Chris Spiess

It's from some variety of 'clean fire' ammunition. The lead free primers only come in small pistol sizes. Still perfectly usable, but a PITA unless you have a whole bunch of it.

I use 185gr. Precision Bullets molys. 4.2 grains game me 168PF out my old Para 5" barrel. I had to increase to 4.3/4.4 to get roughly the same PF out of a 4.75" Tanfoglio. OAL is consistent at 1.150

The conversion kit is $30...here The previous consensus was that the machine shop sets up and runs all the shell plates they have about every 6 weeks, then they stack up again for 6 weeks. So depending on when in the cycle you send them to Hornady, it could be the full six weeks or as little as a week or so.

+1 The conversionis only $30. The time involved in trying to DIY this is worth more than that, to me at least.

Yes, I've done a search and done some poking around already. I'm trying to decide on a low cost 1-4x tactical scope for my AR. If money were no object I'd probably throw a Valdada or US Optics and be done with it, but it is. A Burris or a Vortex is more in line with my budget. Thoughts on selecting between these two, or possibly other options in the $500-$600 range.

I used Lyman expanders for a long while and was really happy with that setup. However, if you want to go with a bullet feeder you have to combine your expander in with the powder drop. Frankly, I think the Hornady PXTs work ok as long as: A: not using a U-die to resize and; B: you're using jacketed or plated bullets.

I don't think frames only are available. I did some finagling and got a couple frames off some warranty returns or something. They are a bit of a mixed bag: one was a .45 I think, one was a .38 Super - one is cut for a nowlin ramp, the other for a para/clark ramp. Got a good deal on them for undefined future projects. I've still got them for said undefined future projects, but am willing to part with them.

I have a couple Armscor hi-cap frames that I picked up a while back. They are para copies. I'm willing to part with one or both, shoot me a PM.

Yes, and decap them too. I've seen a couple new cases w/o flash holes. Your decapping pin won't create the flash hole, but at least you'll find it before you put a primer in the case.

You have a Tanfoglio already, so you're aware of the difference in feel between it and the 1911/2011 platform. I recently switched over from STI and Para open and limited guns to Tanfoglio. I like the higher grip and overall feel a bit better, although I am still a big 1911 fan. Hop over into the EAA/Tanfoglio forum or Henning's forum and post this question up, you'll get some good responses.

I recently finished a 9mm commander for my son. I have both Tripp and Wilson mags for the gun. I prefer the follower and the lips on the CobraMags. The release from the CobraMags seems more controlled and consistent. I will be purchasing more of the Tripp mags for this gun.

Did you have it TIG'd or MIG'd? I assume the former. The cost of the welding from Canyon Creek isn't so much the issue as is the shipping cost to and from IMO.

Yipe! Me too. It certainly looks sweet, but I would lose the top of my thumb for sure! There's not enough mass to worry about.

I've got a couple 10rd Cobra mags for the 9mm I built for my son. I have not seen this happen at all. I am loading MG 124s to 1.110.

I've got a Para P18-9 and it cycles very slowly with ~132PF as well. 132PF and a full-length, full-weight steel 1911 slide is going to make for a slow combination. Try a lighter recoil spring. I've gone as low as 9# in mine, i believe it's currently running a 10#, but even with that the brass lands at my feet. Your best option is going to be bumping up the load until it's more to your liking.