ltwguns.com

Having returned to the 1911 fold and finding myself in need of a good CCW/backup 1911 style, I started looking at the Detonics. Ken Campbell of SWAT and Boone Co. Sheriff's Dept. graciously allowed me to try his (circa 1984) and I thought it would serve nicely. My question is whether anyone has had the opportunity to look over the new production Combatmaster. If so, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

My other option is tracking down an Officer's Model, or having a steel CCO variant built up.

For production guns, take a look at the Colt Defender (alloy frame) or the Kimber Compact (steel or alloy frame). Dan Wesson used to make a stainless steel CCO as well. There is at least one on Auction Arms. Older Detonics Combat Masters can be had as well, but you will have to hunt them down. I haven't seen any of the new ones yet. The Detonics is shorter in the butt than the others I have mentioned. Some people like the shorter butt for concealment purposes, but they can be hard to hang on to if you have big hands. The others I mentioned take standard Officer's ACP mags. Six round Detonics mags can be had from Metalform. They made the mags for Detonics before, and I believe they are again.

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Wayne Miller

My suggestion in this type of gun would be a LW OACP frame on a steel Commander slide. This size addresses the concealment issues if deep concealment or a backup gun is necessary. JMO.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

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

There were some photos of such a gun that was turned out by the Yo-Bo shop some months ago - it was almost too gorgeous to carry/shoot.

A good lower end starting point can be found in limited production guns such as the Colt Gunsite CCO or Les Baer's aluminum-framed Stinger, also.

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NRA Endowment Member

I tried a Gunsite CCO yesterday. With American Eagle, it was snappy but not unreasonable. With Ranger, I had a few failure to feeds (the round got trapped between between the slide and chamber at around a 45 degree angle). I suppose limp wristing was the culprit, which is rather strange since I don't have that tendency. However, combine a fairly stout recoil (call me a wimp I guess) with minimal weapon mass and even a normally minor and undetectable weakness in one's stance can lead to malfunctions. So, I thought a steel weapon with the increased mass might reduce that likelihood. I'd hate to be clearing malfs in the middle of a "social situation."

As I think about it, though, maybe the mag spring wasn't strong enough to get the round in position given the faster slide velocity. It was a Wilson's Officer's mag so I guess I'm grasping at straws there.

Buzz,
I visited the Detonics booth at SHOT last January and was favorably impressed with the apparent quality of the product. I say this having not been impressed with the quality of the old guns from years ago.

As far as the micro-.45 concept goes, I agree with Steve - The CCO is as small as I personally care to carry. If I need a smaller package, I'll step down in caliber to get a weapon with adequate mass for the intended cartridge.

I personally beleive that strongly sprung magazines in smaller guns is important. I really like Tripp's Super 7 upgrade kit in either a Wilson or CMC tube with a steel base pad.

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

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I agree completely. Part of my interest in Detonics is having grown up reading Mr. Ahern's books. What can I say? I'm one of those who watched action films for the weapons, as much as for the plot (assuming there was a plot).

The titanium CCO 9mm you built would seem to fit the criteria of going down in caliber as mass decreased, so that you'd stay with a comparable ration to larger caliber/steel frame. Given the resurgence in interest in the .38 Super in some quarters, it would seem that a lightweight 9mm CCO with a fitted .38 Super spare barrel would make quite a bit of sense.

I've got one here, it will be going into the next book. For a compact gun it is scary accurate, and hasn't failed in anything I've fed it. The grip is a bit too short for my tastes, but I can get along with it if I need ultra-compact concealment. It hasn't bitten me, so the new Detonics must be doing the right things to keep sharp edges off my tender mitts.

If you need compact, and ready to go out of the box, this deserves a look.

Buzz,
Al here. How are you old friend. I seriously doubt limp wristing is the culprit. I've seen you shoot. I agree with the consensus on size. I have had Detonics Combatmasters from the first two incarnations and was not impressed. Not enough to make one a carry piece and stake my life on it. I have not seen the new ones so no comment there.
I am finding that I need a full grip now. An Officers size or smaller just does not work for me anymore. Thats just me.
Good luck.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Hi Al

I'm slowly coming to that realization. My nephew almost got to hear some choice words when I pinched my little finger trying to do a reload on a compact pistol. The full grip has much to commend it, and I suppose a Lightweight Commander wouldn't me that much harder to conceal. Perhaps I'll take Awerbuck's idea and mate a Glock 26 as backup to the 1911.

Buzz,

Take a look at Bill Laughridge's Adventurer. I wrote about the first one several years ago and had one made from a Colt OM. My experience has been 100% with the little gun. I think it actually has a slightly shorter slide/brl than the Detonics.

For those who have a problem of where to hang your little finger. If you just let it dangle it becomes a distraction. Curl it under the base of the frame and you will forget about not having "enough" grip.

Give Bill a call or take a look @ http://www.cylinder-slide.com

Rob

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We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. George Orwell

I've been using an original Combat Master (circa 1979) as a carry gun and for IDPA. I've found the gun can be reliable, but it requires a lot of attention to the the gun, and how it is shot. I've had to change my grip, as my thumbs were rubbing the slide and causing both failures to feed and eject. Standard 1911 mags, used as reloads, often bump the ejector, and pound it loose, so I've had to fabricate overtravel stops. The Metalform mags work great. Recoil springs and mag springs need constant monitoring, as they seem to be right on the edge of what's required to make the gun run, even when new. Mine's probably too "fiddly" for anything but a backup (and two ounces heavier than a Commander). Truly full-power ammo seems to make the gun jump around too much, causing cycling problems. 230 Hydra-shok (230 @ 850 from 3.5") really makes the gun move, with little to hold onto, and has not functioned consistently. Silvertips are much more docile, and run fine in my gun, and allow faster follow-up shots. I have confidence that it works, and that I can hit with it, but manipulations are difficult due to the short grip, cut-down slide, etc.

Just my thoughts but if you can swing it and you have to have a detonics sized gun. I personally would get a C.T. Brian sidewinder with a bobbed hammer and no beavertail. They are sweet and retain maximum cool points. I have played with the new detonics and I think they are much better than the old ones. I would buy one but I cant find my pink shirt and silver suit and I had to sell the bren ten with my jackass rig(harmless joke)!! I am really looking forward to Patrick's range report on the gun as it might persuade me to dig into the closet for the pink shirt...you get the idea. Also For a production gun kimber has the rcp just my.02.

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"One thought he was invincible the other thought he could fly" well? "They were both wrong"
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I agree that CT Brian's Sidewinder is a nice work up on the detonics size. I'm in line for one - but still have many months to wait before delivery.

I also have a CCO being built (Colt Officer Frame - Caspian Slide) by Ted and the Gang at Yo-Bo.

JeffVN

I have three guns the size of the sidewinder. nothing that compair, but have been reliable and dependable so far. One day I ma get in line for one myself, although there will only be 200 of them and he displayed his 100 of 200.

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Tony T
The only guns I like are those with triggers..

I had the chance to try a new Detonics yesterday. It seemed very well made, and the short grip didn't seem to be any problem. Overall, I liked it quite a bit. Neither recoil (with one exception) nor accuracy was any issue. The only major problem was that I like to get as high a grip as possible, and as a result that long hammer/no beavertail combination bites me with each shot.

The other problem is that with one of the top defensive loads, Ranger, this weapon enhances the need for one's negotiation skills. It kicks enough to make one have the desire to talk down any confrontation just so you don't have to shoot. Ouch.

Now that shouldn't be a problem, should it, Esq.!

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Actually, talking got me out of my last potentially fatal confrontation. Nothing like being cornered in your own parking lot at 3 in the morning by two probably drunk (and illegal) individuals. Some rapid evaluation of the situation and some fast talking got me out of there. All the while, I kept looking at my apartment window behind which lay my Sig 229, way too far away to do any good (no CCW for a broke law school student at that time).

Buzz,
All kidding aside, thats awffull and terrific at the same time. I applaud you sir. That takes skill,cunning and nerve!
Al

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

What it took was a careful evaluation of what they were saying, taking a chance that if I played to they were stereotyping me as they wouldn't want a fight, and a decision that since I couldn't run, I'd spend my life well. Combination of getting smart, scared and pissed all at the same time.

I'd still rather have had a gun to back it all up with.

That being said, any suggestions on curing hammer bite with the Detonics? The company's suggestion was to have the grip plate (i.e. nonfunction grip safety) built up to a beavertail. That's not a bad idea, but I'd prefer trying a hammer modification such as with the High Power so I wouldn't have to change the length of the weapon or make a perm. change. The added expense and time away of a custom job versus a simple, local hammer mod also plays into this.

I wonder if a Para 10 beavertail could be made to fit and pinned in place.

The Combat Master frame is cut down at the tangs to a greater extent than even a frame cut for a beavertail. The 'tail could probably be narrowed or the frame welded-up, if a beavertail was absolutely necessary. I think even a short, M1911-style grip safety would be enough to prevent hammer bite, without having to lengthen the frame any more than necessary.