someguy2800
Member
A couple years ago after years of lusting over them at gun shows I finally bought myself a colt targetsman. For those that don't know, a colt targetsman is a version of John Browning's colt woodsman 22 pistol that was introduced in 1915. Without going into to much history they have made 3 generations of this pistol and various versions over the years, but the one I have is a 3rd generation 1969 Targetsman, which is the exact model I had always wanted. Now among the various models of these pistols Colt made the peculiar decision to add a slide stop to the later pistols, but omitted them on two models, the Huntsman and the Targetsman. I really don't understand why they would have done this because its a very simple and cheap component and it really only takes one extra machine operation on an already quite complex pistol. Even stranger, colt couldn't be bothered to make different grips for these guns, so both of them have the cutouts in the grips to accommodate the slide stop, even though none is fitted.
Here is my pistol, notice the lack of slide stop
Here is a huntsman with the slide stop
At the time I bought this I honestly never even noticed that the Targetsman's did not have a slide stop until I shot it for the first time. I absolutely hate the slide not locking open so I decided to correct this oversight and just add the missing slide stop. I was able to get the parts on ebay for about $40. To add this you just need the slide stop, a new side plate, a new side plate screw, and the slide stop spring.
There are a couple modifications that need to be done to the gun to make this work. First Colt did not drill the hole in the frame for the side stop pin to go into. To drill this hole just put the new side plate on the pistol and mark the hole to be drilled. Carefully center punch the hole location and drill the hole on a drill press with a 3/16th drill bit. Care must be taken not to drill through the other side of the frame. The frame is around .650" thick and the hole needs to be .500" deep, so measure and drill in small increments. The frame is quite soft and easy to drill.
I chose to drill the hole about .010" short so the side stop does not fit all the way up against the side stop and rub on it.
The slide stop works by being pushed up by the magazine follower
As noted you do need to replace the screw that holds the side plate on with the correct one for a slide stop equipped pistol. I did not know this and did not order one, but the correct screw has a shoulder on it that allows the slide stop to slide up and down on it. Since I did not have the correct screw I just chucked my existing screw in my lathe and somehow managed to put a shoulder on it without sending it across the shop.
Finally in order for the slide stop to work you will need to add the missing notch in the slide for it to engage into. I did this by studying pictures of a woodsman slide and filing it in with a fine bastard file.
There is already a 2nd notch in the targetsman and huntsman slides for holding the slide open with the safety lever. The slide stop will also engage this notch when cycling the slide by hand, however this did not in any way interfere with anything when shooting the pistol. When you push the slide stop down with your thumb to close the barrel it also clears this notch so it doesn't make any difference.
I was excited to try it out and grabbed a random open box of 22 ammo off the gun safe. I though it quite fitting that by chance I picked the box with Mr Browning himself on it. I think he would approve
Works like a champ. Much more enjoyable to shoot now!
Here is my pistol, notice the lack of slide stop
Here is a huntsman with the slide stop
At the time I bought this I honestly never even noticed that the Targetsman's did not have a slide stop until I shot it for the first time. I absolutely hate the slide not locking open so I decided to correct this oversight and just add the missing slide stop. I was able to get the parts on ebay for about $40. To add this you just need the slide stop, a new side plate, a new side plate screw, and the slide stop spring.
There are a couple modifications that need to be done to the gun to make this work. First Colt did not drill the hole in the frame for the side stop pin to go into. To drill this hole just put the new side plate on the pistol and mark the hole to be drilled. Carefully center punch the hole location and drill the hole on a drill press with a 3/16th drill bit. Care must be taken not to drill through the other side of the frame. The frame is around .650" thick and the hole needs to be .500" deep, so measure and drill in small increments. The frame is quite soft and easy to drill.
I chose to drill the hole about .010" short so the side stop does not fit all the way up against the side stop and rub on it.
The slide stop works by being pushed up by the magazine follower
As noted you do need to replace the screw that holds the side plate on with the correct one for a slide stop equipped pistol. I did not know this and did not order one, but the correct screw has a shoulder on it that allows the slide stop to slide up and down on it. Since I did not have the correct screw I just chucked my existing screw in my lathe and somehow managed to put a shoulder on it without sending it across the shop.
Finally in order for the slide stop to work you will need to add the missing notch in the slide for it to engage into. I did this by studying pictures of a woodsman slide and filing it in with a fine bastard file.
There is already a 2nd notch in the targetsman and huntsman slides for holding the slide open with the safety lever. The slide stop will also engage this notch when cycling the slide by hand, however this did not in any way interfere with anything when shooting the pistol. When you push the slide stop down with your thumb to close the barrel it also clears this notch so it doesn't make any difference.
I was excited to try it out and grabbed a random open box of 22 ammo off the gun safe. I though it quite fitting that by chance I picked the box with Mr Browning himself on it. I think he would approve
Works like a champ. Much more enjoyable to shoot now!
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