Bear1142

Yes, check with S&J Custom (glockjockey.com) I seen several done by John and his work is very impressive. Erik

Thanks for all your replies, except for you Flex. I was a victim of circumstance, I tell ya. After doing some market research, it looks like Aurora may be my starting point. I may also just buy some land and build a house. Any home builders you'd recommend or ones I should stay away from? TIA, Erik

I don't mind the traffic. Remember, I live in Atlanta now and I worked in DC for 9 years. Denver traffic doesn't scare me. I was just checking out some places to live. How is Aurora? It seems like the South and East sides seems pretty good. What about ranges? I'm trying to get into some long range/ bolt gun stuff. What are my choices for clubs with 600+ shooting ranges? Erik

I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I'm no stranger to snow. Being in Georgia, I actually miss the snow. I do like the change of seasons. Erik

I just got word that I may have an opportunity to move to Denver. How's the area for USPSA and 3-gun? What about buying a home? What area's are good? I'd be looking for some area's where I might be able to get a little land with the home. How expensive is the land? ( I know it depends on where you go, but I was looking for some general prices) I'd also be working in downtown Denver. What's the traffic situation like? Thanks, Erik

I would use one, but I don't want to confuse my day job training. Erik

I've always wanted to know what is up with the tall, huge rear blade? It seems quite distracting to me. Erik

Kito-ryu Jujitsu Sambo MMA Erik

My mistake. I thought Corbon had dropped the 9x23. I just checked and it is still available. Sorry, but this has not been my experience. I have shot both SS and SVI hi-caps in 357 Sig and they both ran very well. This may be entirely accurate, but as for commercial self defense ammunition. The 9x23 loads list a 125 @ 1,450 from a 5" barrel and the 357 Sig 125 @ 1,425 from a 4" barrel. A 5" barrel chambered in 357 Sig is the ballistic equivalent of the 9x23. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "Straight line feeding", but bullets specifically designed for the 357 Sig have a different ogive profile and they have plenty of surface area for adequate neck tension. Montana Gold Bullet has pictures of the different bullets. You can see the different profile on the 357 Sig specific bullet. Merlin, How is your 357 Sig running? Respectfully, Erik

Alright Merlin, let me be the doubter. I would recommend against it. 1. There is no viable practice ammunition available, which means you're going to have to reload. 2. There is only one ammunition manufacturer making a true self-defense load, and it's extremely hard to find and expensive. 3. Brass is expensive for reloading. This just doesn't sound like a good combination to me. If you're looking for 357 magnum style ballistics, I would recommend going with a 357 Sig round. 1. There is plenty of practice ammunition available. 2. Speer makes a 125 Gold Dot that is outstanding. It's neck & neck with the 45 230 GD for performance. I get just a shade under 1,400 fps with my Sig 226. A 5" 1911 barrel should put you over 1,400 fps easy. 3. From the previous posts, you are only going to run the 9x23 magazine with 9 rounds because of stacking issues and not 10. The 357 Sig is based on a necked down 40 S&W and we already run our competition 40's with 9 rounds in the magazine, so we know we can make it run. 4. The 357 is a tapered round, so it should feed quite well in a 1911 platform and the shorter case should be easier to eject. To summarize: Practice ammo available- +1 Carry ammo available with kick ass performance- +1 Same magazine capacity as a 9x23- +1 Theoretically feeds and ejects better for a more reliable carry gun- +1 I think the choice is clear. Now get Benny on that project. I'd like to see how it turns out by SMM3G. Erik

Now that hurt. But I do like this one! There may be one in your near future. Erik

That's pretty good, but it actually stands for S&J Custom. Thanks for the kind words. Now that's pretty damm funny!!

Sorry, but I do have to offer my own shameless plug. SJC Titan comp. Erik

I'm sure JP will have some break-in recommendations. If not, call them. Everyone has an opinion of what constitutes a proper barrel break-in. Some don't think it matters. I would follow the manufacturers recommendation. Erik

+1 on Lawman's post. Erik

Shooter, You earned a Master class card by performing at your current level. There is no need to "step it up." The card you received from USPSA with the little "M" on it means nothing, only you give it significance. Keep doing what you're doing, there are no shortcuts to getting to the top. You must walk your own path. Keep practicing, you'll get there. Erik

This kinda leads into another article I'm working on right now. The importance of having an "off-season." Every major sport has an off-season. I can't think of a single one that goes 365 year in and year out. You need some time to get away from the sport and relax. Notice I didn't say quit shooting, I said get away from the sport. I still go to the range and shoot, but I'm shooting for fun, I'm not practicing. I look forward to bringing out the stuff in the back of the safe that I don't get to shoot during the season. The last match I shot was Ft. Benning, about 6 weeks ago. I might shoot one local match in Feb., but I won't really start practicing again until March. Get away from it for a while. Shoot something else for fun (you still have to do the basic fundamentals to get hits, so you don't lose any skills), or just get away from shooting completely. If you can take a break for a couple of months, I think in a few months you'll feel refreshed and eager for the next season to start. Of course Cy, if things don't work out, you can always go back to being a cage fighter. Erik

It's makes me sad to see things like that, knowing that I will never get a chance to hit anyone that hard again. Well, there was that one time on a bail-out..... Erik

Merlin, During the walkthrough watch the swinger to see where it transitions for one direction to the other. Pick out a reference point to denote that position (point on the wall, patch of dirt on the ground, etc.) A swinger will actually stop moving for a fraction of a second at the point of transition. When getting setup for the shot, aim at your reference point and let the swinger come to you, don't chase it. Pick a spot and ambush it. If your spot is good, you'll be able to engage the swinger when its almost completely stopped, before it starts to move in the other direction. Or you can just dump a whole lotta rounds and it and hope...like Ty does. Erik

Stubbi, You really don't see many HK's on the circuit. If fact, I can only recall seeing 1 in the last 5 or 6 years. HK makes a fine product, but the technology is a little dated. The HK's are heavier than the need to be. Due to the roller-locked recoil system (basically a delayed blowback setup) they recoil more. They are not very ergonomic ( You can't reach the magazine button without removing your hand from the pistol grip.) The operating controls are not very "speed" oriented (There is no last shot, bolt lock open and the charging handle is way up near the front of the rifle.) The sights need a special tool to initially setup your zero. There are no heatshields under the handguards and they heat up very fast, especially the metal ones, and until recently, there was no option for free floating the barrel. Additionally, HK's are relatively expensive, not to mention that HK is not the most "civilian" friendly company and chooses to not support our shooting sport They are fun to shoot, but I would look somewhere else for a true competition gun. I'd consider the Robinson Arms XCR if the AR platform is not an option. Erik

Louis, You can alway go the 3x9 route, but I would look at trying some of the 2-7 power scopes. If 7 is not enough, I know there are a few scope manufacturers that make a 2-10 power scope. Either one of these should serve you well. Erik

It most certainly can be, but it depends on stage design and whether or not the shooter has the skill to exploit the advantage. Erik

Midway usually is the place to go. Last time I checked, I think the went about $170 although I did see them on sale at one time for $150. Erik

I agree...that's why I replace my M4 extractors every 10,000 rounds whether they need it or not! Erik

Jim, Yes. The PF was reduced to 150 (bullet weight x velocity/ 1000.) You'll need 2728 fps. minimum to make minor with a 55 gr. Mil-spec. load. Federal XM193 or Lake City should have no problem making it. Erik