Post by TMan on Nov 30, 2008 22:44:45 GMT -5
Although I thought originally that I wanted the M4 with the adjustable wood grips, I found out that the plastic grip of the M3 fit my hand well, and I couldn't see much in the way of difference between the M3 and M4, I figured I'd be just as happy with the M3. Also, the M3 was $220 less than the M4.
Probably the M3 name appealed to me having once had one (E36 BMW M3).
First Impressions: This pistol is nothing like the P22, and for $406 it is quite impressive. It came with the rails installed, which I don't find particularly attractive, and since my plan was to use it with regular sights, I removed them.
Unlike my more expensive Italian pistols, this one does lock open after the last round. I really like that on a rimfire. However, they give you instructions on changling out the button on the magazine if you want to disable the function. I wouldn't do it because 1) I like the function and 2) the button isn't all that big to start with. The Colt 22 and the Beretta U22 have really nice big buttons that make it easy to load their magazines unlike the Ruger.
It bugs me when manufactures say "adjustable trigger" and the only adjustment is for overtravel. Fortunately both the M3 and M4 have triggers that can be adjusted for sear engagement and for force.
The gun comes with a special tool that is inserted into the base to lock the hammer. It also has a magazine disconnect. I don't know how the magazine disconnect works, but I expect it doesn't add weight to the trigger. There are also loaded chamber indicators and cocked hammer indicators (somebody must want to sell this in California).
The gun comes with a full set of allen wrenches which are needed in order to disassembly the pistol and make the trigger adjustments.
The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage( via a screw, not pounding on it with a hammer to drift it over). Also, like the more expensive guns it has a 3 sided post front sight that gives you the option of 3 different widths. Personally, it like the widest side.
When you disassemble the pistol you remove the top part that looks like a slide. There isn't any detailed information, and I'd be really hesitant to attempt a detailed strip (I don't take the Benelli or Pardini all the way down to the castors either).
Naturally I didn't carefully read the manual and I missed the part that you need to push the slide stop lever with a screwdriver in order to re-install the slide. Unfortunately, I didn't get it quite right because they said to push it against the slide, I was thinking that the "housing" that I was trying to install was the "slide" - it isn't. After pushing the lever over, the "housing" will slide on easily. Speaking of easy: removing the picatinny rails was not easy. I had to use a hammer.
Looks: we've already established that us macho guys don't care about looks, but here is what the M3 looks like after it came out of the box:
Personally, I thought this was butt ugly, but then I found out that the rails were removeable and the parts that fit in their place were included in the box. So once you replace them then the M3 looks like the M2:
My current plans are to shoot this for the first time on Tuesday. I'd like to be able to put a few thousand rounds through it prior to heading back to Shanghai in January, but I doubt if I'll be able to do so.
What are my expectations: it better not be as good as some of my other target pistols that cost as much as 5 times as much.
Not considering how it works at the range, what do I see compared to pistols in the same price range? If I can't find a hammer, I wouldn't grab this pistol, I'd grab a Ruger.
Probably the M3 name appealed to me having once had one (E36 BMW M3).
First Impressions: This pistol is nothing like the P22, and for $406 it is quite impressive. It came with the rails installed, which I don't find particularly attractive, and since my plan was to use it with regular sights, I removed them.
Unlike my more expensive Italian pistols, this one does lock open after the last round. I really like that on a rimfire. However, they give you instructions on changling out the button on the magazine if you want to disable the function. I wouldn't do it because 1) I like the function and 2) the button isn't all that big to start with. The Colt 22 and the Beretta U22 have really nice big buttons that make it easy to load their magazines unlike the Ruger.
It bugs me when manufactures say "adjustable trigger" and the only adjustment is for overtravel. Fortunately both the M3 and M4 have triggers that can be adjusted for sear engagement and for force.
The gun comes with a special tool that is inserted into the base to lock the hammer. It also has a magazine disconnect. I don't know how the magazine disconnect works, but I expect it doesn't add weight to the trigger. There are also loaded chamber indicators and cocked hammer indicators (somebody must want to sell this in California).
The gun comes with a full set of allen wrenches which are needed in order to disassembly the pistol and make the trigger adjustments.
The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage( via a screw, not pounding on it with a hammer to drift it over). Also, like the more expensive guns it has a 3 sided post front sight that gives you the option of 3 different widths. Personally, it like the widest side.
When you disassemble the pistol you remove the top part that looks like a slide. There isn't any detailed information, and I'd be really hesitant to attempt a detailed strip (I don't take the Benelli or Pardini all the way down to the castors either).
Naturally I didn't carefully read the manual and I missed the part that you need to push the slide stop lever with a screwdriver in order to re-install the slide. Unfortunately, I didn't get it quite right because they said to push it against the slide, I was thinking that the "housing" that I was trying to install was the "slide" - it isn't. After pushing the lever over, the "housing" will slide on easily. Speaking of easy: removing the picatinny rails was not easy. I had to use a hammer.
Looks: we've already established that us macho guys don't care about looks, but here is what the M3 looks like after it came out of the box:
Personally, I thought this was butt ugly, but then I found out that the rails were removeable and the parts that fit in their place were included in the box. So once you replace them then the M3 looks like the M2:
My current plans are to shoot this for the first time on Tuesday. I'd like to be able to put a few thousand rounds through it prior to heading back to Shanghai in January, but I doubt if I'll be able to do so.
What are my expectations: it better not be as good as some of my other target pistols that cost as much as 5 times as much.
Not considering how it works at the range, what do I see compared to pistols in the same price range? If I can't find a hammer, I wouldn't grab this pistol, I'd grab a Ruger.