Detonics CombatMaster .45 Is Alive and Well in the USA
by John C. Krull
Gun Week Production Manager
For a couple of years now, I had been hearing of the revitalization of the Detonics line of .45-caliber pistols.
The first time that I remember hearing the name Detonics and its having a meaning to me was in a novel that I was reading entitled The Freeman, by Jerry and Sharon Ahern. The book is about the lives of several American freedom fighters in a fictional political future. There are numerous firearms makes and models talked about and used throughout the book—the Beretta 92, the M16A2, the Colt Gold Cup, the CZ-75, and lots more. But, the one that I have always remembered best was the Detonics ScoreMaster. I first read this book back in March 1987, the same year the original Detonics company was approved for bankruptcy by the courts.
I had seen Detonics pistols in gun stores but with raising a family at the time you couldn’t always buy all the guns that might tickle your fancy. Somehow the wife always finds out and gets peeved.
So, it is with a bit of nostalgia that I write this article, almost 20 years later, about the testing of a gun that I craved years ago. To add to the memories and history is the fact that the authors of The Freeman are now the principals of the new Detonics USA (53 Perimeter Center East, Suite 200, Dept. GWK, Atlanta, GA 30346; phone: 866-759-1169; on-line: www.detonicsusa.com)—Jerry and Sharon Ahern.
The Marine Corps gave me my love for the .45. I know the ones that most people got to use in the Corps left a little bit to be desired, but that wasn’t the case for me. I was shooting on the Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol team at Quantico, and we had match-grade equipment.
I feel justified in comparing the Detonics CombatMaster to those high-quality firearms.
When I first received the sample of the Detonics, I wasn’t really happy with it at all. The slide was hard to pull back. The slide release took extra effort to push down. In addition, the trigger pull seemed to be rather heavy. I was sure I wasn’t going to like this gun that I had lusted after for so long.
Actual Testing
Then, I started doing the testing. I started with some dry firing which made me realize that I was unfairly comparing the CombatMaster to other guns that weren’t in the same category and would have to learn to use the Detonics for itself.
I got used to the slide and realized that it was a better practice to pull the slide to the rear and let it do its slingshot return rather than mess with the slide release. This could be a problem for some people with smaller hands or weaker upper body strength.
The trigger pull did seem heavy at first, but it was smooth and crisp with no drag and very little creep to it. I weighed the trigger pull and found that it was just 5.5 pounds—only 1/4- to 1/2-pound more than my Springfield Trophy Match. I found that I was holding the Detonics somewhat differently than a full-sized .45. This is because you have to. It makes some of the functions feel different than you may be used to. I was beginning to like the Detonics. My little finger rests along the bottom of the magazine totally unlike my full-size .45s.
I found that field stripping the CombatMaster was really quick and easy. The design of the Detonics is different from what we see in a standard 1911 in several ways. There are no parts that are going to go flying when you remove the slide. It breaks down into just five parts—the frame, the slide, the barrel, the guide rod, and the slide stop pin.
The guide rod has three “captive” springs on it, which are counter-wound. This means that one spring goes counter-clockwise while the other two are wound clockwise. They are held captive on the rod by a screw that is inserted into the end of the guide rod. It can be removed to clean or replace the springs, but this will have to be done rarely. The use of the three springs produces more pressure than a single spring would. This strength is needed for the CombatMaster to function properly. Ahern assures me that these springs are good for at least 5,000 rounds.
From the pictures, you might have noticed that the sights are set about 1-1/4 inches forward of where you see them typically on a 1911. This is another of the unique features of the CombatMaster. Both the front sight and the rear sights are black and do line up quickly. While they are not adjustable, I found them to be in line with the barrel and therefore the trajectory of the bullet. The bullets did hit where I was aiming.
Specifications
Our test Detonics came to us in .45 ACP, but it is or soon will be available in several other calibers including: .40 S&W, .357 Sig, .38 Super and 9mm Parabellum. Personally I’d stick to the .45.
The barrel length is 3.5 inches. Overall height of the CombatMaster is 4&Mac186; inches with the length being an even 7 inches. The book says it weighs 34 ounces and I’m going to have to assume that means unloaded. If you add another 6 ounces for 7 rounds of ammo loaded with 230-grain bullets that gives you a total gun weight of 40 ounces. The profile isn’t much different than any other .45 at 1&Mac249; inches wide.
The grips have a nice feel and, with the checkering and the Detonics emblem on them, help to control the gun during firing. They have a rosewood finish and do make for a classy looking piece on the stainless steel frame.
Being a compact gun, the magazines only hold 6 rounds each with one in the pipe. You are trading a bit of firepower for “concealability.” You make the choice! Of course, I’ve always felt that if you have good marksmanship skills you don’t necessarily need high capacity.
The retail price of the CombatMaster is $1,200.
Test Firing
We had to do our entire test firing outside. There just isn’t an indoor public range around our area that can handle full metal jacketed loads. We went to the range several times, and we did not have a single malfunction.
I think the best time at the range was when my son came up from Tennessee during the Summer with his wife and son. Henry just shot the living hell out the Detonics, while his wife Jenn was more amiable to the NAA .32 ACP that we had with us. My grandson, who is just 7, spent his time with the Bushmaster AR-15 converted to .22 LR.
Ammo from Winchester, Cor-Bon, and Black Hills was used extensively with bullet weights from 185 grain up to 230 grain. Out to 7 yards there was very little difference in the group sizes when shooting slow fire. It was only during rapid fire that the groups started to open up some. With all our shooting and the number of rounds fired we failed to keep good track of whether one ammo performed better than another did. I guess we were just having way too much fun shooting.
Jenn was warned about keeping the thumb on her support hand lower than the slide. She learned the lesson the hard way with a groove in her thumb from the slide!
Concealed Carry
While there are some guns that I just stick in my pocket when I go out, this wouldn’t be one of them. For the Detonics CombatMaster you do want to get a holster. We tried two different models from two of the best holster companies around.
The first holster we tried comes from my friends at Alessi Custom Concealment Holsters (2465 Niagara Falls Blvd., Dept. GWK, Amherst, NY 14228; phone: 716-691-5615). Alessi has always been more than helpful to me in providing leather for whatever I happen to be testing. Actually, it is my understanding that he was the original holster maker for the original Detonics .45 way back when.
The holster that he provided us with was my favorite type—one that snaps on the belt inside-the-pants. To me this type of holster offers the most “concealability” and here in New York your gun has to be concealed with no telltale holster showing below your jacket. This one had two separate snaps to keep the holster securely on your belt. The gun fits the holster very securely, but the leather needs a little breaking in. It’s brown in color and will last you for many years of active carry.
The second holster is from Galco International Ltd. (2019 W. Quail Ave., Dept. GWK, Phoenix, AZ 85027; phone: 800-US GALCO; on-line: www.usgalco.com). The holster Galco sent is their Fletch High Ride Belt Holster. This one has to be threaded through the belt and is completely outside-of-the-pants. The plastic bag that the holster came in says it will accommodate a Para-Ordnance P12, Springfield Ultra Compact or a Star PD so I would have to guess that any other holster made for these guns will also work for the Detonics CombatMaster.
The Galco holster has a thumb release strap for over the hammer so you do have to carry the gun with the hammer down. This isn’t my preferred carry, so this might be a consideration when selecting a holster.
Galco also provided a double magazine carrier for the belt. Both these items came in black and were quite attractive.
I’ve always felt it best to try several holsters for any gun, but I usually fall back on an in-the-pants Alessi rig of some sort.
The Detonics CombatMaster is a low-maintenance, reliable, stainless steel, .45-caliber pistol that consistently functions as designed. It seems to like any kind of factory ammo without discrimination and should last for a lifetime.
When contacting any of the manufacturers mentioned in this article, tell them that John at Gun Week sent you.
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