Teejo

Thanks guys, Any experience with the 185 precision bullets w/ TG. I looked at Berry's but their "Lead Surcharge" is ridiculous. $36.00 per 1000.... I would rather stick w/ stock barrel and have heard decent feedback on the black bullets. Terry

Thanks, I'm hoping that will be the case. I load for my 1911 using TG and Still have a bunch of Bullsye laying around. Anyone with a good load recipe that will be in the mid 130s?

Hi all, just picked up my G35 last week and love it. I just ordered some Warren/Sevigny Competition sights and am interested in giving this setup a run in Production. My question is if I load something in a minor PF (Ordering some 185 precision bullets) will I need to change to a 15lb spring to avoid a FTE problem? I have considered picking up a LW barrel so I can load lead (Cheaper) but was not sure if that would force me into limited anyway. Any experience out there with a G35 in Production running a minor PF load? Any successful equipment tips? I'm not interested in being at 125 pf but i would like to be in the 130s so i would be at less of a disadvantage aginst the 9mm. Thanks, Terry

Oy. Thus far my semi-stock Glock has taken me to Master in IDPA SSP, and I'm currently working on ESP, as well. My single stack 1911 .45 has taken me a few percentage points away from Limited-10 Master in USPSA - and I say that as someone who hasn't shot a classifier in Lim-10 in, like, a few years. (REALLY need to get back to that and knock out those last few percentage points. It's on my To Do list. Really.) It also won me an IDPA state championship a few years ago. Teejo, Which sort of gun(s) a shooter prefers is, I think, greatly dependent on their personality. To some folks, it just makes no sense to not have every possible technological advantage. Such shooters go for Open. Some folks want every technological advantage they can get and still have something that just might be - or at least relates significantly to - a gun they could actually carry concealed. Such shooters tend toward Limited. I was talking to Robbie Leatham about a year ago, and he has a concept he calls "a real gun". A real gun in Robbie-land is something you could actually carry and use for self-defense, and, a paraphrase here, but this is close, "A Limited division pistol is still a real gun. Maybe barely, but still...." For some folks the thrill is to go out and kick butt using only basic equipment. Such shooters tend toward Single Stack or Production division. There is no right or wrong to any of these choices, it just depends on what you like. Like Flex, if you didn't reload I'd suggest a Glock 17 or 34 for the advantage of easily available, low cost factory ammo that's already loaded right around the desired power factor. For you, since you reload, and apparently will continue to do so, I'd suggest sticking with your Glock 22, dropping the recoil spring weight, and working up a good, reliable .40 Minor load. You'll have a platform that, if you work at it - which you'd have to do with any platform anyway - can take you as far as you want to go, at a significantly less painful buy-in than a tricked-out 1911. Also bear in mind that, depending on the skill level of your pistolsmith, it's quite possible to customize a 1911 to the point it no longer works. That's a lot of money wasted. A lightly massaged Glock, OTOH, will not only cost much less, you can pretty much bet the farm it's going to go bang every time you pull the trigger. Moving on, please bear with me while I blather a bit since I'm in thoughtful mode today. As our skill levels as shooters progress, there is a tendency to become really impatient with any perceived shortfall in our equipment that stands in the way of maximum performance. We experient, we try this, we try that. The thing is, a significant percentage of us eventually find that we've been looking in the wrong place, and the equipment really isn't all that important. Sure, get a gun that works for you, have whatever modifications will improve it performed - which you may well, in time, discover is a whole lot less than you thought. But eventually, if we travel far enough down the path, we find that shooting is at least 95 percent mental, the equipment is maybe five percent of the equation. OTOH, it's easy to tweak equipment - improving skills sets, and especially improving minds, is considerably harder, it takes a lot more time and work. Some people just like dinking with the equipment. They tend to be gadget freaks in general, I notice. Their cell phone has more features than a Swiss Army knife, their car is equipped with GPS, a compass and a latte machine, etc. And that's cool; if you're one of those people then wallow in it, and more power to you. For the rest of us, I really think that if we just got ourselves a good, basic gun, then forgot about it and focused on our skill set and the mental game, we'd all be a lot better off, and progress further, faster. Thank you all for some great advice. I will focus on the primary task at hand and work on the skill first then worry about the equipment as I go. I'll do some of the minor tweaks (Trigger, sights etc) on both the GLOCK and the 1911 and go from there. Just want to give myself as good an equipment start as possible while still working within a budget. Already learning w/ about 4 range trips a week that this is not a cheap hobby and I'm sure it will only get worse Terry

Flex, I do reload the .45 and am currently upgrading to a 550 to keep up with my shooting. If I stay with the GLOCK, I will have to pick up some dies and reload .40. Either way, reloading is a must to control costs where I can. Baerburt, Thanks for the positive thoughts Does that that beat being a crappy shooter with a crappy gun??? Not sure where I want to fall.... Terry

I have thought about doing just that. I am concerned that I might force myself into divisions where my skills were well behind my equipment. Not the worse scenario but...... I would like to be competetive along the way. I could sell all my gear, buy a basic race gun and grow into it.... But I would rather at least be able to compete along the way.

Thanks for the thoughts Merlin. I guess thats my dilemna. I can put a couple K into this now to get myself up and running. I guess I want to pick the platform that I can get the most mileage out of for awhile since I know that ultimately I will upgrade all the gear and spend a ton more. With the 1911 am I pretty much pinned to SS and L-10? Would a basically stock pistol be at a major disadvantage in anything other than SS? If that the case, I cant help but lean towards the G35, put enough money in so that I could compete (from an equipment standpoint in limited and L-10. (I think some of the basic upgrades to the gear may push me out of production quickly) Decisions, Decisions..............

OK all, I shot bullseye rifle for years and am just getting rolling w/ Handguns (Big difference) I own a SA loaded 1911 and have recently picked up a glock 22. While I love the feel of the 1911, I cant say I shoot it significantly better than the Glock. I will say the the shorter barrell on the 22 make the recoil a bit more difficult to manage and I feel like I need to make a decision on where to put my effort and money so I can focus on being a solid shooter in USPSA. Yes, both of these guns shoot better than me but I can put some money into some basics like better sights, trigger etc so that as my skills grow I will have a gun that will be competetive. Based on the following concerns, I would love to get some feedback to help me decide what to do. Glock upgrades are cheap and easy to find. (sights, trigger job etc. Many drop ins) But I feel like I should sell the 22 and go with a 35, (cheaper ammo, full size etc.) I just feel like I wont have a platform that can continue to grow with me 1911 - More expensive to do basic upgrades (need a smith for everything) More expensive to buy ammo (or reload for that matter) But is a platform that can grow with me. I'd love to sell the G22, buy a G35 and shoot both the 1911 and the glock. I just think the difference in the guns will slow down my learning process as opposed to focusing on one platform. I know that ultimately this is a matter of choice, but as of right now I'm basically torn 50/50. I would just be interested if any one out there had a hard time deciding which platform to start with and whether they are happy with the decision they made. While I have the funds to pursue the sport (Well, maybe....) I have to narrow my focus starting off Confused..............

Thanks for the feedback all. I think I'm leaning towards the M&P now since the medium grip just feels beeter in my hand. I don't want to stop shooting my 1911 and am concerned about slowing down my development if I go GLOCK due to having to make a more thought out adjustment with sighting. On the other hand, I love GLOCKs reliability and the M&P has yet to establish a comparable track record. Any shooters out there who shoot both? Are you able to switch without sacrificing accuracy? Terry

Hey all, I am considering buying either a XD, GLOCK, or M&P in .40. I know some of these don't take well to lead. Reloading is mandatory for me and I was curious to any of your experiences with any or all of the above. I am leaning towards the M&P at this point but have not made up my mind. I know that glocks can handle it if you replace barrel. How about the others? What are the costs if any to make them reloading freindly. Thanks for any input. Terry

Wadsworth huh? I'm up in Warren. What range do you shoot at? Anyway, Greenport Tactical (Linky) will be having their first match of the '08 season on Sunday April 6. Might not be too far from you to take a ride and check it out. Forum member "Tactical Timmy" is the match director, I'll most likely be there and maybe a few other forum members. It's free to watch and roam with a squad if you just want to watch once and see what it's about. The XD, CZ, M&P, etc will take you as far as your skills allow and are all offered in 9 and 40. Don't be afraid of getting "locked into" a minor PF. You can still shoot in other divisions and if you shoot Alpha's, minor vs. major is a moot point! Or you can do what I did... 9mm Production gun and 9mm Open gun. That way I don't have to worry about reloading .40!! I shoot at the Midwest gun club in Canal Fulton. Gives me more detail on your upcoming match. Sounds like a great op to check it out. Thanks for the help Midwest, LOL!! I shoot there on USPSA Saturday nights quite a bit. Won't be at the next one (NROI seminar that day). Anyway, the matches start at ~10:00 AM at Greenport (GTA) and this one will be 5 stages. If you are out and about early and get there before 10:00 we'll all be milling about up at the BIG garage. To watch all you have to do is sign a release. When you get there go see the guy behind the table, tell him you want to watch. Bring "eyes and ears" and you're set. Like SV said, if you have a holster, mags, and pouches for the Springfield you're all set to at least try out the sport. I went to GTA and watched a match before I got into it myself. If you happen to be at Midwest and Adam is working the counter talk to him about it also. He'll have a good idea what's going on at GTA and can most likely provide any info you need. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with. Hope to see you there! First, Thanks to all for your advice. For those of you that shoot locally. What can you tell me about GTA? I looked at their website, it didnt really give you much info on the range itself or the events. I chose Midwest because they seemed to be pretty active and their website was pretty good (15 minutes from home is nice too) I am considering a second membership to a club but have been leaning towards an outdoor range to have the best of both worlds. Any input out there? Thanks again for all the advice Terry

Wadsworth huh? I'm up in Warren. What range do you shoot at? Anyway, Greenport Tactical (Linky) will be having their first match of the '08 season on Sunday April 6. Might not be too far from you to take a ride and check it out. Forum member "Tactical Timmy" is the match director, I'll most likely be there and maybe a few other forum members. It's free to watch and roam with a squad if you just want to watch once and see what it's about. The XD, CZ, M&P, etc will take you as far as your skills allow and are all offered in 9 and 40. Don't be afraid of getting "locked into" a minor PF. You can still shoot in other divisions and if you shoot Alpha's, minor vs. major is a moot point! Or you can do what I did... 9mm Production gun and 9mm Open gun. That way I don't have to worry about reloading .40!! I shoot at the Midwest gun club in Canal Fulton. Gives me more detail on your upcoming match. Sounds like a great op to check it out. Thanks for the help

Thanks guys, I live in Wadsworth, Ohio (Close to Akron). I am very comfortable with the 1911 grip style so it sounds like its between the XD and M&P. I definitely want something that I can compete with as my skill allows. I know that I could start right away in single stack. My concern if that I go with 9mm will I be content down the road locked into a minor power factor. I like the thought of cheaper ammo though. As a beginner is it worth trying 2 divisions and seeing where you excel? I can get adequate practice time with both. I get to the range 3 or 4 times a week right now. Thanks for the quick replys. I love shooters... Always willing to lend a hand Terry

Ok guys, First things first, I'm very new to this although I have been shooting casually for 10 years. I'm very interested in starting to compete but haven't worked up the gumption to enter my first event. I know I'll be horrible. My question is this. I currently own a Springfield loaded, GP-100 and a ruger MK III. I was going to try my hand at bullsye (Still might) but I really want to pick up one more pistol and want to be able to compete with it (They're like Lays potato chips). I'm looking to go either go GLOCK, XD, or M&P. While I was originally going to go with 9mm, after reading it seems like I may want to go .40 so I can get the power factor. My questions are: 1-Should I attempt to try my hand at both 1911 and plasti-gun or will I just struggle by not learning good technique with one gun 2- Am I right in Going .40 vs 9mm (I am planning to reload) 3- how can I get good practice in so I'm not embarrrassed to shoot my first match. (I do have an indoor range membership) Any other advice will be greatly appreciated. Terry in Ohio