old john

I would talk with Dawson! I spent 300 plus with Bevin and after he got the money he won't return calls about the mags not working! I would stay away from him. Old John

Happy Birthday Guys. Don't forget the slide glide at your older age!! old john

Go to Frank's, Everyone is correct about the motels in Frostproof Fl. where Frank's range is but Sebring (home for the fast cars that go & go) is 25 minutes down the road. Plenty of rooms there and lots of fast night life. Old John

Lighter yet! I just install a 10# recoil spring in my stock sti edge. Power factor is 152+- and the sights return to the point of aim with little recoil or flip. The set up works fine with a 12# at 167pf. No buffer and no slide damage after 1500 rounds. Love the load. 4.1 tight group under 180 Montana gold & 4.4 under the same for major @ 1.185oal / Old John

I just returned from one day with Frank Garica. It was a 1 on 1 day and he really pushed trigger prep on all shots at steel and over 8yds at open paper. I think he was correct for me and my STI 2 1/2 lb blaster. His course is great. Old John

Hi grrl, Did the shooter really question the call?? If the pan had been steel the bullet would have been either one foot away or maybe some place that would stop one from talking. It should have been a voluntary DQ. It sounds very unsafe to me rules or no rules. Feel good about your call! old john

I have found vv320 to act very much like Tightgroup for me. I use 4.35 of Tightgroup under a 180 Montana Gold at 1.185oal and make 167pf with new brass. It also loads down nicely using 3.8 for a soft minor load.Old John

Good point JT. Guess I would have found the bullet problem the hard way! I'll just slow down and be safe. thanks, Old John

Smitty, I am going to Frank's next week. I'll drop you a note after. I met Frank at the 3-gun nationals this summer and plan to drive north about 140 to try the one on one. Do you guys have any 3-gun in Tampa? Old John

Has anyone tied the rcbs lockout powder die (powder checker) on their 550b? Did it work well? If so, that means you can probably answer the next question. Does their seating/crimping die work well with range brass since the case lengths will vary some unless one trims? I am really looking for another set of eyes to act as a double charge checker since I am using tightgroup. I love the ease of the 550b and don't want to change to a 650 even though it has the extra station for a powder checker. I load for three pistols and change over a lot. thanks, old john

Report from Florida! Todd shot his D....OFF (Delta) - 3pts. in practice! Not to worry Joslyn . Good choice! Maybe Todd will hold a small match and practice sections and we too can come. Old John

Are you thinking about the bar-sto only? I put a kkm in my 17l that had thousands of rounds through the factory barrel and found only a small inprovement but a nice look! Bomar sights with a fiber optic drilled into the front would be cheaper and should give you much more improvement in hitting the point of aim fast. That's what I found anyway. old john

I vote for and have been coached some by him (Todd)in Florida where we shoot 3-gun each Monday. Pay the price and come to S.W. Florida. I can tell you you will inprove but the good news is Todd can size you and your problems up in less than one mag. My only regret is I can't find much time to shoot with him. Forget the teasing about women & Todd's a good guy but a better guy when he isn't shooting against you. Old John

Hello All, I am looking for loads for my 223 for 3 gun. I am loading hornady 52hpbt loads and I also am blasting Nosler 40 bt for paper. I have been loading each of the above infront of H322 @ 22.7 grains @ 2.40 oal. I am happy with this load ( it really makes a loud bang) but want to expermient more before buying more H322. Do you have any suggestions? This powder really seems to be clean compared to factory loads also but my experiance is limited loading 223. thanks, old john Side note; I love tight group 4 g behind Montanta Gold 180 which is a light load making just over 150 pf at 85 degrees in 5" 40 sti for punching paper.

I vote also for the 18" jp. I sold my 16" after three matches and ordered a 18' jp. John and his staff are great and their support for their equipment is top notch. I have not seen a benny rifle but hear his pistols really run well. Ask benny if he does a 18'' however since 20'' is a little slower from point to point in 3 gun with close targerts. If it is a budget thing ask benny about installing a jp trigger in one of his rifles. I have my jp trigger set at under two pounds (sweet). That may be the best answer if in fact the benny rifle is cheaper! old john

Another point of view! I shoot three gun matches every week where I live. Most here strart off with a Bushmister or similar. Usually after a couple of weeks they are buying comps, tiggers, and gunsmith hours. The competive shooters are all shooting a JP built gun. Visit there site then call John and ask what his best price is for what you want. You can strart off with a regular carrier then purchase the light weight aluminum later and that saves $100 plus. There is no better ar on the market. Get the JP. spend a extra 1/200 now and be happy for ever. The most impressive thing I have seen on John's rifles is that one shooter had a problem after about 18 months sent it to John for repairs and received it back at no charge and JP picked up the frieght. The 18" seems to be the best all around for 3-gun. Lots of them at the 3-gun nationals! old john

Erik, Can you tell us what you found with the mags. I have had similar problems with feeding and stove pipe jams however my problems got better with the heavy recoil master but maybe I should also look at the mag problem you found! Anyway glad you are running. Old john

Don't be intimidated by the process. Less than a year ago I had never even watched a reloader and talked with our host "Brian" and ordered a 550b and video on it's use from him. I did have someone come over and watch (help) with the set up and I love the 550b. After two hours of getting use to it I can run 450 rounds an hour easy. I did not get the roller handle which is extra and accually love the stock ball handle because I feel the primer seating better. When you need brass contact scharch brass for there 100 % processed brass which has been roll sized (no glock bellies) de-primed and polished to new standards. It runs around $33 per thousand delivered. old john

Peter, The wood stock looks great but it is not legal in all 3 gun national matches! I received my grade two from John one year ago and I doubt there is anything better out there. His service is excellent and I know of repair work he has done on his equipment that was over a year old at no charge and he even picked up the frieght. Expect the holes to touch at 100 yds. Great rifle! I had him tune both comps for my set up. Old john

I am interested in knowing how to disassemble my 2011 STI to the frame and reassemble it. Can you share your favorite video or book on this topic? Thanks, Old John

Gosh, my new sti open should arrive next week. Does anyone have a good (cheap) source for factory 38 sup+p for break in. Any other break in info is welcome. thanks, old john

yep! 165 over 4.1 of tightgroup @1.135 is sweet for punching holes with your glock with a 13 lb. spring and heavy guide rod . old john

Up and working!! Thanks to all the info. I 'll print and keep your details Leo! I added 5% to my load and I ran 125 rounds with no problem. The load ended up at 4.33 of tight group under both 165 and 180 grains with 10 lb. spring. Still light but soft, accurate and flat. The 165 really returns fast to the fireing point. Thanks again guys, Should be able to place again in Mondays match. Both are minor but the 180 probably is close to major. Old John

Thanks All, The pistol is well lubed and cleaned after every shooting. The cases are backed out of the chamber but seem to stop when they engage the bullet sitting in the mag and then lock up. They are partly still in the chamber. I am going to try a hotter load and 9lb. spring but I keep wondering if if may be the extractor or the mag being high and the case just hitting the bullet and stopping?? I would think is may be a lack of backward force but why would the extractor let loose? Thanks for the help so far but do let me know of any other ideas. I'll post the range test results. Old John

Hello all, I am haveing some trouble with break in in my STI 6" limited blaster 40 cal. with lightened slide. I am using a light load 4.2 tight group under a 165. The spring weight is 10 lbs. but every 10/20 rounds I find myself locked up with a empty case just backed out to the awaithing bullet trying to get in. I first thought this was a high mag problem but in looking around on the site I found several referances to stove pipe/smokestacks ejections. Can some one tell me more about this had how it maybe fixed? Heck I was even thing the extractor had problems. Thanks and I look forward to taking it back off the shelf and saving the three seconds with your help! Old John