ChrisMcCracken

That is some of the highest quality 2-way B.S. I've ever had the pleasure of reading. For a mere $250,100, you could actually own this magnificent piece of history.

Thanks. I got the feeling after initially posting that I might be overly worried, but I wasn't sure. I just tightened my shell plate, and I'll look at grouping my brass together. I'm not sure my 1500 brass that I have left is worth sorting. I may pay extra to get new/single stamp brass next time. My main concern was just not wanting to make dangerous loads, not so much about making any difference that I'll be able to see in my shooting. Loading .45 at 1.200, I'm not sure what the absolute minimum OAL should be. I'll probably tighten it down a bit more so the bulk are around 1.200 instead of 1.203 and then load a large batch. Thanks again for all the help. Any other suggestions, observations, or general pontifications are welcome. Chris

Actually, I'm loading .45, clays, moly LRN from masterblastersbullets.com. Most of those were with all the stations full, but the biggest section of them were around 1.203. I'll pay closer attention to how it loads with all stations full, and I'll be sure to pull the first and last 5 from the batch. They are mixed headstamp.

I setup my 650 today to start loading for the first time since I did a few test batches at different OAL. I got my charge set, and then moved on to setting the OAL. I took apart my redding comp seater and cleaned it, starting from scratch. My goal is 1.200, but after loading up 25 rounds I found lengths all over the place, from 1.97 to 2.05. What could be causing this? How do I fix it? Thanks Chris Edit: More to the question: Is anything wrong? Should I expect a certain variability in OAL? I just went back and measured some of my left over rounds from the match, and this doesn't appear to be a new thing. Should I just set for an average?

+1 My wife had the same reaction. My abs hurt.

Nah....you LOVE shooting steel. Your eyes snap to the very center of the steel target, you can see dimples and marks on it. You look right at the dead center, picking a spot to place your bullet that is no bigger than a golf ball. Your head is still turning, catching up with your eyes. Keeping your upper body locked in a nice stance (see Brian's pic at the top of every page), you are turning through using your lower body. As you gun comes on target, your visual focus pulls back from the center target spot on the steel...having located where you want to bullet to go, you are now looking for your sights as the gun comes on target. Your gun swings onto the steel...it seems to pause as your visual focus switches to see the front sight. Then...there they are...the serrations and edges of your front sight...in razor sharp clarity. Your mind has been wanting this cue...the shot breaks automatically, as the trigger travels straight back into the frame (you later notice/remember you felt the even pressure that the pad of your finger put on the trigger) Still watching the front sight when the bullet left the barrel, you know that the alignment was only slightly off. Your bullet will impact about an inch high and two inches right. You've called the shot. The bullet is on it's way to the target. The steel will go down. You snap your eyes to the very center of the next target... Great narrative description. I guess I need to learn what my focus should be on. I know some of these things in principle but not in practice with handguns. Then there are things I don't know and don't know that I need to know. I'll read through that a few more times. Anymore help is welcome, so keep it coming!

Those are very reasonable questions. I doubt that I will have any physical limitations short of the GM/M level. That being said, I won't know unless I hone the skills. Spending is more of a limitation, but I'm already reloading for an optimal load and to save $. I am going to be graduating from medschool in just over a year, so I can see what the graduation fairy brings with regard to equipment and ammo funds. Quality training I've not looked into extensively yet, and I don't anticipate being able to afford much training anytime in the next year at least. That can be something I save for though. All that points to dedication as my biggest variable. I've not yet begun training in a consistant manner, either dry-fire or at the range. I am joining a local private range, Norfolk County Rifle Range, which would give me a 24hour/day place to train live fire for at least the next year. My next step for dry-fire practice will probably be learning WHAT and HOW to practice, as I don't really know the best drills or how to be efficient or effective with dry-fire training. I'm very open to suggestion on resources in this department, and I still need to look up the the FAQ's for this as well. Overall, I find that I can attain any goal I set and really strive for, within reason. Without any innate or early developed skills as a musician, I don't expect to ever play an instrument on a professional level. The same goes for linguistics. Shooting on the other hand, I've done for as long as I can remember. If there is anything in this world that I can excel at, other than academics, its going to be shooting.

I'm posting here out, having not seen a better place to post the question and since my journal entry doesn't get responses. I think goals and a drive to get better should be part of any mental conditioning program. The question is: What are reasonable goals for class advancement having just started out? You can check my journal post for a breakdown of my last match. To summarize, I suspect I'm shooting on par with C and D class shooters, C at my current best, D with some stupid screw ups. Is it too presumptive to assume that I should be able to rise relatively quickly through D and C within my first year? I'd like to start next year as a B shooter aiming for A, with the overall goal of getting my M card in 3-4 years. Thanks! Chris

Scores are in: Overall: #16 (of 39) 58.21% Limited 10: #2 (of 2) 88.32% Stage 1 - Fun & Games: #22 40.32% 64/70pts 22.55s Stage 2 - Fluffy's Revenge 2: #28 40.31% 38/40pts 9.07s Stage 3 - Fast & Accurate: #15 60.77% 75/85pts 18.79s Stage 4 - While Eating: #10 75.22% 105/110pts 29.68s Stage 5 - Shoot House: #24 47.21% 158/160pts 41.21s Carbine Match #2(of 4 standard) 83.46% I'm not sure how the point calculations differ between standard and open on the carbine match, but it looks like I'd be #4 of 28 overall at about the same %... not bad for a gun that doesn't shoot straight at the moment. I'm damned happy with those results, but the penalty on 1, misses on 2, and reload error/time on 5 really ate up my scores. That gives me stuff to work on: attention to detail in course of fire; accuracy on draw (aka not yanking the trigger); and shooting my plan on reloads, along with faster smoother reloads. Comparing my scores to other competitors and their classes, I'm gonna guess that I'm starting out as a D class shooter and should be shooting for a fast ascent through D and C hopefully to B within a year. Anyone got input on what goals are reasonable starting out?

Hey! I was there, and only my second match! Wasn't it an awesome time? I really liked the rifle stage, the one at the table, and the shoot house. I can't wait to see the scores. I'm glad y'all got to go out and do it together. I'll be lucky if I drag my wife out just to watch/photograph/video. Chris

I think I'm going to stick with an OAL of 1.20, as it seemed more consistent with differences between the fastest and slowest loads being 40fps for load 1 and 23 fps for load 2. The longer loads had a difference of 45fps and 35fps for 3 and 4 respectively. I will probably load charges of 3.60 next to see if it functions well. Assuming its a direct linear correlation, that puts the pf at 171. I also need to bolt the bench to the wall and see what that does to the extremes in velocities for my loads. Off hand, what kind of variablity should I expect chronographing my loads? Is a difference of 45fps significant or within expected margins of error? Thanks and hope this helps! Chris

On a side note, mercury isn't THAT dangerous. Its not great idea to let it contact bare skin on a regular basis, but I've known people to argue that you could swallow some without any real ill effect. Its only really bad if you inhale it. For instance if there is lots of it laying around in a small space, some will be vaporized and inhaled. Mercury in carpet is a bad idea, as it gets vacuumed and thrown out into the air. Chris

Someone gave me a recipe for a 45acp load using 250gr bullets and clays, but a few details are missing. Can anyone help fill in details? What 250gr bullets? Do I use 45long bullets and just load to 45acp OAL? What specific OAL? I'm loading 230gr at 1.200, but I'm assuming the 250gr will be a longer bullet. It doesn't need as much powder to make major; he quoted 3.4 working best after testing a range of 3.2 to 3.8 in clays. Using less powder, I could see it being possible to still use 1.200, but I want to be sure. What crimp diameter should I use? The 250gr bullets I've seen are .452 instead of .451. Do I just add .001 to my crimp diameter? Will .452 bullets work in a 45acp barrel? This is all theory until I finish the 2k round of 230gr I already have, but it would be good to work all this out in advance before I order and start testing. I do realize that I would have to work up the load from scratch to see how it shoots in my gun, probably using the same range he listed of 3.2 to 3.8. I appreciate any help or wisdom you can pass on! Chris

The match was awesome! My 1911 shot great, and I surprised a few people with my mini-14. We had 6 stages, 5 pistol and 1 rifle. The classifier was fluffy's revenge II. I started on the rifle stage. Everyone was shooting AR's, and I got a couple questions about my mini-14, checking it to see if its a newer or older etc... I took a few rounds to sight it in and found it shooting 8-12 inchs high and right. I didn't have enough time to fix the sights, so I just held low and left. At ranges of 50-75 yards, I got 22A, 1B, 5C, 1D, and 2 misses. The misses were on one of the two headshots; the other headshot I nailed. There were definitely a few people not expect those results. Hell, holding that far low and left, I wasn't expecting it. That was definitely the way I wanted to start the day. Next stage was called Fun and Games with one spinning target attached to a popper and one target/no shoot triggered to come up and then cover all but the head attached to a second popper. I can't remember my scores, but I shot well. I missed that there was a mandatory reload though; +1 penalty for me. It was a neat stage, shooting half through a barrel and half around a barricade. I followed one of the faster shooter's example and shot the popper, then two regular targets, before returning to the spinning target after it stopped. I got two alphas on the disappearing target. The next stage was the classifier. I officially hate poppers. I missed the first popper 3 times then made all the rest of the shots, 4 alphas 2 charlies, ending at slidelock. I think my time was in the 9's. I'm sure it would have been a couple seconds faster had I hit the first popper. Next stage was setup with two boxes. Box A had two papers and 4 poppers, and box B had a barricade, 4 papers and one popper. My only error here was running too hard and then not planting both feet in box B. I was just a little off balance shooting around the barricade. Fourth pistol stage started sitting at a table, leaning back, arms crossed. Retrieve gun off table from under menu, two papers with no shoots, one popper, one more uncovered paper, then run from box A to box C shooting 4 targets in area B, some with hard cover marked. Box C had 3 poppers and two hard covered paper targets. I shot this stage really well, lots of Alphas and a quick time. Only problem was not shooting my plan. I'd intended to shoot while moving but stopped to shoot in area B. I shot well, so it might have been worth it. I just need to practice shooting on the move to make that my reflex reaction. Last stage of the day was the shoot house, 16 targets. I got 30 alphas and 2 charlies, no misses, no noshoots. Time was 41seconds I think, not that it can be related to any other shoot house. I really enjoyed the shoot house, shooting on the move, close-quarters shooting. I had another case of not shooting my plan though, reflexively reloading two targets earlier than I'd intended. I had plenty of mags, but it threw off my reload time later, ending on slide-lock in the middle of a room. Lesson learned, just something else to practice. Overall I got lots of positive comments from the guy's in my squad, especially about my 1911, shooting .45, and how my hand load was doing. I'm definitely pleased with the match. Afterwards I got to chronograph my loads. I'll post the values later. I shot my lightest load all day and it made major easy, with values in the high 700's if I recall. I was probably at a 175 PF. Overall, the only way the day could have gone any better is if it had been 20 degrees warmer and not so windy.

I've got my second USPSA match tomorrow. Its in NC at the Blackwater facility. The guy that runs it is going to help me chronograph some of my loads. It should be a good time. Wish me luck.

Well, tomorrow I'll hopefully get to chronograph 4 different loads: All 4 are 230gr moly LRN from masterblastersbullets, federal 150 primers, and clays. 1) OAL 1.20 Charge 3.75 2) OAL 1.20 Charge 3.90 3) OAL 1.25 Charge 4.00 4) OAL 1.25 Charge 4.20 I've shot a couple hundred of the first load already without any malfunctions, kick is acceptable. From hodgdon's load data, its quite possible this will make major. Its a match, so I made 125 of the first two loads, just in case either of them makes major. I just made 25 round batches of loads 3 and 4 to test. Then I have some lake city match ammo just in case none of them make major. I think I've got my butt covered. I'll post how they do. Chris

I'm 32", and I dont need pretty. If you really don't need them or want to keep them around, I will gladly accept donations. I'll PM. Chris Rule number one, which should be imortalized in the bylaws of every shooting organization is never, ever, let a spouse know how much you pay for guns or related equipment. Lee +1 million

Thanks for the advice guys. Pskys2, no I'm not a minor, just broke after getting my XL650. My wife about flipped when she found out what I spent on that, and I've run out of things to sell to fund my habit. I'm stuck waiting for my next batch of student loans to syphon off another personal allowance. Chris

Yeah, I gave the wish list to my Dad, so hopefully I'll get some gear for my birthday or sooner. I did get me some 10rd Chip McCormick mags I found on sale, so I'll be good to go in Limited 10 once I get the rest of the gear.

Well, technically I should have to use the flap anyway, so any pouches that I haven't pulled from will be secured. Not to mention the fact that two mags in one pouch is a tight fit. Its easy enough to pull from but not loose enough to fall out. I could probably stand on my hands without them coming out.

Being new, I'm doing my best to work with the gear I have and wait for fancier gear to be gifted my way. What I have is an army belt with bianchi nylon duty holster and a canvas flap covered mag pouches. The pouches were perfect for my double stack glock, with regard to fit. Switching over to my single stack, I cold fit two mags in each pouch. I'm curious if this is kosher. I'm not sure whether it would be better to have one mag per pouch, flopping around in all the extra space or to double up and have a nice tight fit. Suggestions? Chris

So my XL650 was jamming. The lever on the primer system was hitting the cam and not moving, not cycling the primer rotary as it should. I called Dillon, and a person actually picked up, dambedest thing how that works. I did my best to describe the problem, and he told me that the lever was bent. He said the part is in my spare kit and that he'd have the replacement sent out. It was probably the smoothest problem solving customer service experience I've ever had. Kudos to Dillon Precision for having awesome customer support! Chris

Anyone else noticed a few particles of clays collect around the 4th station every dozen or so rounds? As the shell plate cycles, the last bit of turn and halt are the quickest and jerkiest of the motion, and the clays is so fluffy it spills out sometimes. How do I fix this or is it just something I have to live with? When I see the round that is culprit, I dump the powder back in the bin and save the shell for a pre-primed reloading run. Is one or two particles enough to even worry about with respect to charge? Should I just blow the shellplate off every so often? Thanks! Chris

I've got a Remington 700 PSS, which I assume is the earlier version of the SPS - not sure. Anyway, its .308, 1/2 MOA or better. I put a Leupold LPS 3.5-14 scope on it. I'm going to look into the replaceable magazines now that I read the recommendations from above, otherwise its a swing open floor plate, which I don't mind a whole lot. I prefer to laod one round a time anyway. I recall someone suggesting that you load your own ammo and load them long to minimize the space between where the bullet starts and the rifling begins. Reports on that particular article were 1/4 MOA accuracy, but I can't attest to this first hand. Anyway, I love my Rem700. I just wish I had time, space, and money to shoot it more often. It was an absolute steal for the actual quality you get. Chris

So I decided to go shoot the first 100 rounds I'd loaded, and I put the first 10 in my glock 30. I was 4 shots into the magazine when I got an extra large puff of smoke, and my slide jammed 3/4 back. I couldn't budge it forward or backward, magazine out, chamber empty. So, I set the glock aside to worry about a more thorough and vigorous attempt to disassemble it once I was back home and able to work without drawing attention from range officials or fellow shooters. I shot the rest from the 1911, no trouble except maybe a little more smoke than I'm used to and the shots hitting lower than I'd expect. Anyway, I get home and take the handy dandy hammer from a gunsmith's punch set and comense to gently tap on the back of the slide. It slips free and I disassemble it. The only thing out of order is the ever so subtle bulge in the barrel that keeps it from fitting out the front of the slide. Yeah, so I managed to kill my barrel on my first trip the range. This was 1000% operator error. I was a dumb@$$! and somehow let the one round I'd used to setup my dies get mixed back into the batch. Here is the good that came of this: 1) I was lucky to have only had such a minor hiccup firing a round after a squib. 2) Along those lines, I'm lucky to have the rest of my gun intact 3) and lucky to have my hands. 4) I'm lucky this was in my Glock, loose beast that it is. 5) I'm lucky that drop in barrels can be so easily had. 6) I'm lucky this was not my Dad's 1911, which it surely would have FUBAR'd worse than the glock. 7) I'm lucky to have learned this lesson so early and so painlessly. Now, I gotta cough up the cash for a barrel... might as well go match KKM. I hope someone else can learn from this and not repeat it. I also hope that I'm not the only idiot to have done this. Chris