ralphs

We are also seniors and I recently went through this for my wife's 9mm 1911. Felt recoil is significantly influenced by the shooter's perception, so YMMV. A large radius FPS provided smoother recoil compared to a no radius FPS. Seemed to be a bit of a jarring motion when the FPS does not have a radius. A tungsten FLGR puts non-moving weight at the front of the slide. The gun is obviously slightly heavier, but it moves less in recoil. Some say that the heavier gun moves slower in transition, but my wife is a senior so the change in transition speed is not really noticeable. She uses a recoil spring that keeps the front sights from dipping when the slide returns to battery (tungsten FLGR). I do not remember which one but it is either 8 or 9 pounds. We recently switched to 147 reloads. Tried 115 and 124. The 147 seemed flatter on the recoil and she noticed that recoil was not as "sharp". She has changed the grips to G10 FAT profile. They are about 1/8" wider. She says that the way the new grips fill her hand makes the recoil easier to absorb. Hope some of this helps.

Pat, yes I regularly have this happen with Tripp magazines. BTW Ivan and I discussed this recently as he has also noticed this as we practise with 9mm during the winter indoor season. Do not have a real solution. It happens with more than 6-7 rounds in the magazines. Do not know if the gun frame is significant to the issue, but it happens with STI Trojans and Sentries. I have started using a different brand of magazine for my Barney magazine as that is the most common source of change a mag with more than 7 rounds remaining in the mag. If I expected to be changing a Tripp mag after firing only a couple of shots, I would not load fully load the magazine. Ralph

How did you do that? Did you use something freehand like a dremel or something more guided? A small file with a safe edge works. I also have the option of taking it to work and milling it. I used a small file with a safe edge. I am trying to keep my dremel urges under control.

I opened up the width of my rear sight notch. This allows the use of a full sized front sight (important for older eyes), and still allows me to see the light bars on both sides. I have been making the rear sight notch width about 0.030" wider than the front sight width.

That would be my mistake on assuming that the frames were cast. Considering that all 3 frames did develop cracks, then I definitely will keep avoiding the use of cast frames.

I have one of each. There is no cut and dried answer. Trojan: - Cheaper (a lot cheaper) - Golf ball stippling on the front strap (I did not like it) - cast frame (1 of the reason the gun is cheaper) USPSA Single-Stack: - forged stainless frame - checkered front strap - tri-topped slide - no front cocking serrations on the slide (I miss those) - recoil master (I threw it away) - looks cool There are probably other differences, but these are what I remember while sitting at my computer. Both guns shoot well enough for USPSA/IPSC. Both guns fit the same holsters, feel essentially the same. I did not notice that any of the internals were different or somehow better. Actually both guns are now my wife's, I bought a Sentry (forged frame, checkered front strap, front cocking serrations on the slide). The forged frame has value for me. We had 3 Colt frames (cast) that we bought when IPSC first got started and all 3 have developed cracks in the frames. They all probably had over 150k rounds through them, so I can't really complain. We have replaced the Colt's with forged STI's for our competition guns. You may have different needs. Between the Trojan and USPSA Single-Stack, you will need to determine what is important for you.

My wife and I are both a little older than you. Our preference for 1911/2011 with 5" barrel is: 0.110 front width 0.140 rear blade notch. YMWV Ralph

I live a little further west than Walter and at a slightly higher elevation (3,800). The ranges that I practise at and have used the chrono at are from 2,800 to 4,500 ft. elevation (avg. 3,500). After going back and forth from the local ranges to various ranges in North America including ranges at sea level, I have determined that I can expect to lose about 1 foot of muzzle velocity per 100 feet of elevation. If I go to sea level I expect to lose about 35 FPS of velocity. This is an "average" loss. Temperature and atmospheric conditions can also contribute to velocity changes. p.s. my IPSC Standard/Classic (USPSA Limited/Single Stack)ammunition has a power factor is 179-181 and I have not had a problem meeting IPSC power factor (170) anywhere that I have been.

My first race holster was a DAA for the SVI and it was great. Then I started shooting IPSC Classic, which is kind of single stack where race holsters are allowed. Wanted to stay with the DAA but after I tried 2 1911 inserts in the DAA, I had to give up. The 1911's would wiggle a lot in the DAA, the grip location could move a couple of inches. Apparently there is a lot of variation in trigger guard dimensions in the various manufacturers of 1911 frames. I then went to a Ghost Ultimate and found that it could accept any 1911 frame (that I tried) with a minimum amount of wiggle. Then last summer I saw the Ghost ONE. Finally got a Ghost One delivered to me in early December. With a little under 2 months of play, it handles any of the 1911 frames that I have. As a bonus, the same holster also handles my SVI's. Without any adjustment. The Ghost One handles my 1911's and SVI's interchangeably. The Ghost One is a fast from the draw as the Ghost, which I already thought was a fast as the DAA. The adjustment options appear to be the same as the Ghost. The re-holstering is changed from the Ghost. With the Ghost I would re-holster from the top, place the gun above where the holster was and then push down into the holster. With the Ghost One you place the gun on the muzzle platform and then rock back into the holster. I think the new re-holster method is a little better as it is easy to see the muzzle platform and then push back. With the earlier Ghost I could not actually see the holster as I was pushing the gun into position.

Umh, Jeff, right above where it shows that you are in our squad there is a header Late-Early-Late. The means that our squad is shooting on the late shift on Friday (Friday afternoon); on the early shift on Saturday (Saturday morning); on the late shift on Sunday (Sunday later in the morning). Is that what you meant by schedule? Ralph

As a Non-Immigrant Alien (that is what the U.S. BATFE calls us non-American visitors) that has flown to Florida and other US states and then travelled around, there is no problem. Once you have cleared U.S. Customs and Immigration there are no other regulatory checks on you. Travel safe. Keep the guns locked when not on a range, do not advertise that you have guns with you, and keep then in your hotel room overnight. There are certain cities, counties and states, generally in the north-east U.S. where a foreigner with handguns could get themselves into a bit of a jam. In Florida and the surrounding states you should not have any problems and will have a GREAT vacation.

After your experience with the Techwell magwell at our Level III match, I bought a couple of Techwell magwells expecting to have to thin them a little to be sure of always fitting the 35.0 mm gauge. My limited experience with the Techwell magwells (your, mine and a couple of others) as that the Techwell magwells need to be measured and need to be thinned if they are the colored anodized version. The colored versions have measured 35.0 to 35.2 mm. The non-colored version have measured 34.9 mm. I have only had limited data points (4-colored; 1-non) so this might not be true for all cases. Regardless, the Techwell magwell should be measured to be sure, but like you said "...I like the Techwell because it's a much bigger target..." Ralph

Not sure about the "corey" mags, but the Tripp system mags need to be trimmed a little to fit the "IPSC" box using STI guns (Trojan, Sentry, USPSA). The IPSC box that we have locally was constructed to the minimum IPSC dimensions. Lots of Classic Division shooters mostly shooting with STI's. The system mags need to have the basepads trimmed. Remove about a millimeter off the basepad from the toe to the hole in the center of the basepad. YMMV.

This combination (STI-USPSA model and Tripp mags) is being used by a couple of competitors in Alberta for IPSC Classic. They appear to be happy with this combination without modifications, excepting possibly the guide rod and extractor that you had mentioned. If yours is working now, then there is no need to change. In my Trojan and Sentry built for IPSC Classic I am using a full length guide rod and Aftec extractor, but that is my preference. Ralph

Are you asking about the shape of the rear blade? Or the shape of the rear notch? With regards to the blade shape I have a couple guns with notched corner rear blades similar to the Warren Tactical and then I have other guns with traditional Bomar or Bomar style rear blades that are similar in outline to the Sevigny rear sights. I can change from each style of rear blade without noticing any difference. At the time of shooting, the rear sight is just a slight blur that I am looking through and I only see the notch; the blade shape is not seen. When I am not shooting the rear sight blade shapes are quite different and distinctive, but once I am shooting the only part of the rear sight that I notice is the notch. I do not have any rear sights with a slightly rounded U-notch which the Warren Tactical seem to have in the pictures that I have seen. As a traditionalist, I would probably prefer a squared U-notch. But since you should only be looking at the top of the notch it probably does not matter.

If you do not get a definitive answer on this forum, then it would be interesting to find out what the answer would be at Global Village. While you looked at main part of the rule book for a potential answer, I looked at the Appendixes (I consider the appendixes to be the source of precise measurements and the main part of the book to be rules relating to actions and activities). Appendix D has the maximum distance of the device at 50 mm from the body. Further I will admit to being influenced by: - our local (Canadian) interpretation that the RO's plastic overlay is 50 mm wide and should not be able to fit between the competitors equipment and the competitor - the USPSA Handgun Rule Book Appendix E that shows where to measure the distance for handguns and magazines Neither of these influences is necessarily correct for IPSC Shotgun, but that is where I would start. Perhaps the IPSC shotgun guru's at Global Village can provide an answer. Otherwise I could see this going to arbitration to get an official interpretation.

Why not? The IPSC rule refers to the distance from body to reloading devices. Our range officer's plastic overlays are 50 mm wide and are used to measure if the competitor's equipment is greater than 50 mm from the body. If the overlay will not fit between the equipment and the body then it is IPSC legal. There is no mention that I am aware of concerning the external dimensions.

You will probably not notice in your location ... A left handed shooter using A1 Sporter in the winter while wearing a parka can catch quite a bit of their ejected brass in the hood of their parka. Quite disconcerting if it bounces around and lands on your neck. But you can find some brass without looking in the snow.

Sounds like this could be a great replacement for the old SOF match!! The biggest difficulty would probably be with what rifles can be brought in for the match. (Currently the handguns are not a significant problem, and the Benelli with a short mag tube is also ok.) I routinely get a BATF Form 6 that says the AR's are ok for temporary import, but my understanding is that all AR's are classed as "non-sporting" and therefore not eligible to enter the US even temporarily for a match. So the Form 6 allows what the US law may say cannot be done. The new BATF Form 6 NIA is a great improvement over the old system where we presented an invitation and guns at the border and where subject to interpretation of the border guard, but the non-sporting designation makes crossing the border with an AR a risky situation. Heavy metal rifles would be a HUGE issue for Canadians. My FN's and HK are, by Canadian federal law, restricted to living in my safe. I can not get lawful approval to take them to any Canadian range and therefore can not expect to get a permit to take them to a border crossing to go to a US match. This is our problem, but it does impact the ability to shoot in heavy metal. Ammunition is always a problem, except if we are driving into the US. The BATF Form 6 will allow the import of sufficient ammo to shoot the match. So for a Canadian willing to drive to the match, then ammunition is a minor matter. However flying to the match (with the 5 kg limit on ammo) is a huge problem from the point of view of ammo. Alternatively, flying without ammo to the match and then buying whatever ammo is available puts the competitors that flies to the match at a disadvantage (would have limited practise to see how the ammo shoots or patterns; may not be able to get "competitive" ammo.) A way to ship/import ammo into the US for this match would really be useful. The match sounds like a wonderful idea and I hope the logistical problems for non-US competitors can be solved.

FN-FAL Actually a metric match with some Canadian army fixes: - The oversize safety to begin with as it is far easier to use than the standard safety - The double axis mag release for positive release and magazine retention - All magazines converted to Cdn/UK army style - these catch more positively each and every time - Probably also use the short dust cover/stripper guide - brass ejects cleaner and further, can be used to load stripper clips directly into the mag. Why not the M1A/M14? - Mostly the safety in the trigger guard. - When most of the southern based guys were carrying an M14, I was carrying an FN and there is a certain pride of ownership to whatever you carried. Why not the HK91? - Excessive felt recoil - front sight ring is visible through rear aperature providing a confusing sight picture - If you shoot an AR nose to charging handle, you will be too close to the stock on the HK91 and get beat up every time you fire it. - Destructive to the brass, not an issue for the first case or two of factory .308 but when you need to reload this will be a problem. BTW, I do not understand any of the comments about any of the .308 battle rifles when firing in F/A, as they all are horrible. From prone position and using a bipod they can sort be used to fire F/A (they will walk up on one leg of the bipod and rounds will go in the "general" direction of fire). But from any other position these battle rifles are a waste of ammo with all rounds after the first round being way off target. So for a stationary or semi-stationary location an FN for zombie defence; but if you have to walk and carry the rifle and ammo any distance switch to an AR-15 platform so you can carry an adequate supply of rounds as zomies seem to travel in fairly large packs.

Hi D, I would be interested in having this done as well. Especially if it can be done by a local guy. If you need I can contribute a bolt carrier for the learning experience. That being said I would recommend you try the adjustable gas system first. The adj gas system will let you take advantage of lighter parts like the JP spring and buffer that you already have. The adj gas system reduces the cycle time to the minimum time required and speeds things up. Of course I can not quantify that as I made more than one change when I got the adj gas system. As of last spring Alberta Tactical had the JP adj gas system in stock.