ltwguns.com

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The gun shown below is something I’ve had in the works for a little over two years or so now. Every time it came along on Dave’s list, I asked him to put another in its place for some reason. Don’t ask me why, but I just didn’t think it was that critical to get it done if I wouldn’t have the time to really shoot it like it would deserve. I had actually planned on getting Dave to build another .45 I have the parts for if he would have asked, but this time he started working on it before I got the chance to make another excuse. I’m glad I didn’t have that opportunity, as this gun is far and away the most insane thing I have in my collection. I got it with the intentions of getting into IPSC, and I chose 10mm since I already have a bazillion brass for it and am not too worried about losing some here and there. I know most people shoot a .40 loaded long since used brass is cheaper and easier to find, but since I like Federal and Starline brass that only I have used or loaded in, a $7 - $15 difference for every 1000 is minimal. Plus, I wanted to be able to use this gun for pin shooting should the opportunity present itself, and loading a .40 to do the job of a hot 10mm just didn’t make me feel too comfy inside. It is set up to shoot the moderate Federal American Eagle 180gr FMJ load or a hand loaded equivalent, and with a simple change in recoil springs, it can very easily handle the most powerful of 10mm loads with no difficulty. Every part was chosen for both quality and weight. While most people like a light gun, I prefer a heavy one, and the weight makes shooting my nuclear 10mm loads a breeze. I chose the Para frame over an STI to ensure it was as balanced as possible, and added a steel S&A magazine well to add heft and prevent the destruction of an aluminum well with magazine changes. I’m a beginner when it comes to a speedy reload, and I didn’t want to have my magazines chewing up the well when I practiced in case of an off-center insertion.

For any of you who have not had the opportunity to handle or shoot a gun that Dave Sams has built, you are really missing out. He does outstanding work on most every type of firearm made, and although he is better known for super accurate match guns, his carry and race guns are simply amazing.

Here are the parts used:
- Para Ordnance Gunsmith Frame
- Caspian Slabsided Slide W/Front Serrations, sharp edges beveled
- Bar-Sto Bull Barrel, Recrowned and Flush Cut
- S&A Stainless Steel Magazine Well
- STI Titanium/Composite Trigger
- Cylinder & Slide Hammer, Sear, and Disconnector
- Cominolli Tungsten Guide Rod
- Bo-Mar BMCS Rear Sight
- Novak Front Sight w/Protected Fiber Optic Insert
- McCormick Beavertail GS
- STI Firing Pin
- AFTEC Extractor
- Nowlin Pin Set
- Wolff Springs


I cannot begin to tell you how fun this gun is to shoot. It really makes shooting the 10mm fast and accurate extremely easy. Recoil is soft, function is butter smooth, and it is as tough a gun as they come.

Thanks for looking, and GOD Bless.

~Jim Keeney




The View From The Rear


Big & Heavy... Just Like I Wanted It


A Bar-Sto Fit To Perfection


Gotta Get Some Grip Tape On This Baby


From The Muzzle - Just Plain Big All Over


Dave's Custom Front Sight w/Protected Fiber Optic Insert... So Easy To See


Wonderfully Blended & Pinned McCormick Beavertail


Hard To Miss & Tough Magwell (Too bad the factory checkering is dull)


Dave Sams' Logo

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Jim

What a killer 10 MM. I have been trying to talk myself into one of David"s Match Berreta 9MM. With all the work you have David do I now know why his build time is a year. Long story short I found one of Davids Match Berreta. I was really supprised someone actually wanted to sell one. They usually sell in the first hour or so. I took the plunge and it should arrive tomorrow. I can't wait.

TJ

Jim-

That's another great one! I was at Dave's shop today (not snowing, for a change), took a friend with me and we had a great time. Got to shoot the 9mm AR he's about finished. What a fun shooter that is! We did some preliminary discussions on a Caspian .38 Super, or maybe a HP. We'll see how all this plays out.

TJ-

You will love the Beretta. I've had the opportunity to examine them (Dave loves to tear 'em doen and show off all the innards and the work put into it) and I had planned on shooting one today, but time ran short and I had to head home. Let everybody know what you think of it when you get it. And post pictures of targets if you can (Jim will help) People will be amazed!

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

Witherspoon

I have heard nothing but great things about the Beretta. It has really taken off with the Bullseye shooters. I understand he's got them shooting .75 inch groups at 50 yards. The guy I purchased the gun from said he starting having seconds thoughts as soon as he put the box on the table at UPS. I'm not smart enough post pictures but Jim has helped me once before maybe I can get him to help me again.

TJ

Hey Jim - It looks like another nice blaster from Dave. You must have your name on his waiting list every month or two!

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

Dave,

Actually, I am on his list one more time within the next three months, but after that I am not slated for anything else for another year. After Dave built my first pair of longslide 1911s and got me hooked, I put my name on a bunch of tickets and got in line with no particular builds in mind. I had a pile (large pile) of parts that I accrued while I was still active duty in the army and had a decent paycheck with no expenses. Before I met Dave I had about 35 factory guns that I'd collected since I started shooting as a kid through when I was in the army... some really nice, some just plain Jane shooters. I have since traded/sold all but four (five if you include the Python I now have for sale) of them to pay for custom guns and the labor involved. Of all those guns, I only miss four or five. People have asked, "Jim, how do you afford them as a college student?" It's simple to me. I just traded a lot of average guns that anyone could own for a few really nice ones that are one-of-a-kind, just the way I wanted them. I enjoy them, I shoot them, and they're not keeping me from paying the bills. Dave always jokes with me about it by saying, "Hey, at least it's not drugs or alcohol." I think he has a point. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of a good hobby, and betweem weights and guns I keep myself pretty occupied on my free time. Keeps me out of trouble a free of borebom.

I would LOVE to see some pics of your MEU guns, Dave. I really like the idea, and I have grown fond of GI looking guns lately. A parkerized finish and some good handling wear makes for strong character.

TJ,

Once you shoot Dave's Beretta, you will be hooked. I shoot skeets with mine at 50yds with ease. If you need any load data or tips with maintenance, either call Dave or drop me a PM. Whatever you do, DO NOT take that thing to any other gunsmith for tuning. I (and Witherspoon) have seen what happens to those guns when someone decides to "make a simple mod." IMHO, there is not a tighter fit, more precisely tuned pistol anywhere, at any price. With proper care and good ammo, that gun will shoot on par with a good many factory rifles out to 50yds.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Will you be joining a 12-step program?
I'll have MEU(SOC) replica pics soon.

_________________
Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

Jim

I got the gun today. I'm really impressed with Dave's work but I knew I would be. Everyone raves about this gun that's why I was so supprised someone actually wanted to sell one. I have been looking for one for 3 years. I even bought a 92 F with the intent to send it to David or Tony Kidd. I just never got around to it. The gun I got has 2 tuned mags and one 16 rounder. It has the box, and all of David's paperwork. Have you ever tried the recommended Ammo out of Alanta and how much does it cost? What ammo do you shoot?
Thanks TJ

TJ,

The Atlanta Arms & Ammo load is no longer available, as Hornady changed the make of their 115gr FMJ bullet in the middle of AA&A producing a one million round order the AMU had placed right after the Beretta was finished and adopted. The newer Hornady doesn't shoot as well (at least from the countless barrels Dave and 25 or so I've tested), and each barrel will have its own preference. Barrels and guns are like people. They have their own character and likes/dislikes. I have shot many guns built side by side with identical parts that preferred different loads for maximum accuracy. One load that I know works very well in almost every Beretta I've shot, be it barreled with a Bar-Sto or KKM, is a 115gr Hornady XTP-HP over 6.1gr Power Pistol and a Remington 5 1/2 primer and Starline case. IIRC, the OAL is 1.060", but I may be wrong, as I haven't loaded any in a while. Give Dave a call and tell him what you have and he'll help you out. I know he has a load using the XTP and Vit N330 that shoots dots at 50yds, but I don't know that one off the top of my head. The ball load uses N330 as well, and he has that data. I'm sorry I can't help much more, but I'm 3 hrs from his shop. FWIW, the last few Berettas he's built have shot under one inch at 50yds with his new match load, and three I know were sub 0.75" for 5 shot groups. I have had a few e-mails in response to some older posts I did on other forums in regards to the accuracy of his guns. Some were downright hateful and others just plain stupid or ignorant. I cannot stress this enough: Dave Sams' Berettas are the most accurate centerfire semi-automatic pistols I or many other world class shooters have ever shot. They have won numerous U.S. and International titles, interservice matches, and any other matches you or I can think of. No, I do not like them more than a 1911, because the 1911 fits my hand better, but I can say without a doubt that the only way this gun could be better would be if the military adopted a Hi-Power and Dave built those instead. The triggers are amazing, the fit is second to none, and they run as relaibly as anything I know with full-power ammo.

Give Dave a call, maybe even send it in for a check-up, and shoot the snot out of it.

GOD Bless.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

JIm,
Nice gun, nice pics, and it was great finally talking to you the other night.
Steve

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Jim

Thanks for the info. I think I must have one of his older guns because his paperwork Shows his shop in Phenix City AL. The load data 115 GR hornady FMJ-RN over 6.0 Gr Alliant power Pistol
Rem #5 1/2 SP Primers with O.A.L. 1.120 no-crimp.
Can you post some photos of your Beretta?

Thanks
TJ

Gentlemen (especially 10mm fans),

Being the 10mm fan that I am, and having shot/loaded/tested the 10 for a pretty long time (relative to my age), this gun appeals to me more and more with every shot fired. I spent the past few days shooting the heck out of this gun and found a few things that I thought may be of interest to you. When Dave first built this gun we were both pretty excited about it as a platform for the 10mm but somewhat concerned about how light he could go on the trigger because of the mass of the slide and recoil spring weight slamming forward, which could batter the hammer/sear engagement over time and eventually cause hammer follow. Since it was designed as a “go fast” gun, a good, relatively light, crisp trigger is essential. Dave set the trigger dead at 3lbs with plenty of engagement surface as a safe weight/setup for testing the gun for a while. He used a 20lb recoil spring from the start and shot 180gr American Eagle FMJs as the test ammo. With that setup, ejection was about non-existent. Spent brass fell right where he stood and the slide came back just far enough to cycle the next round. The AE ammo is far from a stout round, so I decided to stick with the 20lb spring for testing it with other ammo. I have a good supply of factory ammo and handloads, so I got to test a variety of ammo ranging from 180gr Hydra Shoks, to the original 170gr Norma load, to the 135gr Nosler JHP over 17.0gr AA#9, to my favorite “nuclear” hunting load, using a 180gr XTP over a healthy dose of AA#9. Even with the heaviest loads, a 20lb spring was way too much. My hunting load, which FLIES out of a 5” gun using a 24lb spring, went about 2 feet out of the Para/Caspian gun. The “normal” loads just cycled the action, but came nowhere near locking the slide to the rear. I switched to an 18.5 lb spring and put in a CP Buff for good measure. The gun functioned, but still would not lock the slide to the rear, even with the full-tilt hunting loads. I got a little worried for a second, as I thought the spring might be stacking and not allowing the slide to travel back fully, but Dave checked it out and it was fine, even with the buff in place. A 180gr XTP, consistently chronographed at over 1260fps from this gun, was not even causing the slide to make contact with the buff. The weight of the slide and weight of the barrel alone are eating up the recoil of even the hottest loads. I haven’t yet weighed the slide, but to me it looks like the only additional weight over a conventional slide is the lack of cuts on the front. However much it is, it is working, and working very well. Since the guide rod does not move, it can’t be the tungsten doing any work, and the bull barrel can only do so much by itself. I’m using a 17lb mainspring and a standard cut firing pin stop, so no extra 10mm friendly gadgetry is helping. From what I can tell, this barrel/slide setup is the key to taming the 10mm. I’m certain that finding a good load that makes major and runs well in this gun will let me go down as far as a 15lb recoil spring with no problem… maybe lighter even.

Dave has the gun back now and is making some mods that I should’ve had him do before. He’s checkering the frontstrap (middle 2/3 only), recutting the dull checkering on the MSH, deactivating the slide stop, installing a scope mount plate on the dust cover (similar to his Beretta setup), and taking the trigger down as light as is safe. I’ll post again when the work is done, hopefully with better pictures using Steve’s photography advice.

Thanks for looking.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Ok Jim where the update photos?? Im stating to plan for my longslide, I bought one of the last EB six inch o/s 10mm barrel, and my smith is going to talk to caspian to see if they can do a special flush frame and slide. Im also looking to add weight like you did to control nuke loads.

Wish me luck

1911Snob,

Man, I had forgotten to post the updated pics. I need to take some really quick and show what was changed. Nothing major, but it'll work. I'll get them up ASAP.

As for a 6" longslide with this slide configuration, a bull barrel may drop you down to 16# and under recoil springs. You most definitely do not need a squared FP stop or heavy mainspring to eat any recoil. My gun uses either a 17 or 19# mainspring... can't remember. Just a thought on your gun setup. IIRC, STI makes a guide rod plug that allows you to use standard 5" recoil springs in a 6" gun. I have one in each of my longslides, and it makes fitting springs extremely convenient. 6" springs generally have to be cut to fit, which isn't hard, but does make it a pain to change springs for different loads. Just a thought. Even if you can't find one, any good machinist should be able to make you a nice one.

Pics to follow soon.

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

All Things Heavy - The Story of My Life


The Finished Product


Scop Mount Pad Installed - Also serves as a "gas pedal" mount when the Ultra-Dot is not on


Recut MSH checkering, pinned beavertail GS, and perfectly blended slide rear


I only wish it would've come this way from S&A


The big stainless magwell is hard to miss, and standard base pads ride flush


Dave noticed that in the initial blending of the front sight and beavertail, he had missed the rough machine/sanding marks, so he took them out and made it right... for free. That's the same kind of service you can expect from any gunsmith of integrity and character.

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

I saw this gun last week. These pictures do not do it justice. It is absolutley beautifull! My hats off to Dave and its lucky owner Jim.
And speaking of which, when are we getting to shoot it?
Al

Al,

I got your letter in the mail on Friday. I should have it back to you next week. As far as shooting it, we can do that whenever I get down to RVA for good. I'll be bringing a few cases of ammo with me since I need to start really practicing hard with it so I can start shooting competitively. Chip & I have been trying to work out a good range session for some time now, but my school schedule didn't allow it. Now that we'll all be in relatively the same area it should be pretty easy. Thanks for the kind words on the gun. Believe me when I say it'll hold its own on the range, too.

GOD Bless

~Jim Keeney

_________________
"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Jim, here is the website for Cavalier for your perousal.
http://www.cavrpc.org/