METRIC MAULER After withdrawing the magazine and ensuring the chamber is unloaded a screwdriver starts the takedown sequence (left), since the Big Rock has no barrel bushing. One of the biggest assets of the Big Rock is the fully adjustable rear sight (middle), allowing you to zero the pistol for the wide range of bullet weights now available in 10mm ammo. The G10 grips (right) proved perfect for holding on while touching off the heavier loads without causing undue pain. The backstrap is nicely checkered, too. American Eagle and Federal also offer a 180-grain FMJ I like to use for target shooting, whacking steel plates, and rock busting from a pond bank on our farm. This budget-friendly ammo has always been reliable and functions perfectly in a number of guns previously tested. Depending on your mission, there are plenty of ammo choices when it comes to 10mm. I mention the availability and diversity simply to discourage anyone from having apprehension in this regard as I once did. With this cross-section of munitions in various bullet weights, I was anxious to see how the Big Rock would perform. Along with 13 different boxes of factory 10mm ammo, I also had several different handloads with Hornady, Nosler, and Sierra bullets. Using a Redding T-7 turret system, quality Starline brass, and a canister of Bluedot, the 10mm Auto is painless to load. All of my handloads use 180-grain bullets. With the help of my good shooting buddy, Joe, we set out to evaluate the Big Rock. I wanted Joe to help with all this shooting as he is much younger and has great eyes along with steady nerves. Joe would be able to squeeze the accuracy out of any gun plus he has a lot of experience with semi-autos. We started shooting from 25 yards. The first thing I noticed was how well the Big Rock handled recoil. When loaded, the gun tips the scales at more than 3.5 pounds, and this extra weight is beneficial in taming felt recoil. The G10 grips were an asset when shooting heavy recoiling rounds like those 220-grain hardcast bullets from Buffalo Bore. Compared to other 5-inch 1911 models in 10mm, the Big Rock is well mannered digesting full power 10mm ammo. The sights on this pistol are made for target shooting and we both could acquire targets quickly and precisely. Joe was getting groups ranging from 2 to 3 inches most of the time. Once in a while less than 2 inches materialized. After 300 rounds or so we noticed accuracy deteriorating somewhat. So we gave the barrel a good cleaning and we were back in business with groups recovering WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM “After 500 rounds we had not experienced one malfunction. I thought this was pretty remarkable with both of us shooting all the factory ammo and my handloads. At the end of the day we both were pleased with the overall performance of the Big Rock.” nicely. After 500 rounds we had not experienced one malfunction. I thought this was pretty remarkable with both of us shooting all the factory ammo and my handloads. At the end of the day we both were pleased with overall performance of the Big Rock. What I enjoyed the most was not only the accuracy it delivered, but how well it handled the recoil of heavy 10mm ammo. This is a gun you can shoot for hours—literally. So, how will a big gun with high capacity fill a niche or void with shooters? The Big Rock will make a 53
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