From The Rooftop

After researching and pricing out options for a bead blasting setup—including a case and compressor—I came to the conclusion that, given the cost and limited space in my workshop, it would be more practical to outsource the work. If I had more space, I likely would’ve invested in a countertop bead blasting cabinet from Harbor Freight, paired with a decent compressor like a Husky 20-gallon unit. But for this project, outsourcing made more sense. I got in touch with a local bead blasting company, and they were very accommodating with both their service and pricing. They also understood that since this involved a serialized firearm component, I couldn’t leave it with them—especially since they’re not a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). Fortunately, the job only took about thirty minutes while I waited. The end result was stunning—a smooth satin finish that really elevated the look. Once I got everything home, I reassembled the parts without any issues. The Brat now has a clean, two-tone lo...

One of the major issues I encountered with the Brat was the lack of available OWB (outside-the-waistband) holsters. Since the Brat follows a 2011 pattern, I assumed that holsters made for Staccato pistols might be compatible. Taking a gamble, I ordered a universal Staccato OWB holster from Gritr via Amazon. The holster is designed to accommodate several Staccato models—including the P, CS, XC, and XL—making it the length of the longest variant. While it technically works out of the box, I wasn't a fan of the excess length and dead space at the bottom. After taking some quick measurements, I marked the desired cut line with blue painter’s tape and used a simple hacksaw to cut the Kydex. It cut through easily and gave me a cleaner, more customized fit. After making the cut, I used a grinding wheel to smooth out the edges and round the corners. To clean up the fuzzy residue left from grinding, I used a hobby torch for a quick pass along the cut. Additionally, I had to relocate one o...

After completing all the upgrades, it was time to begin some fine-tuning. I wanted to smooth out the slide action. Having previously used JB Bore Cleaning Compound on my Ruger American bolt with great results, the choice was an easy one. Before doing anything, make sure your pistol is unloaded by racking the slide and visually inspecting the chamber. Once your Brat is confirmed clear, remove the recoil spring and barrel. Next, prep the necessary contact areas—clean the slide rails, the top of the Wilson Combat ejector, and the disconnector rail on the slide. After cleaning up, use a cotton applicator to liberally apply the JB Bore Compound to the areas you want to polish. Reassemble the slide (without the barrel and recoil spring) and begin racking it back and forth. This part can be tedious—I cycled the slide approximately 400 times, wiping down the treated areas and reapplying compound every 50 racks. Refer to the pictures below to see exactly where the compound should be applied....

I’ve always wanted a Staccato for as long as I can remember—but honestly, who hasn’t? Any gun enthusiast dreams of owning a 2011-pattern pistol, especially a high-end model like a Staccato or Cosaint Arms. Then you’ve got the mid-tier options like the Springfield Prodigy and OA Defense, and rounding out the budget category is the Girsan—or is it? There’s been a lot of hate and stigma attached to Turkish-made firearms. In my experience, most of it comes from people who’ve never actually handled or fired one and are just repeating what they’ve heard. Unfortunately, opinions are like assholes—everyone’s got one. I think the Girsan is a great entry-level option for anyone looking to get into the 2011 platform. For me, it was a no-brainer, especially since this would be my first time modifying one. A lot of people have asked me, “Why not just save up for a Staccato or Cosaint Arms?” But where’s the fun in that—especially for someone like me, an amateur gunsmith who enjoys the process. Sure,...

Disclaimer: This is all informational and for educational purposes only. Only modify your firearm if you are an experienced gunsmith and at your own risk.  Where to start with the ongoing saga of the P320? The Sig Sauer P320 was a cutting-edge design when it was released, offering consumers the ability to interchange grip modules for an unparalleled level of pistol customization. Interestingly, this innovative design didn’t originate as the P320. It was first introduced as the P250 platform — Sig's original modular pistol. The major difference between the two platforms is that the P250 was a hammer-fired, double-action-only (DAO) pistol. Rather than designing the P320 from the ground up, Sig modified and upgraded the P250 platform into a striker-fired system. Many believe this foundational decision may be at the root of some of the platform’s ongoing issues. In contrast, the P365 — another modular pistol from Sig — was designed from scratch. Although it uses the same modular concep...

 Reloading 101 - Part 2, Tooling: Case Preparation Tools I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and stuffed their faces and bellies with delicious food! With anything in reloading, there is a huge variety of tools for every step. This is a great thing because there are so many options. Most of the tools have the same features but it's also important to know what need versus wants. My own opinion is the powered options are the best, but your wallet may say otherwise. I personally started with a smaller powered option (figure 1) and purchased a set of manual tools (figure 2) as well. I'm not saying that you need to go small, but since I was still learning, I figured I can always invest in larger if my needs outgrew the initial purchase. The great thing about the Hornady and RCBS handle is the threading on the screw size for the bits are the same, so you can attach the chamfer and deburring bits on the RCBS handle and vice versa. Figure 1 Figure 2 It has been a little over 4 y...