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Colt 1908 Vest Pocket 25auto
Advantages And Caveats …
Cocked-and-Locked takes many forms. From top, Morris
Custom Colt Gov’t .45; Springfield XDLE .45; S&W CSX 9mm.
Reading the work of Col. Jeff Cooper as a boy in the latter 1950s convinced me a messiah had risen in the west and the 1911 .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol was clearly something I needed.
My dad gave me one for Christmas in 1960 when I was 12. Col. Cooper had explained why what he called Condition One, cocked and locked with a live round in the chamber, was the only way to carry it.
It made enormous sense to me and it has been my mode of carry with single-action auto pistols ever since. It has included competition from bullseye to PPC to Bianchi Cup to IPSC/USPSA to IDPA to bowling pin shooting. It has included on-duty carry under various administrations in three police departments over 43 years and personal concealed carry to this day. This collective experience has taught me a few things.
Ready grasp: Above photo demonstrates Mas’ preferred
thumb-on-safety; below is the thumb holding safety lever up
from the underside. Pistol is a Middlebrooks Custom Colt .45.
The good news is single-action auto pistols generally have a short, easy trigger pull and are easy to shoot. The bad news is they generally have short, easy trigger pulls and are easy to shoot. If it’s easy to shoot intentionally, it’s commensurately easy to shoot unintentionally.
Manual safety notwithstanding, a cocked pistol therefore warrants extra care in handling and holstering.
With the gun in hand, we must always remember the trigger finger will only be inside the trigger guard when we are in the very act of intentionally firing the weapon! This means the trigger finger is otherwise registered on the frame. On the 1911, the most common of single-action autos, this means a right-handed shooter keeps a stiff index finger pressing on the stud of the slide stop that protrudes from the right side of the frame — what might be called “the takedown button.”
On a worn or poorly constructed specimen, this pressure can push the slide stop far enough to the left and when the first shot is fired, the pistol tries to begin disassembling itself. The pistol won’t fly apart when this happens but it will lock up tight. You won’t be able to fire a second shot until you take the 1911 in the “armorer’s grasp,” retract the slide just enough to align the slide stop tab with the smaller notch on the slide and use your left hand to push the stop all the way back in. To prevent this from happening, my own right-handed self simply indexes the tip of the trigger-finger fingernail behind the stud with the finger flexed. For a southpaw shooter, of course, it won’t be a problem.
Holstering cocked and locked, if we maintain a firing grasp we’re still holding the grip safety in the “fire” position. If we’ve forgotten to push the thumb safety lever back up into the “safe” position, there is nothing to keep the pistol from discharging if something interdicts the trigger as the gun is going into the scabbard. That can be a twig if you’ve been rolling on the ground or a fold of clothing getting into the guard or, most commonly, a careless shooter’s own finger.
There are a couple of ways to keep this from happening. My own preference is to place the gun hand thumb rigidly on the face of the cocked hammer as the gun enters the holster. Notice I say “rigidly,” not pressing back, which would put the hammer spur back far enough to depress the grip safety into the “fire” position. Now, the grip safety is engaged “on safe” in addition to the thumb safety being “on safe” and if everything else fails and the trigger is pulled and the sear releases, the thumb can catch the hammer to protect the shot.
Another method preferred by some — and easier for those with arthritic thumbs — is something I learned 40-some years ago from Major Winston Dill of the Athens, Ga. Police Department: Apply upward pressure on the thumb safety to keep it “on safe” as the pistol is holstered.
Mas holsters a cocked-and-locked 9mm Nighthawk Consul —
safety on, thumb rigid on hammer face, trigger finger extended.
About A Cocked Hammer
On any of my cocked-and-locked single actions, besides my two Springfield XD45s from the short production run with frame-mounted thumb safeties, the hammer back leaves the firing pin exposed to lint and the elements. I’ve seen long-carried 1911s and Browning Hi-Powers with dust bunnies in this area and when carried in the open, rain and snow can get into the firing pin channel too. So can sticky spilled coffee, which you definitely don’t want in the firing pin channel.
And of course, when the gun is visible, there is the ever-popular “OMG! Your gun is cocked!” I was a young patrolman wearing a cocked-and-locked Colt .45 auto in a Safariland Roberts Rangemaster duty holster when a sergeant uttered those exact words. I took a few minutes to patiently give the history of John M. Browning’s masterpiece and its manual of arms, after which he said, “Well, it still scares me.”
In one of my least brilliant moments I replied, “That’s okay, Sarge, it’s normal to be scared of things you don’t understand.”
This turned out to be a memorable lesson in what a subordinate should or should not say to a supervisor …
Back then, most police leather was revolver oriented. Don Hume made a batwing-shaped piece of leather that slipped onto a safety strap to cover the sharply checkered hammer of an S&W service revolver to keep it from chewing up jacket linings. I put one on my 1911 holster and it protected the vulnerable open channel from the elements. It also shielded the cocked hammer from the eyes of those who might be alarmed by it. Any thumb-break safety strap, while not hiding the hammer back status, will at least provide a measure of protection to the exposed firing pin.
The public report of the Army test of the PKM. Credit: dtic.mil
This article is based on one of the only publicly available reports I could find on U.S. testing of the Soviet PKM. In July 1975, an Army engineering team published an attribute analysis that examined a slate of off-the-shelf 7.62mm machine guns as candidates to replace the troublesome General Electric M219 coaxial weapon. The report, titled Attribute Analysis of the Armor Machine Gun Candidates (ADA018625), was authored by James B. Beeson and Thomas N. Mazza, drew together test data to rate nine weapons across 23 attributes grouped under Technical Performance, Physical Characteristics, and RAM-D (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Durability). Though this report is about a tank coaxial machine gun, I will focus more on the aspects of the PKM in an infantry role.
M240 and PKMs. By Lynndon Schooler.
The Guns
The Soviet PKM emerged from the assessment as a notable contender in the trial. It did reasonably well, though it could have done better if tested properly. It was tested under U.S. laboratory conditions at H.P. White Laboratories using standard test procedure MTP 3-2-045. However, only a single PKM was available for evaluation, and the ammunition consisted of a mix of Soviet and Chinese 7.62x54mm cartridges of inconsistent quality; the report notes some showing corrosion or degradation. The foreign candidates were also evaluated using Rodman’s earlier testing at Rodman Laboratories (Rock Island Arsenal). Still, direct comparisons across weapons were difficult because each test program used different mounts, procedures, and sample sizes. And lack of familiarity with the foreign counterparts is evident. The contenders in the trial included the U.S. M60E2, Belgian FN MAG 58, M219, M219PI, Canadian C1, UK L8A1 (coaxial MAG 58), French AAT52, and the German MG3.
Attribute Scores. Credit: dtic.mil
The panel ranked each candidate across the 23 attributes, then converted the ranks to 0-10 scores. The 23 attributes included: Accuracy Life, Gun Accuracy, Cyclic ROF, Sustained ROF, Terminal Effect, Position Disclosing, Environmental Performance, Obscuration, Human Factors Engineering (HFE), Safety, Training, Barrel Change, Weapon Assembly/Disassembly, Ammunition Sensitivity, Vehicle Compatibility, Parts Usage, Tools and Special Equipment, Parts Interchangeability, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), Maintenance Ratio (MR), Mean Rounds Before Failure (MRBF), Mean Rounds Before Stoppage (MRBS), and Durability.
For the PKM, the report records standout scores in several technical and durability attributes:
- Durability: 10.00 -The PKM received a perfect score for durability.
- Mean-Round-Between-Failure (MRBF): 10.00 – indicating excellent performance in the measured trials.
- Mean-Round-Between-Stoppage (MRBS): 4.90 – a comparatively low score that points to stoppage with the ammunition used.
- Mean Time To Repair (MTTR): 1.90 – a low MTTR score. The report indicates it has longer repair times than others, most likely due to a lack of parts and familiarity.
- Gun accuracy: 9.40 – high accuracy was demonstrated at 1,000 meters.
- Accuracy life (barrel life): 6.70 – middling compared with U.S. candidates.
- Environmental: 7.00 – “based on mud, cold, hot, sand, and dust tests; noteworthy, however, is the cold-test problem the report flagged: splitting cartridge cases were observed,” possibly due to ammunition quality or improper headspacing.
Weighted Attributes Score. Credit: dtic.mil
Because of varying test objectives, mounts, and sample sizes across the programs, direct apples-to-apples conclusions are expressly cautioned against in the report. Besides that, the PKM did pretty well with the odds against it.
PKM at the range. By Lynndon Schooler.
After converting individual attribute scores into weighted totals, the PKM ranked overall, and the weapons were clustered into three groups.
The high group was led by the U.S. M60E2 (score 8.34) and the Belgian MAG58 (8.12). The PKM (7.17) fell into the middle group, alongside the M219, M219PI, the UK L8A1, the French AAT52, and the German MG3, a block whose scores ranged roughly from 6.89 to 7.09.
The low group contained only the Canadian C1 (5.58). In short, the PKM’s mix of exceptional durability and accuracy, but some stoppage and ammunition-related environmental sensitivity, placed it in third place.
Major Attribute Scores. Credit dtic.mil
Those attribute scores were summarized into major-category numbers for the PKM:
- Technical Performance: 7.96
- Physical Characteristics: 5.83
- RAM-D: 7.52.
Yugoslav M84 GPMG. By Lynndon Schooler.
This evaluation may have ultimately contributed to the Army’s adoption of the FN MAG in 1977 as the M240C, a coaxial tank machine gun.
The Conclusion
The report remains a rare snapshot of the limited U.S. testing of the PKM that I could find and how it was viewed by U.S. evaluators in the mid-1970s. The weapon demonstrated clear strengths, particularly its durability and accuracy, confirming its reputation as a rugged and effective machine gun.
However, the evaluation was constrained by several factors that affected its overall ranking. U.S. testers had limited familiarity with the weapon, only a single example was available for testing, and the trials relied on Soviet and Chinese 7.62x54mm ammunition of inconsistent quality, some of which showed corrosion and degradation, which hampered its ranking in the test.
The PKM showed promising performance in several areas. Still, the results were not considered sufficient to fully assess its potential without additional testing under more controlled and standardized conditions, which I would one day like to conduct as a side-by-side evaluation of the M240 and PKM.
Lynndon Schooler is an open-source weapons intelligence professional with a background as an infantryman in the US Army. His experience includes working as a gunsmith and production manager in firearm manufacturing, as well as serving as an armorer, consultant, and instructor in nonstandard weapons. His articles have been published in Small Arms Review and the Small Arms Defence Journal. https://www.instagram.com/lynndons
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Someday
Given all the controversy surrounding the Sig P320, it’s easy to forget Sig Sauer has an incredible legacy of building some of the finest and most reliable pistols ever constructed. Referred to by many as the “Legacy” pistols, Sig Sauer’s P210, P220, P226, P229, and their variants have served admirably since the 1940’s.
Sig Sauer Legacy Pistols
The P210 was adopted by the Swiss military in 1947, and the first Sig Sauer, the P220 in 1975. Ten years later, with the introduction of the P225, P226, and P228, they were appearing in Special Missions units worldwide. Then, the P229 hit the market in 1992.
Later competition versions have some of the finest craftsmanship seen in a commercially available pistol. Many continue to see use based on their proven reliability, accuracy, and dependability. These pistols truly are a legacy for SIG Sauer GmbH & Co. KG. and Sig Sauer Inc.
Proven Reliability, Accuracy, and Innovation Without Compromise
Not particularly enamored with our move to the 9mm semi-auto, my move to the 45 ACP was almost immediate. As soon as the department allowed “personal carry,” a P220 was purchased and put to work. Having to buy my own ammo was a pain, but worth it. That pistol served me for a couple of years before I moved to the Colt Delta Elite in 10mm.
During my career, I used a P229 in 40 caliber, later replaced by a 9mm version. Finally, I moved to a P226 SAO (Single Action Only) that is still in my possession. For a time, a P220 Sport and later Match Elite were amongst my prized possessions.
I have certainly used other pistols in my 30-year career. However, these all stood out as being some of the most reliable, dependable, and accurate pistols ever used. For the last several years, my P226 SAO and P229 Legion SAO have been workhorse pistols for training, teaching, and carry.
The Sig Sauer P226 and P229
During training at the Sig Sauer Academy in 2013, I noticed staff members using a P226 single-action (SAO). Ten rounds down range was all I needed. While not yet available, I picked one up through media contacts, and it survives to this day. However, it does have a few upgrades.
As times changed, Sig Sauer has not forgotten these pistols completely. Adding their Pro Slide lightens things up and provides a means for an RDS. With their Romeo 1 Pro RDS, it co-witnesses with standard iron sights. Add a Leupold DPP and taller sights, and you get proven rugged reliability. Just about any sight height or configuration is possible.
My P229 benefits from the same slide upgrade and can be used with my SAO lower, or a P229R DA/SA lower, providing excellent modularity. My 226 SAO has stepped in several times at training to replace “test pistols” that failed. This includes an MTG Advanced handgun skills class in 2014. It went through 2K rounds in 4.5 days without a single stoppage, allowing me to finish with the top times in the class.
My P229, both in S/A and DA/SA, is used to this day for training and teaching at Gunsite Academy.
Sig Sauer Introduced Modularity, Before It was a “Thing”
One of the reasons my Legacy pistols have survived so long is the ability to adapt as needed for several uses. My original P226 SAO can be configured with its original iron-sighted slide, a pro slide with lightening cuts, and an RDS. Every conceivable iron sight is available; tritium, black, fiber, tall or small, you name it. All of which are interchangeable between P-series guns.
Want a .40 cal or 357 Sig? Just acquire a complete upper and magazines, and you can convert your P229. While DA/SA is not the “hot thing” today, it remains incredibly popular and may be the safest way to carry a semi-auto AIWB. Companies like Gray Guns still make aftermarket triggers, hammers, and other upgrades for both that make them very slick. A recent install in my P229 made a huge difference.
While Sig Sauer is focused on the P320 and provides less and less for the Legacy pistols, it’s still there. And a huge used market still exists. Either way, these pistols were modular before modular was cool, and plastic was fantastic.
Sig Sauer: A Legacy Worth Noting
While the market is always changing, there is a clear “what’s old is new” vibe of late. We are seeing an increased number of 1911 pistols at Gunsite, mostly in 9mm. Revolvers are cool again, with entire training schools developed around their use. Largely absent from the LE world, double stack (2011) 1911’s in 9mm are all the rage. Springfield Armory’s Prodigy is very popular, and the Staccato 2011 is taking over much of the LE world.
Increased use of appendix carry has many looking for a solid DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) pistol. Incredibly safe, Wilson Combat’s and Langdon Tactical’s Berettas are also very popular. We are even starting to see more of them at Gunsite.
Sig Sauer’s legacy pistols are experiencing a similar resurgence, and with good reason. These pistols have been proven worldwide. Police, military, and enthusiasts alike used them for decades, and they continue to be excellent at most anything a pistol can be used for.
They may not be fantastic plastic pocket rockets. However, they can be counted on to save yours or someone else’s life, and that is what it should be all about!
