First, as it came out of the box.
Then, after a trip to the range following cosmetic surgery to increase its self esteem.
The target is respectable for 50 yards for a pistol cartridge, but I was aghast at the 14-pound trigger pull of the weapon. I don't have trigger gauges that go that high, I had to use a postage scale to measure the pull.
Then I did a bit more thinking. I've spoiled myself with rifles that can be used as scalpels, with trigger pulls to match. The USC isn't a scalpel, it's a broken beer bottle. I really don't want a super-accurate trigger pull, although I think I can shave off a couple of pounds with NanoLube.
Besides, I think weapons like this are fired by pulling the trigger with the second finger joint, rather than caressing the trigger with the pad of your finger tip.
Another thing I noticed is that gas-operated weapons, even the maligned AR15, are nearly spotlessly clean after firing compared to a straight-blowback USC. After only 50 rounds, everything except the lower receiver was coated with what seemed like soot. It took an hour to clean it.
The other think I've learned is that 200 gr +P .45ACP is a nasty round to shoot, even in a heavy carbine like this. The recoil isn't bad, but the muzzle blast is awful. I think the round even goes supersonic in this longer barrel. It certainly has enough muzzle flash to blind my Eotech sight for a fraction of a second. And to think I fired three rounds through my M1911 before I gave up. I fired a full 25 rounds with the USC, leaving me with 450 rounds to go, and big doubts about what I'll do about it.
Finally, a quick review of a new gadget I discovered. It's by Demon Tactical. It tightens up the sometimes-sloppy union of the AR15 upper and lower receiver by replacing the rear takedown pin with a toggle assembly that you can adjust to get the tension and stability you want. It comes with either a finger lever, or a fitting that uses a fired round for the lever.
I bought one of each, and immediately discovered that using some fired brass just makes things more awkward, and harder to set up. I ordered another Quick Pin for my AR15.
I've always had a loose fit between the upper and lower on the AR57. My best results came with sticking a small rubber washer from some plumbing assortment under the rear lug. With luck, I've had it last a few hundred rounds before it got tired, and things started to loosen again. Things were so loose that accuracy went to hell, along with my composure.
Once the rear takedown pin, along with the detent and spring, are removed, it takes a few minutes to adjust this device. Pushing down on the lever expands the mandrel inside the hole in the receiver lug,and pulls the entire upper receiver to the right. Use a screwdriver on the left end of the "pin" to adjust things. Once it seems right, a bit of blue Loctite will keep things from moving much.
Again, the aim to to adjust things so you can snap the lever open and closed with some effort, and not resort to brute force.
As you tear down your weapon and reassemble it, the setting of pin may change, and you'll have to spend a few minutes readjusting.
For me, this little bit of extra work sure beats the aggravation my sloppy AR57 used to give me. I recommend this to anyone with similar problems. I just hope they make this in slightly different lengths for weapons like the Sig, or AR10.