PGB Award PF940C "Cobalt Celtic" Build Diary

I want to see some Scottish plaid on there. It would look so cool …make it happen LT 😂

Time to learn a new skill. It’s easy. I have detailed instructions in the resource center. Practice on any paintable thing around the house.

Liquid concepts my goto company. Get this Tartin. They will custom size it to fit that frame for you no cost.

Heritage Tartan 22 Plaid | Liquid Concepts

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If ya don’t like the red they have other colors.
 
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Cycled 10 dummy rounds out of a mag - extracted all of them. Pass!

Noticed that the Rocky Brass trigger isn't extending all the way out on reset (so the trigger safety engages), if I hold the trigger while racking the slide (to reset) and then releasing the trigger. The trigger pull weight also feels pretty light. So, I think I'll change the trigger spring from Rocky Brass to OEM to see if that fixes the trigger shoe reset issue.

I haven't checked the sear engagement or done the safety tests, yet. Soon!
 
Silver trigger is ordered!
 
Michele said:
Yes, yes, yes ! Use your photo program. Put the tartin on the hand grip stippling and let’s see what it looks like and paste in that red trigger
Click to expand...
I did it! Not even sure how I did it. But I stumbled on how to do it in Photoshop.
Tartan-Celtic-PGB-P80.jpg


Not really my "thang," but it's kinda cool.
 
Superb!!

Idea: your beautiful slide is a “smudge magnet”…so why not try some ceramic coating treatment like people put on car’s paint jobs ? I’ve been thinking about this in regards to gold-plated parts on musical instruments, and I think this might work well for your slide. No, I’ve not yet tried this myself. What think ye?
 
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Time for some updates.

Function testing. Everything works, and I cycled 10 dummy rounds manually with no feeding or ejection problems.

However, I noticed that the trigger shoe return / reset was rather weak. In fact, if I held the trigger back (after "firing") and resetting by racking the slide and then released the trigger shoe, it did not return all the way forward... enough to re-engage the trigger safety dingus. No bueno!

This trigger assembly, including the spring was from Rockey Brass and was generously included in the PGB Awards "prize package." I wanted to try to use the aftermarket parts for a change in my "routine." :)

Here is a comparison of the Rockey Brass spring (top) and an OEM spring (bottom):
20230312_115657[1].jpg

It appears the OEM spring has one more coil (16) than the RB spring (15). So, I swapped to the OEM spring. At this point, I kept the RB trigger bar and housing and connector. Gosh, how much of a difference can there be in such a simple part like the trigger spring? Turns out... a LOT. With the new OEM trigger spring, no more weak trigger reset. Trigger safety dingus engages solidly and reliably because the trigger returns all the way.

Next came safety checks and testing. The sear engagement was "adequate," but not ideal. (I didn't get a photo). Drop tests were passed. But I did notice that I could depress the cruciform noticeably (with the slide off) when it was in the cocked position (up on the drop safety shelf in the housing).

Fuck it. I'm changing the entire trigger assembly out for OEM. I've got plenty of them "in stock." :cool:

When I rechecked sear engagement... better! (Sear engagement photo tip: Use a handheld flashlight and take the photo slightly off angle.)
PBG-P80-Sear.jpg


When I checked if I could push the (OEM) cruciform down... wouldn't budge! Bueno! Drop tests... passed! (I still cringe when I do it!)

I really wanted to try to build this one with the included RB LPK @Michele! But it wasn't meant to be. Another RB LPK part that I couldn't get to fit was the slide lock spring during the first assembly of the frame parts. But an OEM slide lock spring went right to place. The bottom line (as most of us know and agree) is that there IS a difference between OEM and aftermarket internal parts.

So far, the Heavy Armor Division UPK parts have worked out - no functional issues that I can find, yet. The only part I changed to OEM (so far) is the firing pin safety plunger / spring. The finish on the HAD safety plunger was a bit rough.

Next will be live fire range testing!
 

Range Report!​

TLDR: Successful!

Overall, I'm happy. I fired 131 rounds through what I am now calling my "Celtic Cobalt P80."
Target-1A.jpg


I had 3 failures to feed. None would slip into battery with a smack on the rear of the slide. I had to clear the malfunction manually. The first FTF was somewhere between shot #11 - 26 (I didn't record exactly where). The 2nd FTF shot #75 - 90. The third between shots #90 - 115.
FTF.jpg


1st target​

Target-1C.jpg

​

Target 2​

Target-2.jpg


During my 2nd to last mag (shot #106 - 115), for some reason it occurred to me to check my front sight. Sure enough it was loose, even though I used blue Locktite! I field stripped the gun at the bench and whipped out my Fix-It Sticks kit with the specialized Glock front sight wrench. I'm just glad I caught it before the sight went flying off into the ether.

Target 3​

Target-3.jpg


So, a few things to tidy up with the gun. But overall, a good first shots trip.
 
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To delay agonizing over some "worthy" sights for this gun, I got the relatively inexpensive steel Glock sights to "hold me over." But now, I think they are PERFECT for this gun. Simple, functional, understated (let the rest of gun shine, so to speak!). And since this is a range gun... I don't need anything special (or expensive) like tritium night sights.

Can't wait to get the silver trigger, though!

20230311_131358[1].jpg


And I shot this 5-shot group at 10 yards with it!
1678720506774.png
 
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Racer88 said:

Range Report!​

I had 3 failures to feed. None would slip into battery with a smack on the rear of the slide. I had to clear the malfunction manually. The first FTF was somewhere between shot #11 - 26 (I didn't record exactly where). The 2nd FTF shot #75 - 90. The third between shots #90 - 115.
View attachment 9963


So, a few things to tidy up with the gun. But overall, a good first shots trip.
Click to expand...
The rear of the cartridge looks too low (from the angle in the pics provided anyway) to be a Breach-Face/Extractor issue. Doubtful a mag problem either -I know you like to stick with OEM... I don't have an H.A.D. 9mm barrel (that I recall at least! 🤣), but the .357 Sig barrel I have from them had a poor transition from Feed-Ramp to Chamber. It failed to feed reliably, so I had to re-grind it. Not something I commonly have to do, nor want to. I was still able to leave more chamber-support than the KKM barrel provides though.
G32 HAD Fix2a.jpg

[Compared to a KKM barrel, the H.A.D. Feed-Ramp and transition looked like shit, otherwise great barrel. No excuse for a bottle-neck cartridge like a .357 Sig not to feed though...]
G32 HAD Fix1B.jpg

I am going with that as your likely cause -not that you asked for any help, but hey, I am a fountain of unwelcomed knowledge!😂
 
Racer88 said:
Here it is with the red trigger photoshopped in (best I could)
Click to expand...
tartan-celtic-pgb-p80-2-jpg.9957


The tartan red looks simply bad ass. 😍(y)

You have four days to have this gun completed in time to take to your local saloon for a St Patty's day celebration firing it off toward the ceiling western style.
 
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GSW10 said:
The rear of the cartridge looks too low (from the angle in the pics provided anyway) to be a Breach-Face/Extractor issue. Doubtful a mag problem either -I know you like to stick with OEM... I don't have an H.A.D. 9mm barrel (that I recall at least! 🤣), but the .357 Sig barrel I have from them had a poor transition from Feed-Ramp to Chamber. It failed to feed reliably, so I had to re-grind it. Not something I commonly have to do, nor want to. I was still able to leave more chamber-support than the KKM barrel provides though.
View attachment 9981
[Compared to a KKM barrel, the H.A.D. Feed-Ramp and transition looked like shit, otherwise great barrel. No excuse for a bottle-neck cartridge like a .357 Sig not to feed though...]
View attachment 9982
I am going with that as your likely cause -not that you asked for any help, but hey, I am a fountain of unwelcomed knowledge!😂
Click to expand...

Of course I'm open and welcome any and all help! As for the breachface... no cerakote, so probably not that. But it could be the extractor needs some "dressing." I'll check out the feed-ramp and get a photo posted later tonight when I get home.
 
USApat said:
The tartan red looks simply bad ass. 😍(y)

You have four days to have this gun completed in time to take to your local saloon for a St Patty's day celebration firing it off toward the ceiling western style.
Click to expand...

Tartan is totally NOT my "thang." But it was fun photoshopping it. I'm pretty sure they'd frown on it at the Irish pubs! LOL!
 
Racer88 said:
Of course I'm open and welcome any and all help! As for the breachface... no cerakote, so probably not that. But it could be the extractor needs some "dressing." I'll check out the feed-ramp and get a photo posted later tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...
Id check that suggestion by @GSW10 it maybe that ramp. I'm curious if it is cuz that's a deal breaker for me on that company not matter how well I like them... we need top notch products to build with.
Would like to see that HAD ramp vs one of your OEM or great shooters side by side
 

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