Review of my four 10's (S&W 1006, EAA Match, EAA Hunter, Dan Wesson Razorback)

[Patriot]

Camping is what did in the wonder finish on my Witness too Grim Reaper.

I was at a scout camp, and of course brought my "Bear Repellant" along.  Normally, at home, the gun rode in the holster about 15 hours a day, then lived in the safe from bedtime until I was up, showered and ready to walk out the door the next day.  I didn't realize it at the time, but this 8-9 hours a day of breathing time was badly needed.

At the camp, the gun never left the holster, for four days.  I would take it off my belt at night, but since I didn't have a gun vault there it would go in the corner of the tent by my head still in the holster.  And it was hot so I was sweating buckets.

I get home and start stripping down for a shower.  When the gun came out of the holster, it had rusted through the wonder finish on the side that was against my body.  There was even some surface pitting.

Like Reaper, my first step was to buff the rust out.  I didn't polish the hole gun, just the areas that had rusted.  But that left some interesting wear marks on the gun, plus the pits.  About a year later I had the Para up and running, so I gave the witness a sandblasting, park, and cerakote.

Looks like new now:

That looks great. Perhaps you could elaborate on the steps you took to achieve that look. I have had some issues with wonderfinish guns rusting and pitting, especially after outside use on rugged trips and it looks like you found a nice way to clean them up and give them a second life. I have a wonderfinish frame sitting in the safe and a blued slide not getting any use. A little work and I could have one put together like yours. My blued slides have never rusted. Cant say the same for wonderfinish. I found myself coating the wonderfinish in gun oil, but then realized that the deer could probably smell me a mile away. 

[Intercooler]

I didn't know how the numbers would pan out until the end. All of them are so close none are worth discounting. I think I will add a full length guide rod to the RZ and maybe work the feed a little more. Might make it even better!

[REDLINE]

IMO the RZ-10 is just such a fine looking firearm.

[Intercooler]

 The guide rod could add weight in the right area. I'm trying to get Spalted Maple grips for it and I will take another picture. It will be drool then!

[REDLINE]

Trying the full length guide rod sounds like a really good idea!

[Intercooler]

I need some help though. Is this the correct type or just makes it easier for take-down? Any certain style better?

http://www.egwguns.com/stainless-steel-guide-rods/1911-stainless-steel-5-guide-rods/

[REDLINE]

A lot of the 1911 talk is over my head.   Hopefully one of the 1911 gurus can throw out some insight for ya.  Plus then I'll probably learn something too.

[4949shooter]

IC, can you do a recap on the barrel lengths for future reference?

Every time you chronograph a load I have to look up barrel lengths for the different guns you use. 

[Intercooler]

EAA Match 4.75"
S&W 1006 5"
Dan Wesson Razorback 5"
EAA Hunter 6"

[4949shooter]

Thanks..

[gandog56]

While I don't shoot 220 grain cast in my Razorback, I do run lighter cast loads. I suggest getting a Lee Factory Crimp Die. It not only puts on a nice crimp, It runs the loaded round through a carbide sizer ring in case seating the bullet in may have caused a slight bulge at the neck end. Using the FCD, my Razorback has eaten any load I ever reloaded with ease.

[sqlbullet]

Camping is what did in the wonder finish on my Witness too Grim Reaper.

I was at a scout camp, and of course brought my "Bear Repellant" along.  Normally, at home, the gun rode in the holster about 15 hours a day, then lived in the safe from bedtime until I was up, showered and ready to walk out the door the next day.  I didn't realize it at the time, but this 8-9 hours a day of breathing time was badly needed.

At the camp, the gun never left the holster, for four days.  I would take it off my belt at night, but since I didn't have a gun vault there it would go in the corner of the tent by my head still in the holster.  And it was hot so I was sweating buckets.

I get home and start stripping down for a shower.  When the gun came out of the holster, it had rusted through the wonder finish on the side that was against my body.  There was even some surface pitting.

Like Reaper, my first step was to buff the rust out.  I didn't polish the hole gun, just the areas that had rusted.  But that left some interesting wear marks on the gun, plus the pits.  About a year later I had the Para up and running, so I gave the witness a sandblasting, park, and cerakote.

Looks like new now:

That looks great. Perhaps you could elaborate on the steps you took to achieve that look. I have had some issues with wonderfinish guns rusting and pitting, especially after outside use on rugged trips and it looks like you found a nice way to clean them up and give them a second life. I have a wonderfinish frame sitting in the safe and a blued slide not getting any use. A little work and I could have one put together like yours. My blued slides have never rusted. Cant say the same for wonderfinish. I found myself coating the wonderfinish in gun oil, but then realized that the deer could probably smell me a mile away. 

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/parkerizing-advice/

I detailed the whole thing in this thread.

If you have a compressor, you are probably looking at about $100 of supplies as I recall.

[DenStinett]

Nice little report IC

I just pulled it into place and had my Wife start the last screw as I held it. It was a PITA but the grip with it on is second to none!

I used a Hair Dryer to warm mine up
Are the Backing Plates still too thick and need sanding to free-up the inside of Mag Well ?
And then, once I did all that work, the Grip was too fat for my hand, so I sold the Grip
Live and learn

[Intercooler]

I sanded the inside pads on mine because the mag was sticky going in.

[Retired Squid]

I have owned 10mm in S&W 1006 & 1086, EAA Wonder with adjustable rear sight, 2 Colt DE's, and DW BTRZ10 below. From 25 yards out to 100 yards the RZ is crazy accurate and most accurate of the bunch, with EEA a close second but never shot beyond 50 yards. As for 1006 & 1086 I discovered something I had not known and that is I can't shoot a 3rd gen S&W, be it 9mm, 40, or 10mm, a couple LEO friends and I decided it was just the grip shape and angle because no matter which of the 3 calibers (their duty guns or my guns) I was lucky to hit the 4'x8' back board the targets were on. The Colt DE's are/were (sold blued one) only shot self-defense style with 21' max range and 10 second or less per mag or 5 seconds per two rounds on multi targets, but it has to be on 6" paper plate is all, but usually only about 4" groups. A friend has shot my DW BTRZ out to 100 yards after shooting about 1" or so group (all hole were touching in tight circle group) at 25 yards and the 12" steel plate he hit every shot, out shooting another friend shooting with IIRC a 686 S&W 6.5" revolver.

The reason I don't own a Witness, Match or Hunter now is the poor service and warranty by EAA and as long as EAA importing the Tanfoglio's I'll not buy another. My problem was blemish on slide and 15 round magazines that would not hold more the 11 to 12 rounds, EAA refused to take care of either problem.

Here is BTRZ001 custom gun by Keith at DW that was my Christmas '11 present to me. It has a twin I ordered last summer a BTRZ002 only in 38 Super that was on his bench when they had the fire, that was going to be my '12 Christmas present and now my Birthday (68) this month. I'm getting a little jittery waiting to get the call from him for $$$ and FFL I bet that they will need again.

 
  Grip's by Ryan Payne aka Sarge.