DRULOV DU10 / ZAVASTA GP45

[Certus]

The only time I have ever experienced an accidental full-auto burst ( 5 rounds) was with my Hammerli 208 .22LR S/A rimfire target pistol. As stated above, if the pistol is always pointed down range as it should be, it gives rise more to amusement than a real danger. Obviously not desirable when attempting to shoot a precision pistol card though. Despite a complete strip and service the problem never recurred in the 10 yrs or so I continued to shoot the pistol prior to the breech loading pistol ban.


Regards

Brian

[zunmik]

I certainly enjoy my Zavasta and haven't really experienced the multiple shot mentioned.
It did have a problem with it going fully auto and not latching, but that is now solved. It turned out not to be a trigger issue at all, but down to the displacement of a small lateral pin in the firing pin rod which prevented the cocking mechanism working properly. I replaced the pin with a longer one, that fits across the width of the gun and doesn't allow for displacement.
Since then, the function has been perfect, but I can't work out just how the pellet feed works.


Ian

I have just heard tonight that a Zastava is on sale local to me, even though I've just had a clearout i'm tempted cos it sounds like my old pistol, M.

[SIG P210-5]

The reason most people do not understand the loading system of the DU-10 is because it is difficult to remove the barrel from the breach block to inspect it.When you have done this you can see the 4 claws at the breach which hold the front pellet in position.Basically the claws are set wide enough to let the head of the pellet through but not enough to let the skirt through.When a blast of CO2 gas is fired it sets the pellet free from this slight grip and as the back of the pellet is exposed to the blast sends it on its merry way down the barrel.This is the reason the pistol is pellet fussy and can also send multiple rounds off if they are too loose fitting in the collet type claws.If you have a bit of skill you can reset the size of the claws and polish them up a bit.
By the way as gingernut says I was away for a while blasting my guns in South Africa.Sold my little Smith Airweight snubbie but now want to buy either the Ruger .357 LCR, or my mates Smith and Wesson Airlite.This is made from Scandium and only weighs 11 oz.Kicks like heck but nice to carry in your shorts pocket. Baz

[Certus]

Hi Baz,

Nice to see some pictures of the 'snubbies'. I recall the enjoyment I got from shooting my .38 Taurus Mod 85 and a nice little .22LR stainless Smith & Wesson Mod 63. That pistol had a fully adjustable rear sight and could easily hold its own with longer barreled competitors. At least I had the opportunity to enjoy owning cartridge pistols in this country for a while before the 1995 ban. I still enjoy shooting muzzle loading revolvers, but it's not really the same. Having said that, South Africa seems a bit far to travel in order to shoot these guns unless combined with a nice long holiday.

Regards

Brian

[gingernut]

You can take the boy out of South Africa.......

[Aitchy]

Interesting! I have a Du-10 which has exhibited all of these problems (except automatic fire) at one time or another. Pellet selection seems to be critical, but with everything checked and serviced, the best I can get reliably is four pellets delivered correctly. Load 5 and it becomes unpredicatable. An added safety issue is that some pellets will jam, making it possible to assume there has been a multiple shot when there has been a missfire. I've taken to opening the breach and sliding a cleaning rod up the barrel in these instances 'just in case', it would otherwise be all too easy to put the pistol away with a pellet in the barrel. It's accurate, it's fun, but it's not without problems.

As best as I can make out, the system works on the basis that a claw in the barrel catches the skirt of the front pellet and holds it in place. Gas is introduced behind the head of the pellet and nudges it past the claw on firing so that the pellet is then ahead of the gas inlet. As the pellet travels down the barrel the back pressure re cocks the pistol and the spring in the bolt pushes the second pellet forward. If the second pellet isn't caught by the claw there will be a multiple shot with two or more pellets discharged at the same time (usually leaving just one hole in the target). If a pellet is held too frirmly by the claw, it jams. The 'automatic fire' problem is different and (I think) trigger related.

The system is clever. The engineering isn't. Are there any better pistols with this system?

[pmh]

Not the same loading system, but the Aeron BRNO B96, Steyr LP5,Steyr LP50 spring to mind for 5 Shot pistols. The price tag does reflect the quality.

Kind regards,



Phil

[gingernut]

Not the same system Phil.
A better one!?

[pmh]

True, but I don't think there are any other pistols that use the DU10 system, and probably for very good reasons.

I've tweaed my previous post to remove any confusion.

All the pistols I mentioned use a sideways moving "box" magazine, and this does seem the best method for consistency.

Most clubs always raise an eyebrow when somebody arrives with a DU10, and my last one bannd them outright. Not only for the potential of full auto, but also because they dump the remaining gas when the pressure drops, which can be off putting to the next shooter. This had also been mistaken for full auto by the uninitiated.

Kind regards,



Phil

[gingernut]

Don't know what your club would make of a Crosman 600 then!
Also many co2 pistols vent gas when finishing.
I am tempted to call that Clubs members girls but am not allowed to these days.

[pmh]

You had to be there!

Our latest club allows any legal airgun, as long as it is handled and shot safely.

I have never seen the point in having rules that greatly limit the guns that can be used.

Kind regards,



Phil

[gingernut]

Our club has two rules.
1. Don't shoot anyone
2. I am the Boss
As I am the Boss it is difficult to pass new rules.