TheBrick

Thanks for all the information. I did think the router was the best way to go. Tech guy got back to me and said that they used the smartphone because the router was not yet available but never was meant to replace the router.

I have worked with the Practiscore program at other clubs in FL where cell phone reception is everywhere and none of them use a smartphone to sync the tablets at the range. They all used a router to make a hot spot. Here in PA, the club Tech guy used the smartphone to sync and opted not to get a router. Pros or Cons to this?

I've been using 38 cal Ibejiheads with much success in my revolver but a wait time of over 30 days to fulfill my order while they have my money is unacceptable. Are the Blue Bullets a recommended alternative? Are they made with good quality control and consistency? What is their order placed to order shipped times? Thanks for any information.

In October I was able to buy two new cylinders complete with extractors for my 627 from Numrich arms. They might call themselves Gun Part Corp now. They were chromed but I don't see that as a negative. That might even add a little hardness to the stop notches to prevent skipping chambers. Been running one now for a couple thousand rounds. My guns aren't pretty but they do run. Hope this helps. Peter

Found it! Offered by the Rockwell Group Speedwell division. It is listed as STAPEP4 a four bracket combination for a pepper popper.

I was looking on line and found someone who made a double pop up retro kit to fit most poppers. Unfortunately, I did not add that site to my favorites and now I can't find. Nevco makes the double pop up but does not sell separately from the popper. Anybody out there know who makes the retro kit or did I have a senior moment? Thanks, Peter

One other question, One bay I have available slopes up, meaning that the floor of the range rises up in height. Any advice in how to figure the 2x4 height difference at a given distance to give the same target height as if the floor were level? I am only eyeballing right now. I know it is not the ideal situation but one that I have to live with. It looks weird but really doesn't seem to shoot different after having shot the same stage on a level range.

GNG4life, I was planning on allowing only one gun per shooter and 1 squad per bay. As far as timing, I think the non moving official stages are about equal and I have 3 outlaw stages of about the same not so difficult array and distance. First match so I want people to feel good about their shooting to get them to come back. Doug: Setting up and taking down the posts and plates for the stage not being shot is a great idea. Thanks,

Greetings, Anyone have any experience, positive or negative, about setting up 2 stages in one bay. The club I am working with only has 3 bays and I don't think It is worth anyone's time to come and shoot 3 stages. I am going to try and put 1 official stage and 1 outlaw stage in each bay. Any experience in what does and doesn't work would be appreciated. thanks, Peter

Thanks everyone, The oal was the problem. I went as low as 1.140 as Mike said but that seemed to be the very deepest without a problem. I decided to go out to 1.155 with a taper crimp which looks like a good compromise with only a slight visual ring at the bullet base. Fits the case gauge easily. Now to get busy working up a load with Clays. Thanks again for all the good info. Peter

I was seating the bullet in the cannelure so the oal was 1.080 I will try the longer oal tomorrow. Hope that works. Thanks

I finally received my backorder of 38 short colt brass and tried to load some test rounds. I am using a 38/357 carbide size die in Dillon 550 press. 9mm powder funnel/flare 9mm seat die and 9mm crimp. After loading a few test rounds with no powder/primer I noticed that the 142 Montana Gold .357 dia bullets left a significant bulge in the exterior of the case causing it not to fit in the case gauge. I test loaded some moly BBI .356 and they bulge but to a much lesser degree and will fit the case gauge. .355 bullets just fall through the cylinder forcing cone and would not be accurate. I have cut down 38 spl. Federal brass (.900) and successfully loaded the 142 MG to a nice accurate load. Any ideas, comments or suggestions on how to eliminate the 142 bulge in a 38 SC case would be appreciated.

Is there anyone else besides me waiting for their plaque/award to be mailed to them? 20 days ago I was told to be patient as they have not been mailed out yet. 50 days and counting to get your award? Would that be normal? Obviously it is my first national award.

I am the MD at a club in NEPA and have been searching for a scoring program since the old IDPA program disappeared when my computer crashed. I came across the UBERSCOREMASTER program. This program is simple and very easy to use. Most of the work is done using the mouse instead of a keyboard. I have run several "test" matches through it and find it easier to use each time and much faster than anything I used before. Did I also mention, it is totally FREE. Best of all, when I wasn't exactly pleased with the format of the final scores, I asked Tim if it was possible to change it. He worked with me and in less than a week he added a new "Report" button with the format I requested. All I can say, if you are looking for a scoring program, free or not, don't make the mistake on not looking at what www.uberscoremaster.com has to offer. Shoot Safe Peter

Toothguy Do you really believe that USPSa made the change just because they thought it was a swell idea? There is a driving force behind every change. Who other than JM would support a following to cause a trial of revo minor in USPSA and the subsequent intro of a minor 8 shot revo by S&W? Certainly not me nor, I suspect, you! JM has a large following but he is in it for himself and what will keep him on top. Time for me to bow out and reload before this turns ugly.

Cooper_999 Yes, I have flown to major matches but I am not familiar with the IATA rules that you cite. In the USA we can ship our ammo to a receiver in the location of a match making the purchase of a $1300 gun as a convenience to match travel a non issue. What works for you does not work for me. Is Heidelberg anywhere near Schomberg. That is where my grandparents were from.

I can't help but once again to put my 2 cents in. Seems like JM got USPSA to go 8 round minor which, in my opinion, will be the end of major revolver shooters. This coming Nationals will tell the true story. After all, Sevigney almost beat Leatham in Single Stack when chrono made him score minor AFTER shooting the match with only 8 rounds not 10. Anyway, it now seems like JM convinced S&W to make him a gun to compete with. Complete with a TI cylinder which we can't get from Smith to keep our 625's running. I like new toys but in reality, I don't believe this gun will not do anything more than a 627 with short Colt cases. That's why I don't understand all the excitement. I wish I could get Smith to make me some TI cylinders, that I could get excited about. They don't even have to put my name on them or give me a royalty in sales.

Thanks for the replies.I'm glad I asked instead of wasting my money. I replaced one cylinder on my 4 inch 625 and the second one has skipped once already. The second cylinder on my 5 inch 625 is holding up and I hope it will make it to the Nationals. I actually already fitted a replacement cylinder as a back up just in case. Sounds like the best bet is to hunt down a carbon steel cylinder. Thanks again.

I have been dealing with the stop notches peening on the SS cylinders on a 625 which cause skipping chambers. I was wondering if anyone has experience with having the cylinder hard chromed as a way with dealing with this problem. Worthwhile or not? Anyone have any other ideas to harden the stop notch area is welcome also.

I thought that it would be as difficult as Chris described. I just can't see myself doing all that math during the 5 minute walkthrough on a 32 round memory stage. However, I do see the value of using the hit factor to determine your speed/accuracy in stages like the classsifiers as Jcarpenter's friend did. I think the value in using the hit factor is on long stages afterwards to compare just how fast or slow you were against the top shooter, My opinion is that this is talked aboput a lot but not really worth the effort until you get to the top. Thanks for all the information.

The silence is deafening

I finished Ben Stoegers book and he discussed the hit factor for stages. The unanswered question I have is: How does one look at a stage and estimate the hit factor for that particular stage? I think I know what to do with the hit factor once it is known but I do not know how to figure it out for an unshot stage. Any help?

Anybody have any ideas on how to get a Ti cylinder these days. S&W says they have no plans to make them and I don't want to buy a whole gun just for the ti cylinder.

I Won the 2011 PA State IDPA revo ESR DC and the 2013 Fl State USPSA revolver overall match. I went to the Revo Nationals and bombed out because "Skip" paid me a visit and wouldn't leave after the first 2 stages. Reworked the gun, cylinder, stop ramps, cyl. stop, etc. and all was well for about 5 thousands rounds. "Skip came back for another visit. Reworked everything again and all was well until today"s local match. Again after about 5 k rounds, "Skip" paid yet another visit. Does everyone who shoots a 625 revo have this problem every 5 thousand or so rounds. I have, on occasion, been able to turn out .17 splits on close targets but I know there are far better out there than me. Is this normal? Is this just a fact of life in shooting a 625 with a major load? Will lighter bullets help? This is frustrating my attempt at being a dedicated revo shooter. I really don't believe that I should pack a spare fitted cylinder every time I go to a match just to avoid "Skip." Any ideas, thought, comments or suggestions are welcome before I go back to becoming a bottom feeder. Peter

Thanks for all the information. I just got the scores (finally) and here is the difference in reloading or taking the miss as I understand the information given here. Stage had 3 ports with port 1 having 4 paper, port 2 having 3 paper and 2 steel, port 3 also had 3 paper and 2 steel. From port one I shot the 4 paper and one of the steel from port 2 that could be seen from port 1. If I hit that steel, I wouldn't have to do an extra reload. Unfortunately I missed and I had to do a standing reload at port 3 for one steel. 120 stage points, I shot 117 points in 32.14 for a hit factor of 3.6403 Taking away 15 points to leave the steel standing would mean I shot 102 points in 28.89 seconds (minus 3.25 for the reload). Hit factor would have been 3.5306. It paid off to do the reload. However so slight of a difference but sometimes a win can be that little difference. I feel better now for having taken the shot and as I improve my reload time, I am sure my philosphy will be to knock down or make up known misses. Thanks again, I think I have a handle on this now.