by Ancient Order » Fri Nov 18, 2022 5:34 pm
I gotta say...the PF45 platform leaves a LOT to be desired. I've got it fully assembled and it has so many trigger issues that I've decided to put it on hold until Rook gets some rear rails in stock. Yes, all parts installed are OEM (except Marksman slide and Rook front locking block), but when you have to modify the trigger housing to get it to fit correctly (as explained by MGB), you immediately have problems. Currently, the ejector is dragging on the slide, so that needs to be addressed. Same with the shark fin/vertical extension. Major drag on the slide and safety plunger. The trigger does the squirt gun thing and you have to pull really hard to get it to fire. I'm sure I'll run into more issues along the way. Oh yeah, the rails don't seem to line up very well either and will require quite a bit of stoning, which is one reason I'm waiting on the Rook rears. But, eventually she's gonna be a very nice piece. Hopefully better than my SD-45. Got the Big Dot sights and a Holosun 407CO ready to go on...and I got TONS of 45 ammo and a great recipe for making more!
Finally managed to get some pics to upload! The OEM trigger still leaves a lot to be desired and I'll probably swap it out after full function testing. Depending on how she shoots, I may like it better than my XD-45.
Welp, finally got it figured out. First problem - thought I had an OEM trigger bar installed. Turns out it was a Lone Wolf. Piece of crap. So, I put in the OEM bar...voila! Squirtgun trigger is no more. Second problem - it took the Rook rear rails to discover. It looks like when I drilled the trigger housing hole on the right side, the bit must have moved off center. Very difficult to see because it looks perfect. But, the hole is slightly higher. 15 thousands higher. Enough to make the Rook right rail sit noticeably high. I couldn't tell with the P80 rails because I fitted them to the frame/holes. Anyway, I didn't want to plaster and redrill the hole, and didn't want to widen the hole in the Rook rail, so I put back the P80 rear rail. She functions great. 100% coverage on the seer. Passes all drop tests. Sights installed, so just wait 3 days and get her out shooting!
Wanted to add some pics but keep getting the error message "file was not uploaded"
Finally got a set of Rook rear rails! So, it's back to building this beast!
by RAMjetta » Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:45 am
livingfree4now wrote: ↑Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:59 pmSorry to hear all the problems you are having. I have had some similar issues with the build of my G20 10mm; I ordered both the Lone Wolf Upper and Lower Parts Kits. I started with the slide; and as I had mentioned in a previous post the Ejector Depressor Plunger was bent, but LWD replaced it without question. Next came the spring cups, which had to have the molding tabs sanded down in order for the striker to move freely (thanks forum for the help). Then came the uncaptured recoil spring and rod assembly, which I hadn't seen discussed before, but again the forum came to the rescue and I mastered that issue. Now comes the PF45 frame...holes and tabs went smoothly, no issue to address. Assembly on the other hand was a challenge to say the least. I did see something about the PF45 trigger housing from MGB and how to modify it properly. I must say his description for modification was spot on and the newly modified assembly dropped right in. But I hadn't seen a 10mm video from MGB about the trigger, so it put me at a disadvantage when I tried to pull the trigger and was unable to get anything to happen. It felt mushy and never dropped enough in the housing to release the striker. I replaced it with OEM as indicated in most of MGB's videos. Walah!!! No more problem with the trigger, 95 to 100% engagement. Oh, by the way, I also rubbed my beautiful slide with the ejector as you can see in the attached photos (but only I would know since I normally don't reveal the underside of the slide). I opted to use the supplied P80 rails and of course they needed to be honed, but MGB's stone method worked great for me. You also may have noticed the silver slide lock, the supplied one from LWD caused numerous issues with operation and function. When I went to the silver one from ?????? those went away. After all this, the safety tests performed exactly as expected. Next was range day. Here's where the many hours of practice with previous builds gave me an insight to issues that would arise on the range, but only one issue actually manifested itself. The rechambering of a new round didn't occur; a round jammed on the barrel feed ramp at the mouth of the chamber. Well, that was resolved with the use of a medium spearhead rubber polishing wheel at that junction point. Yes, this had a number of problems, but isn't that what gunsmithing is all about? Analyzing the problem and coming up with a solution. I love the way it turned out and it fires like a cannon, just like it's supposed to. Here's some photos. 20221216_211413[1].jpg20221216_212028[1].jpg20221216_212305[1].jpg20221216_212404[1].jpg20221216_212441[1].jpg20221216_211734[1].jpg20221216_212555[1].jpg20221216_212700[1].jpg20221216_213033[1].jpg20221216_213556[1].jpg Enough of this...I actually came on the forum tonight to find out about anyone's experience with G20L and the correct recoil spring to use. I'm considering using the same lower and just swap in the new upper. Can anyone help me out? She is definitely a sexy beast. Congrats
JettaMan OUT!
by Ancient Order » Sat Dec 17, 2022 7:52 pm
I just figured out what caused the problems on both our builds. We're both using the orange micro fiber towels!! Glad you got her running! Awesome job.
by livingfree4now » Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:59 pm
Sorry to hear all the problems you are having. I have had some similar issues with the build of my G20 10mm; I ordered both the Lone Wolf Upper and Lower Parts Kits. I started with the slide; and as I had mentioned in a previous post the Ejector Depressor Plunger was bent, but LWD replaced it without question. Next came the spring cups, which had to have the molding tabs sanded down in order for the striker to move freely (thanks forum for the help). Then came the uncaptured recoil spring and rod assembly, which I hadn't seen discussed before, but again the forum came to the rescue and I mastered that issue. Now comes the PF45 frame...holes and tabs went smoothly, no issue to address. Assembly on the other hand was a challenge to say the least. I did see something about the PF45 trigger housing from MGB and how to modify it properly. I must say his description for modification was spot on and the newly modified assembly dropped right in. But I hadn't seen a 10mm video from MGB about the trigger, so it put me at a disadvantage when I tried to pull the trigger and was unable to get anything to happen. It felt mushy and never dropped enough in the housing to release the striker. I replaced it with OEM as indicated in most of MGB's videos. Walah!!! No more problem with the trigger, 95 to 100% engagement. Oh, by the way, I also rubbed my beautiful slide with the ejector as you can see in the attached photos (but only I would know since I normally don't reveal the underside of the slide). I opted to use the supplied P80 rails and of course they needed to be honed, but MGB's stone method worked great for me. You also may have noticed the silver slide lock, the supplied one from LWD caused numerous issues with operation and function. When I went to the silver one from ?????? those went away. After all this, the safety tests performed exactly as expected. Next was range day. Here's where the many hours of practice with previous builds gave me an insight to issues that would arise on the range, but only one issue actually manifested itself. The rechambering of a new round didn't occur; a round jammed on the barrel feed ramp at the mouth of the chamber. Well, that was resolved with the use of a medium spearhead rubber polishing wheel at that junction point. Yes, this had a number of problems, but isn't that what gunsmithing is all about? Analyzing the problem and coming up with a solution. I love the way it turned out and it fires like a cannon, just like it's supposed to. Here's some photos.
Enough of this...I actually came on the forum tonight to find out about anyone's experience with G20L and the correct recoil spring to use. I'm considering using the same lower and just swap in the new upper. Can anyone help me out?
by jrmotorsports55 » Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:29 am Ancient Order wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:28 pmjrmotorsports55 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:54 pmBummer. Next on my list to build is a 45. Upper parts came from Rocky Brass, lower parts from Orange County Custom Triggers. We’ll see how it goes. Good luck on that. I'd like to hear your experiences. As always, make damn sure your pin holes are perfect. Also, watch the MGB video on PF45 trigger shoe fix. Will do, thanks!
Top
by Ancient Order » Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:28 pm
jrmotorsports55 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:54 pmBummer. Next on my list to build is a 45. Upper parts came from Rocky Brass, lower parts from Orange County Custom Triggers. We’ll see how it goes. Good luck on that. I'd like to hear your experiences. As always, make damn sure your pin holes are perfect. Also, watch the MGB video on PF45 trigger shoe fix.
by Ancient Order » Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:25 pm
RAMjetta wrote: ↑Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:48 pmAncient Order wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 5:34 pmI gotta say...the PF45 platform leaves a LOT to be desired. I've got it fully assembled and it has so many trigger issues that I've decided to put it on hold until Rook gets some rear rails in stock. Yes, all parts installed are OEM (except Marksman slide and Rook front locking block), but when you have to modify the trigger housing to get it to fit correctly (as explained by MGB), you immediately have problems. Currently, the ejector is dragging on the slide, so that needs to be addressed. Same with the shark fin/vertical extension. Major drag on the slide and safety plunger. The trigger does the squirt gun thing and you have to pull really hard to get it to fire. I'm sure I'll run into more issues along the way. Oh yeah, the rails don't seem to line up very well either and will require quite a bit of stoning, which is one reason I'm waiting on the Rook rears. But, eventually she's gonna be a very nice piece. Hopefully better than my SD-45. Got the Big Dot sights and a Holosun 407CO ready to go on...and I got TONS of 45 ammo and a great recipe for making more! Wow. That sucks. All those issues sounds like it might be an out of spec frame. That's what I was thinking too. Unfortunately, I've found several threads describing the same issues, leading me to believe the PF45 frame wasn't ready for prime time.
by jrmotorsports55 » Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:54 pm
Bummer. Next on my list to build is a 45. Upper parts came from Rocky Brass, lower parts from Orange County Custom Triggers. We’ll see how it goes.
by RAMjetta » Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:48 pm
Ancient Order wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 5:34 pmI gotta say...the PF45 platform leaves a LOT to be desired. I've got it fully assembled and it has so many trigger issues that I've decided to put it on hold until Rook gets some rear rails in stock. Yes, all parts installed are OEM (except Marksman slide and Rook front locking block), but when you have to modify the trigger housing to get it to fit correctly (as explained by MGB), you immediately have problems. Currently, the ejector is dragging on the slide, so that needs to be addressed. Same with the shark fin/vertical extension. Major drag on the slide and safety plunger. The trigger does the squirt gun thing and you have to pull really hard to get it to fire. I'm sure I'll run into more issues along the way. Oh yeah, the rails don't seem to line up very well either and will require quite a bit of stoning, which is one reason I'm waiting on the Rook rears. But, eventually she's gonna be a very nice piece. Hopefully better than my SD-45. Got the Big Dot sights and a Holosun 407CO ready to go on...and I got TONS of 45 ammo and a great recipe for making more! Wow. That sucks. All those issues sounds like it might be an out of spec frame.
JettaMan OUT!
by Ancient Order » Sat Nov 19, 2022 4:04 pm
madams117 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:46 pmSorry to hear about all the issues. Makes me very wary of doing a PF45. That and the price of parts. Well, I might also have bum Rook front locking block. I got 4 sets and all of them are an extremely tight fit and don't sit all the way down on the frame. The stock P80 front block drops right in and sits all the way down. May have to call Rook on that one.
by madams117 » Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:46 pm Sorry to hear about all the issues. Makes me very wary of doing a PF45. That and the price of parts.
by Ancient Order » Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:43 pm
Hawkeye wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 7:24 pmSorry to hear about the problems you are having. When I built my PF45 last year I used all aftermarket parts from Lone Wolf. I had to get a Rook safety plunger because the LW part was some far out of specs I couldn't hand work it. My trigger has a 7lb pull but I plan on working on that. I don't understand why OME trigger parts are causing drag. All of the shark fin drag I run into has been on aftermarket trigger bars. I when and checked, I used the Lone Wolf trigger housing that came with the LPK kit. One thing I did use was Rook rails front and back. That's why I'm waiting on the Rook rear rails. No sense troubleshooting it until those come in. Whenever that might be. They shot out an email a month or so ago saying that the PF45 rear rails are in the works *soon*...whatever that means. I've got another OEM trigger bar and a Lone Wolf I can swap around, as well as a LW trigger housing, but will wait until the rails are right. Not so worried about the shark fin dragging, that's an easy fix. But the ejector dragging has be a bit baffled (and kinda pissed off that it marred my beautiful slide).
by Hawkeye » Fri Nov 18, 2022 7:24 pm
Sorry to hear about the problems you are having. When I built my PF45 last year I used all aftermarket parts from Lone Wolf. I had to get a Rook safety plunger because the LW part was some far out of specs I couldn't hand work it. My trigger has a 7lb pull but I plan on working on that. I don't understand why OME trigger parts are causing drag. All of the shark fin drag I run into has been on aftermarket trigger bars. I when and checked, I used the Lone Wolf trigger housing that came with the LPK kit. One thing I did use was Rook rails front and back.