DirtDiver

I felt that if you used the Open gun for practice and matches that 80,000 rounds you needed a refurbish....kinda like and engine rebuild....

JJR is very reliable, good quality.

In my local club CO is still growing. CO numbers are also but it isn’t from people leaving open.

Yes

It is referred to as an Aerowing, designed by Eric Graffell, French GM....4 or 5 time world champion. It is designed to lift the the gun off the table to assist in left hand table pickups, weak hand starts. Just as the racker lifts the gun off the table for a right handed pickup. When the COF dictates weak hand pickup...Mostly seem in IPSC competition.

Been giving it some thought

Akai 38 SC, Stroked, Completely Rebuilt by Shay after I had a stroke, never used. Has every bell and whistle available.

I learned early on to double muff. A pair of earplugs and the best muff that I could get....... Pro Ears makes, 32 DB on paper. My Open gun was just loud and hard on the ears.

Look at it this way....you spend all this money on a flawless running open gun, tuned magazines, practice for the match, travel, hotel room, meals and match fees. Then you cheap out on the single item that makes the gun function. I always would buy new brass shoot it once prior to the match, reload it and eliminate a potential problem that is within your control. You don't see the NASCAR teams using recapped tires.....

I'm going with bits of corn cob media stuck in the end of the JHP tips after tumbling roader rounds to clean grease from cases.

Yes.

I agree...Akai Agressor

Custom is 100% the ONLY way to go. If you are planning at competing at the highest level of Open then you need a custom gun built to your needs, grip size, trigger, hammer, weigh etc. If you are just shooting for fun at monthly matches don't spend the big bucks for a custom gun. It's really simple ...if you want to compete with the "Big Dogs" you need "The Big Dog Bone/Gun".

Shooting Open at the GM level is the NASCAR series shooting.....you need the most reliable, time tested shooting platform available....choose what the winner use.

If you truly serious about going down the GM path in Open...all the luck to you. But as in any sport that requires you to compete at the top levels...don't handicap yourself with the wrong tools/Guns. Check to see how many of the USPSA GM shooters use a Glock or even a CZ. That does not make these gun bad...just not suited for that specific task. Their is a reason that Max, Chis, Lesgar, Bill, all use STI frame based guns. At the GM level every competitive edge is worth a fraction of a second.....Your not looking at what the winners shoot. Buy the best tools that are suited for the job. Find a custom gunsmith, work with him and have a Match Gun and Practice Gun built...yes two guns