Joe D

The RO can be had for the same price as a Spartan. The Spartan is just an Armscor with a pretty face. I have owned one, along with a RIA Tactical. Both in 9mm. They are both decent guns. This one looks to fit between the plain Tactical and Spartan.http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716005906/Rock+Island+Armory+51623+TAC+1911+II+FS+9%2B1+9mm+5%22 The Metalform mags can be modified a little to work even better. I cut the little flared lip off the front and installed some Tripp followers. They would actually hold 11 rounds after doing that.

I load on a Dillon 550. I use the extra small charge bar with an aquarium pump strapped to the powder thrower. It did not throw very well with the small charge bar. SD I never said I totally trusted burn rate charts. They can be used as a guide, not absolute truth. Last night I threw 20 charges into 9mm cases and weighed each one. I use a Redding #2 to weigh. None of the 20 charges varied more than half the width of the beam pointer from the zero mark. I am not saying it is a great powder, just an alternative in today's crazy powder shortage. Rob, I don't find it to be excessively dirty. Remember I shoot lead bullets only. My two favorite powders are Clays and S1000. I have about 12 lbs of each. One day I would like to try WST, but considering there is only one ball powder manufacturer in this hemisphere good luck finding any. Maybe I should just drive down to Saint Marks Powder Co. in Saint Marks, FL and get a "sample" 8 lb jug.

Why not? I am very new to reloading. Only been reloading for 40 years. BTW you do know what a closed bomb test is. BTW burn rate/powder charge weight/ velocity appears to track on all the powders I use = Clays, S1000 and Promo.

You don't need the high $$$ Tripp mags. Load it long, 1.200" and use the $20 Check Mate 38 Super mags.

IMO no. I know the STI faithful will say it is. I have worked on and scratch built 1911s for decades. There are things I don't like about both. Nothing major. My recently acquired 9mm RO is a pretty darn well made gun. Of course I had to "tinker" with it. You will need a FL guide rod, extended mag release and possibly a different thumb safety. Everyone's hands are different. The stock grip safety is not bad. Both guns are more than accurate enough. Neither is in the same universe with a scratch built Bullseye 1911.

I have been testing a new powder for 9mm,.40 and .45ACP. As we all know pistol powder is tough to find. I printed a burn rate chart and started looking for something close to Clays. Alliant Promo has met my needs. The burn rate chart is not exactly correct as Promo is listed as faster then Clays. In actual testing I have found you need a little more Promo to get the same fps. Example - out of my G35 180 gr lead bullet with stock barrel 2.4 gr of Clays and 3.0 gr of S1000 both make an average fps of 718 - 720. It requires 2.7 of Promo to do the same. I suspect most of these burn rate charts are approximate as I doubt a closed bomb test is used.

Back when I shot plated 147 Rainier bullets 3.0 gr of TG made PF out of my G34. OAL was 1.135". I have long since moved on to lead bullets. A 160 gr lead bullet shoots really soft. I load those to 1.150" in a Glock. They are loaded to 1.200" for my wife's new SA Range Officer. Trying to get an accurate SD out of mixed 9mm brass is not going to happen. There must be 50+ head stamps for 9mm.

What, no one has said they are waiting on the slide with the 200 gr bullets? I use to hear that dribble for years. I was timing a friend when his 2011 went full auto. Check out the split times. Like you can really pull the trigger that fast. Not going to happen.

SP .45. We would let you shoot, but would inspect your ammo first. Second offense gets you a night in the Hoover PD jail.

You will need a heavy/long bullet to maintain case grip. A 147 should work.

I shoot IDPA with mine. A 200 gr LSWC at a 130 PF is nice. Those big holes help with getting a higher score too.

I bought a 9mm RO Monday. I spent the last couple of days "fixing" it. By the time I got through "whittling" on it I have a pretty darn accurate 1911. It now has a crisp 1 1/2 lb trigger pull, magwell with 17lb. main spring, extended mag release, different grips and thumb safety. I replaced the sear with a EGW and a Nowlin sear spring. The slide release had a .197" pin diameter. Replaced that with a .200". That gave me positive barrel to slide contact. Thank goodness I did not have to use a .202" pin. Frame holes would have needed to be reamed. Dumped the firing pin for a steel one. I actually like the long throat. I load a 160 gr lead bullet out to 1.200". Same as a 9mm Kimber. The gun shoots very soft at a 130PF. Obviously you have to use 38 Super mags. A FO front should be here Monday. I think my wife is going to like it in ESP.

If you get caught using them at a match on our range - automatic DQ.

I must be living dangerously as I have used Clays for years to make Major. Absolutely no pressure signs. Flattens the primer less than my carry load does - 180 gr Ranger Talon. Oh, that is out of a Glock 35 with that "unsupported" chamber. Titegroup is my second choice.

I ordered 10,000 each of 160 9mm, 180 .40 and 200swc .45 from Valiant. Got them in less than a month. Seems like the 200 swc was the most expensive at $42M. I was told they have a million bullet back log.

I learned years ago that a G35 loaded with a 180 lead bullet was softer shooting than a G34 with a 160 gr lead bullet when both are loaded to a 128-130 PF.. A regular Lee carbide sizing die is all you need.

My most reliable 9mm was the non-ramped Spartan. I see no need for a ramped 9mm barrel.

Been using the Lee carbide sizer for years. No issues what so ever. OTOH what do I know. I still shoot lead bullets out of a Glock barrel. Forgot to mention that I tossed all of my LFC dies years ago.

Been doing it for years. PM me for load info.

I used 4.3 gr of TG with the 180 Bear Creek bullet. 1.140" OAL. Went 948 fps out of a Glock 35 - stock barrel. I switched to Clays years ago. Never checked it with my LWD barrel. The LWD barrel shoots faster than the Glock barrel.

Clays is not a problem for .40 Major. My load is 3.8 grains with a 180 Bear Creek bullet. Goes 942 fps out of a Glock barrel. 3.6 goes 950 fps out of a LWD barrel. OAL is 1.140". No over pressure signs at all.

Glock has tightened the .40 chamber up several times over the years. The "unsupported chamber" myth never seems to die. Kind of like the lead bullet myth. My carry gun is a "slick grip" 23. It does have a large chamber, but it will feed everything. BTW there is no such thing as a fully supported pistol chamber. Exception being the Wildey. I have never sorted any brass. Nor have I ever found the need for anything other than a plain old Lee carbide sizing die. The Lee die sizes much further down the case than others.

I use a 180 gr lead bullet with 2.5 gr of Clays. Goes about 750 fps out of a G35. Most people don't believe this, but a .40 shoots softer than a 9mm when loaded to the same PF.

Titegroup with plated and Solo 1000 with lead. I never could get Clays to stabilize a 160 gr bullet.

My "go to" load back when I shot plated bullets was 3.0 gr of Titegroup with a Rainier 147 RN. OAL 1.140" Velocity was 865 fps out of a stock barrel G34. I used a 13 lb spring. I switched to lead bullets years ago. My wife uses a 160 gr lead bullet and Solo in her 17 and 34.