Fuelie777

I use a ISMI 19# mainspring. When I used a 17# mainspring, some primers would not light off. Have the same trigger pull weight.

Before a DQ is issued for the finger on the trigger, it must be very clear that is the case. It is like being out/safe at first base, you are or you are not. Hard to call as it is impossible to see the trigger finger all the time. But if it is very clear that is the case, the a DQ is issued. Even with newbies at a level one match. Now at a level one match, if I know the person is a newbie, coaching before the stage and after is warranted, specifically about where the 180 areas could be and a reminder about the finger on the trigger. I know when I first started, (many years ago) it was appreciated. I have, unfortunately, DQ'ed shooters at level II and III matches for this (very few), but it was very clear that was the case typically during a jam clearing or reload and I was in position to see it.

Decided to fix a steel plate for the club. Maybe 1 minute of arc time. Was at home with just a sleeveless short and flip flops. Welded the plate. Next day forgot I had an appointment at the dermatologist, you should of seen me trying to explain the "sun" burn on one arm righty at the sleeveless area. At least he did not see my one foot where a weld splatter hit . If you decided to weld, wear a long sleeve short and more than flip flops.

ktm300, thanks. I forgot about it. Yep, I could do it. Just hand them the timer.

At a level one match the other day, I did ask for another RO. The primary reason is, even after going over the range commands, he was not following the range commands. I realize that he was trying to help with the RO workload, but it was apparent he did not know the range commands. He was nice about it, and at continued with the scoring. I have no problem if the competitor wants another RO, no problem, but I have never personally experienced it in the last 10 years except what I described above.

As stated earlier, at the end of the run, as the final commands are issued I show the timer to the scorekeeper, (as they train you in RO class or at lease in mine). If the shooter asks to see the time, I will respect that request and show him/her, after the" range is clear command" and I have announced the time and heard it back from the scorekeeper correctly. What I will not do is show splits. Unless the rule book tells us to do that I won't as it takes up to much time.

My take is very simple, if it works for you then great. Go with it. But I have had direct experience with the FCD, leading and non leading. I actually talked with Lee Precision about it, and the FCD is set up for Factory ammunition, basically FMJ or FMJ Hollow points. They are sized at .451. Now if your barrel is tight, resizing the lead bullet will not have much of an effect. But I strictly shoot lead and have had many problems. Lee indicated that if you really want to use the Lee FCD, then get the one sized for 45 LC and just insert your taper crimp items in place of the roll crimp item. I have also talked directly with the bullet manufacturers and what they say is true. They do not recommend it for their lead bullets, coated or uncoated. But, again, if it works for you then great. But it has not worked for me at all. Now, with FMJ bullets, I do use the FCD. No problem. Works great. Cheers everyone.

Yes, lack of powder will limit me this year. Got caught up in other items, then wham, no powder and no pistol/shotgun powders. Will just keep looking and shoot what is available.

I believe this post is getting off to popper calibration. If you drop your gun during the COF, then the rules are extremely clear. DQ. New shooter, GM, or not, the safety aspect of the rulebook is very clear.

Yes, absolutely helping new shooters before the course of fire always is present. But as Sarge said, once the course of fire starts, then RO's shall follow the rule book.

I have found this topic interesting and beat to death. The rule is very simple, new shooter or not. DQ. Yes, introduction with new shooters, and coaching them, understanding their nervousness, as an RO, we need to help them, but safety cannot be compromised. I have unfortunately DQ'ed a few for this infraction, but they always came back, because they knew they were in a safe environment and at our club, if the RO DQ's a person, he is done for the match, not much to discuss. I also run matches, and because of this topic, will upgrade my new shooter orientation.

Interesting question. I personally remove the safety as I start to grip the pistol with my weak hand. It is pointed down range as this happens, one fluid motion as you acquire the target and just before the start of the trigger press. I have seen and DQ'ed people for having the gun loaded in the holster and taking the safety off while the gun is in the holster while they are gripping the gun for the draw stroke (10.5.11 Holstering a loaded handgun, in any of the following conditions: 10.5.11.1 A single action self-loading pistol with the safety not applied.) It is not like I am looking for it, but I have seen it happen. I know this is not the rules portion of the forum, but I believe that safe gun handling is the first thing to be taught and watched for during a course of fire.

The Wyoming Antelope Club (WAC) has two separate pistol clubs. Gulf Coast Lead Slingers and the Wyoming Action Pistol Clubs. I am the match director for the Monthly Action Pistol Steel Match. Occurs on the third Saturday of the month. We shoot six stages and have 4 to 5 SCSA stages available. You can join at the WAC. We also shoot USPSA every Tuesday & Friday nights, fourth Sunday, fifth Saturday, action shotgun on Thursdays along with IDPA on Thursdays. Cowboy Action Shooting Friday's and the 2nd Saturday. Hernando has USPSA matches (45 minutes North of me) 3 gun matches, and a monthly Steel Match. And other activities. Frostproof is two hours away and has monthly matches, yearly matches run by Shannon Smith & Manny Bragg. Down south is the Ft Myers club with monthly matches, and a yearly match. Orlando has matches and the East coast. Down by Ft. Lauderdale also (but I am not that familar them). On the north of the east coast is St. Augustine and Jacksonville. St. Augustine just conducted Area 6 match. As you can tell, a lot of clubs and shooting activities. Hope this helps. Dean

I use WSF. I am more interested in accuracy than recoil impulse, since it does not really make that much difference to me. 4.5+ grains of WSF on a Missouri 124b round nose (note all I can get now) is very accurate at 130pf.

I use 4.5g of WSF, OAL of 1.120 in an M&P Pro, same bullet. Of the powders you listed, I would use 231, as a sligthly slower powder over 1000 FPS is better for accuracy that I have found.

I use the Lee Auto Pro disk measuring system, wiht the adjustable disk. My throws vary less then .05 grains. Very accurate. I use 4.3 to 4.3 grains depending upon Winter or Summer.

After a long search, looking at various powders. I have settled on Clays. 4.2 to 4.3 grains with a 200g LSWC set at 1.243 inches OAL, accurate, feeds well. Clays works both very well with 230g and 200g 45 ACP bullets. The VV line of powders are great, but more expensive, harder to get, and really not that much better. Use Clays and enjoy shooting.

My experience with the FCD with lead indicates it will feed and chamber, most always go through checking fixture. I have found that accuracy is an issue. Those that do not fit the check fixture, get the FCD treatment and always pass, then used only for practice. A friend had a special factory crimp die made with the internal ring ID another one thousands larger (Lee called it the Colt 45 die diameter). It solved the problem. With jacketed bullets, the FCD works great as it is designed for jacketed bullets. Hope this helps

Thank you, I will look at both items closely.

I measured the trigger pull on my single stack, without the grip safety and get one value, and when I add the grip safety, it the value goes up from 3 to 4 ounces of trigger pull weight. I am looking for what might be dragging on the inside to look for. Thanks.

I have been the Match director for the local steel challenge match for the past two years. When I "took over" we got maybe 25 to 30 shooters for a five stage match. I decided to work on a little adverstising, especially encouraging newer shooters to come out to try the Steel Challenge format. Also, our club offers a beginning USPSA course that encourages shooters to come out the Action Pistol Steel Challenge Match. This has been a good success. I now have 60 to 70 shooters each month. We shoot six stages. But, since we all know this is a volunteer sport, help is greatly appreciated. We always need trained RO's, people to set up, take down. Without the the RO's then the squands become cumbersum in trying to keep it 3 to 4 hours. Very hard to do at times. If there is to much waiting around, then people get frustrated and may not come back out. When I played golf, taking in a 5 to 6 hour round is not what I would want to do and would not. Shooting a six stage Steel Match seems not a lot, but the planning, the scorekeeping, getting it organized takes a lot of time. I believe due to the time spent in prepping for the match has helped it become more fun and allows newer shooters to participate. Each match has between 6 to 15 new shooters. I have had families get involved together. The sport is growing. But to keep it growing, keeping RO's, organization, good patient additude, keeping the rules, and coaching the newer shooters on the rules is helping. But as with most volunteer operations, 20% of the people perform 80% of the work. One of the most important jobs in running the match, besides the #1 item Safety, is to work on uncovering other people to step up to the plate and help. I can see how easy it is to get burned out if we cannot find enough people to help. That is one of the biggest issues I believe we face. Fuelie777

The person breaking the rules for single stack in this case should be placed in Open. Follow the rule book. If you shoot single stack, read the rules, I did when I started many many moons ago. By following the rule book at the local match, it better prepares both competitors and RO's for the higher level matches. With that said, a new shooter at a club match, should be teamed with an experienced shooter to coach him on the rules, etc. We do it all the time.

At Area Six this year, in April, Temperature in the low 80's, 4.8 grains of bullseye, OAL of 1.250 with a 200 grain SWC gave my 179 power factor. 895 FPS velocity.

Although the rule book allows scoring behind the shooter, as a CRO my preference at all times is to provide the shooter the opportunity for reviewing the hits on paper. Very few stages really require scoring behind the shooter. Someone else can pick up magazines. To many times we go to fast in the scoring and errors occur, and/or the shooter does not recieve his earned score. A few extra seconds, even 15 seconds makes all the difference in the world. Most times the delays are prop related, calibration, DQ, precedure challenge, etc. Having an extra RO or two on the stage, shooters prepared with stage resetting, having shooters ready to go when it is their turn, will make it go much faster than trying to score faster and not letting the shooter see targets. I realize that matches need to run to a reasonable schedule, but it could be run smoother. I concur with Flexmoney, to allow the shooter see the targets when at all possible. With that said, as a shooter, I rarely follow the scorekeeper. But I listen closely to the score callouts.

Absolutely it is affecting attending matches. I have cut back to about half, and it may half to be more. Heck instead of saying 15 minutes or 20 miles to go to a match, or any other errand, I now think its $10 to get there in fuel, or $50 to get there and back. Amazing.