Joe D

Don't see a M556FA in the current catalog. They show a MB556K and MB556AR. Both seem a little pricey to me.

You really don't need to drill the trigger bar. There are easier ways to achieve the same results.

For once I actually agree with Benny on something - Caspian.

There is nothing wrong with using a 1911 MS housing. It will fit and function fine. I beveled the inside lip just a bit with a file. Does not interfere with reloads at all.

I would just get an Eagle in .40. You can use it for both IPSC and IDPA. A .40 can be made to shoot softer than a 9mm. You don't have the feeding issues with a .40 that can be a problem with a 9mm. I sold a STI, that I built, a couple of months ago. Brownells carries a SS magwell that will fit into the IDPA box. If you need more weight up front for Limited just add a tungsden guide rod. I also added a regular steel main spring housing from a 1911 for additional weight.

I do a short take up and release trigger job for those that want a 1911ish trigger pull. I use an 8# connector with one of my modified trigger bars. Trigger pull is very short and crisp. Usually comes in at 3 lbs. or a little less.

Taking too much pre-travel out will lead to a lack of striker engagement and doubling.

I use a large diameter plastic guide rod or large dia. steel rod. It will work fine with the stock plastic rod. You just can't capture it. No need to trim the spring.

Legal.

I have gotten away from the 13# ISMI spring and run a 12# Wolf instead.

You had better keep an eye on Jim Watson. I hear he is building a .45 STI 2011 for ESP. What a gamer!!!! BTW Jim, am trying out my 160 gr 9mm loads in Montgomery today. 790 fps is pretty rough on the wrist. Wonder how some of the old 200 gr LRN bullets will shoot?

Looks a lot like mine. I just use plain old drill rod. Seems to hold up well.

My Kimber CST with S&A magwell, full length guide rod, single thumb safety, square cut micarta grips and Wilson mag weighs 40.5 oz on a state certified digital scale in my QA lab.

Help the SO. Make sure you paste. Stage runs much faster with everyone helping. Here's a biggie- offer to help tear down the stages after the match. Volunteer to design and set up a stage on occasion. There are those that think they are exempt from pasting the targets.

Sounds like a guide rod problem.

Lone Wolf barrels are not made by SL. I make them in my basement with an old drill bit and some files. I've got to hire some more Mexicans. Cutting the rifling with a file is hard work.

I use a 125 gr lead bullet with 3.5 gr of Titegroup. It goes a little over 1050 fps. Certainly not as soft as a 147, but not too bad.

Scores are up.

First of all just pushing down on the barrel hood does not really tell you anything unless it is exceptionally loose. The first 9mm 1911 I had was an early model SA. It would barely keep a group on a pie plate at 25 yds. Did not matter what bullet weight. The barrel did not even come close to locking up. I could have fitted another barrel, but there were enough other things that I did not like about the gun. One was the blocky front strap. Fast forward 6 years - my Kimber 9mm groups well with every bullet weight. The difference in Kimber and SA is in the barrel lock up. Kimber does, SA does not even to this day. You have two choices. Rebarrel the SA or buy a Kimber. Another plus the Kimber offers is you can fit a .40/10mm barrel to the same gun as they use the same breech face. Cheapest route is to fit another barrel to the SA.

Heck, here in Alabama it's called the "Short Fanggar".

Actually if you look at the pictures of all three you will see that they are all different. The Wilson was built around a true 10 round mag.

I think some of us are forgetting that IDPA is just a game with rules to follow. No one ever said it was training.

KD, that is why I stated with proper stage design and explanation during the walk through it is not an issue. I have been SOing and shooting IDPA since 1998. I don't recall it ever being an issue on any of my stages, nor any I have shot. Don't be a "Stage Lawyer". That is why the USPSA rule book is as thick as it is. Too many Stage Lawyers. Before you shoot a stage ask the SO about reload points that might be in question. Does not matter if you agree with the SO. He is the boss not you. As long as the SO is consistent then it is a non event. This subject has been beaten to death. Time to move on Moderators. BTW I don't see how loading from cover is ever a bad tactic. Leaving from cover with an unloaded gun is always a bad tactic to me.

I don't think the Wilson is the same frame, nor is the BUL. If you are getting FTFs with a lighter spring then you are having feed issues that the heavy spring is masking. I run my 1911s with either a 11# or 12.5# spring.

I designed and ran a stage at our State Match a few years ago that had two halls. You engaged targets at the end of the first hall then moved to the second hall to engage more targets. The second hall was 90 degrees to the first. You could not do a Tac load moving down the first hall even though the visible targets were neutralized. Reason behind that was two fold. One you were not starting and completing a reload from cover. Secondly BGs could appear from the second hall. I think folks don't apply real world thinking to reloads. I would never leave a position of cover without reloading even if all "visible" threats were neutralized. The issue of cover and reloads is not hard to understand. A proper stage design takes 99% of the questions out of the picture. The rest are answered during the walk through. I will usually state "If you do a reload here I will ding you". Then I explain why. That way it is the same for everyone. Forgot to answer the question. No, you cannot do a RWR while moving down the hall even though you neutralized the "visible" targets. The concern is BGs could pop out while you are doing your reload. The key words are "I engage the threat target from cover". Rule states all reloads must be started and completed from cover.