Krag

Vince - thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, what type of pistols do your local IPSCers favor? Also, what about the Mainland shooters?

I have owned several G22s and G23s. I love the former but cannot shoot the latter. For some reason, the G23's recoil is different enough so that if I use my preferred grip, my right thumb hits the slide stop lever and locks the slide back. This happens about 30% of the time. Never happens with my G19 or G32. Go explain? I got so sick and tired of it I traded my last G23 for a Beretta Elite. (Edited by Krag at 6:37 pm on Nov. 14, 2002)

I know this is off topic but I've got to ask. Do the Chinese communists really allow it? And if they do, where do you find the room for a range???

Several years ago there used to be a 'smith in Florida who converted Glocks to 9x21. I almost had him do it to my G17L but a divorce came between us! After that I started shooting Limited and lost interest in Open guns.

"...if you could get glock (sic) reliabilaty (sic) with 28 rounds of major cal." Exactly. Good luck...

John Amidon just sent me another e-mail. I quote: "Current edition rule book (red cover) page 92 under Production Division letter h) External modifications other than sights not allowed. That's about as official as you can get. If the work or addition he did is visible on the outside, it would then have to be considered external. John" Rats, foiled again!!!

vluc - you ROs can do what an RO at a GSSF match confessed to me once. He said that they make a point of not looking too closely at competitors' pistols because if they started checking for modifications to "Stock" Glocks the attendance at matches would decline by about 50% (if not more). (Edited by Krag at 2:18 pm on Nov. 1, 2002)

I contacted USPSA and had Robin Taylor asked John Amidon point blank if the LTT Speed Bump trigger was legal for Producion. The answer follows: "Re: Modified triggers in Production. This is an external mod, right? The speed bump as he refers to is considered an external modification and not allowed, trigger work is. John" There is no joy in Mudville tonight!

According to Ernest Langdon's website: http://www.langdontactical.com/main.htm "The Speed Bump Trigger is a specially modified Beretta trigger for the Beretta 92/96 series of handguns."

I assure you I'm not trying to start trouble (again?) but I want to know if aftermarket barrels are legal in Production Division. Several Glock shooters around here are using them so they can safely fire lead reloads and I was thinking of getting one for my G34. (Edited by Krag at 7:52 pm on Oct. 31, 2002)

Eric - I agree the extra mass of a comp is nice but I'm also approaching this from the viewpoint of initial cash outlay. Perhaps it would be better to start with a 24C top end and see if that is what you want before you start dumping big $$$ into a radical custom job. I have a shooting buddy (USPSA Master Class and GSSF Meister) who used a custom G22 with longer barrel and comp. It took about six months - and lots of cash - to get all the bugs worked out of it so it would run reliably. I disagree that the ported Glock barrel isn't efficient. I've owned many comp guns over the years and several G17L and G24Cs and feel the latter work very well.

Vince - from what I understand the Speed Bump trigger is not an "aftermarket" trigger but a stock Beretta trigger that has been modified to improve trigger pull and reliablity. I've heard from several other shooters who use them and they assure it it is USPSA legal.

The longer slide and ported barrel of the G24C gives you all the advantages of a comp without the cost or the necessity to modify you pistol. I've found Glock's ported barrels (I also had a G17L with the ported tube) to work very well at reducing muzzle flip.

I shot Open for a short time with a G24C (long slide, ported barrel). I equipped it with a custom trigger and a Tasco Optima 2000 and several other aftermarket goodies. I had fun but am not a good enough shot to run with the big dogs (oh my God, an honest shooter???). If you're serious I'd suggest you find a G24C top end, mount it on your G35 frame and start there. Just my 2/100s of a $ worth.

The 2002 N.C. State L10 Champion, Lin Webb, is the Glocksmith I mentioned in my previous post. He used a G35 with one of his triggers.

McOliver - we have a Glocksmith in my area who uses the following parts to produce a trigger that breaks at a 2-2.25 lbs.: 1. LSPI competition trigger 2. " titanium striker 3. " " safety plunger 4. Wolf 10% reduced striker spring 5. Glock 3.5 lbs. connector He modifies the trigger and installs an internal trigger stop that does away with most of the take up and all of the overtravel. It's about as close to a 1911 trigger as I've ever felt. The striker is not "loaded" and ALL the safeties work 100%. If you want to contact me I'll be happy to tell you how to get in touch with him. (Edited by Krag at 5:30 am on Oct. 29, 2002)

Well, as far as the sight question goes I'm OK. I'm installing Heinie SlantPro Straight-8 sights. Richard is modifying the front by replacing the Tritium insert with a fiber optic rod but they will still have the "square notch & post configuration." So far the opinions I've gotten on the Speed Bump trigger are running 50/50 pro and con. I've asked Sedro Wooley for a ruling but haven't gotten it yet. There are beau coups Beretta shooters in my area using them in Production. What about the ext. mag release button? It's a Beretta part.

I shot USPSA with 1911s for a decade. Must have owned about ten of them in that time - and spent beau coups $$$ setting them up and to keep them running. Bought my first G17 the year after they hit the U.S. market. Today I have NO 1911s but I own eleven Glocks. I use them for CCW, plinking, home defense, trail guns, bowling pin shooting and USPSA. Some are pure stock and others have been radically modified. The nice thing about a Glock that they are always 110% reliable out of the box and cost about 1/3 what a 1911 does to "customize" for serious competition. (Edited by Krag at 5:54 pm on Oct. 28, 2002)

DON'T sand, file or do anything to you mags. Clean them - and the mag well of your G35 - really well and make sure they're dry. Spray ArmorAll on a clean cloth and then apply to magazines and inside of mag well. Let it dry for 10 minutes and then polish with clean, dry cloth. I do this to the mags from my G34, G35 and G21 that I use for USPSA matches and they fall free perfectly - loaded or empty, slide forward or locked back.

I just had my G21 customized for Limited/L10 and it's a jem! Had the following mods performed: 1. Grip reduction and reshaping which included installing of a brass Seattle Slug. 2. Trigger job that has almost no takeup, zero overtravel and breaks at 2-2.25 lbs. And trigger safety still functions 100%. 3. After market barrel so I can shoot lead reloads. 4. LSPI titanium stiker with Wolff's 10% reduced striker spring & titanium safety plunger. 5. Taylor Freelance and Grams ext. base pads (both work 100%). 6. Custom Glock Works ext. magazine release. And many more things that I can't mention here. Pistol will be featured in upcoming issue of FRONT SIGHT. If you want more info drop me a line and I'll tell you how to contact the 'smiths who did the work for me. (Edited by Krag at 5:42 pm on Oct. 28, 2002)

My local Glocksmith can give you a competition trigger with almost no takeup, zero overtravel and it breaks at 2 - 2.25 lbs. AND the trigger safety functions 100%. If you're interested contact: Glockmechanic@earthlink.com

My standard lead reload (115 gr. + 4.2 gr. Bullseye) shoots like a dream in my Glock 34 with aftermarket barrel, but the same load out of my Beretta Elite is keyholing at 10 yards. Can anyone suggest some loads I can try. I'd prefer to stay with Bullseye or WW231 if possible.

I've used Berry's plated 9mm bullets in my Beretta Elite and Glock 26, 19, 17 and 34; and their .45 bullets in my Glock 21 for the past year and can only say good things about them.

Eric - I was intending to use one of Ernest's triggers. But I understand he uses Jerry Barnhart's "Burner" grips on his Production Beretta. What gives? BTW, is it legal to replace my Elite I's magazine release catch with an Elite II's extended catch? (Edited by Krag at 3:33 pm on Oct. 28, 2002)

I have three questions about Production mods I want to make to a Beretta Elite. I keep getting different answers from different ROs. 1. Are fiber optic front sights permitted 2. Can I replace the entire trigger mechanism ( 3. Are aftermarket grips permitted