gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 3, 2019 9:43:47 GMT -5
I just picked up a RPM XL Hunter (Merrill) single shot with a 30-30 and 22lr barrel. Does anybody have a copy of an owner's manual? The trigger on this thing is crazy light--curious if anyone knows if it's adjustable or not.
Greg
Edit--looks like it's adjustable using a screw on the back of the grip frame. Any owner's manual info would be great.
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Post by bradshaw on Apr 3, 2019 12:02:56 GMT -5
I just picked up a RPM XL Hunter (Merrill) single shot with a 30-30 and 22lr barrel. Does anybody have a copy of an owner's manual? The trigger on this thing is crazy light--curious if anyone knows if it's adjustable or not. Greg Edit--looks like it's adjustable using a screw on the back of the grip frame. Any owner's manual info would be great. ***** Greg.... RPM stands for Rock Pistol Manufacturing. Jim Rock purchased the Merrill single shot, to continue its manufacture. XL is “40” in Roman numerals, and refers to a perfect 40x40 score in silhouette----40 shots/40 targets down. Jim Rock, an outstanding offhand shot and handgun silhouette competitor, modified the striker-fired lockwork to bring consistency to the trigger pull. Short of finding a manual which shows trigger adjustment, your best dope may come from silhouette shooters who competed with the RPM. These pistols earned a reputation for ferocious accuracy, very fast lock time, and a light trigger subject to inconsistent LETOFF. If you find the information you need, please follow-up with a report. Jim Rock loaned me his own silhouette pistol in .270 REN, which trigger possessed a clean, light break. I cannot abide the “thumb safety,” which must be depressed before the trigger is squeezed. My thumb has very specific jobs when squeezing the trigger on a rifle or handgun, a job which varies with the instrument. For a single shot pistol, it is my thumb’s job to go to sleep. The Merrill “thumb safety” keeps it awake. Jim Rock didn’t share my problem and shot his guns very well indeed. David Bradshaw |
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 3, 2019 14:14:06 GMT -5
Thanks David. I agree, the thumb safety is a bit odd. I'm not sure if it will be an issue or not. I'm going to try and put some rounds down range this weekend.
Greg
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 3, 2019 19:35:44 GMT -5
GREG: FANTASTIC SINGLE SHOT PISTOLS. I LIKE THE THUMB SAFETY, AND IT IS PRETTY QUIET TOO. I THINK I GOT A MANUAL IN MY HIDING PLACE, WILL OPEN IT UP THIS WEEKEND AND LOOK FOR YOU.
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 3, 2019 21:44:24 GMT -5
That would be great! Thanks!
Greg
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 6, 2019 21:30:20 GMT -5
GREG: I HAVE BEEN LOOKING, SO FAR HAVE ONLY FOUND A BROCHURE, BUT NO MANUAL.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Apr 7, 2019 6:50:03 GMT -5
I got my RPM XL directly from Jim, and it had no Owner's Manual. He either said he had none, or there was none. The trigger pull was too light to suit me for a hunting gun. After a while I sent the gun to him to have an additional barrel fitted, and asked him to make the trigger pull heavier. He did that, and sent several additional springs back with the gun, but with no instructions. I liked Jim,but he was like that ....
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 7, 2019 7:15:53 GMT -5
FOR A WHILE GARY WRIGLEY, SON IN LAW OF JIM ROCK, TOOK OVER RPM, BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED AND RPM WENT BACK TO JIM. GARY WRIGLEY NOW HAS PRECISION ARMS AND TOOK OVER THE MOA MAXIMUM SP LINE. JIM ROCK PASSED IN EARLY 2013 AT AGE 92. DO NOT KNOW WHO, IF ANYBODY, TOOK OVER RPM. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH AN XL MAYBE GARY COULD HELP.
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 7, 2019 10:50:26 GMT -5
I sent an email to MOA with no response.
Greg
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 7, 2019 19:28:43 GMT -5
GREG: I JUST CHECKED OUT THE PRECISION ARMS/MOA MAXIMUM WEBSITE, IT SAYS THEY ALSO MAKE THE RPM XL PISTOLS. THE COMPANY IS OR WAS IN MISSOURI, AND MARK HAMPTON HAS USED THE MAXIMUM, SO I AM WONDERING IF MARK HAS CURRENT INFO ON PRECISION ARMS/MOA.
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Post by markhampton on Apr 7, 2019 20:39:02 GMT -5
Gents, the last I heard Gary was busy doing other work besides the gun stuff. He bought the MOA from Rich Mertz and I can only assume he has the RPM XL also. Unfortunately I do not know what the current status is regarding both guns.
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Post by bradshaw on Apr 8, 2019 7:31:34 GMT -5
Gents, the last I heard Gary was busy doing other work besides the gun stuff. He bought the MOA from Rich Mertz and I can only assume he has the RPM XL also. Unfortunately I do not know what the current status is regarding both guns. ***** Perhaps some steel shooters will throw in with photos of the RPM/ Merrill and MOA single shot pistols. For those not familiar, the Merrill, later RPM, is a striker-fired tip-open single shot pistol; the MOA is a lever-actuated falling block single shot. The loop-style lever closes flush in a Colt-styled grip with radiused backstrap. Maker Richard Mertz introduced later offered a tail-type lever, also fit flush to the frontstrap. Both pistols established stellar reputations for accuracy at the highest levels of competition. Fit barrels with integral sights could be interchanged, allowing a competitor to shoot the gun with 10” in Production, and 14” or up to 15” in Unlimited. Contender barrels interchange without hand fitting. To my knowledge, Richard Mertz used Douglas barrels. Don’t know who supplied Jim Rock with barrel stock. With the RPM or MOA you buy virtually guaranteed accuracy, at a substantially higher tarriff than the T/C. Contender barrels were not made to the same standard. Against that, T/C operated on a pretty much total satisfaction guarantee. T/C offered a free replacement for anyone who wore out a Contender. I appreciate posting of info on these pistols by shooters. David Bradshaw |
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 8, 2019 11:52:30 GMT -5
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Post by bradshaw on Apr 9, 2019 10:00:36 GMT -5
gw425.... thank you for photos of your RPM XL. Among external differences from the parent Merrill, your XL has the thumb-actuated release for the locking block. I don’t think the pistol Jim Rock handed me to shoot had this feature, your gun made more recently. Question: is the part screwed to the left side of the frame (above trigger) to actuate the extractor? If not, what is it for? Weak extraction was a problem with the original Merrill, and for some while after Jim Rock took over. It was common to see a competitor drop a brass rod down the barrel to eject a fired case. Taking more time to reload, which reduced time available for sighting. Shooters called the rod a “Merrill extractor."
Single shot pistols which performed and won Production championships
* Thompson/Center Contender----tip-open, bottom lock, hammer fired. Grip: spike type attachment.
* Merrill and RPM XL----tip-open, top lock, striker fired. Grip: 1911 type.
* MOA----falling block, hammer fired. Grip: curved, single action style grip frame.
* E Arthur Brown BF----pivoting drop block, hammer fired. Grip: spike type attachment.
* Wichita International Silhouette Pistol----tip-open, top lock, hammer fired. Grip: 1911 type.
Perhaps other single shots, of which I’m not aware, were certified for Production category IHMSA competition. John Taffin reported on the Competition Arms Competitor for IHMSA. I never saw one in action and don’t know whether production figures met to 200 unit minimum for IHMSA Production.
David Bradshaw
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 365
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Post by gw425 on Apr 9, 2019 14:06:39 GMT -5
Mr. Bradshaw, yes the stainless part levers against the external extractor and pushes it to the rear of the barrel when you open it. There is a small roll pin that limits the extractor travel.
Greg
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