rvoutdoorsman

Looking at a Blade-Tech Holster for my Springfield XDM 9mm 5.25, which is best? DOH ASR ICE?

I have a full size M&P 45 with 4.5 barrel. Wanting to try wolf 17# extra power recoil spring with their steel guide rod. Any advantages over the S&W flat spring set-up? This is a defensive gun that will shoot mostly full power defensive loads. 17# is just a starting point.

For the last two years I shot the 4.5 xdm with less than satisfying results and my opinion of the 5.25 is about the same but with different gripes. The main reason for the purchase of a Springfield was for their sponsership of USPSA shooting events. I also wanted a more modern 9mm other than my old Ruger P85 which would be easier to introduce my granddaughters to shooting. What I liked about the 4.5 XDM was the pointability, handling and most of all the accuracey. With Federal 147 factory loads I could rush through a stage with 90% A hits and 30% of the bullet holes touching each other. The biggest complaint I had for it was the trigger reset, more than once half way through a course of fire I would have to stop and reset the trigger. This would happen even after shooting hundreds of round down range and was sure I had the "feel" for the trigger. I blame it on an inconsistant trigger reset. My other complaint is the magazine release. In my opinion it takes way too much effort to even drop a partially loaded magazine. This will be a problem for younger shooters such as my grandchildren. This last fall I purchased the 5.25 with hopes of a high quality competition pistol with all the bugs worked out with a few added features such as the adjustable sights, fiber optic front and of course the longer barrel. What I got was a less acurate pistol with a slightly improved trigger reset and the same problem with the magazine release. I haven't decided to try and work the bugs out or just get a different brand of pistol. I just expected more for the amount of money I spent.

Just picked up a new 9mm 5.25 and would like to run factory loads for the first 1000rds or so, any suggestions?

I woke up last Febuary with what I thought was sleep in my right eye. By that afternoon it hadn't cleared. At the optometrist office he gave me some eye drops and told me I had dry eyes. Two months later with no change I seen the eye doctor who told me I had a cataract and would soon need surgery. During the summer I had to deal with a staff infection in my right foot that put me in the hospital for 8 days and off work for two months. After regaining my health I went through the tests in prepration for the surgery and choose the multifocal crystalens for the replacement. Although I'm trying to keep an upbeat attitude this whole experience has been a nightmare with an unknown ending. I ask fellow shooters who have experienced cataract surgery and say the monofocal lens is the way to go and tell me problems with the multifocal lens. I've read many different forums with more good than bad, it's the bad results that scare me. The visits to the Eye doctors office have been somewhat unpleasant with a sales pitch and hidden costs. I found out about the up front out of pocket expenses when I scheduled the surgery. The insurance company doesn't pay for the special lens or the extra services. I'll proably go through the surgery sooner or later, I feel the Doctor could have been more personal and his office more up front with the costs. I've had better experiences buying an automobile. I'm 54 and have been shooting most of my life, USPSA since '95. I hope others don't experience what I have when you can't see the front sight. Anxiously hopefull, yet terrified.

I've owned a Para P-14/45 since 1995 and always had issues with the mags. I know the stock mags can't be fully loaded with hard ball 230's but will take 200swc. For the extended mags that take 15 or 16 rds I use the 185swc for full capacity. When I used the gun for self defense it would only run Federal 230gr Hydra shocks. I now use a stock S&W M&P 45 for self defense. I've invested alot of money in the Para and strictly use it for competition. The FBI use to supply the Hostage Rescue Team with Modified P14/45s until they had problems with the mags. That's why I went with the 10rd S&W M&P. I may try the Glock 21 in the future.

I hope he's going to be happy with it. It's difficult to suggest a gun to someone with the prices so high and the economy so bad. At first he wanted a Hi-point and I talked him out of it. I told he would be better off with a brand name such as S&W, Springfield, Glock, etc. I couldn't tell him much about the 40S&W because I don't own one. My pistols are 9mm or 45acp. I told if he didn't like the recoil of the 40S&W he could always down load it. You can't upload a 9mm. I plan on purchasing a pistol in 40S&W this fall, hopefully a S&W 40 pro. I hear their triggers are good to go out of the box.

Friend of mine just purchased a S&W SW40VE (resembles the old Sigma series pistols) new for $285. I tried to talk him in buying the M&P but he's on a fixed budget. Does anybody have the history on this gun and opinions.

Called Pekin Gun today to check on price and availablity of XDM 5.25, not yet.

Quite a few years ago I used that bullet for a long range load. I believe it was 24 grains of varget and the bullet seated out past mag length. You would have to load it single shot. I was sucessful with that load out to 1000 yards. A few years later I received the new Hornady manual which revised the max load down to 23.5 grs of varget. I tried that load @ 1000 yards with out sucess because the bullet did not remain supersonic. I've got some loaded up with 4895 but haven't tried them yet. You have to be careful with varget because it has been known to have variations from lot to lot. That's why I switched to 4895. With the correct powder you could load the 75gr bullets to mag length and shoot across the course. My rifle is a Bushmaster with a 1-9 20" barrel that was set up for service rifle. I've switched over to a flat top for 3-gun. I use 55gr bullets for close in shooting and 69gr for medium ranges. I use mostly WW748 because Ilove the way it pours and it shoots consistently.

Thanks for the information. I Found a new 15# variable spring in one of my gun drawers. Will try it this weekend.

I just read in Layne Simpson's book, "The Custom Government Model Pistol" a paragraph where he states that a too heavy recoil spring will ruin a custom trigger job in short order. How? What I'm getting from reading about recoil springs is that the lighter the spring the quicker the recoil recovery and quicker times? I read in the new Front Sight magazine about the new single stack champ, David Sevigny was that he used a conventional 14 lb wolf spring in his custom springfield 1911. For years I ran a 20 lb variable wolf recoil spring in my para p14/45 without a bit of problem other than racking the slide. I'm willing to try a lighter spring with a shock buff to see if it speeds things up and doesn't beat my gun up. I may be old school but I'm willing to try something new.

I'm not paying $1400 dollars for the Springfield when I can get a M&P Pro for $600. If you listened to Rob Leatham on gun talk radio he stated it would list for under a grand. I have a 9mm XDM that shoots great when it wants to, I'm still not use to the long trigger reset. The magazine release is too heavy at times even with just a couple rounds in the mag. Of course the factory sights suck. The thing I really like about the gun is the way it feels especialy the grips. If I could get some custom work done, it would be a great gun. All of that is on hold now wth the release of the competition 5.25. Now it's just wait and see.

Just talked to Pekin Gun for price and availabity, thats a no. They told me SA hasn't even shipped them yet. An open gun in the future for this poor and old shooter I would like that. Optics for my eyes, 9mm for my wallet and a large round count for my not so good memory.

Just saw it on their web-site and I am very excited, 5.25" barrel, fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear, open slide and hopefully a decent trigger. I'm glad I didn't send in my 4.5 XDM 9mm for a trigger job and sights, now I'll use it for a trade-in.