[How many of you are currently using a shok buff]

I've searched the forums and read the stickys, but I'm still curious how many of you use shok buffs in your limited guns.

[Technical Assistance Please]

Trace,

Fair warning about the slide stop. Tripp puts a flat spot on it for reasons I cannot remember. A standard round slide stop won't work without the filing.

Why were you NOT surprised by it locking back with one (does it have the bolen follower that hasn't been trimmed??)?

S.

Seth,

The springs and followers are Grams. I've read where locking the slide back with one round left in the magazine is common for Grams unless you trim the followers or the slide stop (I guess).

I talked to Virgil on the phone before I received Howards PM. Virgil is the one who suggested tuning the slide stop instead of the followers. He just said to check with Howard and make sure it wouldn't cause any problems with the way he tuned the magazines. As weird as this sounds, I would rather file on the slide stop than buy a dremel and attempt to file the followers. I can see me easily going too far on the plastic follower and costing myself another $15 to replace the spring and follower.

[Technical Assistance Please]

UPDATE:

I received my HSMITH magazines today and had just enough extra time to load them with 20 rounds each and head to the range for a function test. The Atlanta Arms ammo, mags and pistol worked prefectly. The only problem, which I expected, was that the slide locked back with 1 round left in the magazine. The other 95 rounds fed, fired and extracted as they were supposed to.

The magazines are truly a work of art. I have always wanted a set of them, I had to sell a gun to help pay for them, and I am VERY glad to have a set of them on my belt!!

Thanks to Howard and Virgil for superior equipment!! Now I just have to work on me!

[Classifier Advice]

Trace, all you can do is shoot your game. If you do things will turn out fine. If you try to push beyond your game for any reason it will suck. If you check the stats at lunchtime and try to put the cruise control on to hold your lead for the class win it will suck. I have done both at big matches and finished well out of the wood. B class is a bitch IMO, there is always a guy that is a real contender in A that hasn't had the classifiers catch up to him yet, or a youngster with absolutely no fear that is getting measurably better every day. If you worry about those guys it will suck. You can say the same about every other class too, but in my mind B has the wildest swings of abilities day to day. Good motivation to work at it a bit and get in A as soon as you can.

In the mean time, if you just shoot your game and don't worry about anything else you will do fine, and probably start collecting more things to hang on your 'I love me' wall. I never won a damn thing until I quit trying, last year I manged to get 5 trophies for my "I love me" wall because I just don't care, I'll shoot what I can on match day and let the rest sort itself out.

Thanks Howard!! Maybe some of your mojo will be on those magazines when they get here this week!!

[Classifier Advice]

This may not be the best place to post this, but I had a bit of a revalation today. I've been shooting USPSA for nearly a year now. I've shot 4 SS matches and 6 Limited matches which finally got me classified as a C. Forget the SS numbers for a minute.

Since I started shooting limited, I've had two B classifiers, two C classifiers and 1 blind man classifier which equals C for me. I have no problem with that. However, I have never shot a major match and have NEVER won any tangible thing. I've entered the Double Tap Championship as a C. Even though I'm new to the sport, I think I can compete with the other Cs. However, with my most recent match/classifier and another upcoming local match, I could be reclassified (i'm assuming) as a B. There is no way I'll be even close to competitive with the Bs at DT.

My goal is to earn the highest classification card I can. But, it would be nice to win (or at least be competitive) at a few matches before I start to climb the ladder.

SO, I can see how those might not try quite as hard on a classifier!!

[Enough is Enough!]

35,000 .45 pieces of brass

10,000 of .40

I am done buying for a while

Z................no more posting till you've loaded ALL of those!!

[Technical Assistance Please]

I was having the same problem with my STI Tactical until I radiused the underside edge of the extractor. All my feed problems went away. The round (also Atl Arms) would hit the feed ramp and stop. Lightly bump the back of the slide and would go into battery. After I filed on the extractor it never happened again.

Try this:

Load the offending mags up with the offending ammo and try shooting it strong hand supported then shoot it left handed. Does it give you a problem left hand? Mine would as the slightest little bit of limp wrist would cause it to stop on the feed ramp. The extractor tuning fixed it though.

I think it is a combo of carbon in the extractor tunnel and weak magazine springs. The extractor hook is good to go for sure. I have 5 HSMITH mags on the way and I'll be sure to swab the tunnel from now on, after I remove the extractor. I've always blown in clear with compressed air, but never really swabbed it.

Thanks for the info. I need to work on my Tactical's extractor too!!

[Technical Assistance Please]

Change one thing at a time and see how things run. When things go well, make another change and see what happens.

Yep, this was a mistake for sure. Actually, the changes did not happen at once, I just don't practice as much as I should.

Seth,

I tried Virgil today. He works on Saturday sometimes and will answer the phone. I really don't think it's the gun. The more I look at it, I think the mag springs are the cause. It will take a little more testing at the range to be sure though.

[Classifier Advice]

I saw a perfect example of grandbagging/sandbagging yesterday at a match. On every stage other than the classifier, I ended up between 4th and 8th overall in Limited. However, on the classifier, I was #1 in Limited. I shot all my stages with the same effort. Seems funny to me that the As, Bs and Cs who beat me on the other 4 stages suddenly could not beat me on the classifier!!

Just a rookie observation.

[Technical Assistance Please]

I always remove the extractor when I clean my pistol, because I use "dunk kit", a brush and compressed air to get it really clean. The extractor does not have any burrs on it. The tunnel had a little residue in it, but I took care of that.

All of my magazine springs are stock STIs. So, I don't know what brand they are. They are less than a year old and have only fed around 3k through my pistol. I wouldn't think they would be worn out yet, but that would be a pretty cheap fix.

I'm waiting to hear back from Chuck to see if he has any of Howards magazines. That should take care of ANY mags issues and let me focus on the rest of the pistol.

Thanks for the replies!

[Technical Assistance Please]

I will keep this a brief as possible but with enough detail to help diagnose the problem.

My pistol is a Tripp built 40, long dust cover, FLTGR, 14 pound Wulff recoil Spring. This pistol has been 100% for the last 10 months with stock STI mags and Hunting Shack factory reloads with TMJ bullets. Total round count is around 3K.

I changed things a bit by adding Dawson basepads and followers to 2 of the magazines and I changed to Atlanta Arms factory reloads. The new ammo is slightly longer and the bullet is a little less rounded on the sides.

Last week I tested both of the modified magazines with the new ammo and it ran fine. I was limited on time and only put about 60 rounds through them. But they fed well and had slightly less recoil than my other ammo.

Anyway, here is my issue. On my last stage yesterday, I had several failures to feed. They would clear with a tap on the bottom of the mag. I used the same mags and ammo the entire match and it did not start until the last stage. I duplicated the stoppage by hand at home.

I cleaned the pistol and checked my extractor today. It appeared to be fine.

I tried to test it today by loading new and old ammo into the modified and stock magazines. I know hand cycling the pistol is not the same as shooting it, but I couldn't make it to the range today. I found that both bullets and magazines would fail to feed about 5% of the time. Oddly enough, after I cleaned the pistol. It fed both bullets from both magazines. It really wasn't that dirty. It only had about 200 round through it since the last cleaning.

If it was the new bullets, wouldn't it fail EVERY time?

If the Dawson basepads and followers were the problem, why did it wait until the last stage to fail?

I started to suspect the extractor, but it never failed to extract and the tension seems fine.

I apologize for the long and confusing post. If you have any ideas PLEASE let me know. I'm going to try to make it to the range tomorrow.

[6.8 SPC]

I like 6.8.

I ordered one from Rock River yesterday anyway

[Wood Planers]

So went to the wood shop today to start a cabinet for my house and the mean wood planer decides to lop off some nice sized chunks of my right-middle and ring fingers

6 hours in the emergency room and I leave with good pain drugs but, my fingers are destroyed, ground down to the bone from the top knuckle to the tip. No more fingernails.

Oh and yes this took a while to type

The summer before my freshmen year of high school, (while helping my Dad) I managed to do the same thing to my right little finger. From the first knuckle to the tip. Hurt like hell. Although I think the shots down each side of the finger hurt more than the original injury. When I did it, my Dad said it would be OK and just put alcohol on it. My Mom and the ER doc did not agree with him.

Oh yeah, and he has done the same thing, TWICE since I did. He no longer owns that joiner.

[Saying Goodbye To My First Dog]

...that was one of the most difficult things that I have had to encounter in my life. It is a strange thing to see the life of a loved one drain from their eyes.

Laddie passed on the way that I want to go: In the arms and company of loved ones who I shared my life with.

I appreciate all of the kind and meaningful things that you have shared with me tonight.

Hey Brother,

I feel your pain. Last year, I had to put down my first partner (drug dog) Rockdale. He was a 14 year old yellow lab that helped me and the State of Texas seize thousands of pounds of dope. But more than that, MUCH more than that, he was the most loyal being I have ever known. Dogs are amazing creatures and I thank God every day that He blessed my life with mine. I am very sorry to hear about Laddie. Nothing will heal the pain faster than three more puppies!!

[Fiber Optic Rod Replacement?]

I THINK I understand the process, but I still have a question and have been avoiding a rod change for months. The shooter side of my FO rod, does not extend past the metal of the sight. When I look at the front sight, I see the FO dot (.95 I think) inside the outline of the blade. You cannot see or feel the bulb. On the other side, I can see and feel a bulb where it was melted or whatever.

I have no idea how to duplicate what I have and am scared to death to try. Only because I absolutely love my front site picture!!

[6.8 SPC]

Well, my problem was solved today by one of our new elected prosecutors. He just happened to have two extra "new in the box" DPMS 308s with Trijicon Relex sights to go with them. He actually called while I was reading this post and asked if I would like to have one of them!!

I won't actually own it , but as long as I'm stationed in this County, I can use it like its mine ! So, all I need to buy is a scope and mount to switch between the Reflex sight and a telescopic sight.

Thanks for all of the input!

[6.8 SPC]

Wow, you couldn't have picked two more opposite styles of hunting to use the same cartridge for. My opinion is the 6.8 will not be very practicle for either. nor would any other single caliber. For hog a .450 Bushmaster or .500 Beowolf would work well (my preferance for hog would be a 100 grain broadhead). and Varmint (not Varmit) a .204 Ruger would be nice. You might build a gun with two uppers to cover what you wish to hunt.

It probably would have been more accurate to say "light target shooting" as I rarely hunt anything. I simply need a reason to buy an AR platform rifle to justify the purchase with my wife. Last weekend, she was invited to Bill Wilson's ranch for a hog hunt. So, obviously I need another "low recoil" rifle for her to hunt with. FYI, she has never killed anything and probably never will.

So, I'm interested in the 6.8 more because I don't want another 223 than anything else. Of course, it is always possible it could be used to kill something.

PS Thanks for the spelling lesson!! My computer won't let me use the spell check function on this forum! I already spend too much time on here, I don't proof read my posts like a good poster should.

[6.8 SPC]

NO NO NO. Go to 6mmbr.com and check out the Grendel. If you want something different than 223 in an AR platform check it out. There is not a sidebar on it, but just type in 6.5 Grendel into the search box and it will give you everything. History, load data, everything. JP is now building Grendel top ends, so there is a good quality product available. Sorry to come across so strong, but I have done the research on this, and when you put the cartridges side by side, I just can't see a reason to even look at the 6.8. I figure someone from the other camp will chime in quickly, so listen to their advice also, and make an educated decision. I'm out of work due to a messed up knee, but I go back at the end of the week, and as soon as I get caught up from Christmas, a Grendel will be the first thing I buy.

OK, but will I have a hard time finding ammo, on down the road?

[Five Hour Energy Drinks]

I am on the far side of extreme compared to most of the above posters.

I start my day with a pre-workout drink, (NO Explode) which is full of caffeine, creatine, B vitamins etc. Then 20-30 minutes of cardio with a heart rate monitor followed by 30-40 minuted of weight training. My heart rate never goes crazy. Then at 9am and 3pm I have a Low Carb Monster. No gitters for me. I love the stuff.

The only thing better is a Low Carb Monster with a little 40 Creek whiskey mixed with it!!

[6.8 SPC]

I didn't know where else to post this so...

I have the itch to buy an AR in the 6.8 SPC caliber. It would be used very lightly for varmit and hog hunting. I already have an issued AR/M4 in 223 and don't want to duplicate the caliber. I thought a little about 308, but my wife MAY shoot it some and I wanted to keep the recoil down for her.

Do any of you have experience with the 6.8 SPC ARs? I'm researching the net, but I thought I would save some time and just ask the Pros!!

Do you think the cartridge will be around long enough to justify buying one. I don't reload, so I have to be able to buy enough ammo for the rare hunting trip.

[Double Tap CHAMPIONSHIP 2009]

If anyone has advice on picking a squad, please let me know. I don't think anyone from my area is going.

You are welcome on Squad 18 if you don't mind shooting with some old MO cops.

Craig

I'm going to wait a couple more days for my shooting partner to get his entry in. I would like for both of us to be on the same squad. I'm sure we would have a blast with the "MO" Cops!

[DA/SA VS DAK]

I agree with both of the above posters. We were issued the DA/SA for until about 5 years ago and we switched to DAK. I loved the DA/SA and I hate the DAK. Yeah, the first pull on the DA/SA is kinda heavy, but after that, not too far from a god 1911 trigger. The DAK ssucks every time. Although, some people (revo shooters probably) love the DAK.

[Slide Glide Lite]

I love the standard for my Tripp gun in the warm months, but I switched to the Lite for Winter. I also use the Lite for my carry/duty guns and have had absolutely no problems with it. I do wish it came in a tube like Ultima Lube. Brian's tube is nice, but won't quite get to the tight spots. I've put some is an Ultima lube tube, but I wasted more than I got in there!

My issued Sig (which I leave in the trunk) has it and it lasts and lasts!

[HAPPY BIRTHDAY]

Happy Birthday guys!!

[Double Tap CHAMPIONSHIP 2009]

If anyone has advice on picking a squad, please let me know. I don't think anyone from my area is going.