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The UK "Patriot" Centrefire Pistol
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:49 pm
by Fortitudo Dei
Well I've read all about it, and have read comments from a couple of UK target shooters, but does anyone know anyone who has actually seen one in the flesh or used an example? David (Levene) - any thoughts or gossip? If not up to international competition quality, would it at least allow British shooters to train for the Centrefire event in the UK?
For those who don't know, the Patriot is an ingenious UK-legal single-action .32 Centrefire pistol which is permitted under the "muzzle loading" rules.
http://www.patriotpistol.com/index.htm
![Image](http://www.patriotpistol.com/PATRIOT-PR.jpg)
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:18 am
by David Levene
I know 2 people who have currently got one (including TTer PaulT).
I have heard a few complaints including bad sights, bad trigger and expensive specialised bullets. No doubt someone will be able to modify the gun to solve the first 2 problems.
You couldn't use one in ISSF competition and I am not totally convinced of the increased benefits of training with a Patriot over training with a suitably set up LP5 or LP50.
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:35 am
by PaulT
The Patriot
Firstly, I would not consider purchasing this pistol if I had ready access to a conventional ISSF centre fire pistol, I don’t, so I bought it!
The pistol has its faults and I list these below, however, it is an excellent training aid for centre fire precision and to an extent rapid. I agree that the remains a place for LP5 as the LP5 is semi-auto in action. Whist revolvers are used by some in ISSF centre fire and thus requiring re-cocking I use a semi-auto and like to shoot the LP5 as well to train-in breathing routine.
Whilst it appears negative to just list the issues, the pistol is sufficiently accurate and has the weight/balance representative of a centre fire pistol.
The issues
1. The gun is a pain to keep clean whilst shooting. It is well made but small lead build-up prevents the loading block traversing that requires a brief brush between every series.
2. Loading is done on range. You soon get used to performing this task. We start the minute load with a primed block, leaving the powder and bullet seating. The whole load could be done in a minute but the objective is training and I have a pre-shoot routine t-20 seconds when shooting conventional ISSF c/f and think others do as well so I did not want to spend time fiddling with the loading task.
3. The foresight is narrow and the rear sight is very poor, it is too narrow but made of a solid metal bock requiring engineering work to machine out and replace with metal plate, the screw adjustment is agricultural. A decent rear sight would be an obvious enhancement.
4. The trigger is well over 1360g but good for early season training. Grafting a decent trigger into this may be tricky but worthwhile if a spare of the match pistol can be achieved.
5. The default load of 0.8 grains Bullseye is low! The supplied brass powder thrower is very good but will require machining to convert to the required 1.0 grains of bullseye/N310.
The custom bullets are gas checked (lead with a copper disk base) are very well made and represent good value for money when compared with Lapua heads. I don’t see these as an issue but for some reason several members have seen the pistol did not like the need to purchase these heads. The loading block cylinders is shorter than the standard .32 SW long and for this reason gas checks are used and the associated lower charge. The is no case cycling needed so recoil is lower than Lapua factory (destroyer of Hammerli SP20 recoil buffers!).
The financial backer for this pistol is our ex-BPC chairman. I don’t think large production runs were anticipated as the market in my view is serious centre fire shooters who want to shoot the ISSF course of fire but without access to the more conventional pistols.
Hope this helps.