USCSBarney

I would say that is the main point of suspection. I have owned a Springfield, Kimber and now a custom 1911 9mm and the HEAVIEST recoil spring I have run is 12# with most reloads getting a 10# spring. 147gr has always been a "fiddle factor" point with them from my experiance. Factory generally always ran but reloads were hit and miss. That is a lot of mass to be a low PF load and make it down the barrel and work the slide. 124gr always seems to work better and gives you more "fiddle" room with reloads. 147's can be real powder puffs to shoot through them but 124's always seemed to be easier to taylor loads for. My 2 cents.

Been thinking of doing the same as mentioned and just talked to a local gunsmith who also shoots USPSA. From what I know and he informed me of, you can go from 9mm to 40 by opening up the breechface and changing barrels (and maybe extractor and ejector but that depends). Problem lies in finding a gunsmith to do it. He said most good smiths don't have the attachement to allow them to do the cut. Apparently it is several hundred dollars and most smiths don't invest in the part as widening the breechface is not something any of them do that often. You have to come in through the barrel bushing end to do the cut (according to him) and most cutters won't reach without the extension. Ultimate answer, not hard to do but takes that expensive gizmo few have. If anyone knows of a smith that can do it, please post them up. I would be one that would send them some buisness.

I accidentally replied in the wrong tac30 thread, so please forgive the double post.... I set my zero @ 100 yards and it was extremely close out to just over 400 (the wind was kicking pretty hard so it was hard to judge past that). I had loaded Nosler 69gr HPBT's for the match, and flashers out to 325 - 350ish were no problem. The farthest flashers gave me a bit of a hard time (425-450ish), but it is the first time I had ever shot that distance, with either the rifle, load or scope................... and my technique was as bad as the wind so.... I need to practice more before I get to a match with shots that long again... MarkCo had a good suggestion in matching your load to the reticle with a good ballistics program... you can run the numbers and match the drop / reticle to your load and know exatly where each mark should hit... This is the way to goli especially if you run 2 or more types of ammo. Just keep a cheat sheet / log booui0seaok with you to know where you will hit. 1

Tac Optics is a Rainer Arms build I did. JP Extended length JP Comp Arredondo mag well Magpul MIAD grip and PRS Stock Rainer 18" Rifle Gas barrel Rainer gas block Rainer Billet Upper Rainer Forged lower Timminey 3" trigger LaRue Mount Millet DMS 1-4 with a switch view Limited is a Noveske Viking Tactics upper with: Aimpoint ML3 (2MOA Dot) American Defense Mount JP Comp Arredondo Magwell Noveske Blem lower with a RRA NM Trigger (soon to be another Timminey) Magpul UBR stock Replaced the Rifle Length with a new Extended version

Had this one built up by Bob at Fusion. Like butter out of the box.

Only barrels I have experience with are Rainer, White Oak, Noveske and Lothar (LaRue). All are very good but the Noveske and Lothar are probably the best. I have a 18" Rainer that is right up there with them though. White Oak makes an excellent barrel but, IMHO, are not quite what the other three are. Don't own a Daniel Defense but have used some of their parts and dealt with thier people and they seem very on the up and up in quality, especially if you are looking for "milspec" usage. STAG also seems to be right up there with them as well for the "milspec" type useage. I have one of thiers in carbine and it isn't a tack driver but for a all around M4 type gun it is more than good enough. Just my 2 cents.

IMHO, if you are going the cheaper route a STI Trojan is a very good starting point. I have a Sentinel (older rendition of the Sentry) that I love. The Sentry is a few more dollars but I like the checkering and the forged frame. I have had Springers with mixed reviews. I have had a couple of gunsmiths tell me the Sigs are made from good parts but the holter options may be more limited and I have no direct knowledge of them. If you go the more expensive route of custom, there are several guys out there that will build whatever you want. I have three Fusion custom builds and am jumping happy with having what I want the way I want it.

My STI Tactical had the same problem. STI barrels are very tight. Factory brass worked like butter but my reloads didn't worth a flip. The would work 90% in my custom double stack but not in the STI. Got the Lee Bulge buster and both guns run the reloads 100%. It does add an extra step but I had a single stage press that I had laying around and was not that much in the long run. Made loading sooo much easier in my 550 as well. I get a ton of "Glocked" brass for free so the extra step is more than worth the money.

I have one of the Sentinel models in 45ACP (what is now the Sentry). Has a light crisp trigger right out of the box. I am a checkering kind of guy and love the Sentinel. Shot a buddies Trojan once and it is a nice gun but for games I think the checkering is the way to go. Stippling didn't give the bite that helps with a good hold. My 2 cents.

A gunsmith I knew in CA, when I used to live there, raved about the Sig 1911's. I had his shop do a transfer for me of a custom made 1911 I had done up and he kept saying the Sig was the best production 1911 he had ever seen (quality parts in it seemed to be a major factor for him). I have never shot one but the gunsmith knows his stuff so I will take him at his word.

Found that one but was hoping for some data more particular to a 1911 or 2011. Saw that 5.5gr was a good starting point (at least for a long slide Glock with a KKM barrel)but the local range won't let you set up a chrono as it would have to be down range and don't have access to a big enough back yard to figure it out with mine. Thanks for the pointers though.

Recently got some Ramshot Zip to try with 9mm. Will be shooting SS minor and some Production as well as IDPA ESP (SS & IDPA 9mm 1911 and Production w/G34). Anyone have a good place to start at? I will be getting in a ton of Moly coated bullets soon and would like to have a good starting point when they show. Thanks in advance.

Recently got a deal on several pounds of Power Pistol. Anyone have major and minor loads for moly 180gr or 200gr with this powder. I have found some data for PP but nothing in regards to moly. Thanks in advance

Have found some decent data for lead and jacketed rounds with Bullseye but don't seem much specifically for moly. I will be running 230gr Bear Creek through a 1911 with Bullseye and need some data specifically for that set up. Anyone have any data with OAL? Much appreciated in advance.

Bump. I have had the same thing. Free brass but with SPs. I have been wondering the same thing. Any experience out there?

Only loaded about a box (1000 rds) worth with them but loaded as easily as the CCIs I normally use. Never had a problem.

In my limited experience with both, my vote would be the STI. You can get it with either rear sight set up you want (Fixed or Bomar) and the FO front sight as well as ambi and magwell. Both have great customer service from what I have seen but quality on the Springfields I have owned are hit and miss. Have only had one problem with any STI I have ever owned. STI builds thier guns, for the most part, for USPSA and IDPA. You can't beat them for a stock gun to shoot a match with. My .02.

DP ICE all the way. Have shot S&A which are well made and Techwell which is also a wonder. If it is a competition gun, ICE is it. No fitting issues, unlimited choice of grips as you can use whatever you want and it is legal in USPSA and IDPA. S&A's are the choice for carry but the ICE and Techwell beats them for competition. Just my .02 for what it's worth.

Much the same as others. Use what you have now for a year or so. Get some 10rd mags to give you the ability to "play in two fields." Get the reloader (my vote is Dillion 550 as it can easily change calibers later on) to save money. If you are going to practice anywhere near enough to move up like you want, it will pay for itself easily in six months if you buy much store ammo at all. Once you see yourself improving, think about moving to Limited. I have had my custom "game" SS for almost two years and have just seriously put $$$ into a Limited gun. I have been shooting for the last several years fairly often (every week before the baby was born) and it took a while to "really" improve. Of course I lived in So. Cal. before moving to Georgia and shot around Voigt, Butler, Jo Jo and those boys. Trust me, when you think you are starting to get it and gun; you see someone like those boys and realize just how much farther you have to go. Save money with the reloader to get the blaster you want. PS I can't emphasize enough to get a quality reloader if you go that route. I started with a "lesser" model progressive and spent a year of aggony due to the decision.

Shooting 40 for the same reason the vast majority of us do. I actually like the impulse of a somewhat downloaded 45 better but given the ease of loading one round for three (or four if you count IDPA ESP) divisions you can't beat it. Whomever said 40s are more picky with mags had it right. Mine is a Fusion custom and loves all but one of the Wilson mags and all of the Metalform mags. Metalform I have to watch the length due to the spacer but it generally isn't a problem with having the same round function in a double stack STI mag or the single stacks; thats if you have a decent reloader. I learned that the hard way and moved up to a Dillion 550.

Thanks for the ideas guys. I am in the same boat as aztecdriver, I have two pounds of the stuff and need to find an avenue to use it. Tried some test loads last night and they were a bit snappy but they were going through a 1911 in 9mm and were not too bad actually. My 9mm is only used as a backup for my 40S&W 1911 in SS and the rare occasions I have to shoot IDPA.

STI if you want the ramped. I have a custom SS by Fusion that has the traditional non-ramped and it has never been an issue though it can be a bit more picky about ammo. Factory loads were fine but my old LEE reloader couldn't quite make it happy. Since I have gotten a Dillon it doesn't seem to mind as long as I don't go too nuts with the OAL. Must admit though that my next one will probably be ramped.

I have used a few different kinds of magwells over the years but for the "games" Dawson's ICE for the 1911 is the best thing going IMHO. Techwells are a very close second but you have to use their grips whereas the ICE lets you use your favorites. I have one of the Sentinel's (pre-Sentry) in 45ACP and love it. Bart is right about the frame but I can't fell enough of a difference to shy me away from the checkering over the chain cuts. I am with most that good old fashioned checkering is the way to go.

Got some great help with 40S&W major loads so I thought I would reach out again. Anyone have some Minor data for 124gr and 147gr loads with HS6? Will be shot through a 9mm 1911 under either jacketed or Bear Creek Molly. Thanks in advance guys.

My new 550 seems to be dropping odd charges but they vary between 4.9 and 5.2 so I am within Jman's range with Unique. Mine are running a bit longer but only by about 3 to 4 thousandths. The guns they will go out of are a Custom 1911 by Fusion and a Custom 2011 by Fusion (though it is being tested in an STI Tactical). Will be heading to the range tomorrow night after work to practice some and test out the loads. I don't have a chrono so everyones help is much appreciated. Will have to hunt down a Chrono before any major matches but for local ones I am not too worried as long at they function and am within the range of other's success. Any more recepies would be greatly appreciated. As I need to get more powder soon, I am looking for the most popular with the best results. I use HS6 in my 9mm but you have to use more grains per charge. Not enough to make me stop but Unique and Bullseye have never let me down in the past. Thanks guys.