What's this thing??

solarwind · Dec 9, 2004

Umm, I found this .38 super and am scratching my head wondering what that cool looking thing is attached to the barrel. Any ideas?

*drool*

-$!lv3r

m1marty · Dec 9, 2004

If you are talking about the piece that goes over the top of the pistol, that is an optics platform. If you are talking about the muzzle end of the pistol, that looks like either a barrel wieght or just a longer barrel. Hope that helps.

Johnclarke · Dec 10, 2004

If were referring to whats on the end of the barrel past the end of a slide its a compensator to help reduce muzzle flip for faster recovery from shot to shot.

USPSA/IPSC shooters use guns riced up like that.

underaged! · Dec 10, 2004

John, you anti-rice?

solarwind · Dec 10, 2004

Hey, thanks guys- I found a scope mount/optics platform that looks alot like that, it's made by Ameritek. I appreciate the help- I don't know why the thing struck my fancy, but it's neat lookin'. Of course, I love anything that even resembles a 1911, anyway, even without the extras.

$!lv3r

java · Dec 11, 2004

Whew! Thanks for the handgun savvy responders speakin' up there. I was totally lost and thought John Goncz had found another manufacturer to produce his Total Recall weapons again.

mete · Dec 11, 2004

It's called a race gun, a poor attempt at humor, by someone who has lots of money to burn and thinks he can substitute gadgets for skill. Long barrel ,ported to reduce recoil ,optics base [ the optics usually are the size of a beer can] etc ,etc.It is no in any way related to reality.

yans · Dec 11, 2004

The black part is the Compensator. it will reduce the already small recoil for a faster follow up shot. the holes in the slide and the cutouts are to reduce slide lag and reduce the lockup time between the cycling of the following shot. They use 38 super loads that are very soft in the beginning and reduce the powder put in the brass to facilitate a soft recoil and speed needed to clear multiple targets in a race that 100th of sec. can make and usually decide the compitition. On a race gun they also use a full guide rod and titanium parts to lighten all the mechanics of the gun.

In reality yes they are questionable for street use but alot of the technology that goes into them are used in carry guns. My P-14 uses titanium fireing pin and ported barell in full power plus p loads.