parsonm1

Golly, The .40 Edge you've experienced is ALOT different than the one I have. I bought mine through Dawson's and have had 0 FTF and 0 parts failure. I shoot in three different leagues and do not baby my Edge at all. I didn't even tune the mags. Just loaded them and started shooting! I have used factory ammo, but currently shoot handloads (180gr MG/VV320/WSR/1.19 OAL). Ammo shoots like a 9mm, only major - 940 fps). One of the advantages of ordering through Dawson's is the pistol is taken to the range and run before you get it. Any problems are taken care of BEFORE it arrives. It runs so well, I am about to send it off to have it hard-chromed... Oh well, YMMV! Marvin

Matt, You can order a TJ Custom 80 series frame cutout plate from Brownells. Part number is 876-011-780. Cost is $4.25. Marv

If you had ordered from Chuck at Shooters Connection, he had a few 38S mags to sell if you bought a pistol. Just watch the auctions and a few usually show up...

Actually, it is supposed to follow. Here is a response to the same question on pistolsmith.com. "Yes, it's supposed to work that way. Many 1911 derivatives no longer have an actual half-cock notch. It is just a ledge on the hammer and is intended ONLY to catch against the sear if somehow the hammer is knocked off of full-cock without pulling the trigger. There is no undercut notch to retain the sear like there used to be in real 1911s. It is not for carry or for storage or for anything but that one last-ditch guard against an AD. You should never end up in that position. If your hammer falls to that position during loading or firing there is probably something wrong with the hammer, sear, or searspring. If you put it there manually and were able to pull it off, it is not a sign of a defect, but there is no reason to ever put the hammer there in the first place. It isn't safe for carry and it isn't needed for disassembly or anything. There is no reason to engage a real half-cock notch, either. A loaded 1911 or derivative should be either cocked and locked (Condition 1) or magazine loaded, chamber empty (Condition 3). Hammer down on a loaded chamber (Condition 2) is a bit risky to get to and should be reserved for very special purposes. Manual engagement of half cock is totally unneeded and should not be used, no matter what Mike Hammer did. " Hope this helps! Marvin

"Most gunsmiths use a common magic marker rather than Dyken. Magic marker comes off easy and is cheap. Dykem is a little thicker and requires acetone to remove, it wont come off with gunscrubber." I normally use the $1.50 can of cheap carb cleaner to remove the Dykem. Never used acetone. If you're doing a simple or finish fit, I use the magic marker too, using the dykem on full barrel fits. Gives me good feedback on prgress. Another gunsmith friend of mine uses the Dykem too, but just on full fits. I think people use magic marker since its cheap and locally available. Most 'smiths I know that are using Dykem are also machinists...or at least know their way around a mill and a lathe. Nice to have choices. Marvin

In lieu of lipstick (and if you fit other things), a great mail order source for Dychem (Blue, red or green) is http://www.mcmaster.com. Stuff dries quickly amd washes off with gun scrubber or cheap carb cleaner. They also carry metal rod stock to make things like barrel fitting rods (with a little help from a machinist to help with the turning of the firing pin hole end) and squib rods. I have made 5 sets of 38/40/45 squib rods with about 20 worth of brass stock. Very handy to have around, I even donated a set to my local club. Marvin

I've used Wilson buffs for years. I use them as an indicator that my recoil spring may be weakening. I start with a fresh spring that works the way I want it to, then put in the buff. I check the buff/spring every time I clean the gun and if the buff starts to show serious wear, I replace the spring and the buff. Knock on wood, I've never lost a buff and I rarely have a problem with feeding or extraction/ejection due to the spring. YMMV... Marv

I, too, shall throw in my two cents... I shoot a 625 with a 5 inch barrel in an 002. I have one hell of a time getting the gun in the holster. It seems to come out fairly well and with practice (and a little break in) it could be a good holster with a 5 inch barrel. Never have problem with retention. Can't say I would recommend it over the CR since I haven't seen a CR, but it's definitely better than the Uncle Mikes nylon holster I started with! (Not knocking Uncle Mikes). Good luck finding a holster. And if you want a great buy on an 002, give me shout. I'm going to a Kramer. Marvin "If you don't like your job, don't quit. Just go to work everyday and do it really half assed." - Homer Simpson

A1: Getting to throw countless rounds of ammo at challenging stages! A2: Having to throw COUNTLESS rounds of ammo at challenging stages! Marv

Hi all, The club I shoot in is starting a "carry" side match at our monthly practical matches. I would like to fit a P13 or commander style slide to a para P14 that I have as a backup pistol. Can you shorten the bottom of the slide (recoil spring tunnel) and the recoil spring plug and expect the gun to function OK? Thanks in advance for information tendered!

"Bottom line is...this "game" is not about fighting any more than top-fuel drag racing is about driving to work." Now a days the "game" is not so much about fighting. But during the inception of IPSC, the idea was to get people to shoot somewhat realistic scenarios and skill development drills with firearms that, at that time, were considered the premier fighting firearms. The power factor was based upon the standard 230 gr. military ball ammo. A standard had to be set to level the playing field (and most of the founders liked 45 acp). Otherwise you would see .22s competing nest to the centerfires (more people are wounded and killed by .22s than any other caliber). Ammo development has changed the reality of what ammo is practical and the IDPA has changed their rules to reflect that...and no, I am not a member of IDPA. Only when the "gamers" came along did the perspective become more about what it takes to win and less about practical skills and firearms. And if the goal is to get to work as fast as you can, regardless of cost of the car, and assuming that you work less than 1/2 mile straight away from where you work, I think a dragster might be fun!!

Did you know that if you brought that 40 rd. mag into Ohio and used it for a three gun match, you can legally be charged with a felony. Ohio has a law that use of a mag of more than 30 rounds constitutes the same type of penalty as owning a full auto without papers? Check those state laws... (Edited by parsonm1 at 7:55 am on Oct. 1, 2002)

I am looking for anyone who makes a leather holster for open optic guns. Like an Ernie Hill or similar. I prefer the leather holsters over the bio-mechanic ones being used today. Can't see much advantage to them in the leagues I shoot in. Anybody?

"$505 for a P-16? That's about what they're worth." Ouch!!! I have been competing in a league for the last three years with a slightly modified P-14. Only failures have been my stupid ammo tricks. Other guys in the club are running P-16's and not having any problems. 6 of the top 8 shooters in my league shoot Para's. They aren't the prettiest guns, but they run like scalded cats! YMMV...

If you watch gunbroker.com, you can pick up a new P-16 fairly reasonably priced. Just last week, a NIB P-16 with one high cap and a coupon for two more went for $505!

So all mags work in a standard frame. That helps. Thanks.

I am switching to an STI based gun for Limited and Open class. I see that STI makes three lengths of mags: 126mm, 140mm and 170mm. What's the difference between these mags and how do the base pad lengths fit into the equation? Sorry for the "define the universe and give three examples" format of the question, but I've been picking up a few used mags (I'm shooting Paras right now) and am don't know if I'm buying the correct mags. Thanks in advance for any help tendered... "If you hate your job, don't quit. Just go to work every day and do it really half-assed." - Homer Simpson

At an IDPA match this weekend, I ran into a shooter using a 185 gr. hollow base, round nose, encapsulated bullet. Looked like a plated/jacketed 230 gr. bullet with the base bored out. Anybody know who is producing this type of bullet? The accuracy was very good.

I highly recommend against using Ranier's 200 SWC. I have 3 .45 acp pistols. All will feed every bullet style, even an empty case when inserted into a mag between live rounds. None will feed Ranier's 200's with ANY reliability. At this years SHOT show, I asked Ranier if they had any problems with their 200 grain 45's. The person in the booth said, "You mean feeding? Yea, we get all kinds of complaints about them, but no one has figured out why they won't work." I admired his honesty! If you look at the diameter of the truncated cone portion of the bullet, top and bottom of the cone, it is considerably small than an H&G 68 style bullet. I believe this reduced diameter changes the angle of bullet feed by delaying when the bullet hits the feed ramp. Just my opinion and the guy at the booth said he would have a look at that. I recommend using the Hornady 200 gr. JSWC-CT bullet. It reliably feeds in my guns (ramped and unramped). You can buy them at Graf & Sons in bulk. Hope this doesn't sound like I'm putting Ranier down. I use their 147 gr. RN-FP in my super. Marvin "If you don't like your job, don't strike. Just go to work every day and do it really half-assed" - Homer Simpson

What I would worry most about is the fit, or lack there of, of the extractor. There are lots of 9x/super slides out there that would take a lot of the guess work out and simplify your conversion. I just fit a Nowlin three port barrel and comp to a factory para 9 slide. I had them weld the nowlin ramp cut in the barrel and recut to Para ramp. Bought pre-fit and with minor fitting, it works great.

I asked Ramshot about it. It is Competition that is similar to WAP (actually made in the same factory that WAP was made in Primex Technologies - the old Olin/Winchester plant). They said that there are a few changed made in deterents and coatings.

I asked Ramshot about it. It is Competition that is similar to WAP (actually made in the same factory that WAP was made in Primex Technologies - the old Olin/Winchester plant). They said that there are a few changed made in deterents and coatings.

I have two Para's (38 Super) that have the EGW front strap checkering at 30 LPI. I highly recommend their work! I have two 45acp Para's that I plan to have done. Changes the grip feel slightly (feels more rounded) but is great for firm grip. Not too sharp either. Doesn't snag. No rough edges. Can you tell I like EGW's work?!

A few friends of mine and I all shoot 147 gr. bullets with VV3N37 (6.3 gr.). We shoot in a couple of leagues where the targets are a little older, the ground is a little soft at times (causing steel to sink and be uneven) and frequent use of "block heads", a piece of birch or other wood 6"x8"x16", sitting on a small stand). I've seen 124s zip right through the block heads and leave it standing. The 147s tend to encourage marginally set or hard set targets to fall a little faster. I prefer to shoot my 45 acp with 200 gr. on these kinds of stages just to get the extra snap of the targets falling. Happy shooting!