Nick Weidhaas

rmills, Last I checked I still had the right to express myself and form my own opinions, as you do. I do think that some of the Rules in IDPA are stupid. I base my opinion on 10+ years of law enforcement experience to including many years as a firearms instructor and tactical team members. I've had a lot of training and based on the intent of IDPA, some of the rules just don't make any sense and are not real world. Given my opinion of some of the rules in IDPA, I still choose to shoot the game. I understand the the rules are the rules. However, I am still entitled to form my own opinion about those rules and express it if I so wish. Nick-

I got some of the 200gr. RN, 45ACP bullets in and ran 500 of them through my single stack for IDPA. Very accurate and no problems. I ended up at 4.4gr. of Clays for a 165pf. I don't notice any smoke while shooting. I just got some .40 180gr MB bullets to try. If I like these I will be shooting both bullets from now on. Tom the owner was very nice to deal with and offered advice. Good experience all the way around. Price is right for sure. Nick

I got a email back from IDPA HQ on this issue. See below. Nick-

Lets face it, it is easier to control/shoot a gun with a lower pf. This is why you see more 9mm shooters in SSP and ESP. If they are not shooting 9mm, they are downloading other calibers to make the 130ish pf. Why, because they can shoot this caliber faster. I recently chronoed a bunch of factory 9mm ammo and it was between a 130 and 140pf. Folks who want to shoot a .357 sig, 40cal, or 10mm are at a disadvantage if they want to shoot factory ammo as the pf (recoil and muzzle flip) will be greater than 9mm. So you have two choices depending on what your goals are: If you in it for defensive firearms practice with your carry gun, shoot what you carry and be happy. If you are in it for the win and look at IDPA as a game, shoot 9mm or download your larger calibers to make the minimum pf. I agree with JasonK in that it is good that IDPA grouped action types into divisions so that people shooting like guns would be shooting together. IMHO, where they missed the boat was not doing something about the pf issue, as setting the min pf for 9mm puts the folks who want to shoot larger diameter full power calibers at a disadvantage (unless they want to play the game and download). If the goal of IDPA was to have everyone shoot full power ammuntion, they missed the mark as everyone is not. As they say, them are the rules.......you choose how you want to play the game. My .02 Nick-

tightloop, My son is shooting a Caspian 1911 9mm with a titanium race ready frame. After we got the mag problem solved, the gun turned out awesome. He is 10 and wanted to start shooting pistol with Dad (he's been shooting rimfire since he was 7) He is a good kid, straight A's in school and likes to shoot. What more could I ask for. That said, I think there is an advantage to shooting a wide body SVI or STI in ESP Div. as I think the reloads are easier/faster. I dropped my SV off at the smith today and he is going to turn the bull barrel down and fit a bushing so I can shoot it in IDPA. I will then work up some 130pf loads and see how it goes. It would be cool if it works as I can then run the same gun in USPSA and IDPA. Later, Nick

Sam, Well said. Nick

No Tightloop. I really do have a friend with this gun. I just picked up a short dust cover SV limited gun in .40 (stainless steel). I am going to have the bull barrel turned down and a bushing fitted so I can shoot it in ESP. I've shot my friends .38 super limited steel gun and it is smok'in. It would be perfect for ESP. This game does have some stupid rules, IMHO. But those are the rules.......... After shooting his gun, I'm seriously considering having a SV built in .38super on an aluminum frame. I'll then just use my .40 for USPSA. Going to give the .40 a chance 1st though. Many have told me that the .40 loaded at a 130pf is pretty soft. Time will tell. Nick-

Itlianstalion, You are probably right. Probably can't be done or will not be allowed. His slide is heavily lightened, (you can see the extractor in places). I think if he took a little off the front of the slide or from inside, he might get away with it. With the deep cuts in the back of the slide, I think someone will bone him on it. Thanks, Nick

Thanks, but it is still not clear. Slide lightening is not listed as a can do, but it is not on the can't do list. I may just have to give IDPA HQ a call. Thanks, Nick

Thanks everyone for your feedback and comments. AkiDale, It is intereting that you bring up the martial arts and specifically Aikido. I have been seriously considering studying this art. I have studied Judo and Kempo Karate (many years ago). I had the wonderful opportunity to train in Japan. My uncle lived in Japan and when I was 16 he brought me over for 3 mos and put me in a dojo. I had been attending Judo classes at the local YMCA for about a year prior to going to Japan. I can't even begin to tell you how good an exerience this was. I don't think I really appreciated it as much then as I do now. I stopped studying in 1986 and have been thinking for some time that I would like to study again. I honestly feel there could be a positive and beneficial relationhips formed from the study of both Aikido and shooting. I know this is a little off topic, but what do you think about this........that is your study of Aikido and shooting....have you found it to be a positive relationship? If you would rather talk about this off line, please feel free to email me. Thanks again, Nick

I'm posting for a friend who wants to shoot a SV Infinity in .38super in IDPA ESP. He already has this gun which was built for Steel Matches, Limited Division. The frame is aluminum and slide has been lightened. I know the aluminum frme is OK, but is the lightened slide? The IDPA rule book isn't really clear. I does not list slide lightening on the list of approved mods and it is not listed on the prohibited mods list either. Anyone know for sure? Thanks, Nick

Brian, Thanks for the feedback. It was right on point. You really have this stuff down Brian........you ought to right a book or something... I have thought about the experience quite a bit and agree that trying to recreate the experience will not work. I tried to think back to what happend before I shot or if I could recall what was different. The only things that I recall feeling was relaxation with no sense of expectation. I had made a plan, visualized it in my mind, but did not try to force anything or to shoot fast. I just kind'a unplugged and let myself execute my plan. I've read your book and your point on awareness, was well received. You've heard the old saying, slow is fast.....when someone TRIES to go fast they usually don't and often crash. I now have a new appreciation for this saying. It was a great experience either way. My approach will be to "creat the condtions favorable" from this point on. Of course I will do this without trying to do it Thanks again, Nick

I think this is the right place for this thead. Although have no real knowledge of Zen, what happened to me seemed "Zen Like" if that makes any sense. A little background- I'm 36 and have been shooting something since I was 7 years old. I'm not a Master in anything, but have tried just about every shooting game out there at one time or another. Shooting handguns has always been my 1st love and I recently returned (full circle I guess). In all my years of shooting I've NEVER experienced what happend this past week. I was shooting a local IDPA match and they had a stage consisting of two speed strings set up side by side with a mix of steel and paper. Not a normal IDPA stage, but fun. I shot the 1st string and had a good time. I then set up for the second string (which was on a different set of targets) The string was as follows: 10 yards, plate rack in the middle with a IDPA target on either end. The IDPA targets required 3 hits to score and all steel had to fall. Steel and paper could be shot in any order. With a single stack 1911 in CDP I had to reload. My plan was to shoot the 1st paper on the left, the 6 steel plates, do a slide lock reload and then shoot the paper target on the right. I indicated ready and on the beep shot the 1st target. As I transistioned to the steel I got the sensation like I was floating and enverything was in slow motion. I could see each plate fall in order, but did not feel like I was really shooting the gun. It almost felt like I was watching someone else shoot . As I came to the last plate I think (I'm not sure really what happended) I realized I was shooting (and hitting everything) and I missed my last plate. I felt like I came out of the zone (for lack of a better word) at that moment. However, when I missed, it did not bother me. I knew I missed and it felt like I re-entered the zone as I reloaded, shot three on the right paper and then the plate I had misssed. The point of all this is that I had never experienced this slow-down, zone, out of body experience, whatever you want to call it in almost 30 years of shooting. It was also very interesting that when I became aware that something was different, I lost the feeling and missed. However, I was able to go back or re-enter the zone and finish shooting. I guess it was this mini-speed bump...this moment of awareness that "I had never been here before" that caused me to think about what was happening and then miss the target. Interestingly, it did not cause a complete crash as I recovered and maybe even re-entered the zone to finish the string of fire. Any thoughts on what happened to me? Do I need to check myself in for evaluation , or is this what I have been searching for for the last 30 years . Any input would be apprecaited. Nick- P.S. The run ended up being 10:49 I believe. I know that someone shot this string in 8 and change in SSP so my time was not very fast. So another observation could be that this zone I felt myself in did equate to being smooth and relaxed, but not really fast.

2cats, Your right. The mag well helped big time. Wish I had done it earlier. Did you see my other post about the 9mm mags? Everything is cool now. A longer slide stop and the new Springfield/Matalform mags were the ticket. Thanks for the help. Nick-

Big Dave, I just went through this same thing with Metalform 9mm mags and I got it fixed. Here is the what I found/did: 1. Take the slide off or lock the slide to the rear and insert an empty mag. Watch the mag come up and see if the follower is jumping over the slide stop. I found that the slide stop I had in the gun was short (Wilson 9mm slide stop) and the follower was jumping over the slide stop instead of pushing it up. The mag would then hang on or be pinned in by the slide stop. I had to go to a Grieder (sp?) slide stop which was longer. The reason your mags are dropping out with bullets in them is because the bullets are holding the follower down so it can't jump over the slide stop. My 9mm mags were doing the same thing. Drop free when loaded and hang up when empty. Check the Slide Stop!!! 2. I also found that the Metalform mags have high spots. After I had a new slide stop fitted I then inserted all the mags. (2) would drop out and (2) would not. I could see a spot on the mag where it was hitting. I buffed this area and everything was fine. 3. If this does not fix your problem it is probably your mag catch like you thought. This 9mm gun I had built was for my son who is 10 and he needed a longer mag catch. When the smith switched the mag catches (small to large) the mags started hanging up. Because we had fixed the above and knew the other mag catch worked, the smith cut/buffed the new mag catch so it would allow the mags to drop free. All set now. No problems. Nope this helps. Nick-

Boom-Boom, Thanks a lot for the info. It was really helpful. Dawson Precision makes a wedge shaped base pad for use on the 126mm mags. Has anyone had any experience with these? Thanks, Nick

I've got a SV Infinity .40cal limited gun coming and want to shoot it in the IDPA ESP division (yes it has a short dustcover and will have a bushing barrel) and USPSA. What is the proper set up or combination of magazine length and base pad if I use a magwell and what is the proper combination if I don't use a magwell for the gun to fit in the box. I also want to shoot the gun in USPSA and I know the 140mm mags are the ones to use. I'd like to be able to use the same 140 mags for IDPA if I can just change base pads and or magwells. Don't know if I can do it. Thanks, Nick-

Bucky, Thanks, I'll give your .40 recipe a try. JasonK, not sure what you're looking for with your question regarding grouping? I'm not a big power factor fan as I put a lot more into shot placement than pf. All calibers come in at their own pf and it is up to the individual to decide what suits him/her. I'm getting a gun her for a game. I'm just trying to match the best equipment to the game I'm shooting. IDPA Enhanced Service Pistol division requires a 125pf minimum. So a 130pf is where to be if your interested in keeping recoil and muzzle flip down. If you are not interested about the competition side of IDPA and just want to get some quality trigger time with your carry gun, what pf your ammo is doesn't really matter. Kraut, you lost me. Sorry. Nick-

I've decided to go with an SV Infinity .40cal and get the replacable breechface so I can change to .38super. This will give me two guns in one for IDPA ESP and USPSA Limited. Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. Nick

Added an S&A arched mag well today. Had a gunsmith friend of mine blend it to the frame which had already been beveled. WOW....big difference. Can't believe how much it opened up the mag well. Very nice. Glad I did it. Thanks for all the input. Nick

I'm starting to think that a S_I in .38 super may be better for ESP. Longer bullet eliminates problem that 9mm mags have and can be handloaded with great results. Nick

Thanks for all the input. I guess it is worth trying for sure. At this point another $50 is not going to kill me considering what I've got into the pistol alreay . Like Duane said, anything that helps you get the mag in the gun faster is a no brainer. S&A looks to be the most popular. I do like the look of the Ed Brown. Hmmmm. Decisions...decisions. Thanks again, Nick

Currently shooting a Colt Commercial 1911 built by Vic Tibbets. As it was built for carry, I did not have a mag well added. I did have the mag well beveled and Vic did a great job. Just curious if you find an add on mag well helps your reloads (are they faster?) I am on the fence as to if I want to put one on my carry gun (which I also shoot in IDPA/CDP), but my thought is that the mag well may help those reloads that are a little off center. Any thoughts? Thanks, Nick

Thanks everyone for the input. Gun Geek, your physics lesson was excellent (I wish I had paid more attention in school). Given your theory, if I did not want to shoot a lead bullet, a 230gr fmj loaded down to a 170pf would get me going in the right direction right? S&B publish a velocity for their 230gr. fmj of 853fps at the muzzle and 829pfs at 25yards. Now if I use 840fps I get a pf of 193. Wow. So if I get some 230gr. fmj's and load them to a 170pf, I should see a difference, yes? Since I'm shooting the factory 230gr. ball Ok, a lighter 230gr. ball should allow me to control the gun a little better. Duane and others. When I shot IPSC/USPSA 6-7+ years ago, I ran a 200gr. Hornady XTP for major competions from my Para P14 with good luck. I also realize that 200's have been the most popular choice. What Gun Geek gave me was the scientific explanation of what "should be" better, which is what I'm looking for. I know it is all subjective, but I think I'm going to give the 230's a try. On a side note, I recently took an IDPA 2 day course from Steve Broom. Steve runs a company called Practical Shooting Institute and he is a top notch instr. Interestingly, he also recommended a 230gr. fmj bullet for CDP loaded at a 170pf. If anyone has a load for a 230gr. fmj with Clays powder, Win. brass, and Win or Fed Primers, please let me know. As far as fmj bullets, Zero and Montana Gold seem to be the most popular. Any thoughts? Thanks again, Nick

I just started shooting IDPA. Shot my 1st classifier (CDP) and made Expert, just short (4.49) of Master. I shot 230gr. ball (S&B factory). In addition to some specific practice, it was suggested that I handload a 200gr. bullet at the 170pf as it would be softer and have less muzzle flit than what I'm shooting now. I last loaded 45ACP about 6 years ago so I am a little out of the loop here. I'm also not sure what the velocity of the S&B is out of my gun so I don't have a pf. For those CDP shooters out there, would you recommend I go with a handload or stay with the facory S&B 230gr. ball. If handload, what load would you recommend. I have a Dillon 550, Winchester cases, Winchester and Federal Primers and Clays powder available. I have no bullets and don't know what to go with. I'm shooting a Vic Tibbets built Colt 1911 with a 14lb recoil spring. (I tried a 13lb spring buy my shock buff was cut ot ribbons). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Nick-