45 Talk

One of the Classic Charles Bronson movies.

This third chapter in the Death Wish series introduces us the Bronson’s friend Wildey.

The Wildey talked about in the Move was chambered for the powerfun 475 Wildey Magnum. For those of us that do not have unlimited ammunition budgets the Wildey pistol is offered in somewhat more reasonably available and affordable 45 Winchester Magnum cartridge

The Wildey was one of the first, if not the first gas operated semi-auto pistols to come to market. It was designed in 1980. The design has an adjustable gas system which allows the firearm to be tailored to operate on a very wide range of ammunition power.

Pistols were available with barrel lengths as short as 5″ and as long as 12″ and shipped with rosewood grips

Back in 2000, Colt had Wildey produce a run of the pistols bearing the Colt name. Unfortunately the co-venture never went forward past that point

I have had the pleasure to shoot several Wildeys. Most were chambered for the 45 Winchester Magnum, but I have shot the 475 Wildey. Thanks to this pistols large size and the gas operating system I found the firearm to be quite manageable

The pistol used in Death Wish III was a longer barreled version. It is much like this 10″ Wildey that is pictured below

I realize that most of the xGrip lineup of products is for firearms that are not 45s.

However I have had some recent interaction with the company that deserves a mention.

In this Internet age, we are always fast to complain, yell, and boycott companies when a company turns out a lemon. We need to be just as aggressive when a company goes above and beyond to take care of us.

So here is my tale of these products that came out to fill the gap between the bottom of the firearm and the base of a larger than normal length magazine.

They did this task VERY well. Continuing the contours, shapes and often texture of the firearm they were being interfaced to even though this meant a custom product for each application.

The oldest xGrips that I posses are for the the Heckler and Koch P2000sk pistol. I have no idea when I acquired them but I have had the pistol for 11 years now.

Two weeks ago I pulled this firearm from the safe for a show and tell session that I was getting ready to do.

As I inserted one of the full size, xGrip equipped magazines, the xGrip itself broke into two pieces. Upon examine all of the xGrip equipped magazines that were stored next to this firearm, I found that they were all brittle.

I had a second P2000sk stored in a different location with a few xGrip equipped magazines, they were in the same condition.

I immediately took this up with the manufacturer that admitted there had been a bad batch of material on occasion in the past and the products would be replaced. In about a week, 6 replacements arrived and are back with their firearms.

So Kudos to xGrip for standing behind their product so well.

They are on my list to purchase as I add other small auto loaders to the family

When thinking about incorporating our love for firearms, especially 45s into a costume, A 20’s gangster is the obvious choice.

A pinstripe suite, Fedora and a 1911 or a Tommy gun and we are good to go.

But carrying a Tommy gun around gets tiring, they weight over 11 pounds with an empty magazine. Not to mention that the prices on even the semi-auto versions has risen over the years

Enter the folks at 1022FunGun.Com

They have dress up kits to make your 10-22 or clone look like those old Chicago Typewriter’s

These kits are available with either the Vertical or Horizontal forend. The magazine I am using in the photo above is a Pro Mag drum for the Ruger 10-22 style firearms. The folks at 1022FunGun.Com do offer a dummy stick magazine adapter that makes your factory original rotatory magazine look like oce of the old factory 45ACP sticks

I guess you guys now know what I am planning for this year’s Halloween. Just remember to dress the kids in bright colors for good visibility

Have Fun