GunTalk-Online.com

I just got a new catalog from Wilson Combat and it's showing their new (to me, at least) Advanced Design Pistol. I wanted to get a look at one but nobody here in Tulsa has one in stock. Any of you guys handled/shot one? If so what did you think?

Blindpig wrote:Wilson Combat: Advanced Design Pistol.

I never noticed/heard of it... but, Here are some Opinions, that Don-Imus would be proud of...

For those who don't want to use the link, here's some pictures of the ADP.








R,
Bullseye

toyfj40 wrote:

Blindpig wrote:Wilson Combat: Advanced Design Pistol.

I never noticed/heard of it... but, Here are some Opinions, that Don-Imus would be proud of...

Wow, I guess I just didn't realize there are quite so many morons out there! I'm always curious about what motivates some people to bash a gun that they haven't even handled, let alone fired. Don't think I'll be visiting that website again in the near future.
The thing I like the best about GunTalk Online is the apparent level of inteligence and sophistication of the members.

B.P. boy did you hit that one on the head.

Wilson is not known for putting their brand name on something that doesn't function well. I'd love to get my hands on one of these to give it a good test run.

I went and looked up the link and saw a very similar model pistol. It was basically the same slide on a slightly different polymer frame. There was some mention of a frame redesign. Here's the picture for anyone who didn't want to wade through 3 pages of trash. It is a Heritage Arms Stealth.



Its the membership that makes this a great forum - Thanks to all of you!

R,
Bullseye

Living in the DFW, TX area, I find it convenient to buy from http://www.sportingarms.com . I've looked around and their nominal 7% markup is hard to beat except when big companies like Cabela's has sales (bought a S&W 22A for $169 from Cabela's a couple of weeks ago).

So, when talking to Becky at Sportingarms I mentioned to her that I'd sure like to see an ADP. She hadn't seen one, but while I was on the phone she checked with one of their distributors and they had two. I asked her the price, she told me, and I said: "get me one". You would think at my advanced age (60+) I'd be past the impulse buying stage. Guess I'll never grow up.

So, I had it in my hands two days later and couldn't wait to take it apart. Oh, piston and cylinder with piston on a pivot... this is going to be as much a joy to put back together as my H&K P7. I didn't take the slide apart so I don't know what the "buffer" was all about. (I was right about the difficulty in getting things lined up just like with the squeeze-cocker).

I put in a snap-cap because they warn against dry-firing and pulled the trigger, and pulled, and pulled, and finally - click. Good grief. I found the spring pull gauge, and the trigger pull was off the scale. So, I looked some more and found the digital one: 11-1/2lbs.

Off to the range with my shooting buddy, and for such a light pistol, the recoil didn't exist. When my buddy tried it, he couldn't get it to work. I tried it, it went bang. I told him to pull hard, harder, harder.

After the magazine was empty, the slide locked open just like it should. Then I put in a new loaded magazine and couldn't release the slide. (There isn't an external slide release). I had to drop the magazine, release the slide, re-insert the magazine, and rack the slide. Strange!!!

I called WC, and talked to the person that designed and built the pistol. He said it isn't supposed to work that way, and the trigger pull shouldn't be that high. Looking at the internals, I could see that the trigger bar was rubbing against the right side of the magazine and also it was the trigger bar that was restricting the slide release from working.

So, the pistol is now back in Berryville, and hopefully will be fixed.

Am I disappointed? Yes! Am I sorry that I bought the pistol? No! My serial number is less than 200. When you are a pioneer you have to expect a few arrows in the back. Although it is polymer vs steel in my Kahr MK9 Elite, I shot the ADP much better than I ever shot the Kahr even with the heavy trigger pull.

Welcome to Guntalk-online Princi. Interesting observations and experiences you had with that ADP. I hope they make it right for you.

R,
Bullseye

I just recently read a review on this gun in the May/June American Handgunner. They mentioned that this pistol needs to be cleaned about every 50 (yes fifty) rounds to be reliable. They had repeated failures to fire when they did not keep it clean. Other than that, and some necessary adjustment to the way they held the gun, they seemed to really like it.

Isn't this the old ADP design that originated, IIRC, in South Africa? Seems like the "ADP" came, at least partially, from the designer's initials, IIRC...If that's what this is, I think this is at least it's third incarnation.

Since I do read the owner's manuals, (doesn't mean I remember what I read) let me quote from the manual:

NOTE: This pistol operates on a gas "Retard" system which means that high pressure gas is diverted into a cylinder below the barrel to push against a piston connected to the fron of the slide and therefore special attention must be given to this area when cleaning the pistol as this system can become fouled up from lead and burnt propellant. This is not likely to happen in less than 200 rounds and will generally be indicated by a slowing down of the slide movement during firing. If this is observed it is very easily remedied by the use of the reamer supplied.
:
:
NOTE: Ensure all excess oil is removed from the barrel, gas cylinder and piston before shotting the weapon. During long sustained shooting sessions it is advisable to ream out the gas cylinder every 50 rounds and whenever it appears that the slide movement is slowing down which is an indicator of fouling in the system.

Although cleaning out the cylinder is an easy thing to do, getting the slide back on the frame can be a bit of a bear. You have to get the piston to align back up with the cylinder. (I have the same problem with my H&K P7). Although it can get a bit fustrating at times, it is a lot easier than getting the slide back over the barrel on my S&W 952. I usually clean it with a bore-snake so I don't have to take it apart.

I don't consider the piston, or cleaning a negative because it really does work. It is amazing how little recoil/muzzle rise that there is with this pistol. I'm not sure when they will get it back to my FFL, but it is going to be a couple of weeks before I'll be available to pick it up.

...So - it seems like it might be worthwhile to restrict loads to jacketed (preferably TMJ or plated?) rounds and find which of these use the cleanest powders, eh? I have been getting real good accuracy in 9mm with the plated Ranier hollowpoints. They have no exposed lead, even on the base. Maybe a load with these and some clean-burning powder like Universal might make that pistol easier to live with.

Gas-op pistols have always intrigued me. A good friend owns a P7M8 that I've tried to con him into selling to me, but he ain't lettin' go. The ADP design does look pretty neat, within it's limitations.

I hope they get it all squared away for you soon!

More good reasons for me to just keep carrying my old, reliable 1911 platform!

UPS was at the door and I had to sign for a package. I couldn't remember ordering anything. Then I noticed the return address was from Wilson Combat. I was surprised because I'd returned the pistol to the FFL that I bought it from and they mailed it to Wilson; I expected Wilson to send it back to the FFL.

Anyhow, I opened the box, removed my pistol, checked the serial number to verify it was mine. I then put in a snap cap, pulled back on the slide and it went forward. OK, that was fixed. I then grabbed the trigger pull gauge and it registed 8 lbs. So that is 3-1/2 lbs less than before.

I'll be heading to the range with it tomorrow.

"Freeme", there are several guns on the market today where they don't recommend the use of lead bullets. I'm surprised the manual for the ADP doesn't just say not to use them. Maybe it is easier to get the lead out of it than the P7. (I have two P7's the P7M8 Jubilee, one of the last 500 made and I don't shoot it. I also have an older P7 PSP, which I do shoot; I just don't shoot it well because of having to tighten my right hand, which I don't normally do when I shoot.) I don't consider having to use jacked bullets a negative.

princi wrote:...I don't consider having to use jacked bullets a negative.

Niether do I. In fact - my favorite load uses the plated Raniers with Titegroup. No exposed lead (except where they strike the hollowpoint) means no leading to clean up. Even if I don't have to concern myself with gas-op issues, I still like easy cleaning. And the plated lead bullets cost only a little more than a good cast bullet.

Good to hear that Wilson was quick with the service!

It was a real slow day at the Range today, which gave me plenty of time to test the returned ADP.

I'm afraid of new guns - always have been - always will be. A gun that has been worked on, even by me, makes me just as nervous as a new gun. So, my first 5 rounds missed the little shoot-n-c in the middle of the range target. All 5 shots were low. Can you say "flinch".

The next 5 rounds weren't completely dead-center, but just a little off the center at the 11 o'clock position. All 5 holes were touching.

I only shot 50 rounds total because I had to close the range at 1800. However, I didn't have any problems with the gun, and despite the early disappointment, I'm very glad that I bought the gun. It says: "Wilson Combat" on the slide. It deserves it.