I know a few guys asked for a range report, so here it is.

I finally received the 45 win mag brass earlier this week and did some load development. Today was the day to head out to the range and test the loads. It was a disappointing trip with the Grizzly but improved once I broke out the Dan Model 40, which always works without fail. Whenever I purchase a new or used firearm, my policy is to strip it and inspect/clean/lube before the first trip to the range. Since this firearm was so clean and had obviously been well taken care of, I decided to go ahead and take the 10 rounds each that I loaded for the 4 different loads and would strip the gun after shooting the 40 rounds, again because it was so clean. 
In a nutshell, the Grizzly is a single shot semi auto. I had failure to extract on every round. 

The first load was a bit weak for 45WM so I decided that the pressure wasn't quite enough and caused a short stroke. I have talked to a few people who said the lightest load I made will cycle in their broken in Grizzly. As I stepped up the pressure and velocity chain, same problem. I shot 1 round each of the 4 loads I worked up and not 1 extracted properly. A stovepipe would have been a welcome sight at this point but I didn't even get that. What is going on with this pistol? All the bad thoughts started running through my head since certain replacement parts for this gun, like an extractor for example, are nonexistent.
After shooting 4 rounds out of the Grizzly and 50 or so through the Dan, I packed up and came home. I decided to dismantle the Grizzly to figure out what was going on. I struggled trying to get the compensator off. The factory comp is a bushing style and mine has had the barrel threaded for a comp by the previous owner. Couldn't get the comp off due to the set screw flattening the threads and had to work around removing it. As I started removing the slide from the frame, I noticed significant resistance- way more than any 1911 with the recoil spring still installed. Anyway, once I got it stripped, guess what I found? Nothing. No grease and no oil- 100% dry! Holy moly, no wonder it was short stroking, especially with major stiction and a 27lb. recoil spring.
I suspect that the reason the gun is so clean is because it was shot maybe 5 times. With zero lubricant, I would imagine that it wouldn't take too long to have obvious signs of wear to the slide and/or frame. Fortunately, I see no real damage from use in this condition and I am now convinced this firearm has seen less than 10 rounds in it's lifetime. I bet dollars to donuts that the previous owner shot it a couple times, had this problem, and sent it to the safe for the last 30 years. Will get it all lubed up and try again, hopefully I will have some more time this weekend and have better results. This thing is definitely not broken in and is still super tight but is significantly easier to rack the slide now that there is some lubrication. If there is any good news, at least it has no problem with feeding the hollow points that I loaded.

Here are a few pics (pre cleaning/lubing) of what I saw when I got it pulled down. Let this be a lesson to everyone- don't make assumptions that cleanliness = maintained. This will be the last time I don't follow my own rules for a new to me firearm. Even the wife asked me what I was thinking.

To be continued....

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