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New Gen Open Gun


tomjerry1

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Hearing things WHERE from WHO about WHAT new style gun? Having a little trouble picturing what great new thing would obsolete

the current crop of Open blasters.

If there is, I want one. Maybe 2. :mellow:

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I am interested in an open gun, but am hearing things about the New style gun that will obsolete what is available now? Any input on this?

There are a bunch of theories as to what makes the perfect open gun. Weight distribution, slide weight, comp design, barrel/ slide length, firing pin stop contour and spring weights all contribute to how a gun handles and shoots. The "newer" age guns seem to run shorter barrels / slides and move the weight more to the grip area.

I have shot a number of open guns and currently compete with a gun that was built by the company in that video. Without a doubt, I prefer what is referred to as a "new" style gun over anything else I have tried. Everyone who has shot my gun comments on how soft and flat it shoots. With that said, everyone's preference is a little bit different.

Will these "newer" style guns replace what is out there already? who knows... I am personally sold on their performance.

If you are thinking of getting into open, I would suggest shooting as many guns as possible to see what your preference is. For ME, Atlas is building a fantastic product. They have really done their research and development to figure out a package that simply flat out performs.

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The "old" style open guns have won many Open Championships. I looked at the video and his website. I'm not knocking his new style guns. Shorter guns have come and gone. Granted we never had steel grips before, but I see nothing that would obsolete current open style guns. The shorter the barrel the harder to make major. Shorter barrel guns became "violent" (others words) as the quest to make them shoot flatter meant more barrel holes.

The more holes the more powder.

GMs today are still winning with current style open. I would not worry about getting a current style open.

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Hype, trying to sell a gun. Speaking of 2 oz different in weight and the gun swings better ? Ask Travis on a swinging gun ! Can you lift more weight with a short stick or a long stick ? Many , many variables in the way the gun is set up. Max shooting a short gun ? Everyone has their own perception. Shoot as many open guns that your fellow shooters will allow. Just for the record, I am not knocking the builder of the guns in the video, don't know the person or the gun. Just 34 years experience in the sport and many open guns under my belt. I hope the builder sells a million of his builds. Was wondering if it might be the new Hillary Clinton pistol that will change the world.

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That is it???? Can't believe that a 1/2'' or 1/4'' would make a difference. Again that is according to me and not my wife. :goof:

I am asking because the thought of the "short" seems logical but then again there a ton of "long" shooters tearing it up. Again is it, "it's the indian, not the arrow" or is there a valid point.

I am going to convert an STI eagle to open and wasn't sure where i was going to fall long or short. ..... don't ask my wife.

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That is it???? Can't believe that a 1/2'' or 1/4'' would make a difference. Again that is according to me and not my wife. :goof:

I am asking because the thought of the "short" seems logical but then again there a ton of "long" shooters tearing it up. Again is it, "it's the indian, not the arrow" or is there a valid point.

I am going to convert an STI eagle to open and wasn't sure where i was going to fall long or short. ..... don't ask my wife.

It can make a noticeable difference; it's a combination of weight and length. Swing a broom handle from side to side then do it with a short stick. Obviously it's not THAT much. I'm going from a Tanfog race gun, full steel, full dust cover; do an STI style race gun and you can sure feel it. We are running the F1 racecars of the handgun world, so any tiny little extra bit we can get out of our gear is a plus. That said, many shooters have been winning matches with the most unassuming firearms; you have to do your part.

Agonizing over these "new style" race guns isn't worth it. Try shooting one and if it feels good go with it. Like EchoTango said, it's not for everyone.

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firstly as someone pointed out there's nothing particularly 'new' in that except perhaps steel grip though SV has been making steel grips for at least 5 years (more?).

The 'long' open guns are somewhere around 5.5-7 inch including the comp. typically perhaps 5 and a bit inches of barrel with a comp anywhere from 1-2inches (at least half an inch sits over the barrel threads). Shorties can be as much as an inch or slightly more shorter. then you have the mid length which is somewhere in between.

titanium comps have been around a long time. in fact I have an SV which is more than 5 years old which has a titanium comp (same as current SV comps) with two barrel ports, heavily lightened slide, short barrel and is only 6inch in total including a 2inch comp. it's 'shortness' is mitigated somewhat by a long dust cover... but I digress.

so have ported barrels (both with straight up ports at the 12 oclock position and in V configuration too).

lightened and shortened slides are not new either.

dust covers (aka frames) have been available in std width and wide as well as full length and any dimension short than that (basically cut back as much as the owner would like till you run into the scope mount holes).

what is kind of new I guess is some of the combinations of these features. These things seems to come and go in waves.

Generally the longer guns with a compensator and perhaps just one or two barrel ports are softer to shoot but perhaps do exhibit a little more muzzle rise and may need more effort to transition.

the shorter guns which typically have more ports generally 'feel' faster to shoot but are more violent in the hand (more recoil) but sit flatter and are a bit easier to drive from target to target.

Ultimately it boils down to personal preference. There's nothing really revolutionary about shorter guns.

They main reason they are more popular now is that the power factor for major in open in both IPSC and USPSA is lower than it used to be (180). With the 180 power factor floor shorter guns became a fair bit unpleasant to shoot due to the amount of powder needed to hit major with shorter barrels.

Now that major PF is lower in open the short guns are not as harsh/violent as they once were. so they've regained a bit of popularity both by experienced shooters who may have tried one at the 'old' PF and not liked it and by new shooters who are coming to open for the first time.

I personally like a flatter, faster shooting gun and don't mind the additional push in the hand, but plenty of guys prefer the feel of a softer shooting gun and feel they are faster with that setup.

I'd suggest try as many as you can. what works for some may not work for you.

There is certainly no new magic which has just been released. Atlas seem to make good stuff but nothing I see there is 'different' or revolutionary and certainly nothing beyond what you'd see at at normal match in open.

I also don't believe there is some massive step forward in action pistol type handguns that will make 2011's obsolete any time soon. after all they are based on a 100+ year old design and really the only change is the mag opening in the frame is wider to allow the double column magazine and that the grip and frame are now 2 piece vs the original. Otherwise they work in the same way. We do have more creative slide treatments, comp designs, coatings and materials but that's about it. I'd say it's been incremental improvement not revolutionary.

The great thing about the 2011's is the ability to change them. like the lego of guns. so if you decide you don't like your 'long' 2011 there's nothing to stop you cutting a bit of the dust cover then slapping on a new top end. :)

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Great post beerbaron

Agreed! Very good post indeed!

Yep... when it comes to open guns there is very little new under the sun... (and if you go back far enough the had steel frams and grips... we though goingnto plastic grips was progress... :-) go figure)

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Great post beerbaron

Agreed! Very good post indeed!

Yep... when it comes to open guns there is very little new under the sun... (and if you go back far enough the had steel frams and grips... we though goingnto plastic grips was progress... :-) go figure)

Yep and on Open guns you see people going back to plastic grips , after trying steel .

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Generally the longer guns with a compensator and perhaps just one or two barrel ports are softer to shoot but perhaps do exhibit a little more muzzle rise and may need more effort to transition.

the shorter guns which typically have more ports generally 'feel' faster to shoot but are more violent in the hand (more recoil) but sit flatter and are a bit easier to drive from target to target.

...

Makes sense.

I've been wondering if there are people who choose short pistols for the balance - but use heavier bullets for softer recoil, and live with a little more muzzle jump.

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