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I have given up waithing for the Kel-Tec P-45. If anyone has any knowledge or experience with the Cobra Patriot .45 ACP I would appreciate it if you would share it.
Thanks
Thanks
"Six Perfect Polymers" by J.B. Wood -
Among the older handgun writers (and, alas, I am in that category), there are some who denigrate any construction that isn't steel and wood. Hey, a few of them even sneered when the first alloy frames came along.
The late George Nonte once did a five-thousand-round comparison test of two identical pistols, one steel, and one alloy. For those too young to have seen that article (thirty years ago!), I will note that the alloy survived perfectly. And now, we have polymer frames. In the earliest applications (Hi-Standard Duramatic, 1954) the frame was indeed "plastic" in the old sense of the term. Like the stocks once used on some Savage shotguns and rifles, this material was relatively fragile. Even so, it was remarkably durable.
Today, the term is "polymer," and the change in the terminology is appropriate. The material used now is quite different chemically, and added ingredients ("glass-filled" for example) have greatly increased the strength and flexibility. For handgun frames, polymer has many advantages. In manufacturing, it is much easier to pop the frame out of a mold than to cast and machine in metal. This lowers the cost. Also in polymer, you can do things in design that would be difficult in metal.
Six Perfect Polymers
Obviously, a polymer frame can't rust. there is no need for separate grip panels, as these can be part of the main construction. Also obvious is the weight, much lighter than steel or alloy. And, the flexibility allows it to absorb impact that would deform a metal frame, and spring back to its original shape.
The downside list is fairly short. If you subject it to intense heat, it will melt. On the other hand, if you subject a steel or alloy frame to that much heat, the springs will soften. the other thing is the "feel" in the hand. Until you get used to them, the polymer-frame pistols tend to seem a little "top-heavy." When they are fully loaded, this factor disappears. .....
....Big-bore fans, here's the one for you, a compact polymer-frame .45 Auto, by master designer Nehemia Sirkis. Here at the start, let's avoid possible confusion about its origin. It was first produced in 1997 by Republic Arms of Chino, California. When Republic Arms went out of business, Cobra Enterprises purchased their parts and access to tooling. Cobra now manufactures their own model, the Patriot 45, which is very similar to the old Republic Arms Patriot.
The Patriot is striker fired, with an automatic internal striker block. The locking system is falling barrel with enclosed track in the barrel underlug. The DAO trigger action is continuous, with no reset. There is a single recoil spring, with a full length guide. Whatever polymer is used for the frame it is tough. The robust sized rails for the stainless steel slide are integral with the frame; there are no steel or alloy inserts. So far I have put about 300 rounds through my gun, including some fairly warm loads and the rails look just the same.
The business end
of the Patriot 45 The front of the trigger guard has cross ridges, but is not hooked. The front of the grip is finger-recessed with room for all three fingers of an average hand. The backstrap and the sides have good molded checkering. The square bottom of the steel magazine catch is recessed. There are no other external controls, making the whole thing very flat and concealable. In my early low-number pistol, the magazine was made from the top two-thirds of a regular 1911-pattern magazine., so the counterholes go all the way down. At the bottom, the floorplate is push-button removable.
"Six Perfect Polymers" by J.B. Wood -
Among the older handgun writers (and, alas, I am in that category), there are some who denigrate any construction that isn't steel and wood. Hey, a few of them even sneered when the first alloy frames came along.
The late George Nonte once did a five-thousand-round comparison test of two identical pistols, one steel, and one alloy. For those too young to have seen that article (thirty years ago!), I will note that the alloy survived perfectly. And now, we have polymer frames. In the earliest applications (Hi-Standard Duramatic, 1954) the frame was indeed "plastic" in the old sense of the term. Like the stocks once used on some Savage shotguns and rifles, this material was relatively fragile. Even so, it was remarkably durable.
Today, the term is "polymer," and the change in the terminology is appropriate. The material used now is quite different chemically, and added ingredients ("glass-filled" for example) have greatly increased the strength and flexibility. For handgun frames, polymer has many advantages. In manufacturing, it is much easier to pop the frame out of a mold than to cast and machine in metal. This lowers the cost. Also in polymer, you can do things in design that would be difficult in metal.
Six Perfect Polymers
Obviously, a polymer frame can't rust. there is no need for separate grip panels, as these can be part of the main construction. Also obvious is the weight, much lighter than steel or alloy. And, the flexibility allows it to absorb impact that would deform a metal frame, and spring back to its original shape.
The downside list is fairly short. If you subject it to intense heat, it will melt. On the other hand, if you subject a steel or alloy frame to that much heat, the springs will soften. the other thing is the "feel" in the hand. Until you get used to them, the polymer-frame pistols tend to seem a little "top-heavy." When they are fully loaded, this factor disappears. .....
....Big-bore fans, here's the one for you, a compact polymer-frame .45 Auto, by master designer Nehemia Sirkis. Here at the start, let's avoid possible confusion about its origin. It was first produced in 1997 by Republic Arms of Chino, California. When Republic Arms went out of business, Cobra Enterprises purchased their parts and access to tooling. Cobra now manufactures their own model, the Patriot 45, which is very similar to the old Republic Arms Patriot.
The Patriot is striker fired, with an automatic internal striker block. The locking system is falling barrel with enclosed track in the barrel underlug. The DAO trigger action is continuous, with no reset. There is a single recoil spring, with a full length guide. Whatever polymer is used for the frame it is tough. The robust sized rails for the stainless steel slide are integral with the frame; there are no steel or alloy inserts. So far I have put about 300 rounds through my gun, including some fairly warm loads and the rails look just the same.
The business end
of the Patriot 45 The front of the trigger guard has cross ridges, but is not hooked. The front of the grip is finger-recessed with room for all three fingers of an average hand. The backstrap and the sides have good molded checkering. The square bottom of the steel magazine catch is recessed. There are no other external controls, making the whole thing very flat and concealable. In my early low-number pistol, the magazine was made from the top two-thirds of a regular 1911-pattern magazine., so the counterholes go all the way down. At the bottom, the floorplate is push-button removable.
There is a low full-length sight rib on top of the slide, with lengthwise striations. The square post front sight is integral with the slide. The square notch rear is dove-tail mounted, adjustable laterally by loosening a vertical Allen screw. The vertically ridged trigger has a quick and easy pull and also a hesitation point when pulled slowly, so you can use the sights. Fired with the Federal 185-grain JHP, the Patriot made one amazing 1.13 inch group at 15 yards, just below center, touching the black.
Shooting .45 in a 20-ounce compact pistol, the felt recoil was about what you would expect, but it was not unpleasant. I have fired another compact .45, almost identical in size and weight, with which the felt recoil fell into the "nasty" category....
A Good Gun to Carry
The three main lines from Cobra, Their Derringers, The Freedom Series and the Patriot Series range in price from $99 to $299. Calibers range from .22 LR, .32, .380, 9mm and .45 Auto.
As we all know, California enacted some very restrictive handgun tests. The objective was to cut down the number and kind of handguns that could be sold to the California citizens. It's not easy to pass the California test. Cobra has good guns that just didn't cost very much.
Cobra offers a lifetime warranty on their firearms. Doug Skillman of Cobra said that less than 1/2 of 1% of the guns ever come back with any problems. Most of those are processed and sent back within two or three working days. Cobra stands behind it's products with their proven customer service.
Mr. Skillman said business was good, and that Cobra is shipping just about everything they can make. Their Derringers are doing well with the cowboy action shooters. Most of the Cobra handguns are small and especially good for women, and men with small hands. Mr. Skillman is planning to do more with the women's market in the near future.
Cobra's guns lend themselves well to the concealed carry market. Even their largest, the Patriot .45, is a narrow one inch and a light 20 ounces, empty. Renouned gun reviewer J.B. Wood has listed this gun as one of his "Perfect Six Polymers." He wrote in the publication, Special Weapons for Law Enforcement, "Whatever type of polymer is used for the frame it is tough."
Sales are good, and the pawnbrokers have been a good sales area for Cobra Mr. Skillman and Cobra had a booth at last year's Pawn Broker's Convention, which was in Las Vegas. He said they had excellent reception. There are about 9000 pawnbrokers with FFLs. Over the last ten years the pawnbroker part of the FFL list is the only section that stayed the same in gross number, and in fact, even increased a little. AFI magazine rotates through the pawnbrokers over the year. The next pawnbroker's convention is in July in New Orleans.
Philosophically, AFI's editor, Andrew Molchan is in Cobra's corner. Mr. Molchan said, "I never liked the attitude that only rich people should have firearms. Poor honest people suffer the most from crime in America. Cobra gives protection to many poor, honest working people, who need it the most."
Patriot Series .45 ACP
Handguns, in the under $150 class, ten years ago sold in enormous numbers. Companies like Stnadard Arms, Bryco, and Lorcin Engineering collectively sold hundreds of thousands of guns a year. In terms of units sold, they were always in the top ten firearms manufacturers in America. The above companies have retired or contracted, but Cobra is now helping to supply those more affordable products that have always been popular good sellers.
IF you want to expand your value line of handguns, this is a manufacturer you should look at real hard. Cobra's are sold through most of the popular distributors. Or, give them a call at 801-908-8300. Visit Cobra at www.cobrapistols.com.