1911 Colt Auto Pistol

Bob Dunlap understands the design, function, and repair of John Browning’s masterpiece, the Colt Government Model of 1911, as well or better than anyone else alive today. If you want the “quick” course on how to get your gun apart, back together, and operating as Old John intended, then this course is for you (if you want the “long course”, look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith course).

Among the items covered are:

History

• The history of the gun’s design and acceptance by the US military, and the reasons why the .45 caliber was selected.
• The evolution from the Model 1911 to the 1911 A1 and their differences.
• Modern variations of the gun, including the basic Government Model, Commander, Officers’ Model, ParaOrdinance wide body, and the ParaOrdinance Compact are shown, and Bob tells you who is his favorite of the current builders.

Design & Function

• A clear explanation of the short recoil, tipping barrel locking system, and a visual demonstration, using a “cut-away” gun, of the unlock/lock mechanism in the firing cycle.
• An explanation and visual demonstration of the operation of the disconnector and its interaction with the sear and trigger to enable the firing cycle and prevent the gun from firing full auto.
• A demonstration of the operation of the inertial firing pin and explanation of the term “inertial”.
• An explanation of how the slide is stopped in its rearward motion by the contact of the rear portion of the spring tunnel with the spring guide rod and its contact with the frame. Relationships are shown and demonstrated.
• A detailed explanation and visual demonstration of the complete firing cycle of the fire control mechanism.
• His explanation and demonstration of the function and operation of the grip and thumb safeties.
• Lock-up is demonstrated, the minimum is discussed and how to achieve it.
• Frame feeding ramp to barrel ramp “jump” is shown and the rule for determining the proper amount is discussed. Proper shapes and polishing methods for both are hi-lighted.
• Why and how the top edge of the firing pin hole is chamfered.

Disassembly & Reassembly

• The complete disassembly of gun including the differences between the Series 80 and previous versions.
• Demonstration and explanation of the AGI non-solvent, non-toxic, cleaning method, and proper lubrication.
• Proper reassembly technique and order is demonstrated, as well as function tests for proper operation of the safeties.

Potential Trouble Areas

• Why you should remove the thumb safety prior to removing the mainspring housing and sear spring
• Common problems and how to repair them, i.e., grip screw bushing(s) backing out of frame with grip screw, loose plunger tube, loose breech (what is it and how much is acceptable) and why it is bad, follower bind in the magazine, trigger bind in the frame or on the magazine, extractor “spring out”, how much you need and how to get it, proper shaping of the extractor’s rim slot and hook, how to properly tighten a loose rear sight, what constitutes proper engagement of the magazine catch and how to get it, proper fit of the firing pin and why you should never use a 9mm, .38 Super, .40 S&W, or 10mm firing pin in a .45 ACP slide.

Bob’s “Do’s & Don’t’s”

• Last but not least, Bob tells you what accessories he likes and why, and what accessories to avoid for reliability, cost, or tactical reasons. Does an extended ”combat” slide stop make sense? How about a ramped barrel? Take a look and see what Bob has to say on the subjects.

If you noticed how often the terms “explanation”, and “visual demonstration” are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is a “must have” for any 1911 owner, or someone who intends to be.

Bob Dunlap teaches this course on Mikhail Kalashnikov’s masterpiece, the AK-47 Assault Rifle. This is the most successful, prolific and best personal infantry weapon in the world today. A cut-away gun is used so that you can actually see the operation and relationship of the internal parts.
If you want the “quick” course on how to get the ‘World’s Most Popular Assault Rifle’ apart, back together, and operating as intended, then this course is for you (if you want the “long course”, look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith course).

History

• Several variations shown and their advantages/disadvantages discussed
• The gun’s descent from the Simonov (SKS) mentioned
• Evolution from machined steel receivers to stamped sheet metal explained
• Pedigree of the 7.62x39 and its evolution from the German developed 8mm Kurtz assault rifle cartridge 
• Discussion of Mikhail Kalashnikov’s invention of the gun
• Why the gun is so successful

Design & Function

• Explanation and demonstration of the gas system, and why it is designed to be sloppy, and why that makes it so successful
• Explanation and demonstration of the bolt’s operation, in its carrier, and in the barrel extension (trunion)
• Why the bolt can be either good steel, or even mild steel, case hardened
• The flattened tip of the firing pin, its possible consequences and cure
• Why the extractor is so massive
• The feeding cycle discussion begins, the loonnnggg jump from magazine to chamber, how and why it works
• The system is successful because the gun and cartridge were designed for each other, and to function reliably even though the manufacturing standards may be very low
• What keeps the gun from firing in the unlocked position in a system without an unlocked breech disconnector
• Explanation and demonstration of the operation of the primary and secondary sears and the hammer cycle
• How the operation of the primary/secondary sear system functions as a trigger disconnector. Positive engagement of surfaces shown, demonstrated, and defined
• Extremely simple operation of the safety shown
• Stone simple and “soldier proof” magazine catch detailed
• Same for the ejector, and its advantage over the AR system

Disassembly

• Extensive disassembly, parts not removed have removal described, including barrel, gas block, and front and rear sights
• A simple tool to get that impossible spring to release the trigger pin
• How to correct cartridge “stubbing” on feeding if it should occur
• How to make an effective and safe two-stage trigger
• How to correct it if you go too far
• How to correct those rare extractor problems

Cleaning & Lubrication

• AGI cleaning & lubrication methods shown, along with the reasons for their use

Reassembly

• Making sure you have no parts “Left over”

Accessories

• What’s available
• How to load the drum magazine
• What to avoid

If you noticed how often the terms “explanation”, and “visual demonstration” are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is a “must have” for any AK owner, or someone who intends to be.

• AR-15 Rifles

Bob Dunlap completely understands the design, function, and repair of Eugene Stoner’s masterpiece, the AR-15 rifle. This extremely successful design, whether you love it or hate it, has been the U.S. military’s first line battle rifle longer than any other in our history, over 40 years as of this writing. It is the second most prevalent rifle design in the world today, behind only the AK-47 and its derivatives. If you want the “quick” course on how to get this rifle apart, back together, and operating as intended, then this course is for you (if you want the “long course”, look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith course).

History

• Discussion of the gun’s designer and the company he worked for at its origination, and its 1930’s era Jungmann gas operation system
• The AR-18 /180 as an improvement on the AR-15 and a short history
• Gene Stoner’s activities post ArmaLite
• ArmaLite’s activities after the sale of the design to Colt
• Discussion of changes in the gun, post A1, including the A2 and HBAR’s

Design & Function

• Explanation and demonstration of the parts and operation of the direct impingement gas system
• Where the gas comes from, where it goes, and what it causes the bolt carrier and bolt to do, and why
• Explanation and demonstration of the operation of the primary and secondary sears (disconnect) and the hammer cycle
• Explanation of the buffer assembly, what it does and how it does it. Why the various sizes, weights and constructions are important in full auto fire, but of little importance in semi-auto mode
• Operation and purpose of the ejection port cover and the bolt stop are demonstrated
• Bob shows the forward assist and how it works, and gives his considered opinion on how its purpose should  have been accomplished

Disassembly

• Extensive disassembly shown and explained, including front sight and gas tube. Parts not removed have removal described, including barrel
• Special tools needed are shown and their function explained
• Why you need to shoot full power loads if you shoot lead bullets or have a .22LR conversion
• What to look for around the gas port, and how to correct misalignment of the ports in barrel and front sight
• As usual, Bob tells you which parts, springs, and plungers are likely to launch themselves into “NeverToBeSeenAgainLand”, and how to avoid that happening
• Common problem areas to watch out for, what parts give trouble, and which do not

Cleaning & Lubrication

• AGI cleaning & lubrication methods shown, along with the reasons for their use

Reassembly

• Making sure you have no parts “Left over”, and help for the problem of “Those springs all look alike!!! Where do they go?”
• Extractor requirements explained and solutions to extraction problems shown
• Firing pin specs given, both Bob’s preferences and the military’s. Why they are different, and both are correct for their intended uses
• Making sure the gas system gets in line

Tuning Tips

• What you need to know about the ejector
• Ditto with the extractor, and corrections
• Barrel is removed and put back on in the process of showing how to modify the frame and barrel extension to correct “Low Feeding”
• How the rounds need to sit in the magazine to feed properly, and what to do to the magazine if they do not

Accessories

• What to use
• What to avoid and why
• .22LR conversion unit
• Spare parts to keep on hand

Tuning Tips – Redux

• Why the gun fires on trigger release, and what to do to correct it if it does. Also known as “Stayin’ Out of Jail”!
• Why gas port diameter is more critical in carbines (“shortys”) than in rifles, and how to correct the short cycling that may occur with certain loads in a carbine
• A cause of short cycling commonly expressed in the Blogosphere and in magazine articles that, in Bob’s experience, is not a problem
• Correcting bolt/receiver/bore misalignments

Shooting the AR

• AR-15 Semi-Auto
• CAR-15 Semi-Auto
• CAR-15 Full Auto
• CAR-15 .22LR conversion Full Auto

If you noticed how often the terms “explanation”, and “visual demonstration” are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is a “must have” for any AR series auto-loading rifle owner, or someone who intends to be.