WatchmanUSA
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Posts posted by WatchmanUSA
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Won't use the Federal with the headstamp of "FC". Lots of separations with this brass.
I was concerned with all the warnings I read here regarding "FC" brass. I was especially concerned after I bought some once fired brass that was at least 75% brass headstamped with "FC08."
Knowing that even “facts” can take on mythical connotations on the Internet (I don’t trust everything I read on forums, even ones as august as this one). So I decided to contact the Product Services department at Federal (owned by Alliant Techsystems) to get their answer regarding the safety of reloading .40S&W in cases with the headstamp of FC08.
I was surprised I received such a definitive and declarative response given product liability lawsuits.
Here is their response quoted and it is the entire message content of the email from Product Services at Alliant Techsystems:
"The information you’re getting on the internet is incorrect. .40 brass head stamped FC08 is perfectly safe to shoot and reload."
Take it for what it is worth.
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My apology in advance if this is a naive .40 S&W newbie reloading question. I’m new to reloading and my G35 has not arrived yet so I have not shot any reloaded ammo. I only have run test loadings through my new Dillon 550 using once-fired brass.
I watched the video and I see the use of the case gage and the brass does not go all the way in the gage. Has the brass been resized prior to inserting it into the case gage?
I have a Dillon case gage and most once fired brass won’t fit in the gage. Once I resize the case with the standard Dillon die it fits the case gage fine.
Is there still a potential problem with the brass?
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I just got a bunch of .40 brass from a vendor that people have suggested on this board. I have not sorted everything but a spot check indicated that there is a lot of FC brass in the batch. Can someone tell me what the specific problem is with FC brass? Will it cause problems in the gun? Will it cause problems with the reloading press? Thanks for the input.
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My Dillon 550 arrived late Friday so I spent the weekend, off & on, getting it set up. The test cartridges I ran through came out good. Now I'm waiting for my G35 to show up so I can begin test firing and fine tuning. To start I'm using Montana Gold 180 gr with 4.16gr of Titegroup on Win SP primers and an OAL of 1.124.
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I've got small curious kids in the house, and wonder how well the Dillon 550 cover "seals up" the press, particularly from small curious hands? If it's not up to the task, I probably need to look for a smaller table/reloading bench and put it in a room I can be sure the kids won't get into.
The cover is not for security but more of a dust cover and containment. It is more like a toaster cover many people use in their kitchen.
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I ordered a Dillon 550B and all the accoutrements from Brian in time to beat the '09 price increase. Plus I'm headed to the gun shop tomorrow to order (or pick-up) the Glock 35. A local shop has it for $589 plus tax.
Thanks for your suggestions and recommendations. The recommendations for the Glock 35 was 2-to-1 over the Glock 34.
Now I have to pick up brass, bullets, powder, primers, belt, holster, concealment garment and mag pouches. Man this is an expensive hobby to get started in.
I thought golf was expensive. Then it again it is cheaper than restoring cars…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!
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I'm probably going to buy a pistol this coming week. The advice is appreciated. I have not made a final decision but in the end I doubt that either a G34 or G35 is a bad choice. I may come down to availability.
BTW - My wife gave me a reloading book for Christmas so I guess I have the green light for order a press.
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After reading the posts from HoMiE and jsykes last night I became very curious about the IDPA rules. I wanted to know what the issues really might be so decided to study the IDPA rules concerning barrels and caliber conversions in the IDPA divisions.
I mean no disrespect to the opinion of others but I have come to my own conclusion and I offer it for comments.
1. One would reasonably assume that the IDPA rules were not written on a cocktail napkin at the local bar. Rather the rules were carefully thought out as best as the rules committee could at the time.
2. Further it is reasonable to assume that the rules were given to an attorney (perhaps several times) for review. As you may know attorneys are nothing but anal about word use and consistency. Words usage is important.
3. It is extremely unusual for one rule to have multiple meanings and application. Attorneys like organizational rules to be clear and understandable to all who might join a club or organization.
For sake of speed I will define a couple of terms I will use:
• NOT ALLOWED IN ANY DIVISION: C. Heavy and/or cone style barrels without a barrel bushing. This I will refer to as the Heavy Barrel Rule or HBR.
• Stock Service Pistol Division - EXCLUDED Modifications (NON-Inclusive list): 6. A barrel of another caliber that is not offered in the original factory model.
I will refer to this as the Caliber Conversion Rule or CCR.
Heavy Barrel Rule (HBR)
I believe that this HBR clause refers to heavy “Bull” type barrels not being allowed in IDPA. The reasoning is that the gun maker STI builds the Eagle 5.0 pistol that is legal for both IDPA and IPSC. However, on the STI Web site it specifically states that the Eagle 5.0 is only IDPS legal with a bushing barrel. STI, who one would assume has researched this with IDPA, warns buyers that an Eagle 5.0 with a bull barrel is not IDPA legal in any division. The only rule I could find that would address this is HBR.
Secondly, if the HBR was inclusive of caliber conversions there would have been no reason to include the specific rule of CCR in the SSP division rules.
Thirdly, the ESP division rules make no mention of CCR as being excluded. In this age of word processing it would have been very easy to copy and paste the CCR into the ESP excluded modifications.
As a result I conclude that HBR refers to heavy “Bull” type barrels and not to caliber conversions.
Caliber Conversion Rule (CCR)
I believe that CCR is specifically restricted in SSP because it is clearly stated in the rules.
However, CCR is not in the ESP rules. As stated above, in this age of word processing it would have been very easy to copy and paste the CCR into the ESP excluded modifications. The IDPA rule makers did not include the language.
In addition, as stated above, HBR does not apply to CCR. HBR applies to heavy “Bull” type barrels only.
Just my humble opinions…
Merry Christmas!
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However, you can just change the entire upper to a G34 and be good to go since then you simply have a G34.
Forgive me but I don't understand. Putting a 34 slide on a 35 makes in a 34?
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"Every damn time I think I understand the rules I'm proven wrong. That's just plain insane with the case I provided. A G35 with 9mm barrel (almost the same as a G34) is legal in SSP but you can't shoot the 9mm G35 in ESP???? I give up."
You should try being a newbie and try to understand the rules. I went to the link provided by HoMiE and it looks like I'm not the only one confused by the debate. I'm not trying to open up old wounds nor is my intent to "game" the sport.
It looks like SSP has an excluded modification of "A barrel of another caliber that is not offered in the original factory model." I understand that technically a G34 is not a G35. I also understand that the only difference between the two models is 9mm vs. .40. Go figure.
However, ESP does not mention anything regarding barrels. Yet in the overall list of non-legal modification it mentioned that "Heavy and/or cone style barrels without a barrel bushing." Yet there is no definition of the term "heavy."
Anyway, have a Merry Christmas!!!!
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If you're not reloading, major PF factory ammo is a bitch. I shoot 170PF .45 ACP in my 625 and Single Stack, and it's a pussycat compared to the G35 with WWB. Also if you're not reloading factory .40 ammo is expensive.
I will be ordering my reloading gear before the New Year so I hope to be able to come up with "softer" loads as some have suggested.
I understand that, if I really like competitive shooting, I will probably own more than one pistol. I have gone to an IDPA club and observed a club event recently and will probably shoot with them this winter. I would also like to try out IPSC this spring and summer. From there I can evaluate if I really like competitive shooting and determine which organization I like best. Perhaps I will stick with both - who knows...
Once I get some matches under my belt I will be better to decide whish other pistols I might buy as my experience level increases.
I think for at least the next year flexibility and versatility in selecting a pistol will be high on my evaluation list.
A follow-up question for those who are versed in IDPA rules: Assuming a .40 pistol, can you drop in a 9mm barrel and get some 9mm mags and be IDPA legal?
Thanks for all the input - you folks ROCK!
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I have been asking people for advice on getting a pistol for competition shooting. I’m just starting out and looking to buy a pistol that offers maximum flexibility for shooting in IDPA and IPSC plus being able to shoot in multiple divisions in each shooting organization. I don't know which organization I will like best (possibly both) and I don't have the money to buy multiple pistols at this time. Currently I don’t own a semi-auto pistol that can be used in either organization so I must buy something to get started.
Several people have suggested the Glock 35 as the pistol that offers the most flexibility for competitive shooting. I took the advice and I finally had time to go to the range today and give the Glock 35 a try. I shot at targets ranging at distances of about 7, 15 and 25 yards. I shot two hands, strong and weak handed.
I was pretty good at 7 yards with two and strong handed. I was fairly good weak handed.
At 15 yards it was fairly similar but the groupings spread out a bit wider apart.
At 25 yards I really had trouble controlling shots no mater how I held the gun.
I found the recoil fairly stiff. The recoil gave me some problems on my weak hand shooting.
I’m wondering if one is reloading, is possible to lighten the recoil a bit offering better control and still meet the power requirements of IDPA and IPSC major?
I was shooting MagTech at the range on their rental gun. Where I shoot they require that you buy their ammo if you rent one of their guns.
Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks!
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New Loader Questions
in 10mm/40 Caliber
Posted
Well my Glock 35 is in and I pick it up tomorrow. Today I did my first reloads on my new Dillon 550B. I worked up three batches in different powder loads. I was double and triple checking everything as I went along. I found a couple of anomalies that I want so advice on.
1. It seemed that my OAL varied quite a bit on a very small number of rounds. I think it was that I may not have let the handle travel to a full stop. However, I’m wondering if there might be another reason.
2. When examining the primer seating I found one primer that had a rounded dimple in it. When I saw it I was quite concerned. The dimple is large enough that it probably came close to going off. What might have caused this to happen?
Thanks for your help.