ltwguns.com

A couple of weeks ago, a buddy of mine that works close to the border was in town for a class at the local school.
He brought with him a brand new Gemtech Blackside suppressor:
http://gem-tech.com/BLACKSIDE.html
and a 45 Glock and a Colt stainless Commander.
I shortened and threaded a 6" Stormlake barrel for the Glock and worked over his Commander.







I used a stock Colt 5" barrel as a host for his threaded and extended barrel. The rear sight was honestly carved from a pre-heat treated bar of 4130CM measuring 1" x 1.5" x 12". The 'prominent' sights are necessary for a sight picture over the can.
The 'Rogers Whitedot' front sight is a great aid in acquiring the front sight against the black background of the can.
Dry, the can is loud! Saturated with water, it is quite quiet.







This is a fairly poor attempt at showing the sight picture. I built the sights to barely peek over the can so as to not have them impractically tall.



The unit is light enough that the gun functions quite well with the original 18lb. recoil spring. I believe the lighter commander length slide enhances operation with the can attached.

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

FANTASTIC! Looking good...
This is precisely what I have been searching for for the past few days...
and you answered my question as to whether the 1911 is able to maintain reliable functionality with the GemTech attached.

What a neat project and such excellent work. I must think about trying to do something similar in the future.

Dean
deanrtaylor@hughes.net
410-952-7848

>major jealousy<

I'm with Ned. Our home State doesn't allow suppressors, although there are rumors the AG will change that. Until then, all we can do is look on in lust. Nice base gun, too.

I used a Blackside on a 5" Caspian that I built. The pistol has a threaded Kart barrel. It ran fine with the 16# recoil spring and American Eagle 230 grn ball. My POA/POI didn't change with the can. Did yours?

Ned, a small group of us are working to allow such items here in MI. We are working to get the AG to agree that the form 4 that allows machineguns allows silencers as well.

Drake,
There was a substantial change in elevation. The gun with suppressor shot approximately 3 3/4" lower at 15 yds.
What sights were you using?

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

very cool chuck, do you need a special manufactures license to make those changes??-cam

Looks well thought out. Sure would be fun to try it out.

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NRA Life Member
Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles

Yeah, no kidding! Gotta love the free states in the union.

Great job Chuck, must've been a fun out of the box project. Sights look fabulous, a great way to clear the sighting/can hurdle. That is TRUE talent!

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Stan Chen Customs
http://www.chencustoms.com

mauritz,
No special license is needed to thread a barrel.




Or to golfball a frontstrap.

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

Chuck,
The Caspian has a standard dot tritium XS front sight with a Heine rear. The front sight height was the same as the top edge of the can. I was still able to get a good sight picture by placing the sights over the intended target. I shot from 7-20 yards. I didn't bench the pistol, but I didn't have to adjust my point of aim for body armor drills or steel plates.

Very nice, and I like the Larue kit on the rifle in the background.

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"Oderint Dum Metuant."

Drake,
Our differing experiences are interesting. I expected the can to shoot low, and it did. The can provides both a compensator like reduction of recoil and a weight/leverage reduction in muzzle flip.
I'd be more likely to think of the stock Colt, un-refitted barrel, as the culprit, but the Glock produced similar results.
I shot from an improvised range bag rest Sunday morning. Weather conditions were not ideal. I was not ideal, having spent the previous evening in the bush and waking at dawn to rain.
My groups at 15 yds were considerably better with can, than without.
This may have been due to less 'flinch' on my part.

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

Chuck,
Hilton Yam reported a POI change of several inches lower when he put a Blackside on a 5" Jarvis barrel (drop in fit). I wonder if the tighter fit of the Kart barrel reduced the POI shift on my pistol. I also wonder if I would have noticed a slight change if I benched it. It was certainly plate rack accurate.

Awesome, just awesome! I recently got my first up close look and chance to shoot a friends .22 suppressed, which has now given me the itch to get one for myself. This isn't helping

I like playing with this stuff but I have little need or desire for a 'quiet' major caliber pistol. If plinking without hearing protection is the goal, an integrally suppressed Ruger 22 is the way to go! Cheap shooting, very quiet, accurate etc.
If the opportunity ever presents itself, confiscated Mexican m80's offer cheap, reactive targets for a 22.

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

Haha... I like your way of thinking Chuck! It looks like a mighty fun gun. As always you never cease to amaze me with what rolls out of your shop.

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09/11/01
Never forget, Never forgive