Download AR Dope Bag Oct. 1996: Walther TPH / Dixie 1874 Sharps
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The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shoot- ers to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line.“Sight dope”also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” CAUTION: Technical data and information con- tained herein are intended to provide information based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity.Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. ® WALTHER TPH .22 PISTOL NTRODUCED in Germany just after the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act, Ithe Walther TPH was for many years rarely seen in this country, as the little pis- tol failed to meet that law’s import crite- ria. In the mid-eighties, Walther decid- ed to have the TPH (which stands for “Taschen Pistole, Hahn” or “Pocket Pistol, The American-made TPH com- Hammer”) made here in the U.S. bines good accuracy with Ranger Mfg. Co., of Gadsden,Alabama, Walther standards of quality. (a subsidiary of Mid-South Industries, Inc.) had been producing a Walther-licensed copy of the PPK/S, the “Walther American,” since 1978, and it was thus the logical choice to manufacture the TPH domestically. In 1989, after a year or so of TPH production (done partially on equipment also used for PPK/S fabrica- tion), Ranger ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity, with all manufacturing now under the Mid-South banner. The original German-made TPH offered an from a special extrusion. Although sales of the TPH were initial- aluminum frame and both .22 LR and .25 The TPH barrel is ly brisk, demand for the little pistol ACP chamberings. American-made TPHs, machined from solid bar decreased by the early 1990s, causing a hia- however, are produced in 400-series stain- stock, and button rifled in- less steel and .22 LR only. The house.Most of the TPH’s TPH frame is investment cast, internal steel parts are also of the stainless ACCURACY RESULTS while the slide is machined variety; those that aren’t are electroless- nickel plated. .22 LR Vel. @15' Smallest Largest Average In both outward appearance and inter- Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ins.) (ins.) (ins.) nal lockwork the TPH resembles the PPK. CCI No. 00051 810 Avg. 2.18 3.13 2.77 The TPH is not just a scaled-down copy, Pistol Match 14 Sd however. Though both guns feature a sin- Rem. No. 1600 848 Avg. 2.62 4.35 3.57 gle right-sided trigger bar, the TPH’s acts HPHV 15 Sd directly on the hammer in the double-action Win. No. X22LRD 790 Avg. 2.08 3.88 3.12 mode, unlike the PP/PPK-series design, in Dynapoint HV 26 Sd which a cocking piece intermediary trips Average Extreme Spread 3.15 the hammer. Shooters with fleshy Also different is the location of the mag- Five consecutive 5-shot groups from 50 ft., fired from sand- hands may be slightly bags. Abbreviations: Sd (standard deviation), Rem. azine catch. Unlike its bigger brothers’ (Remington), HPHV (hollow-point high velocity), Win. scraped by the Walther TPH’s recoiling slide. thumb-accessible button positioned to the (Winchester), HV (high velocity) rear of the trigger, the TPH’s magazine catch is at the bottom of the tus in production that allowed Mid-South frame behind the magazine to upgrade tooling and fixturing and insti- This view of the frame top shows the hammer, ejec- well. Other characteristics of tute a separate TPH production line to allow tor and feed ramp.The tab on the trigger bar (arrow) TPH design and function greater output. These proved to be wise engages a slide recess to effect disconnect function. have been previously noted steps, as public call for the pistol increased (February 1989, p. 60). in 1995, necessitating the reinstatement of According to Interarms, production. which markets the pistol, The TPH is a blowback-operated, dou- TPHs made by Mid-South are ble-action, .22 Long Rifle semi-automatic identical in design and toler- pistol with a fixed barrel, decocking safety, ances to those made in 6-round magazine and black plastic stocks. Germany, yielding complete 46 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • October 1996 Lower the trigger guard and WALTHER TPH pull the slide rearward and up (l.), then move it forward MANUFACTURER: Interarms, Dept. AR, to free it from the frame 10 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314 (below l.). The field-stripped MECHANISM TYPE: double-action frame (below) shows the semi-automatic pistol barrel, recoil spring, and CALIBER: .22 Long Rifle right-side trigger bar (arrow). 3 OVERALL LENGTH: 5 ⁄8" 13 BARREL LENGTH: 2 ⁄16" WEIGHT: 14 oz. WIDTH: 15/16" 11 HEIGHT: 3 ⁄16" MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 6 3 TRIGGER: single-action pull, 2 ⁄4 lbs.; double-action pull, 11 lbs. SIGHTS: fixed, rear drift-adjustable for windage STOCK: black plastic ACCESSORIES: test target, plastic case PRICE: $440 parts interchangeability, regardless of place or date of production. The TPH we received was fully up to Walther cosmetic standards, with a well - jams occurred only with hyper-velocity On two occasions the trigger bar moved executed polished finish on the stainless rounds with extreme tip shapes, which are a small distance outward from the frame, steel slide and frame. The only hint of its not recommended by the manufacturer. preventing its tab from resetting into its nationality were the “Made in U.S.A.” and There were several ignition failures, recess in the underside of the slide and ren- “Under License Of” stampings visible on possibly attributable to light hammer fall dering the trigger inoperable. This condi- the slide. (though all the misfiring rounds showed a tion is caused, according to Interarms, by We fired the TPH for accuracy, with the positive firing pin indentation on the case slight warpage of the trigger bar assembly results listed in the accompanying table, rim). According to Interarms, certain during heat treatment. Though this warpage and function-fired it with CCI, Federal, brands of rimfire ammunition, most notably is rare, a special inspection process has been Fiocchi, Remington and Win-chester Remington, have historically given ignition instituted by Mid-South to detect it. ammunition. Accuracy was good for a problems with the TPH. Most of our mis- Though the TPH’s $440 suggested retail pocket pistol—and slightly better than the fires did indeed involve Remington load- price may seem steep to some, it may be TPH tested here earlier—but at 50 ft., the ings and were usually ignited by a second, reasonable to those who value top-quality, bullets impacted four to six inches above double-action pull of the trigger. TPH own- American manufacture and the prestige of and an inch or two to the left of the point of ers are well advised to test any rimfire the Walther name—particularly when the aim. Most loads fed and ejected flawlessly; ammo they may use for reliable ignition. pistol’s reliability ills are fully cured. DIXIE 1874 SHARPS SILHOUETTE Not long ago blackpowder cartridge guns were obsolete for NRA competi- tion. New matches like Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette have revived competitive shooting with guns like the Dixie 1874 Sharps Silhouette rifle. HOUGH the Sharps rifle is perhaps less powder guns dealt a deathblow to Silhouette—and the Dixie 1874 Sharps best known for its part in the deci- blackpowder arms in NRA competition. Blackpowder Silhouette Rifle is built just Tmation of the buffalo herds during In only the last few years, blackpowder for it. our expansion into the West,it is also known guns have been brought back to NRA Pedersoli of Italy is making the gun for for its accuracy. This accuracy proved itself national competition, thanks to renewed Dixie, and it’s one of the better-looking more than 100 years ago in the NRA interest in the guns and the creation of reproduction guns we’ve seen from that Matches at Creedmoor and later at Sea Girt, events specifically for them. One such country. The satin oil finished walnut stock until about 1900 when smallbore smoke- event is NRA Black Powder Cartridge Rifle is uncheckered, and it has a pistol grip, shot- AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • October 1996 47 gun butt with blued steel buttplate and schn- abel fore-end. DIXIE 1874 SHARPS Two slotted screws secure the fore-end MANUFACTURER: Davide Pedersoli & to a substantial 30" blued octagonal barrel C. s.n.c., Via Artigiani, 57-25063, that tapers slightly from 1.10" at the breech Gardone V.T. (BS), Italy to .99" at the muzzle. Rifling is six-groove, IMPORTER: Dixie Gun Works, Inc., 1:18" RH twist for the .45-70 rifle, and Dept. AR, Gunpowder Ln., Union City, 1:16" twist for the .40-65 cal. The flip-up, TN 38261 MECHANISM TYPE: single-shot, falling steel rear sight has an elevator regulated in block rifle increments of 100 yds. to 800 yds., and a CALIBER: .45-70 (tested), .40-65 1 3/8" dovetail slot retains the blued steel OVERALL LENGTH: 47 ⁄2" base with silver blade front sight that is drift BARREL LENGTH: 30" adjustable for windage. WEIGHT: 10 lbs., 3 ozs.