Dr. Phil

Dang it! It was just getting good!! LOL keep shooting. Someday you will be as bad as me!

At the bell, they come out of their corners like crazed Spartans! ysrracer lands a glancing blow to open the round! The blow doesn't seem to faze 4n210, however and he responds with a solid... I mean devastating body blow! ysrracer is backing up, looking to regroup! And that's the bell, ending round 1 of this slugfest. More after this... Hey, O.P. I use that same load of 231 (3.2 gr) under my 147s, and I have some coated 155gr which I shoot the same charge. Nice load. Remember (if it hasn't come up yet) that you may have to change your O.A.L. depending on the bullet you are shooting (profile, ogive, etc) and it will feel different in your gun than lighter projectiles in regard to muzzle rise and recoil. And now, we're back for an exciting round 2!! Sorry, guys, just messing with ya...

I started my dry fire routine this last fall switching over to weak hand. (I am right hand shooting, right eye dominant but left handed) to see if it was faster, exactly to what you said; less steps maybe. After a couple months, I switched back, mainly because of the stories I hear about how much the gun gets beat and the bent crane stuff I have read. The auto shooters want to be below 1.5 sec. I will be happy to get to 2.5 for standing reloads. Every day 3 or 4 times I go down and work on it. Getting faster but it really ain't my jam! I saw a video of Jerry doing a 1.57 standing! Yeesh. Makes a guy sick!

Well, no. The cylinder isn't 'flopping everywhere.' I strong hand load as stated so the cylinder is actually being held by thumb plus 2 fingers (through the frame.) The clip goes in whenever and wherever I want it to. I usually don't do much running with my cylinder flopping.

I was thinking, while reading through this thread, 'now try it with a revolver!' I have to decide which reload to use (strong hand or weak hand) depending on the direction I am running. (much the same with an auto) to keep from breaking the 180. I am working now on standing reloads with the revo. There is so much movement that is hard to be fast. Really fast. I think cs's comments are spot on; break it down and do it till your hands bleed! FWIW, with a revo, I try to dump the moon clip as soon as done firing and run like heck till about 2 steps from the next box and drop in the clip just before I stop to shoot, getting the gun up as I stop. Seems to be the fastest for me from my testing. Better that than tripping over my feet! Of course, shooting against mostly autos it doesn't really matter, but it is nice to know...

LOL. Welcome aboard.

Ahhh... premature epostination.

I am using a regular expander/powder through die before the powder station. I removed the powder section and adjusted the die to minimum flare. The powder drop/expander caused an extra vibration when I tried it. I am using a .355 9mm expander whether loading .355 9mm or .358 diameter bullets. I taper crimp everything.

I use the flare die separate from the powder measure. I seat and taper crimp with the Lee die. I leave the last station empty. Set it up for a powder cop but instead I lean forward and check powder every 10 rounds or so. The powder drop always works and I can hear it if it doesn't.

I'm right there with you Cuz! I tell people all the time that knock down steel is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! I have had a few dozen people at my range shooting knock down. As stated there are now 3 or 4 clubs in southern Pa doing it and all of the squads are usually full. Most do a Lewis class payback so everybody has a chance to win something.

My 38 Mid loads are @ .900. Why? Why not? I cut down 2K with a trimmer cutter on a drill. Cut to .925 and power trimmed them to .900 on the trimmer. Those cases do get thicker as you cut toward the rim. I could never get under about .850. I was trying for 38 Super length so i could use that data. They shoot great and 2K will last almost forever using moon clips. (Which I realize the O.P. doesn't use) Never quite got how some whining is always posted about certain kinds of experimentation. But never toward the "big name" people who have experimented with everything under the sun! That is where a lot of discoveries have been made and always will. O.P. shoot what you want! Have fun! Experiment! When you think about reloading Blazer aluminum cases, just ask. I got that covered too! Oh and BTW, I use a standard .357 sizing die, a cut down powder through flare die and a 9mm Lee FC die. My 38 loads are all taper crimped because some of my coated bullets don't have grooves. My magnum loads are roll crimped.

It depends on your events. USPSA is a lot different in necessity than Steel Challenge. SC can't be shot diagonally on some stages due to the width. (Speed Option being 1) Ours run about 25 yards wide by 35 or 50 yards long, depending on the location. 25 wide is almost no enough once the side berms start to sag. (new construction) PPC events (depending on the course chosen) needs 50 yards.

Blue Ridge lists "ICORE Plus". What is the plus? I read that the IRC is at Ontelaunee this October. Is that where the warmup match is also? We do have some great matches. Most are 2 hrs. or so for me. Way worse for you!

And don't forget the Blue Mountain Steel match in October at Ontelaunee! Loads of fun! These last 4 weeks will go by quickly!

The 147s can be problematic. The length can inhibit function in tight chambers and short chambers. They can raise pressures and (as mentioned) can be hard to make accurate sometimes. That is the reason I went to 135s. They are a good blend of function and accuracy and recoil/flip. If i am out of 135 I load 125, same charge and COAL, I also shoot .357 or .358 in the guns which allow it. Revolver mostly but I have a couple autos that like that diameter. My PCC wants only .355 but I just switch to them at loading. I use the same charge/crimp whether .358 or .355.