just enough to make if feel nice.

The grips are in need of replacement - badly worn - almost smooth. Inside the grip pannels the black wood is actually a very nice red. I'm thinking sanding the wood and letting that sexy red wood show.

The rest of the gun is in very good shape. I got it for only $350... The only other real Detonics I saw was at a gunshow for a heck of a lot more.
Only problem is mags - it came with no mag... I got an Officers mag with it - but its too long. I have a line on mags that will fit - and maybe actual Detonics mags... so this isnt really a challenge.
All in all, I think I got a good deal and am most pleased.

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You might laugh in the face of FEAR... but unless your armed, its a nervous, unconvincing, little laugh.
 
George, you didn't say at what range it is 2" low. Sounds to me like if for defense, with you gettin good group, two inch low on a center sternum hold, is still a sternum hit. If two" low at seven and on sight at 15yds I would consider stayin with the 230 Hydras. Single load for all etc etc. "Functioned PERFECTLY" is the key here.

Sam.....my favorite 9mm is the 9X32
 
The grips are in need of replacement - badly worn - almost smooth. Inside the grip pannels the black wood is actually a very nice red. I'm thinking sanding the wood and letting that sexy red wood show.

Sounds to me like those are just about broken in. I love it when a set of grips get that smooth worn feel. It is like shaking hands with an old friend. The red shoping through does sound...........ok, sexy......for lack of a better term. ;)
Congradulations on a great gun and a great deal.

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Gunslinger
 
I'm not so concerned with the point of impact as the energy...
The 230 Hydra is rather slow as is... performs awesome - but still a little slow.
Now pumping this hydra outta a shorter pipe - am I loosing too much velocity?

Damn - Looks like I got some balistic testing to do!
 
George, generally the slow heavy bullets hit higher than light fast ones, so if you try 165 or 185gr slugs you may find that they hit even lower than 2".
 
As long as the velocity isnt under 900 FPS... 2 inches low aint a problem.
If that was = and I was stuck on one load - I could file the front sight a bit.
 
George:

Sounds like you got one heck of a great deal on the Detonics .45 semi-auto. I'm sure you'll find some mags somewhere. I once got lucky in Salt Lake City, cruising pawnshops found a nifty Colt .45 acp with ivory grips that was made in the first week of 1931. It was mine for a mere $350. Went back to the same pawnshop a few months later...he had another Colt .45 acp that was pretty worn, but it was World War 1 vintage...like a dang fool passed it up, I think it was $250.

Jim
 
George,
I too own a Detonics Mk VI .45 ACP. Brownells still sells Metalform magazines for the Detonics and I bought one recently. In my opinion the best way to go is the Wilson Sentinial magazine. It is available in 6rd. and 8 rd. models. It sticks out the bottom of the pistol about 1/8". I glue a 1/8" Home Depot o-ring piece to the top of the front of the mag. base. This prevents any over insertion problems.I have an Ed Brown mag well on mine and the Sentinal mag. is just flush with the bottom of the well. I think the Wilson mags are far superior to the Detonics. I have done extensive work on mine and there are several areas of difference with the 1911 and the Detonics.e-mail me if you wish and I will supply details.
Bob
 
FMJ is not advisable even if you question your Hydras' ability to expand after decresed velocity.
A FMJ will still do less damage than a non-expanded hollow point. Tissue sustains less damage from the passing of a smooth, round nose than from the edged lip of a JHP.
Big-game hunters are aware of this somewhat, and will seek Flatpoint loads for their rifles instead of FMJ.
 
I have to agree with Shin-Tao. If you want the HP, use the HP. If it doesn't expand, then it'll probably behave a lot like a FMJ, although I suspect the unexpanded HP will be probably give you a better wound channel than a FMJ. I'd only choose FMJ for the following reasons:
1. Reliable function
2. Need for penetration
3. Cost
 
James E. I have one thing to say :
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!.
Ok two things I wish I had pawn shops like that around here.

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Shop Smart! Shop S-Mart
 
George, I'm glad to hear that you went for it. When I talked to you last I knew that you wanted it bad.

Cobraman, good signature.

"Listen up you medievil screwheads! This is my BOOM STICK!"
 
I bought a "new" (unfired) Combat Master last year, and am also very pleased with mine. It also shot low, so I installed a King's National Match rear sight, and now it's just above point of aim at conversational distances. Kings' Officers ACP recoil spring set is a perfect replacement for the dual- or triple-spring set in the Detonics. New grips are available from Gun Parts, and "slim" grips from Brownells. Brownells also sells a kit of parts that includes the unique sear spring, hammer strut and "grip plate". I chrono'd 20 rounds of 230 Hydra-Shok out of it, and they averaged 850fps - seemed high, but someone else said that they were getting 890 out of 5", so it might be legit. I called Federal bout it, and they didn't deny that the 230's had been loaded up more than a bit. Also tried the 165gr Personal Defense round, and while I didn't notice much reduction in recoil, there was a huge fireball - not what I want in a defense round. The idea behind the forward-set rear sight is that it made the gun easier to thumb-cock. Original Detonics mags are quite expensive. I bought a no-name mag from Gun Parts that works fine; Metalform also makes a Detonics mag. I carry with the factory mag in the gun, and two Metalform 1911 7-rounders as reloads. 8-round 1911 mags don't have enough spring to operate reliably in my gun. The pistol fits perfectly in the Glaco Jackass rig made for the Officers ACP, and I bought an OACP holster from FIST that they custom-modified (at no charge) to accommodate the forward-set rear sight. If you go to the history page at sightm1911.com, there is a compilation of outtakes from old gunrag articles on Detonics, and alink to the new Detonics website.
 
Thanks for all the good information here guys!

Rick, you mentioned fireball... Thats an understatement! This little .45 has the most snarly muzzel flash I have ive seen in a little gun - much more than the Springfield V-10 for some reason. Maybe not... but I never noticed the flash from the V-10.
 
Cobraman:

That was about a decade ago. Wish I had a time machine I'd head for the l920s or 30s.
Just think of all the great used guns you could pick up for peanuts from pawnshops.

Jim
 
When I was in college I was a LNIB colt delta elite in a pawn shop. Too bad I was college poor. That was one sweet elite.

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Shop Smart! Shop S-Mart
 
Have you thought about using 200 grain +P Gold Dots? I have completely switched over to them in short barrel .45s. Flat shooting,
great energy, and they, I think, were designed for the shorter barrels.

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"Vote with a Bullet."
 
That sounds like a good idea - I've only messed with GDs in other calibers and never really considered them for the .45ACP.

What I would really like is a 185 grain +P Hydras - but I have not found any around SLC.
 
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