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It is looking like it will be a great match. Nice match book. Are many folks coming from out of state?

Many thanks to EAGC for a wonderful match. Great stage design and lots of fun. I definitely picked the right month for my first visit. Looking forward to future matches. -R

Fantastic match. My first out of Area adventure and it was awesome. Everyone was very welcoming and we had a blast. Very cool stage setup. I think Stage 6 had more moving parts than Big Ben. Nobody freaked out when my 9-year-old scored the stages and I even hitched a ride from one shooter (wife and daughter were in DC... knew I could count on a fellow shooter for a ride). Many thanks... Got me thinking about how to get up for Area 8. -R

Yea. I believe I could get about $800-900 for the parts sold separately. I'm going to try that route first. If not, it would make a great desktop or media center. It's an awesome computer. I wish it were easier to just replace the lcd.

Yeah, the Genius Bar had to take pictures and have stories to tell their buddies. Good advice from them was to sell it for parts and buy a new one. The display was $750 to fix!

Looking forward to it. Just completed the online squadding. Nice system.

While terribly embarrassing, I feel the need to share this crazy story. Huge lesson in making sure that you are focused when doing anything related to guns... There I was, Wednesday afternoon, just got back from practicing with my Production rig, on a conference call, decided it would be a good time to clean my gun. Whilst driving, I find it comforting to have a loaded weapon in the glove box or under the seat just in case... So, today's lucky gun to have one in the chamber was the 9mm. So, while concentrating 90% on the conference call and 10% on cleaning my gun, it was time to breakdown the gun. I lift the takedown lever and pull the trigger to release the slide and BOOM! I wake everyone up on the conference call and simultaneously empty my bowels and bladder. After a brief pause to determine if I was conscious, I check to see if all my limbs are attached and look for holes. By the grace of God, I had no marks on me. I look at my bench and see my bench vise with a huge mark on it, some JHP shrapnel in the wood top of the bench and then to the right... my new MacBook laptop with a giant bullet hole in the display. I recover from the shock and explain to the guys on the call what just went on and grabbed the camera: Needless to say, it was a huge wake-up call to make sure that I am 100% focused when dealing with guns and/or ammo. Also, to keep treating it like its loaded at all times. I hear that sometimes they can actually be loaded. P.S. The guy at the Apple Store Genius Bar didn't think it would be covered under warranty!

I spoke with a friend at Winchester and he said that they were running 24x7 and getting them out as fast as possible. They are making more than they ever have and are shipping constantly. Obviously, the demand is high, but he said that another issue is that the distributors have their favorite dealers that come first and that the dealers have favorite customers that come first. So, I'd suggest ordering from a high-volume shop like Powder Valley. +1 bump for having an order of 15k at Powder Valley since early april...

Anyone else had any issues with the .355 Powder Expander on the LNL? I had 3 rounds out of 100 that didn't get any powder. I diagnosed the problem today and found that it was from adding the Expander into the powder die. I'm using the new Hornady Zip Spindle Die set. It seems that the cases that didn't get powder weren't raising the powder drop all the way up. I swapped out the Expander for the standard insert for pistols and it ran perfectly.

Found another cool way/place to rant. Check out @MyLifeDown on Twitter or just send a Tweet with #MyLifeDown to be in the main list. Let the negativity begin! MyLifeDown Twitter Account

I am about tired of allergies, especially in Georgia. Every Spring it seems like everyone in our house is snotting and sneezing and snoring. Eyes are itchy and the medicine to control it makes you tired. Makes me miss Denver where we had very few allergies. Maybe I should put a bubble around the house.

I've been shooting my XDm for about 4 months in Production and have to say that the factory trigger isn't much to write home about. Spend the money on the Springer Precision trigger kit, read the forums here and on XDtalk.com about how to install or just send it to Scott at Springer Precision. Night and day difference. Now, it's very consistent on reset and much lighter trigger pull.

Springer Precision gear is incredible. I just finished getting mine all setup and it rocks. I popped in the Springer trigger kit, extended mag release, solid guide rod and Dawson fiber front and adjustable rear sights. I did a little polishing on the striker and was all set. You can send it to Springer or have someone you trust work on it.

Definitely need to show the Mrs. We have an anniversary coming up. It will either be a sweet gun like this or a new tie.

Just about 2 months ago at 34. Starting my son soon at 9.

Thanks for the helpful info. I have settled on the 16 lb spring for now as it seems to track the best and feel the best. I took about 6 coils out of the 1911 spring I got from Springer. Amazing gun.

I just had the same problem with my XDM... Unfortunately, I found out about 1.5 seconds after a buzzer went off! I removed the old parts and added the new parts from Springer Precision... Went very smoothly, Kyle was a huge help. I took out the useless auto-takedown parts as I don't want any unnecessary moving parts and I know how to pull the trigger. I finished my tuning and dry-fired like a dream. Even passed the pen test (I use a dowel rod) and shot high in the air. I had to deal with some stuff at home before the Tuesday fun shoot and didn't have time to live-fire beforehand. Bad idea. I told myself on the way out the door, "self, bring your limited gun just in case". Should have listened... So after the ready command, I heard a buzzer and then a click. Light strike on primer. I called Kyle again at Springer and he walked me through the fix. It turned out that the striker safety wasn't getting disengaged fast enough and the striker couldn't finish at full speed. Found that out by removing striker indicator and springs from slide, putting slide back on, pulling trigger and watching that the striker was slightly touching the striker safety. So, a little grinding and polishing on the striker safety and I was back in business. Runs like a dream. Night and day over the factory XDM trigger. Here are some pics: Gallery of photos on MobileMe

That was a good one. Not a bad finish, either. I try to bring my 5th "B" - my Boy. Took him shooting today and he did quite well with a .22 Buckmark. Maybe by fall, he will be running down the range with a 9mm.

Wise words sent to me from a resident GM: "My saying is this......there are three kinds of people. Those who have not DQ'ed,those who have,and those who will again. It happens to the best. It sucks more for the guy that has to do it believe it or not. Nobody ever wants to be the bearer of bad news."

Well... I showed up at my first outdoor match after a few weeks of shooting Production in our local weekly fun shoots. I got a new Limited gun and wanted to run it through the Special Classifier. One buddy advised that I shoot it with my Production gun (XDM9) since I'm familiar with it and don't want to be changing rigs between runs. I notice I don't have enough ammo for 9mm and made a dumb decision to use my new single action .40. There I was... First stage... Ran my Production gun well, a solid "C" class run... Changed rigs to the Limited .40... Make ready... Feeling the rush of running the gun for the first time... Holster... Then flip the safety... What? It wasn't already on safe? What's that noise? Is that the RO saying to Stop, Unload and Show Clear? Oh no! There I was in front of my squad, my 9 year old son and myself... Disappointed for doing something unsafe and really bummed to have to pack up my junk and be done for the day. Very tough lesson, but good lesson. This is where the story gets good. I know it was hard on the RO to call it, but he did the right thing. He pulled me aside and explained why anything that hit that trigger on the way to the holster would have cause the loss of my foot. Then, others came up and expressed their condolences. My boy and I stayed a while and helped paste until the rain got heavier. On the way out, another buddy encouraged me and said not to let it get me down. I was bummed, but knew it was the way it had to be. Last night, we had our weekly shoot and I received some playful ribbings, but more encouragement and instruction. That's what I love about this sport. People are genuine and helpful. People take safety seriously. I'm really glad my boy got to see that played out and hope as he grows up into the sport, he knows how we are all there for him. Thanks, guys. I really hope I don't make that mistake again. FYI... I did run the Limited gun last night and didn't DQ...

I'm running 3.2gr of Titegroup with Winchester Small Pistol Magnum primers and 147gr TCJ. Runs very soft and smooth through my XDM 9mm.

I'm really happy with my Springfield XDm 9mm. Ammo is cheap and the match barrel and trigger run great. I added a Springer Precision guide rod and am loving it. Check her out:

Many thanks. That was great info. I'm going to try starting with the 18lb and then moving down to the 16lb and see if I can tell any difference.

Newbie question... be gentle... I purchased a new guide rod from Springer Precision for my Springfield XDm 9mm. I got the one that uses 1911 springs: Guide rod at Springer Precision I got all 3 springs, too (16, 18 and 19 lbs): 1911 Springs My question is how do I best know which one to use? When would I want a lighter versus heavier spring? I believe the factory spring was 18 lbs, so that's the one I have on now. I'm loading 147gr TCJ bullets with 3.2gr of Titegroup and Winchester Small Magnum primers. Racking the slide by hand is a little strong, but it feeds and extracts fine. Never had an issue. Thanks, Randy