MKIV 22/45 tinkering and swearing

[XUSNORDIE]

In a previous thread the Tandem Kross Victory Trigger kit was mentioned. I've had a couple complete kits hanging on the wall for some time. Both for MKIV 22/45. I'm on vacation this week and decided to throw one in.

What I figured on being about 20 minutes at most turned into a frustrating endeavor...with a few outbursts that would have gave the Old Man in A Christmas Story some competition. I walked away from it. Odd. This isn't a difficult task.

Last weekend I tore down an M1A...it had not been deep cleaned for over a year and I know Seabee Son has put a ton down range with it the last few times he was home on weekend liberty and leave. I actually enjoy tearing down. It was my favorite rifle back in the Navy days. Anyway...I spent almost 10 minutes trying to put the bolt back in the receiver. Odd. I walked away, had few fingers of Rare Breed, went back to the bench and popped it right in and slapped her together ready for inspection.

So, I'm heading to the deck for a few Rare Breeds and a nice maduro smoke....to ponder why I am short circuiting on simple things lately.

I will hit it again tomorrow, and probably have it done in 10 minutes...hoping for some range time THU.

 

[s4s4u]

I have "fixed" many things simply by taking them apart and putting them back together. I have also broken things with the same method.

A man's gotta know his limitations. Sometimes a "bump" or two can be therapeutic.

 

[peachhead]

Happens to me all the time. I've learned to just set it to the side, work on something else for a while and then come back to it later. Eventually anyway. Sometimes I'm not very good at picking up the signs that this is going to be one of those days...lol

 

[Mobuck]

I tend to 'forget' from one time to the next how things come apart or go back together. Sometimes it comes back to me about 1/2 way through one process or the other. Sometimes not. :censored: :oops:

 

[blume357]

I don't like to mess with anything like that unless I have a spare to compare it with.... I was out on the lake for a night a number of years ago and woke up early in the morning on the boat and decided to clean my Sig P230 (best looking semi-auto pistol ever made). for some reason I decided to take the trigger group apart... it took me at least 8 hours over the next two to three days when I got back home to get those parts back together..
The rare breed and smoke sound like the perfect plan to me.... next time you get stumped like that maybe I can help.

 

[Fox Mike]

One of the greatest things to come along is the camera on the cell phone. Take pictures prior to disassembly and then each step as you disassemble. Makes 'back together' much easier.

 

[contender]

FM has an excellent point.

There are also some books,, that have done it for you with details that cover a lot of firearms. The "Gun Digest of Firearm disassembly & reassembly." There are 6 different volumes, and they are an excellent resource. You have to hunt for a set,, and they don't have many of the newer guns in them, but still great for MANY firearms.
But as FM has said,, pictures, at every step will make a HUGE difference!

 

[Randyzzz]

I can attest that a condition called “getting older” leads to many frustrations not experienced when younger. I look at things I did/built some 30 years ago and think “There’s no way I’d try that now!”.

Plus, the loss of dexterity and strength in the fingers, along with vision that’s not quite as good as it once was, has a great impact.

 

[wwb]

Don't know about the Tandem Kross, but it can't be much different than the Volquartsen triggers. I've done a first generation standard, a Mark I, and a Mark II Target with no problems. Maybe it's luck, I dunno.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Well I did take a few deep breaths, several Rare Breeds, a very good cigar, my favorite portable speaker emitting Johnny Cash, Jamie Johnson, Waylon, Merle, Coe and some Dwight... which ended up being a long session of deck time. Once the tikis needed to be lit and the bug zapper starts zapping I'm there for a long portion of the night....which leads to deep pondering the past, present and future :rolleyes:

This wasn't about remembering how things went together or needing diagrams or pics for reference (all good ideas though). This had to do with becoming frustrated way too easy and mentally short circuiting. Something fitting a bit tight and not aligning perfectly, dropping springs, etc....typical tinkering stuff. Now I do have fat fingers, and aligning the safety plate/sear/spring/safety is very doable with fat fingers with the right tools including the most important tool...patience. That's what is making me short circuit. Lately I've been rushing tasks, losing patience and becoming frustrated too easy. Tinkering/fixing/building guns is one my favorite "therapy" methods. It's normally enjoyable, not frustrating to the point I short circuit.

Anyhoo, I couldn't get back to it until this morning. Took me about 20- 25 minutes with very little fat finger hassle. Quick pre-op appt with Cardiology in the am and it will be range time. Looking forward to seeing how it feels on some steel plates.

 

[wproct]

I had a similar experience when I installed a Tandemkross flat faced trigger on my Smith & Wesson Victory pistol. I fought that thing for almost 2 hours before I got it installed. What's funny is I read reviews from other shooters who had bought and installed one in the same model of pistol and they said it was a very easy install.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Well got to the range to ensure the pistol functioned....worked liked a champ.....that trigger is touchy and will take some getting used to. May adjust the reset a hair or two. Put 300 rounds down range at 25yd steel plates. Mini Mags, Fed blue box and Fed Auto all shot well. That's about all my back would tolerate before I became too shaky making the dot dance around the plates like an old "follow the bouncing ball" sing a longs. This was a project to remember for sure. When frustrated over the most basic of things...step back. Grab a few good bourbons, good music and a good cigar. Give it a day and get back to it. That's my "re-do" prescription anyway...;)

Surgery on 25AUG25....once recovered I will give this pistol a serious work out.