Ballester Molina joins herd

saab-bob · 06-14-2015, 05:01 PM

I been looking for a reasonably nice example of these pistols after reading about their connection to the German Pocket Battleship Graf Spee.
Here is a good article about this subject from the NRA magazine.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/arti...lester-molina/
Good trivia to discuss with your gun friends! I love a good yarn.

Saw it at a local on line auction and got a pretty good deal.

Did a good cleaning and everything looks good.
Tight,functions fine,good trigger pull,very minor corrosion spot under grips,decent bore. Looking forward to shooting it!
Found a holster at SARCO for it,as well.
Looks like alot of historic 45 ACP for the money.
Read a on line reviewer claiming the Ballester magazine would not work in his Colt 1911. Mine fit just fine.

I do need a correct recoil spring cap.Mine has a checkered Colt style and I need the original type with the concentric rings.
Anybody got one sitting in a box? Not necessary for shooting,but nice to keep gun correct.
Thanks
Bob

Arizona Slim · 06-14-2015, 05:34 PM

Thanks Bob, very nice looking rig. Gives me the itch to add one to my collection also.

Lon

Edward Tinker · 06-14-2015, 06:56 PM

they are good shooting, from memory, the mag, the barrel and barrel bushing, and those parts work, most others do not.

Ed

rhuff · 06-15-2015, 03:17 PM

Congrats on your new piece. That should be a lot of fun at the range. You might want to check Numrich Gun Parts, And Bobs Gun Parts in Arkansas. They both keep odd older gun parts.

Curly1 · 06-15-2015, 06:07 PM

Great looking rig!

alanint · 06-15-2015, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saab-bob

Found a holster at SARCO for it,as well.
Bob

Bob, do your self a big favor and cover the inside rivets of the holster clasp hardware with leather or other protective barrier. I had a repro P38 holster with the same type of closure scratch the holy beegeezuz out of the slide on a West German P1 I had in the holster. Granted, it was only a P1, but the damage really ticked me off.

ithacaartist · 06-16-2015, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

Bob, do your self a big favor and cover the inside rivets of the holster clasp hardware with leather or other protective barrier. I had a repro P38 holster with the same type of closure scratch the holy beegeezuz out of the slide on a West German P1 I had in the holster. Granted, it was only a P1, but the damage really ticked me off.

Nope, Doug, take another look! I was revisiting this post today, just now, and as I re-examined the pic with the holster, I began to wonder why there would be so much extra room inside, below the trigger guard when the gun is in there. Not needed for the pistol's shape/volume--why not more of a trim fit? Then I noticed that the mag pouch on the holster's face sort of dictates the lower, left contour of the holster's edge--and that what needs protection from the inside of the clasp is the mags one would insert!

saab-bob · 06-16-2015, 03:05 PM

David
You are exactly correct.

There is a magazine holder on the front of the holster.This is where the back of the clasp assembly would rub.The holder holds 2 mags and there is no divider between them.

Probably why all the original mags for these guns have heavy finish loss!

Thanks gents.
Bob

hansfischer007 · 06-17-2015, 02:01 PM

Well...after reading this post .....looks like will have to start searching the gun shows for one of "those old argentine .45s"...

but I'm sure the sellers are aware of what they have by now.....but sometimes.......even a blind hog finds an acorn..

saab-bob · 06-24-2015, 04:25 PM

Just wanted to give a range report on my Ballester-Molina.
Before I go shooting a new(to me) gun,this is my usual routine.If the parts are available.
Did a good cleaning and lubrication,replaced the recoil spring,firing pin spring and the magazine spring on the supplied original magazine.I also always fit a recoil buffer.

Shooting range reloads,function was great.No issues,even with the worn magazine the gun came with.

Trigger pull was smooth with very sight creep.Better then most of my other 1911s.

Notwithstanding the old school battle sights and my old eyes,the accuracy was good.
As for the shooting feel,its a little heaver then the Colt 1911.It even has holes drilled in the bottom of the frame. To reduce weight?

No grip safety,so it felt very solid in the hand.
Loved the feel of the steel. Whatever its source,it has that musical sound when you rack it.Like a luger.Nice.

Very enjoyable!
Bob

rhuff · 06-25-2015, 03:20 PM

When one has a good range trip with a new weapon, it has a tendency to put a smile on one's face. Glad to hear that your new piece is a good shooter.

06-15-2015, 06:07 PM	#5
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,255 Thanks: 126 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	Great looking rig! __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

06-16-2015, 03:05 PM	#8
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	David You are exactly correct. There is a magazine holder on the front of the holster.This is where the back of the clasp assembly would rub.The holder holds 2 mags and there is no divider between them. Probably why all the original mags for these guns have heavy finish loss! Thanks gents. Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

06-17-2015, 02:01 PM	#9
hansfischer007 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Tennessee Posts: 233 Thanks: 509 Thanked 96 Times in 48 Posts	Im in trouble now..!! Well...after reading this post .....looks like will have to start searching the gun shows for one of "those old argentine .45s"... but I'm sure the sellers are aware of what they have by now.....but sometimes.......even a blind hog finds an acorn..

06-24-2015, 04:25 PM	#10
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Just wanted to give a range report on my Ballester-Molina. Before I go shooting a new(to me) gun,this is my usual routine.If the parts are available. Did a good cleaning and lubrication,replaced the recoil spring,firing pin spring and the magazine spring on the supplied original magazine.I also always fit a recoil buffer. Shooting range reloads,function was great.No issues,even with the worn magazine the gun came with. Trigger pull was smooth with very sight creep.Better then most of my other 1911s. Notwithstanding the old school battle sights and my old eyes,the accuracy was good. As for the shooting feel,its a little heaver then the Colt 1911.It even has holes drilled in the bottom of the frame. To reduce weight? No grip safety,so it felt very solid in the hand. Loved the feel of the steel. Whatever its source,it has that musical sound when you rack it.Like a luger.Nice. Very enjoyable! Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

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06-14-2015, 05:34 PM	#2
Arizona Slim Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 706 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 409 Times in 225 Posts	Thanks Bob, very nice looking rig. Gives me the itch to add one to my collection also. Lon

06-14-2015, 06:56 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,609 Times in 2,123 Posts	they are good shooting, from memory, the mag, the barrel and barrel bushing, and those parts work, most others do not. Ed

06-15-2015, 03:17 PM	#4
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,748 Thanked 998 Times in 733 Posts	Congrats on your new piece. That should be a lot of fun at the range. You might want to check Numrich Gun Parts, And Bobs Gun Parts in Arkansas. They both keep odd older gun parts.

06-25-2015, 03:20 PM	#11
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,748 Thanked 998 Times in 733 Posts	When one has a good range trip with a new weapon, it has a tendency to put a smile on one's face. Glad to hear that your new piece is a good shooter.