Guy Neill

Welcome

Safety first! Fun second and placement third. Dry fire and include draws in dry fire. There may be a tendency to rush it after the lay-off.

A "double tap" should be two aimed shots. A "hammer" is one sight picture and two shots. Work on re-acquiring the sight after the first shot. Don't worry much about speed = let it happen as you develop your skill.

RIP Martha

Did you check the case headspace before loading? In comparison to your chamber?

Yeah - things were pushing limits back then. 38 Supers using 115gr bullets and loaded to Major were operating at proof level pressures. Gun technology had not yet learned how to reliably set up guns to run with Major 38 Super loads and "Super Face" was all too frequent. The Germans, as I recall, wanted the Major power factor to be 185. They also wanted to pretty much 100% test ammunition - which didn't leave much to shoot for the match. With the gunsmiths learning to put the guns together, combined with supported chamber barrels I feel developed things to the point of offering safe shooting. This led to new cartridges, namely the 356 TSW and 9x23 Winchester that were made to utilize the high pressures. Rule changes at the time killed them from competition. New powders are available that can deliver the velocities at more reasonable pressures.

In the defensive world, stopping power is based on momentum. Energy seems to place too much emphasis on the velocity. That's not to say velocity cannot play a role, as it is a part of momentum. Rifles likely have better success with velocity, given things like the Weatherby magnums. However, stopping power is based on momentum. Momentum is also the means to determine the gun velocity when we are working toward free recoil energy. Power factor is, as mentioned, a momentum number, but with in-consistent units. It is a shorthand means of looking at the power of the gun and was first developed to be an easy determination of the power, corresponding to what was seen in real life defensive gunfights. So, on one hand it is a gamer function, but it has roots in real world. The real trick may be setting the limits for the power factor. It has been toned down some over the years. Currently 165 for Major, 175 years ago.

As an example of the powder charge affecting recoil, using a 1.48n lb gun with a 9mm 124gr bullet and a muzzle velocity of 1050 fps, the free recoil energy is 4.86 ft-lb. This is with 4.3gr of powder. Removing the powder, and keeping everything else the same, the free recoil energy lowers to 3.64 ft-lb. Of course, with no powder there is no recoil. However, in this example, the powder comprised a bit more than 25% of the total recoil. In rifles it's a larger percentage with the larger charge weights.

The powder charge factors into the recoil and comprises a significant part of recoil. As you would expect, the more powder charge, the more recoil.

You might check here. Frank Glenn-Glenn Custom Complete Gunsmithing Service Glendale AZ He actually lists a Phoenix address on the website.

Power factor is a momentum value. The units are not consistent, but momentum is a weight in motion. Historically momentum is defined as mass times velocity. Power factor is a weight times a velocity. Thus, if the power factor is 130, the momentum is the same regardless of the bullet weight. Obviously, the velocity will differ to keep the power factor the same for the different bullet weights. A 130-power factor translates to a momentum of 0.681. The difference between the bullets is the time the bullet is in the bore. For the 115gr the bore time is 0.000605 sec. The 124gr bullet is close, at 0.000652 sec while the slow 147gr bullets take 0.000773 seconds to travel the bore. I used a 4.5" barrel for this comparison. Historically this is where we describe the light, fast bullets as having a snappier recoil versus the slower, heavier bullets with each giving the same power factor.

I've never loaded or fired Major 9 but consider that the pressures are still less than your typical 223/5.56 - and no one seems to have any problems using the fired rifle cases.

I received my Echelon about a week ago (after the state quarantine). I have not made it to the range as yet, but my first impressions are good. Red Hill Tactical was able to provide a holster. The slide configuration is working well with hands having reduced strength. The ability to take optical; sights will be explored. More later.

My condolences to his loved ones. RIP

Measuring the rim diameters on the 57 cases that fit the 9mm Luger shell holder givers an average diameter of 0.397". The SAAMI maximum for a 9mm Luger is 0.394". Given the tolerances, the 38 Super rims are within tolerance even though they can fit the 9mm shell holder.