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This edition of Saturday Night Gun Pron looks at the successful near-completion of Little Panther's makeover. The carbon fiber handguard works much better than the aluminum one, but I'll never do another tubular free float tube again. That tale of trouble and woe is worth about a dozen editions of this dispatch.

It groups well, and is vey comfortable to fire. The PWS flash hider cuts both visible flash and perceived recoil and muzzle rise. The trigger pull is decent, but after two attempts to tune it, it's a lot better than when it started, but something this accurate deserves a target trigger.

That's 19 rounds inside the 10 ring, and one "flier" in the 9. This trigger did not "tune up" as nicely as the stock trigger on the M4Economy, but the inherent accuracy indicates this will be a valuable addition.

The PWS muzzle brake and the carbon fiber handguard add to the user friendliness. I just can't let LP get too friendly, because the ammo costs even more than 5.56mm.

And, I continue to learn more about the S&W BG38. OB, before I forget, that "hump" behind the topstrap is the ambidextrous cylinder release. The hammer itself is completely enclosed, a nice feature for a pocket revolver.

A small plastic pin above the front of the trigger guard is pushed out, allowing the plastic trigger guard to be pulled downward, like a Walther PPK, and then the cylinder and crane is removed. So far, a real no-brainer. Except the ejector parts are just "stacked" together, and I wound of with the cylinder in my hand, and the other parts on the floor. There is one tiny spring, and one tiny washer that have to be replaced properly.

Remember, this revolver is officially characterized as "no disassembly except by factory-trained technicians", so forget whatever you read here.

It looks like the only thing standing between me and utter disassembly are four hex-head cap screws. Once I work up enough nerve to take it apart completely, I'll take the bare frame in to MagnaPort to see if they can EDM machine a muzzle brake through the aluminum frame and stainless steel barrel. Since the entire assembly is dunked into a tank, I assume most of the internal parts have to be removed first.

Next episode: pocket holsters for the Kimber Solo and H&K P7. If nobody makes them, modify some other holster. Leatherworking skills can be handy.

Hey Mister Mag! Very nice. Nice shooting, there.

Speaking of holsters, I believe you also have one of the American Tomahawk Company CQT tomahawks? If so, you know too that the included scabbard leaves a lot to be desired. Unserviceable, even. Well, I ran across these guys: http://www.jreindustries.com/customsheaths.htm

I’m trying to contact them, and see if they can make a custom scabbard for the CQT. Otherwise, I may have to resort to learning some of that boy scout leathercraft again. :-)

BTW: Something for the just-because-I-can file: I have lately taken the plunge into suppressors. They’re legal in my state now. I still have to wait about four months for my BATFE approval to come through, but I’ve paid my tax and done the paperwork. Don’t get me started on what a waste of time that is...

I’m getting two for now. One that will be for .22LR and one for .45. I got a new MarkIII with a 4” threaded barrel, and I’m shopping for threaded barrels for my Kimber and my Sig .45’s.

Neat thing is... the one for .45 will also work quite well for 9mm. I recently picked up a used S&W Model 39-2 from a friend, and I’m looking for a threaded barrel for that one, too. It’s a configuration once called a “hush puppy”. The one for .22 will also “work” on a .223 and will quiet it down a lot, but of course not as much as a larger “can”.

They did let me shoot one identical to what I bought, on my new Ruger MkIII in their range. OH... my... it was much, much more effective than I expected. This was ~indoors~, with ear protection ~off~ and the loudest thing was the “splank!” of the round against the backstop. The next loudest thing was the clack-clack of the action working back and forth. I think that outdoors it would be quieter than an air rifle. It made about as much noise as my old daisy BB gun.

This was with .22LR Subsonic ammo. I did have a couple of misfeeds with the subsonic, because it barely has enough kick to operate the action on the MkIII. The guy at the shop range that let me use his supressor said that in his experience it didn’t matter whether you used regular .22LR ammo or subsonic ammo, because even the regular stuff was slowed enough to be subsonic once it got out of the suppressor.

So there’s that. Big big fun. :-)

Now, the waiting...