How to Make a File Handle: Part 4

This guide outlines essential tools for any gunsmith, emphasizing quality and durability. Key items include precision screwdrivers, calipers, punches, various hammers, bench blocks, files, parallel jaw pliers, and a robust gunsmithing vice. Investing in these tools, like the recommended Brownells screwdriver set and Starrett calipers, prevents damage to firearms and ensures accurate work, ultimately saving time and money in the long run.

This video provides a detailed overview of installing the Atlas Gunworks Alpha conversion grip kit on a Staccato or STI pistol. Roger Barrera from QVO Tactical walks through the process, highlighting the components included and offering advice for DIY enthusiasts. The kit transforms a polymer grip into an all-metal configuration, enhancing ergonomics and performance for competition shooting.

This guide details the installation of the Kiral Defense Heavyweight Steel Backstrap for Glock pistols, specifically the Glock 17 Gen 5. The process involves removing the trigger housing pin, replacing the original backstrap with the steel version, and securing it with a provided steel pin. The upgrade adds approximately 2 ounces to the rear of the firearm, aiming to reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip, thereby improving shooting speed and accuracy. The backstrap also offers a subtle alteration to the grip's shape, which some users prefer for feel.

This guide details the process of building an HK UMP45, focusing on the use of HK parts kits and aftermarket receivers like those from S5 Tactical and GDI 3D. It highlights the benefits of an enhanced recoil spring for suppressed shooting and the ease of installing a pre-assembled drop-in lower receiver. The UMP45 is presented as a viable, albeit often overlooked, platform for home defense due to its manageable recoil, magazine capacity, and suppressed performance.

This video, featuring a speaker from Guns Magazine, debunks the common misconception that drilling and tapping firearms for accessories like red dot sights or rifle scopes is a simple DIY job. The expert emphasizes that the process requires specialized tools, precision, and knowledge beyond what most hobbyists possess, warning against the use of basic tools like portable drills and old threading kits.

This video details the installation and tuning process for a Force Reset Trigger (FRT) kit, specifically the 'Secret Sauce Kit' from Squirt Bang Replicate, in a PSA Dagger pistol. The presenter, Jordan of Poor Boy Arms, highlights the need for significant tuning, particularly modifying the 'Terminator' trip profile, to achieve reliable function. Key components include the S8 housing and a 20lb recoil spring. The guide emphasizes proper lubrication and trigger control techniques for optimal performance.

This guide, informed by Roy Huntington, Editor of American Handgunner Magazine, details the critical differences between buckshot and birdshot for home defense. It covers their physical characteristics, penetration capabilities through walls, and effectiveness at close range. The advice emphasizes choosing a load based on concerns about over-penetration while stressing the universal importance of training, target identification, and using a light for any home defense scenario.

This guide details the field stripping process for a 1911 pistol, presented by Roy Huntington, Publisher of American Handgunner. It covers essential safety checks, step-by-step disassembly, and reassembly, emphasizing techniques to prevent damage. An alternative 'cheat' method for faster disassembly is also demonstrated, along with advice on using specialized tools for tight components.

This video showcases an exceptionally rare find: a first-generation 1873 Colt Single Action Peacemaker, discovered via metal detecting in Arizona. The expert speaker details its museum-quality condition, dating it to 1875, and analyzes the authentic patina and wear, including specific gutta-percha grip details and muzzle wear from holster friction. The firearm's discovery context among homestead ruins adds to its historical narrative.

This guide, presented by Roy Huntington, Editor of American Handgunner Magazine, outlines an efficient '5-minute clean' for modern semi-automatic pistols like the Glock 26/27. It emphasizes that over-cleaning is unnecessary and can cause premature wear. The process focuses on targeted cleaning of critical areas like the barrel and slide rails, with minimal lubrication applied only to high-friction points. Proper function checks after reassembly are also highlighted.