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I think about the wasted lead of the really heavy minor/subminor, and go 100-115gr with E3 or Extra-Lite. Unless you need to knock down targets, the heavy boolits is not justified for the cost.

No power factor 9mm, 3.2-3.4 gr of American select works. For what you are talking about an 8 lbs jug of red dot, amselect, or other mid fast shotgun powder is fine and will last a LONG time. I doubt there is a bad choice just stay W231 and slower.

This is exactly why it should be more clear in the rules. Its either a feature on the gun or its not, its shouldn't be subjective as to why its there, or who put it there.

I was looking for 8 shot wheelio to compete in Limited Icore/ revo uspsa. So i looked at the rules to determine what was legal, and yes I've been called a "gamer"; but these are games - so look at the rules and you won't be shocked to learn them on the firing line just prior to the start signal. In an 8 shot, the Taurus 608 would be a great budget option - except it has factory barrel compensating (a competitive advantage over standard barrel). Same with a lot of Smith performance center guns, and that pushes the gun into Open, and then you need a dot and a lot more weight (and money) to be competitive fit in, when all I want is an 8 round minor 9/38 limited gun that I will only compete with occasionally. But those compensating ports, to me, aren't modifications if they come that way from the factory, same way the underlug on a 686 is a factory part that is added to add weight (a competitive advantage over my Model 10 with no underlug). So yeah, I guess I'll write up a suggestion per the rulebook form.

So what this means to me is its a feature, not a modification. Its what I thought it meant, but that's not how it reads., and that's not how its applied. Classic division rule 6.9.3.: An under lug, barrel weight, grip weight, or any other modification designed to increase the weight of the revolver is not permitted in Classic Division. But change that wording to its intended meaning, An under lug, barrel weight, grip weight, or any other modification feature designed to increase the weight of the revolver is not permitted in Classic Division, and now a Smith 586 is no longer legal in Classic, it has a heavy under lug that does nothing but add weight. Yes its a oem factory "feature", just like the comp ports on a Smith 19 Carry Comp are oem factory features. To me its an inconsistency. Thanks for the advice on making a rules suggestion.

What I don't understand is the meaning of "modification" (rulebook term) as used in the ICORE rulebook section 6.6 through 6.9. If a gun comes with a 'factory feature' (my term) such as an under lug, barrel weight, grip weight, or any other modification designed to increase the weight, compensating, venting, or metering ports, or an optical sight - is this the same as a "modification"? There is no reference to factory installed items vice a modification, or what is meant by modification that I can find. But the rulebook categorizes revolvers based on what "modifications" the gun has. So I'm not sure what it means to have a "modification". If the book actually means "installed feature" to categorize guns, why do they use the term "modification"? If the book actually means "non-factory, aftermarket, or non-standard feature" (like explained in 6.9.2 for barrels), why not use better terminology?

When I used to set up matches, I put a sign stapled to a target at the safety area. Its an easy way to remind (new) folks of the rule. SAFETY AREA SIGN.docx

I've had terrible performance from Tula primers in the past, they would not ignite some powders, but I don't think they are being imported any more.

3.5gr makes minor in 9mm with the Lee 358-125RF, crimp in the groove. I use those in 38spl with AmSel also, and only go to 4.2gr max. Works real good. Amselect is a great powder for lower pressure pistol like 38spl, but I would not push it too fast. Step up to Unique or w231 for more speed, and then Power Pistol for even more speed at +P pressures.

What I did at my matches was to tape a "safety area" sign to a target, on a target stand and staked the stand next to the table. The sign stated that this was the ONLY area where handling a firearm was allowed, and NO AMMO handling was allowed. That and a plastic table up against a berm works just fine.

So, I'm thinking of competing again in USPSA after a long break involving nasty range politics and an even more nasty hand injury (separate events). My Limited rig is an old Tanfo Limited, works fine but I'm looking to just shoot production for simplicity's sake. I've shot production with my wife's M&P9, and its ok, but it never really fit my hand. Besides its hers. I don't have a production setup, so starting from scratch. While at the local fun store, I put a few poly framed 9's in my mits. The CZ p09 just felt wrong. Nothing felt really good, but the FN 509 was excellent. The HK vp9 and Beretta Apex were close, but still not like the 509. So I get online and look at the research. I could go with the longslide FNS-9 for longer sight radius. But the new gun with a warranty is probably better, right? I know Glocks fit my hand ok, but the grip angle felt better on the FN. So what to do, say you the inter-google-web? Go with the FN 509 with its mediocre trigger and lack of support or with something else? I mean really the "lack of support" just means I can't customize, but do I need to in Production anyways? I shot one match with a Glock, and it was fine, but it was like "meh, whatever" and I never thought I would go out and actually buy one. I can make a kydex holster (already done a few), I reload so I can tune loads, and I do well with the light 9mm platform. Oh, the 92fs also feels great to me, so yes I must have a weird hand or something. I'd like to be competitive, but I doubt that I will ever spend the time needed to be a M or GM, or shoot nationals or go pro. Just looking for for opinions on the FN or other striker guns that maybe I need to look at.

Well folks, we have a functioning club but we cannot seem to find a match director/club contact. I am stepping down, and the club will cease to exist if we do not find a MD this Sunday. We will have enough cash on hand to pay for our insurance, which runs out on 10-16-14, but I am not going to pay for another year without a MD who will be responsible for the club. So the incoming MD has to pay nothing, we have plenty of cardboard targets, and stands, tape, sticks, tools; and we can continue to borrow steel poppers from Steve S. We really need someone to take over! Robert

Bill, Met you at practice yesterday...but we missed you at the match today. Robert Sinagua Shooters AZ24

That's right, Min PF is 150. I'm planning on running a multi gun match, and was looking at the rulebook in preperation. My range is going to be max 50yds, so needing a long range cartridge is out. I was planning on being able to allow pistol caliber, or at least .30 M1 carbine, but the new rules (Rulebook 1-1-2014final.pdf) are making it more unclear than clear.

I know you already have one coming, but when mine broke, I just called up EAA and ordered one over the phone.

Looking the MG rulebook, there is a Min Caliber/cartridge rule in place for rifles at 5.45x39. This round is a high velocity, light weight round, 49gr at 3000fps for 5N7 FMJ, power factor of 147. What exactly constitutes something equal to or larger than the minimum? Would it be based on PF? the min PF for HF scoring is 125, which is not much.... Is 7.62x33 equal to or larger than 5.45x39? Is 7.62x35 equal to or larger than 5.45x39? Is there some way to make a determination based on actual measurements? Is 9.1x40 allowed at a PF of 354? (hint that's .357RemMax 180gr at 1968fps data from Wikipedia) If not is that because is not a bottleneck case? If we need to have bottleneck case, then is 50Beowolf, .45-70 or even .50-90 legal? If we don't need a bottleneck case then is 357mag legal? Its 9.1x33 and PF of 205 (158gr at 1300fps -easy to do with a 16" barrel) Lots of issues here, and a clear cut rule is needed.(at least in my mind) I propose that the actual bullet diameter times the actual case length should be the "standard" AND up the min PF to 140. 5.45x39 is actually 5.60mm by 39.82 giving a Cartridge size of "223mm". Using this calculation (and setting a min of "223mm") and the power factor of 140 should make it easier to: 1. determine if your cartridge is in fact legal. 2. push development of new cartridges (ala .300 aac blk came out of 300 gremlin shot by the USAMU in MG games) 3. allow handloaders to upload or download as necessary to meet the regulations. 4. allow a match official to just measure the pulled bullet, the empty case, weigh the bullet, fire 3 rounds and plug in the numbers. No judgment calls required. 5. exclude low power "rifle" rounds and high powered "pistol" rounds, which I believe is the intent of the min cartridge rule anyways.

What is the purpose of practical shooting? Everything and nothing. What is the purpose of ken-jitsu? Is it to wield the sword that kills, or the sword that saves? Are pistols so different than swords, or sticks, or bows. To define what you do, puts limitations upon it. To experience a thing is all one can do. Its all a path, keep walking.

Zen was adopted by Buddhists early on, but is not Buddhist by nature. The word "zen" only means meditation, ie a Zen Buddhist is a meditative Buddhist. In the West we tend to oversimplify things, so we like to lump all spiritual or meditative ideas as religious. And that is partly right. Studies of people who have taken LSD show that people consider that experience a "spiritual" or "meditative" or "religious" experience. Early on, martial artists of all types were fighters. At the time all persons were religious, just as today. Then we see a shift to the arts meaning more, a path to self discovery. If my church is the range (or mountain, or ocean) and my tool for self discovery is a pistol, or surfboard or mountain bike, am I less or more religious than the person who goes to a building and sings songs and listens to speeches? MU - the question, like all questions on zen, cannot be answered by anyone else.

I'll agree AmSel meters poorly. Expect variations of .2gr due to the light fluffy flakes and static buildup that can keep a not-so-full hopper from dropping consistently. Other Alliant powders that have the same shape seem to meter better, like Clay Dot, and Extra-lite; worse is STEEL.

Very different pistols for different divisions. The Limited is bigger in the hand, and is most at home in USPSA Limited, as its too big to fit in a box and SA only sticks it only in a few competitive circles. But its a FABULOUS gun. The SP01 can compete in IDPA, Production, Limited/10, probably others, is smaller gripped. Its also a fabulous gun! More versatile, and a winner in Production all over the place.

I have no idea why AmSelect is so hard to find data for. One of my load books, Modern reloading by Richard Lee (2003): American select MAX loads 150gr jacketed 6.0gr, 155gr lead, 5.7 gr, 170gr jacketed 5.4g, 180 gr jacket 4.7 gr, 180 gr lead 5.0 gr, 190gr jacketed, 4.7gr, That's 6 listed loads in just ONE book. If you are not looking in load books, then where are you finding data? That being said, I have used American Select to make major with 5.5gr, MG 180's loaded at 1.2"+. Alliant makes some good powder!! I just finished working up a Clay Dot load to make major. I've been studying burn rate charts and have come to the conclusion that you can use any powder in the speed range from say 231 to 2400 to make major. It will take a chrono and safe techniques, but it can be done.

Call EAA. I've dealt with them and they were fine. Or figure out why they won't drop. Are they too wide? too deep? is the catch hole too small? You can easily "tune" your catch in the gun or open up the catch hole.

Things to polish: Magwell where it meets the frame to remove the lip/line. side of the trigger bar where they rub the frame. sides of the hammer were the pin protrudes. stone and polish the top of the rails where the slide rubs. polish the barrel support where the bottom of the barrel rubs the frame. Stone the back sides of the safety(s) where they rub the frame.

You can get the Wolff "LONGSLIDE" springs for the Ltd. #49812 is the 12lbs spring I got from Henning for my Tanfo Limited. Its marked 9mm, extra power eaa witness longslide.

Thats what I read too, but wasn't sure if it was "allowed" as some things are at a level 1 match.