Tony S45

I have installed the Ed Brown Extended Mag Release Button on a few other guns for competition, but not on a Tanfo. However, Brown's button is not a paddle; its merely circular. It is checkered 40 lines per inch, .375 in diameter, and a 4-40 hex screw is included. About $11 from Brownells, Midway, etc. in blue or stainless. Should be drilled/tapped.

Nealio: OK. Thanks for the mag info.

Nealio, e-mishka: Can you explain more on your comments about shiny black mags and black followers? (My 9mm Match runs 100% with the six new semi-shiny black mags with black followers that I purchased new from EAA late last fall of 2013. On one side the mags are marked K9, and on the other side FT-Made In Italy)

That's a Zastava built in Serbia. It's a Sig knock-off with a couple of differences. They have a reputation of being well built. Problem? (1) Many folks attempt to use CZ, EAA, and other mags, etc. and I'm not sure which really work or not. Could just be wrong mag. (2) Decocker lever is also the slide stop and it could be worn or out of spec. (3) Notice how high the lever is located. The shooter with high thumbs could easily be riding the lever causing the malfunction himself!

Kingman: I have a set of the Lava in charcoal from the same vender, Copper Gun Grips, for my large frame Tanfo Match. Much better than the stock plastic grips from Tanfo; however, the thickness is very close to the Tanfo plastic grips. Please post a review of his new design whenever you get them. Must say that the Lava grips did require careful work with a file to get them to seat correctly. All in all a good bargain for the money.

Very cool!

azgoose: We discussed this topic on a separate thread some time ago. My comments are about the first picture of Vanniek71's actual gun: single action, full length metal dust cover. According to the newest IDPA rules, ESP (single action non-.45s) must be 43 ounces or less, dust cover to be 3.25" or less, fit into the box, etc. Guns that have a longer metal dust cover can be SSP if and only if they meet all other SSP requirements ( Traditional Double Action NOT single action) which Vanniek71's gun cannot do. I can't comment on the various models of EAA because I'm still confused as well. Therefore, he should follow your advise and acquire a new EAA or convert his gun to Traditional Double Action if it can meet the weight limit of SSP (43 ounces). Vanniek71: Does your Limited model have ambi safeties? I'll bet it's too thick for the box.

Vanniek71: I assume you are shooting your XDM in SSP. Cocked/locked single action guns (non .45s) would be classified as ESP; however, your Tanfo Limited has a dust cover that's too long (max length for metal dust cover is 3.25" from rear of slide stop hole). Further, the max weigh is 43 ounces for ESP, no cone barrels, and the gun must fit the IDPA box. I purchased a new Tanfo Match in 9mm with the railed frame = didn't meet the dust cover or weight for ESP. Fortunate to be able to purchase a non-railed frame only from a member of this Forum which when installed with the Match slide upper, makes me legal for IDPA/ESP.

TheGWP: I too recently installed Hogue finger grove grips on my large frame Match. Used the wife's hair drier to preheat the finger grove portion to stretch it around the wider grip. Always have been a fan of rubber finger grove grips. Fancy wood grips look much "cooler" but I need all the little tricks possible to stay competitive.

Unfortunately the thundering silence your topic has encountered means that it's not practical to do what you are suggesting. By the description, I assume that the gun is traditional double action and cannot be holstered cocked-and-locked??? Personally, if it were my gun I would just change out the hammer spring for a lighter one to help bring down the trigger pull weight, do a "fluff and buff" on the trigger components and shoot the heck out of it just the way it was designed.

Nealio: Thanks for all of your help.

OK, my bad! You are correct about ESP. You used the Match upper to avoid the bull barrel on the Lim Pro. Would you please measure the Lim Pro 's length. It appears to have a slightly longer beaver tail. Need to know if it would fit into the IDPA box (8 3/4" X 6" X 1 5/8"). Looks like nvbrasschucker's idea of cutting off the front of the frame rail down to 3.25" or less would solve all IDPA problems for the Match. Not something that I'm qualified to do so I'll test the local IDPA waters and shoot the gun awhile before I ask a local very talented gunsmith to see what he can do.

OK. Thanks for the info, azgoose. I'm beginning to think that the Match was built by a committee (you remember the old joke about the committee trying to build a horse but it came out a camel after all the different inputs!) Perhaps a short customer survey by Tanfo would have determined that a shorter dust cover without the rail would also have allowed the Match to be IDPA legal in ESP. BTW, isn't putting the match slide on the Lim Pro also verboten in IDPA?

Took out my Tanfo guide rod and weighed it on my not-so-accurate kitchen scale = 1.75 ounces. Looks like a polymer guide rod would certainly save approx. one ounce which is all we need to be legal. Dust cover length is a bit over the 3.25" limit measured from the back of the slide stop hole per the IDPA instructions. Anyone know if the earlier Match without the rail is within the 3.25" limit?

Excellent ideas from all. Thanks very much. Next local IDPA match is after the Holidays so I'll send the organizer an email re Tanfo's weight and see what they say. I'll also travel with an extra gun (small frame older Tanfo 9mm) to the matches in case an IDPA SO hasn't the heart to let me shoot my heavy gun.

azgoose: OK, thanks. The local IDPA won't mind my Tanfo but I may want to shoot in a regional match later in 2014 and those folks are much more picky. I notice that you're an IDPA member too. I read the current rule book and I didn't find anything about shaving weight off of a particular model. Is that an acceptable practice when competing on a higher level? The regionals usually have the IDPA box to check each gun's dimensions but I've never seen a scale. BTW, what double mag pouch are you using for the 9mm larger frame mags?

Yes, I know that the 43 ounce IDPA weight limit is broken by the Match 9mm with the rail. When speaking to Tanfo Customer Service recently I asked about weight of my new Match and the gal said that they were re-weighing the guns. HUH? Has anyone weighed a new railed 9mm Match/one empty mag with a quality scale? I don't have a scale available to do so. Curious what the actual weight might be.

Welcome Drkinzenbaw! Kneelingatlas: didn't you post elsewhere that you were successful at stretching a Hogue finger-grove grip onto a large frame Tango? If correct, can you explain to us mere mortals how you did that. The Hogue is obviously made only for the small frame guns.

EAA was closed for Veterans Day. Banks, Fed Govt, US Post Office, etc. were also closed. As a Veteran, I always wondered why so many folks get the day off. Only approx. < 1% of the current US population is in uniform and approx. 10% of the total population are Veterans. They are the ones who should be taking it easy on 11/11. Sorry, too much early morning coffee!

I have had a couple of dealings directly with them and so far I must say that they have been professional and helpful. Perhaps the key was to give the Customer Service gals the serial number on the gun in question to ensure the correct parts that I needed.

Nealio: Are you suggesting that the aluminum Dawson's are too soft compared to the hard stainless of the Henning and that is part of the reason that shooters are having problems installing/retaining the Dawsons on their guns?

I had to return a couple of items recently to EAA and the Customer Service gal was very helpful. Refund to my credit card took about ten days after they received my return. That's not bad! My view is that if we attempt to fix all of the problems that a seller sends to us, then they will never learn of their mistakes or what the customers need.

OK, thanks prk. I left my hard black adj gizmo in the 560 holster as well. Think I purchased the 560 about ten years ago and have used it for 1911s, S&W Super 9s, and now EAA. Safariland products are made tough as tanks! Good point Nealio. My experience with Blade-Tech hasn't been very good re wear marks on the guns but I'm relatively new to EAA finishes. I realize that a gun is only a tool, but we still like to keep them "purty"!

I'm also using a Safariland 560 for my Match with a rail. See pics above from prk. It's a heavy combination of Match and Safariland so shooters with this combo need to tighten up their gun belts. Needed to get much longer tension screws from the hardware store to allow room for the railed Match. prk --- did you remove the rectangular adjustable gizmo inside your 560, or do you merely let the triggerguard ride on it?

My 9mm Match arrived this week. The safety snicks off with positive assurance. On is firm enough but without the snick. I'll check the frame as CHA-LEE suggests when I give it a fluff/buff. Must add that relieving the frame takes guts. Overall I'm quite pleased with the build quality of this gun --- an excellent value!