d_striker

thanks

The annual Front Sight issue states that "devices to control recoil" such as weights are not allowed in Limited Division. Does this mean no Tungsten guide rods?

I have a similar problem. I have an affliction refered to as convergence insufficiency. It has recently gotten worse. Ive never had a problem losing focus on the front sight until recently. My glasses help stay focused on my front sight but far away targets are blurry. I've been doing "pencil pushups" as directed by my optometrist but long hours staring at the computer worsen the condition. What's strange is that I have 20/15 vision.

I never thought about starting one of these but after reading some other member's logs and learning from them, I decided that it may help me improve my new addiction by documenting my progress/failures. Also, I travel a lot for work which means I spend a lot of time in airports looking for ways to kill time. I feel I should preface this log by saying I post on forums using my iPhone most of the time because I'm too lazy to fire up my laptop. So if what I type doesn't make sense or is misspelled, that is the reason. Especially if I type shit instead of shot. I grew up in the midwest around guns from an early age. After leaving home for school in 1998, i didn't touch a gun for eight years. I bought a pistol in 2006 and started punching paper again. I thought I was a pretty good shot until I started shooting steel challenge and underwent a humbling reality check. As mentioned above, my first introduction to competitive shooting was shooting steel challenge a few years ago, making it to about 4 matches a year. While I haven't been able to shoot as much as I would like, I felt that I improved with every match due to receiving tips from Hoser and a lot of other great local shooters. I shot my first uspsa match down in Pueblo and was instantly hooked. Just what I need...another addiction to spend money on. I've shot two matches so far and am on my way to getting classified. I'm thinking I'll be classified as a C shooter in Limited. My rig is an XDm 40 and have slowly started accumulating accessories for it and customizing it. Things I learned from my first match: 1.) Shooting Limited Minor sucks if you can't hit A's fast. 2.) Time is important...This isn't Bullseye shooting. 3.) I need to work on calling my shots. 4.) Planning how I'm going to shoot a stage does not mean I will shoot it that way once the timer goes off. Things I learned from my second match: 1.) Planning how I'm going to shoot a stage does not mean I will shoot it that way once the timer goes off. 2.) There's value in figuring out the point factor of a stage and planning strategy accordingly. 3.) I need to work on calling my shots. 4.) Having a fast run is meaningless with Mikes and no shoots.

Wow, I didn't realize that you've only been shooting uspsa for a couple years. You appear like you've been doing it for much longer than that. I've shot two matches so far and I'm hooked. My second match was the last HPPS event. Your stage killed me. It didn't help that I had to shoot it first in my squad. I wish I could have watched glen and then copied his strategy. It was a good stage though. I'm finding that I like stages that require movement covering further distances. Being relatively quick on my feet helps make up for being slow on the draw, target transitions, slow follow up shots, and only being able to TRULY call about 30% of my shots. Your success is inspiring. What were you originally classified as?

thanks...appreciate the starting point . I like Universal for all bullets (155-180 in both lead and jacketed) in .40 S&W. I use Bullseye for some really light loads that still achieve Minor. I've been reloading .40 for about 3 years but as a new IPSC/USPSA shooter, I've never been concerned with achieving Major. A good starting point, for my XDm and 180 gr MG's, was 4.7 grains Universal @ 1.125". I don't have a chrono yet, but I'm guessing it's a little under Major. ETA-Winchester lists this load data for Universal and WST: 180 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Universal .400" 1.125" 5.0 973 26,500 PSI 5.8 1046 33,400 PSI 180 GR. HDY XTP Winchester WST .400" 1.125" 3.9 830 28,300 PSI 4.3 888 32,400 PSI

You're still achieving Major with 4.4 grains WST???

I've been shooting Steel Challenge for about 3 years now. When I first started, I had heard somewhere that you could only load 10 rounds per mag. A few weeks ago, I heard that there is no limit to how much you can load. I know it's steel challenge and the most rounds I need is about 7-8 if I have a bad run. However, I've been bringing many new people to our local steel match and they need every round they can get. I just wanted to make sure that I'm giving the new steel shooters the correct information.

Surefire one works well and is free. Unless you have an Iphone 4, which it's not compatible with. The Taurus app works well, but there is an annoying confirmation screen every time you want to clear a string and start a new one.

I just pulled the trigger on the .100". Thanks

I plan on using my stock rear sight for now. What width sight did you end up getting? I measured my stock front sight width with some calipers, and it read about .150". As far as the light bars to the sides of the front sight, I want about half the width of the front sight's worth of light to be showing on both sides.

Thanks for the info! If you win your class at a sectional match, aren't you automatically bumped up into the next division? For instance, if you win an area match as a B shooter, would you be bumped up to A in Nationals?

I'm a new USPSA shooter and was curious as to how one goes to the USPSA Nationals. I'm not planning on shooting at it in the future, but often overhear people talking about it. Does one have to qualify for it, such as being in the top percentage of their class? Or is it just a matter of signing up and hoping you get in?

What are the dimensions (width and height) of the stock XDm front sight? I'm trying to decide what size Dawson sight I want and would like to use the stock sight as a reference.

This load really pushes it to 971 fps? I really need to invest in a chrono. I use bullseye as well for the same bullet. My mold drops them closer to 179-180 grains though. I use 4.1 grains seated at 1.125". I haven't chrono'd these but I estimated them around 900 fps.

The OP never said anything about not being able to hit the steel. A red dot sight is faster than irons, period. Many people surprise themselves at how fast they are able to shoot with a red dot sight and then decrease their Limited gun times after experiencing the speed as well. Anyway, OP-there are a couple of mounts at PistolGear. Here is one: http://www.pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=XD-HUNT

Thanks...I ordered a kit from Canyon Creek. Same price as PistolGear's base pad but I get 1 extra round.

I've just got into USPSA and am hooked. I've decided to compete in Limited Division with my XDm 40. I shot a 21 round count stage with no mandatory reload. It kinda sucked having to reload for that last shot. It seems there are quite a few 24 count stages as well. I have a couple of Arredondo base pads that takes capacity up to 19+1. I realize that Pistol Gear makes a base pad that takes it up to 20+1. Will using a Grams Follower and spring increase the capacity of both of the above mentioned base pads? Flat out, what is the highest capacity possible while still keeping mag length at 140mm with the XDm 40? Is 23+1 a pipe dream?

I have two XDm's... One difference that hasn't been mentioned is that the XDm has a match barrel, FWIW.

I shot my first match last sunday as well. If I sign up today, is USPSA membership good for a calendar year or does it expire 12/31/10?

There is a portion below where the barrel feed ramp is that is curved. It is larger on the .40 than the 9mm. I have tried the swap and it seems to work as the bullet never even really contacts this portion below the feed ramp.

I am running a wolff #14 spring with a dons stainless guide rod in my xdm .40. I have run about 2k rounds of factory ammo through it without a single failure to go into battery. That combo works great for me and really softened up felt recoil with factory 180 gr. stuff. Hope this helps. That's strange. You'd think recoil would be greater with a lighter spring and factory ammo. The only time I reduce recoil with reduced power springs is with reduced loads.

Why is jacketed ammo banned?

Yeah...Like I said, I'm new to practical shooting. I shot my first match the other day and they called it an IPSC match. So I'm guessing that it follows IPSC rules? I'm a little confused as to what the difference between USPSA and IPSC even are other than one stands for United States and the other stands for International... On a side note, it looks like my mods are okay for Steel Challenge? ETA-now that I think about it...This match that I attended had a 10 round max per magazine for their Production. I'm guessing that it's really a USPSA match.

While I understand the two are separate, I am fairly new to practical shooting. I have shot Steel Challenge for a couple years but am still a little confused as to what governing body dictates the rules ever since USPSA bought it out. I've been reading the USPSA 2009 Production Rules Revisions and came across this: "Strikers, sears, springs, connectors/disconnectors, and any other part which is NOT visible when the gun is in battery is considered an INTERNAL part and may be modified or replaced unless otherwise prohibited in these provisions (see section 22 for specific prohibitions)." According to this, the PRP kit which replaces the trigger spring, sear spring, safety lever, and overtravel stop are within the rules. Am I reading this right?