Colt Targetsman - need advice

[rrugerwesson]

I have a 3rd series Targetsman made approx. somewhere in the 60's. S/N is 170639-C. I'm just wondering if I can shoot HV ammo in it. The backstrap has no checkering/lines on it. It is just smooth steel. Some say this is an indication that it can shoot HV ammo. Also, the takedown button has lines thru it. Can someone give me advice on this 6.25" barrel 22LR pistol? Thanks in advice.

[Ray]

Hi, go to Maj. Robert Rayburn´s site 22 caliber rimfire semi-auto Colt pistol: .22 calibre Colt Woodsman and there you´ll find much info on Woodsmans and its several variatons.

Regards, Ray

[824tsv]

Your Colt Targetsman dates to 1966 and yes you can shoot as much HV ammunition through it as you want.

[Texas Star]

The Woodsman series guns have been approved for hi-velocity ammo since some time in the 1930's.

Those "lines"on the magazine release are just to prevent your thumb slipping.

[rrugerwesson]

I was referring to the takedown button located directly in front of the rear sights. Also, it has no mag release button; it has a heel release. I thank everybody for their info.

[chief38]

All I can tell you is I owned the same pistol for many many years and the fodder it routinely ate was Winchester Wildcats (back then they were actually good) which are high velocity loads. I put thousands of them through the gun and never had any problems at all! I finally sold the gun about 10 years ago (no problems - I just hated the detailed disassembly/reassembly procedure and much preferred shooting my M41, 63, 18, etc. So to answer your question - I NEVER had any issues or excessive wear.

[murphydog]

The only modification made to the Woodsman series to allow use of HV .22 LR was back in the 1930 decade, and as you noted it was done with a case-hardened mainspring housing and serrations on the backstrap to indicate this.

[MNruss]

The button on top of the slide is the “Assembly Lock Plunger”
Colt Woodsmans did have mag release buttons (1911ish) but went back to a heel release in 1955.
Later Huntsmans and Targetsmans went to the silly you-have-to-push-the-latch-over-or-your-mag-falls-in-the-dirt style.

All that is just thread drift, though.

You can shoot all the HV you like.

Russ

[Babysitr]

I agree, and I have one from 1923 and it uses SV only...if I were you I would try some Std. in your pistol also...they are easy on the shooter and gun. makes your colt an absolute pleasure to shoot!