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Old 12-08-2017, 01:06 PM
Professor Frink Professor Frink is offline
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Default A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.

Gents,
Please educate me. Recently, I was rummaging around at my local shop found an old Remington-Rand 1911 that had been altered for bullseye competition. Bo-Mar rear sight, big angled front sight, stippling on the front strap, aftermarket trigger and hammer (I think), and the arched MSH had been ground down flat. Oddly enough, it had wood Colt grips on it. Initially I thought it was a shame a nice old 1911 had been altered. But after I looked it over and saw the price ($425) I figured, I couldn’t get a new Philippine made 1911 for that, and an inexpensive American made 1911 is always a good thing to have so it came home.

After I took it apart, I became really impressed with the workmanship in this thing. Little tweaks here and there, wonderful trigger, and extraordinarily tight all around. After I took it apart, I discovered it was built by a fellow named R. L. Shockey (stamped inside the slide) and it does have what I’ve since learned is called a “mousetrap” recoil spring plug.

Anyhow, I’ll get to my question. What was the usual maintenance and cleaning routine from those of you who used these kinds of altered 1911s? Were they cleaned often, rarely, never? I ask as this thing is a challenge to disassemble and it was fairly dirty. The barrel bushing is so very, very tight that some damned fool before me used a pipe wrench on it (seriously). My bushing wrench gets the job done, but it is a chore! Additionally the reassembly is difficult too due to the mousetrap recoil spring plug. These are not big deals, but I was just curious as in all honesty, I dread taking it down after shooting it.

Anyhow, I popped a fresh recoil spring in it and the pistol shoots very accurately and I’m glad I have it. Sorry for the long post and thank you for any information.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:24 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Frequency of cleaning varied.

I knew a few guys who cleaned after the season. Others cleaned more frequently: some as often as after every match.

You have to remember that active Bullseye shooters put a lot of lead down range each season. These competitors generally weren’t the obsessive clean freaks I sometimes read about on this forum.

Serious competitors were more interested in consistency rather than squeaky clean guns. Since the gun is only spotless for one round, spotless cleanliness wasn’t desireable.

My rifle team coach made me do countless pushups for cleaning my 52-C once during the season. That view wasn’t unique to him and I’ve adopted it in the ensuing 50+ years without any problems.

I’ve frequently run over 500 rounds through pretty tight 1911’s without a problem.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:32 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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I shot bulls eye back in the 60s when I was a small arms tech in the AF. From what you describe, you picked up a 1911 that had been modified for competition and you got it for what I call a Jesse James price and he wore a mask. The gunsmith shop at Lackland AFB used to build our 45s and let me tell you, they were tight and shot like a dream. Basically they would tighten everything up, match a match grade barrel to a barrel bushing (tight), add Bor-Mar rear sights, a target front sight and a great trigger job and you were off and shooting. We put many thousands of rounds through them before we'd have to send them back for a tune up. I had two of mine go full auto during matches after many thousands of rounds. Sent them back to Lackland and they came home like new pistols. I field stripped and cleaned mine after each practice or match and rarely did a complete takedown.

Last edited by OldChief; 12-08-2017 at 01:34 PM. Reason: Added Info.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:34 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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I was issued a similar gun as a member of my squadron pistol team. It had been reworked by the armory and in addition to the sight and trigger mods, it had a flat mainspring housing installed. The barrel bushing could be removed by hand, but it would hold the 10 ring at 50 yards. I cleaned and lubed about every time I shot it. Probably didn’t need to though.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:39 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Maintenance varied with the shooter. For me, when I felt it needed cleaned I simply removed the grips, soaked the whole pistol in 90% rubbing alcohol then blew it out with an air hose. The bore got a little extra care, maybe a bronze brush or Lewis lead remover (rarely). Then oil and blow the extra out and go back to the range. Blacken the sights using a paper or wooden match and you were ready to go. A little lube never hurts.

Save that old spring, it may come in handy in the future.

I remember the name Shockey but never competed against one of his pistols that I know of. My hero was Amend Swenson, he did fantastic work and shot every week in competition.

I congratulate you and wish you luck.

Last edited by Ed Fowler; 12-08-2017 at 01:43 PM.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:48 PM
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There's a bunch of information on R.L Shockey on the internet. Seems to be highly thought of. You may have found a diamond in the rough.

Google is your friend.
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:54 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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R. L. Shockey was one of the leading bullseye smiths back in the '60s and '70s. He is not as well known as but his work is certainly on par with Jim Clark's, Swensen's, etc. I would not be surprised if that wad gun you've got went out and won a match tomorrow. I bet it will put 10 consecutive shots into 2-1/2 inches at 50 yards out of a Ransom Rest.

As to cleaning. In competition, I cleaned my guns before and after every match. Before because I had been practicing all week, and I don't routinely clean after every practice session. After, because after a couple of hundred rounds of reloads most 1911s are full of crud. I would also swab the barrel out and blow out accumulated crud between the centerfire and .45 matches. Enough crud, and function is compromised, and alibis don't win matches.

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Old 12-08-2017, 01:56 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rpg View Post
Frequency of cleaning varied.

I knew a few guys who cleaned after the season. Others cleaned more frequently: some as often as after every match.

You have to remember that active Bullseye shooters put a lot of lead down range each season. These competitors generally weren’t the obsessive clean freaks I sometimes read about on this forum.

Serious competitors were more interested in consistency rather than squeaky clean guns. Since the gun is only spotless for one round, spotless cleanliness wasn’t desireable.

My rifle team coach made me do countless pushups for cleaning my 52-C once during the season. That view wasn’t unique to him and I’ve adopted it in the ensuing 50+ years without any problems.

I’ve frequently run over 500 rounds through pretty tight 1911’s without a problem.
What Rpg said. I recall that gunsmiths name and my vague recollection is that he made some real tack drivers. Basically, back in the day (early 80s), I would clean about every 500 rounds unless I got superstitious (like I had an amazing run and didn't want to change anything even though it was 500+ at that point).
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Old 12-08-2017, 02:07 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Ray Shockey lived in the eastern Cleveland Ohio area and did great work for a fair price. He tightened up different models of bullseye guns in different calibers. Great reputation and guns modified by him would be a good find. Yours seems to still be tight from yrs ago. Some guns by him may have been shot a lot and are loosening up by now.

I would shoot it 5 times and see how dirty it is inside then go accordingly. To keep the tightness of the gun, lube the rails, the barrel bushing area and all the parts that move when fired. Don’t be afraid to use too much oil and a good oil. Someone in the yrs past told me the oil from the gun should hit you when you fire it, then you know you have enough. He is from the Shockey era. I maintained my model 41 in the same manor but not to the extent of over lubing where it splashed when fired.

Enjoy your 1911, just started shooting my 1911 Para Ordanance again and having fun. Larry
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Old 12-08-2017, 02:26 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Sounds like a steal to me.. Some of those old gunsmiths and old 1911's were really good.
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Old 12-08-2017, 02:30 PM
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I had my 1960s Colt Government models accurized by Alton(Al) Dinan of New Canaan CT.

Al would take your government model and return it to you in about a month.

Bill Allard and myself would drive from NYC to Al's Ct home,workshop and range to deliver and pick up the pistols.

The finished guns would be Random Rested at 50yds to demonstrate the accuracy before Al handed to you to shoot yourself.

Bill used his to get his legs for his Distinguished Pistol award.

I could squeak past 2600 in 2700 matches but never achieved a leg.
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Old 12-08-2017, 02:50 PM
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Clean your pistol when the accuracy drops off. That is the gun telling you things have changed. Clean it when you change ammo or lube as the barrel will need to re-accommodate itself to those changes.
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Old 12-08-2017, 03:10 PM
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When I was on active duty in the Army, I personally owned a beat-up Ithaca M1911A1. I had it accurized and re-blued by a gunsmith recommended to me by other members of our post pistol team.

He tightened the slide to the frame, carefully welded up and fitted the barrel perfectly to the slide, modified the feed ramp to digest semi-wadcutter lead bullets, installed a fitted match bushing, put in a full-length recoil spring guide, modified the plug to use it and did a great trigger job. A Bo-Mar adjustable rear sight was used, and in later years I replaced the Patridge front sight with a sloped one when the original front sight detached and flew off into never-never land during informal plinking. I also installed a new manual safety with a larger lever when these became available. I've had a variety of grips on it; the picture below shows my current taste for nice wood and the original double diamond pattern. Somewhere along the way I put in a new lightweight trigger with adjustable overtravel and a long-tang grip safety. Skateboard tape gives me a great gripping surface. Wilson mags now complete the ensemble.

After every outing with that pistol, I religiously field stripped it, cleaned and lubed it, and reassembled it. The barrel bushing remains tight, and I use a barrel bushing wrench to remove it. It was thus always clean, lubed and ready to go. I even used it as my personal .45 in the field, preferring it to my issue Colt. I did the same during my National Guard service. It has never once failed to function in over 50 years, and is still as tight as when I received it from that gunsmith. It maintains exceptional accuracy.

I don't believe regular proper disassembly, cleaning and lubing after each firing have affected the performance of this gun at all.

John

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Old 12-08-2017, 03:19 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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I built up my own .45 from a DCM GI gun - added Bo-Mar sights and a wider front sight, a match barrel with tight bushing, and did a trigger job. Also added a trigger shoe. It worked OK. I also used a K-38 and a Colt Match Woodsman in the .22 stage. I cleaned them after every match and practice session.
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Old 12-08-2017, 03:19 PM
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You are very lucky to have bought an accurized hardball gun by R.L. Shockey. He was a top pistolsmith back in the day. Gil Hebard said about cleaning an accurized pistol, "If they shot better dirty, the manufacturers would find a way to sell them with gunk already inside!" Keep it clean. Grime can combine with lube to make a "valve grinding" like compound and accelerate wear. You can learn to disassemble and reassemble without removing the barrel bushing. Make sure that the recoil spring is still strong.
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Old 12-08-2017, 03:57 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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I tried often to shoot my S&W Model 52-2s in the centerfire matches but the scrores I shot with the accurized 45s were much better.

Al Dinan had his own machine shop in an out building and made a lot of the parts he used accurizing the pistols.He started from scratch making his own barrel bushings,barrel links and link pins.His long slides were works of art.

The Dinan pistols were the only ones I ever owned and was never aware of R.L.Shockey.

Clark,Behlert,Dinan and Swensen were the names associated with 45acp auto accurizing the most but that was 50 years ago for me so it's a bit foggy now.
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Old 12-08-2017, 04:06 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Never ran my 45 wet enough to splash but with a tight competition pistol they definitely need to be oiled well.
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Old 12-08-2017, 04:50 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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R.L. Shockey (bio)

Birth: Mar. 19, 1909
Quincy Township
Franklin County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: Nov. 9, 1981
El Reno
Canadian County
Oklahoma, USA

OBITUARY :
RICHARD L. SHOCKEY, 72, of 612 S. W. 26th St., El Reno, Okla., a native of the Waynesboro area, died at 3 p.m. Monday shortly after being admitted to Park View Hospital, El Reno. His death was attributed to a heart attack.

He was born in Quincy Township, March 19, 1909, son of the late Harry A. and Ann R. (Provard) Shockey. His early life was lived In the Waynesboro R. D. 1 and and he was a graduate of the Quincy Township High School with the class of 1927.

As a young man he was employed at Landis Machine Co. for several years. Following their marriage in June, 1933, he and his wife moved to York, where he was employed at the Naval Ordnance Plant.

The family moved to El Reno in 1948, when Shockey was employed as assistant superintendent of the tool, die and machine shop at the Federal Corrections Institution. He had been retired since 1955. Shockey was nationally known as a gunsmith and maintained the weapons of various law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma.

He was currently serving as a member of the El Reno City Council.

He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church of El Reno and the Methodist Men's Club of the church. He was also a member of York Lodge No. 266, F & AM, The Council, Chapter and Commandery, and the Knights Templar, all of York; the El Reno Country Club, the National Rifle Association, the AARP, and the Oklahoma Sheriffs' and Peace Officers' Association.

In addition to his wife, Mrs. Ethel (Bryan) Shockey, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Carolyn Kiddy, Littleton, Colo.; two granddaughters; and three brothers, Milton Shockey, Glen Burnie, Md.; Elmer Shockey, Tomstown Rd. and Gilson Shockey, Waynesboro.

The funeral will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the Grove Funeral Hone in charge of the Rev. Lester Misner. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the services Friday.

Source : The Record Herald Newspaper - Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania - Wednesday, November 11, 1981

Richard Shockey's skills as a gunsmith were on par with the greats of the era. I would be tickled pink to have that pistol. Would love to see pic's of it.
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Old 12-08-2017, 05:00 PM
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When I was the 1st Cav. Division pistol team gunsmith in 1959 we had a bunch of Shockey's. Excellent shooters.

I only cleaned my Mike Curtis built 1911 when it stopped working. I ran it quite wet and the funny thing is, I don't ever remember shooting an alibi string based on gun malfunction, human malfunction sure, but not the gun.

Stu
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:07 PM
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anyone else notice the aroma of bullseye hovering around this thread?
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:30 PM
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I would clean my 1911 after each match and each practice session, just a field strip and clean, and only tear it completely down maybe every year or two or if there was a problem. Shooting mid-range lead loads it was always dirty when it was shot. I usually took it to the range and ran a couple magazines through it before any match.

My bullseye guns were a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup with a Kart barrel and accuracy job by a local gunsmith, and a Springfield Armory that I built up myself.
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:30 PM
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anyone else notice the aroma of bullseye hovering around this thread?
How I love the smell of Winchester 231 in the morning. . .



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Old 12-08-2017, 08:50 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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I don't understand why there's no picture of the OP's gun.
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Old 12-08-2017, 10:01 PM
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Also these guns are not made to shoot a full charge load. 4.1---4.5 grains of a fast powder is what they use with bullseye probably the fastest. Hang on to the old spring. A Shockey will work really slow on recoil. A friend of mine has one and watching from the side it seems to work in slow motion. I have one old Remington Rand that will shoot 3.5 of bullseye and lock back with a light spring.

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Old 12-08-2017, 10:16 PM
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In my part of the world bullseye match guns were never stripped and cleaned. A drop lub on the barrel,slide rails, and occasionally a brush and patch though the bore.
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Old 12-08-2017, 11:18 PM
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Thanks for all the good info. I apologize for the lack of pics. Ever since Photobucket did whatever they did, I've not signed-up with a new service.
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Old 12-08-2017, 11:54 PM
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IMHO, THERE IS NO NEED TO THOROUGHLY CLEAN A .45 ACP, UNTIL THE GUN TELLS YOU THAT IT NEEDS IT.......

KEEP THE RAILS CLEAN AND OILED, AND RUN A BORE SNAKE DOWN THE BORE AFTER 500 ROUNDS OR SO, A DROP OR TWO OF OIL ON THE BARREL, AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE. AVOID SEPARATING THE BARREL FROM ITS BUSHING........
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Old 12-09-2017, 12:28 AM
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Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

Oh, please don't tell any of my buddies in the S&WCA that I own a few C-O-L-T-S. Just between us here, ok ?
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Old 12-09-2017, 12:59 AM
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The only 1911 45 ACP I shot in bullseye target shooting was a Colt Gold Cup.
Never cleaned it up as much as my S&W M19 for center fire and for .22 mine was a M41.
Looks like a great 1911 to shoot & have fun with at the range..
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:10 AM
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[QUOTE=model3sw;139843684]Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

I love to see 50 yard groups from hand guns, thanks for sharing!

Many of us carry little groups like that in our billfolds, I am one. Too bad they don't last forever!
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:23 AM
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There is an old paperback book, which was published by Gil Hebard, called "The Pistol Shooter's Treasury" There is a photo of Shockey and an article. I started out in bullseye pistol shooting in 1971. I worked my way from Marksman to Master. I also am a Distinguished Pistol Shot badge holder. I have a couple of Jim Clark, Sr. pistols. I have owned a couple of Tony Kidd pistols. I had a well-used Giles wad gun pass through my hands. It was hard to tell just how many thousands of rounds had been fired through it. Before I traded it off, I tested it on a Ransom Rest at 50 yards. It produced a 2" ten shot group on the first attempt. If I could have afforded a new one, I'd have bought a Giles. I think he was the best of the best. Having said that $425 for a used Shockey is a steal.
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:33 AM
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Back in the day a fellow competitor told me "your elbow is pointed so the oil will run off".
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:36 AM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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The things they do to lighten the slides for a light target load.
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Old 12-09-2017, 01:44 PM
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PS: I bought my first Ransom Rest because I had a hard time believing 7/8" groups at 50 yards on his Kit Guns. Darn if it doesn't do it ... ALL THE TIME. Only exception is if you're using bulk relaoded target ammo. With my own loads, per Giles specs and H&G Mold 200 grain SWC, 3.6 to 3.9 gr. Bullseye ... EVERY time, without fail I can pull a 1+1/4" group or better. One time at 1+1/4" I used vise-grips to take the wobble out of deck rest (that I mounted the RR to) at the range. Vastly improved accuracy back to 1" or under on the Colt Kit guns.
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Old 12-09-2017, 01:52 PM
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This is the test target from my Curtis built 1911. Ranson rest, 50 yards, full tilt ball ammo. If not for that first round flyer it would be 1" vertical.

Stu

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Old 12-09-2017, 04:51 PM
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Alright, pics are up. Included a pic of the Mousetrap etc. have really enjoyed all the info and insight.
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Old 12-09-2017, 08:54 PM
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Called a friend tonight and there was a Ray Shockey in Cleveland. He was a local bullseye shooter and tightened up he guns to shoot bullseye. He started working on others guns at night or weekends and did a great job for a reasonable price. Ron said his was tightened and the grip stippled and it was a tack driver. Larry
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Old 12-09-2017, 09:07 PM
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I don't think anyone will dispute there is a Ray Shockey in Ohio and I'm sure he's quite talented in his own right.
Theres no doubt (to me anyway), O.P.'s pistol was built by Richard Shockey of Oklahoma who was one of the greats of the era.
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Old 12-09-2017, 10:09 PM
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Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

Oh, please don't tell any of my buddies in the S&WCA that I own a few C-O-L-T-S. Just between us here, ok ?
THAT'S A NICE BRACE OF PISTOLS YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER. IT LOOKS LIKE ANY ONE OF THEM WILL ALL GET THE JOB DONE, IF YOU DO YOUR PART.....
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:22 PM
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THAT'S A NICE BRACE OF PISTOLS YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER. IT LOOKS LIKE ANY ONE OF THEM WILL ALL GET THE JOB DONE, IF YOU DO YOUR PART.....
Thank you. The Clark .38 Colt Kit (2 left photos) is not mine but rather another member's, The Giles .38 Colt Kit ( on the right) is mine, purchased from another member a few years back after searching for one a very long time.
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:25 PM
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I don't think anyone will dispute there is a Ray Shockey in Ohio and I'm sure he's quite talented in his own right.
Theres no doubt (to me anyway), O.P.'s pistol was built by Richard Shockey of Oklahoma who was one of the greats of the era.
Explain further, please. I had no idea there were 2 Shockey 1911 builders.
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Old 12-09-2017, 11:47 PM
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In my part of the world bullseye match guns were never stripped and cleaned. A drop lub on the barrel,slide rails, and occasionally a brush and patch though the bore.
Exactly what we were instructed to do when I shot on an Army team.
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Old 12-10-2017, 12:24 AM
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The kit guns were sold to gunsmiths. Not to the public. Sorry about the rubbers. A shooters choice.
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Old 12-10-2017, 08:39 AM
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Sal, look at my previous posts. Not sure how the Cleveland Shockey spelled his name. He was just a local back yard gunsmith that knew how to build a 1911. Remember seeing some Ruger Mk’s done by him also. Larry
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Old 12-10-2017, 09:04 AM
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Default Here is a good description on properly lubricating a match 1911

Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
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Old 12-10-2017, 12:19 PM
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I was a teen, working at the area's top LGS starting in 1974 and then off and on, depending upon school until 1980. The largest gun club and shooting facility in the area was very bullseye-oriented.
How well I recall my manager, a big bullseye shooter, mentoring others getting into the sport. Filling out orders for custom 1911's in .38 WC and .45, sending them snail-mail to Clark's Custom (Jim Clark) in Louisiana.
Ordering the large black bullseye pistol boxes from Pachmayr.
In-store discussions on the merits of Star reloading machines. Meeting at the aforementioned club to test your handloads in the club's Ransom Rest, as it was probably the only one in existence for over 100 miles.

The bullseye era seemed so nice and simple in my sepia-toned memories.
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Old 12-10-2017, 01:10 PM
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I love vintage guns that were tuned my master pistolsmiths. Those with such skill in their trade are few and far between now.

I would be tempted to buy ANY vintage handgun that was worked over by a real master.

My dream is to find a Jungkind tuned Python. Actually, any of the late greats I would love to find, Sadowski, Moran, Tedford, and even Glenn now.
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Old 12-10-2017, 02:54 PM
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Default George Madore Accurized 1911

I always liked the Springfiled Armory 1911 NM series. Several years back one came to me from a fellow local club member with G.Madore on the slide and a most peculiar set up of a Red Dot sight mounted to the slide. Neither he nor I knew who G.Madore was, and, this was the first time I ever saw a scope mounted to the slide on a 1911. We both thought it was some sort of Rube Goldberg. At very least the SA 1911 was in near new condition. I figured, at worse case scenario, I'd buy another unblemished slide.

I was very curious so I researched George Madore, pistolsmith, on the then fledgling internet which not many people were attune to back then. George Madore is long gone now (RIP) but was a master pistolsmith. He specialized in accurizing 1911s but preferred Springfield Armory 1911.

Much to my surprise, it is a tack driver. In a Ransom Rest it hits paper on target, in tight groups, extremely well. In experimenting discovered it is a hard ball gun so my Giles Target loads are precisely on target but do not have enough powder to properly cycle the action.

Beefing up the powder a bit or just with straight out of the box factory pack standard .45 ACP ammo, it is amazingly accurate and cycles flawlessly.

Most of all ... the internal red dot sight mounted to the slide is not bothered in the least with the continual banging back and forth with the slide.

I find this amazing as in years past I had drilled and mounted the optics bridge to the frame on some. One other choice to mount a scope without drilling the frame was the old aluminum right grip with the overhead rail but this latter method eliminated the option of installing custom target stocks. No one had ever dared to mount a scope to the slide of a 1911 before this.

For someone looking to purchase a lesser appreciated, but very accurate customized 1911, don't overlook a G.MADORE (engraved on the slide). They seem to sell (without scope) for $1000 or under. I feel that the low price is because very few bullseye shooters know who G.Madore is (or was). To me, that's a super bargain for an accurized 1911 from a master pistolsmith.
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Old 12-10-2017, 03:49 PM
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A tip on dis-assembly and re-assembly. Go online and look up the intructions for Field Stripping a S&W model 59. Use these same methods for taking down you 1911. Yeah, it is a real PITA just like it was on the model 50 but with some practice it is doable.

BTW, you will find that takedown requires using a "gunsmiths grip" to position the slide so that the slide stop can be removed and you then control that slide as you remove it from the pistol with the recoil spring compressed.

As for the barrel bushing, I would suggest going to the Brownells web site and ordering a new Ed Brown standard Barrel Bushing. Doing this get rid of those ugly pipe wrench marks. Note, no guarantee that the new bushing will fit but one can hope and they are relatively inexpensive.

As for that Mousetrap Spring Plug it's obvious the intent was to press the barrel upwards in the barrel bushing at lockup. While that may in theory produce a tiny bit more accuracy there are probably only 2 or 3 handgun shooters on the entire planet good enough to actually see that improvement. If you also get a new standard spring plug you'll change the takedown procedure from copying that for the model 59 to the classic old 1911 dis-assembly procedure.. Quite simply by replacing a couple of fairly inexpensive parts you'll have a 1911 that is still very accurate and much much easier to Field Strip. It will also be much closer to the original configuration.

Final note concerns the Mainspring Housing. Another part that is available from Brownells in either Flat or Humped configuration. While not true to the WWII configuration I strongly prefer a Flat Mainspring Housing so that is what I would select.
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Old 12-10-2017, 03:51 PM
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A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters. A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.  
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Madore was the pistolsmith for the U.S. Olympic Shooting team in the 80's, I believe. He was one of the best. Jack Maples made some very nice accurized 1911's back in the day.
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