Jeff Matzka

I kept an eye out all day yesterday for a scheduled UPS delivery - bullets from Powder valley. We had a small bit of snowfall in the Fredericksburg, VA area - about a half an inch. I thought they might be running a bit late because of the snow, as people tend to freak out here at the first flake they see. About 7:00pm, I get an "Exception" e-mail from UPS that says, "Exception Reason: EMERGENCY CONDITIONS BEYOND UPS' CONTROL". Really? A half an inch of snow! Emergency Conditions! Wow. I ain't got the words.

It's always good to inform the RO if your equipment requires a departure from the norm. I use a CZ Shadow (DA/SA) with no decocker, which on "Make Ready" requires that I hold the hammer with my weak hand while I insert my trigger finger inside the trigger guard and pull the trigger while manually lowering the hammer to the double-action position. I always let the RO know what I'm going to do, rather than give him or her a coronary when they see me put my finger on the trigger with a round in the chamber. I guess it's just the price of not using what everyone else does.

Shoot the low target first, allowing the gun's recoil help you drive it to the higher target.

The support thumb has always been quicker for me on the slide release - on just about every gun I've tried.

Count me in.

Make "B" in Production. Make "A" in Production These will require achieving sub-goals, including: Faster reloads Faster transitions from target to target Quicker moving from position to position (You'll notice all of these involve time. My hits are there - I just need to accomplish them quicker) Oh yeah - the most important: Have FUN!

Galco Avenger Nice holster - comfortable to wear and draw. Very nicely made. I have one for my 5" 1911 in black.

Just my 2 cents, but I prefer to shoot it all in one day. But, I'm local to Fredericksburg. I do see the other side of the argument, though. In years past when I'd shoot an out-of-town major match, I'd get in town the day before and overnight it in a hotel. That would usually give me an opportunity to look the range and facilities over a bit the day before the match. Honestly, since I'm local I'll shoot it whichever format is decided upon. Again, JMHO. See ya'll in August, if not before.

Hysterical!

Earlier this year, I was shooting Missouri Bullets 125 gr. LRN(Small Ball) with good success. I loaded it to 1.125" OAL over 3.4 gr Clays (not Universal Cays - just "Clays"). It's an accurate load from my Shadow and had no signs of overpressure - but it DOES smoke! Missouri Bullets are also very reasonably priced, and they usually ship right away. To avoid the smoke, I've since gone to Zero 124/125 gr. FMJ's - which give me a lot less smoke. I'll probably switch again to their JHP's and avoid smoke altogether, IF I can ever find any.

That's good to know. I'll try that, and lube the #@!?* out of it too.

I did about the same thing with my SP01 but then made one from a piece of music wire. Since the home-built spring was weaker than the original, I added a couple of crooks, bent inward at the ends of the spring and pared the tips down to limit excess travel of the catch. These keep me from pushing the button far enough to bind the magazine with button side of the catch. I'll have to try one of these solutions. It's not fun getting tripped up by your own equipment. I've got enough to trip me up without the mag release of my own gun adding to it.

I got bit a couple of times at a match this past weekend by that stiff mag release on my Shadow. I wish CZ-USA would put a lighter spring out. I thought maybe a polishing job on the mag release, the areas inside the mag release hole in the frame, and maybe even the spring itself might help a bit. That thing is crazy stiff! The spring itself looks like it's a bit thicker than it really needs to be. I'm kind of surprised Wolff doesn't have a lighter mag release spring for the CZ.

One thing to consider is smoke. If you're burning one of the faster powders (usually they burn on the hotter end of the temperature spectrum), you may get a bit of smoke with most FMJ's, but not with JHP's. The reason being that with FMJ bullets, typically the base is exposed lead, which can melt and smoke. JHP's on the other hand have the base enclosed by the jacket with no exposed lead to melt and smoke. While this may not affect the accuracy of the gun, per se - it may affect your speed a bit. Shooting a smokey gun while facing into the sun can result in obscured targets. Possibly an issue...possibly not. I'm just sayin'....

Thanks to everyone involved in putting on the match. It was well-organized, had interesting stages, and I had a great time. Can't wait for next year!

I don't mean to sound like an a**, but if there is anyone out there who is against reloading, I say "Good. More components for me".

LMAO!!! Now THAT'S funny!

I tested 3.7gr of Clays under a 125gr Zero JHP 1.125 OAL. Glock 17 w/Storm Lake Barrel 80°. Low 1010 fps 126.3 PF, hi 1049 fps 131.1 PF, average 1030 fps 128.8 PF, SD 11.95. The MAX load from Hodgdon just makes minor power factor. I would not trust this load to pass a chrono stage. You should always chrono whatever load you decide on in YOUR gun. While GForcelizard is getting velocities that just make Minor(125 PF)from his Glock, I'm getting 130 PF velocities from my CZ. Someone else with a S&W may have still different results. Heck, you can have two guns of the same model and same load achieve different velocities. It pays to test in your gun to find out what works.

My Springfield Armory Loaded likes the Chip McCormick 10 rd Power Mags. Never a hiccup. Even eats 200 gr. SWC's like candy.

The set screw on mine seems to be long enough...or at least the rear sight may be threaded all the way(no hollow base) - won't know for sure without taking the screw out and looking. It's making contact, anyway. The issue I had with it was it came loose a time or two in a match. Turned a 15 round all-popper stage into a 30+ second run. Ouch! Found a 1/16" hex wrench and some blue locktite and fixed that problem. Sounds like you'll definitely need a longer set screw or a different rear sight (w/o the hollow base). If it were me, I'd be callin' CZ Custom for a "Whassup wit dat!?" conversation.

According to the product description on the Dillon Website: "Extra powder dies allow you to move your powder measure from toolhead to toolhead without changing the "belling" adjustment.Toolhead not included. These are for the RL550, XL650,and RL450 equipped with the automatic powder system" Hope this helps.

[double-post - Sorry]

I use an i-Shot Clay Shotgunner bag that I got at the Area 8 Match last year. Everything fits but the tripod and I can starp that to the outdie if I need to. i-Shot Clay Shotgunner bag

In my first match with my Shadow, there was a stage that had an 8" plate at 30 yards. (Sadists!) I am notorious for my difficulty hitting plates in a match - I can do it all day at practice with my Para .45 - but not at speed in a match. So when I got to the plate, first shot missed. I'm thinking, "Oh crap - here we go". 2nd shot - PING! Plate falls. Big smile.

+1. Been doin' the same thing since the early 90's.