belus

Gah, it's $200 but it's steel. I used one a decade ago. It's good for smaller hands as it covers the grips slightly. https://infinity.americommerce.com/single-stack-competition-magwell.aspx

I think you're confusing an issue unique to older open guns. When people where figuring out 9major it'd be common for the case to bounce off the optic mount back into the ejection port. It's part of why c-mores were mounted at 90 degrees for a while. But with modern smaller optics there's little need for a mount that overhangs or obscures the ejection port. Open or irons, a 9mm is pretty simple now.

You can try to find some DS Perman 19-20 grips, or maybe the Hogue Extra Wide aluminum will feel good.

That match needs to start earlier. We hit ~98 by the end of the match Sunday. A slight breeze kept it okay.

I started reloading .40 for single stack with .40sw mags so my OAL is around 1.12, ie factory length. I could go longer as nothing I own needs the shorter OAL, but I haven't encountered feeding issues anywhere. My Cheely 2011 also feeds them fine from Gen 1 STI mags. I don't think it's a tricky as people imply.

I have a 9mm 1911 Hex Tac which has the same frame with a tri-topped slide. That era is not their best work as it's the only gun I need to case gauge 9mm for. If I don't, it can jam up something fierce on feeding. If you're buying used and have seen it run then you're probably okay.

The 550 is my favorite press. I sold my 650 here a little over a year ago because it wasn't getting much use. I've bought the 550 twice because I shortsightedly my first one. IMO, if you're going to load more than 1-2 pistol calibers or any rifle, the 550 is the best value. The 650/750 really shines for a single pistol caliber with case and bullet feeders.

I use Wilson 47FX. They're cheap and reliable. Lots of people supposedly run Wilson 47D mags with .40 too. I also have Tripps non-legal 10 rounders but they don't see much use. Well made though. I'll shoot 9mm if I'm going to shoot minor.

I just tried it in a Gen 1 STI .40 mag. The first few rounds look good and it didn't immediately go to a salt shaker after filling it up, even with a Gram's follower. However feeding the rounds back out again I got regular nose dives and wouldn't trust them to run.

If you settle on major I'd recommend a .40 for the simple fact that an 8rd 40 mag is easier to seat than an 8rd 45 mag against a closed slide, and you'll be doing a lot of that. Whether you want major or minor depends on your strengths/weaknesses, the level at which you compete, and maybe what your local scene is like. I'm fortunate that my new local scene is SS friendly and 8 rounds doesn't require strange stage plans and they also use a lot of partial targets which favors major. I've been to other clubs where SS is an after thought and you're basically expected to shoot with the production crowd. In that situation stage breakdowns and open targets + steel favored minor.

I suspect that if you wanted a bullet feeder on a 308 you would need the Super 1050. I don't think the 1100 or RL1050 have enough clearance to index with an unsteated 308 bullet.

I do not use a powder sensor. I also use a low density powder so I can see easily how full the case is. On the 5 station press I've loaded squibs due to partial cycling of the handle clearing jams. Never had an off weight charge on the automated 1050 because cycles always complete.

https://techwellusa.com/g10-positec-ergonomic-grips.html There are left and right handed versions.

The Super can load up 30-06 length cartridges and has an very different bottom end with a connecting rod instead of the eccentric bearing. People say the RL1050 is smoother and less prone to powder spilling at speed than the Super, but I don't know this first hand. Part of the Forcht autodrive conversion of a Super 1050 is making the bottom end an RL 1050. The 1100 went back to the RL 1050 bottom end, can't load 30-06 length, and now has a longer handle stroke than either of the 1050 versions.

Definitely looks like a .40. All the cool kids locally are shooting SS. I should pick it up again. Re: OP's pistol, I especially like the trigger finger index cuts by the slide stop pin. That's a nice touch... Wait lefty, that must be for your strong hand thumb. Well you've given me a neat idea anyways.