Gary H.

I think I'll try the Bayous the next time. I just received some 147 BBI's and the OAL's are varying quite a bit in my 550. Like .040 because of bullets with different size diameter flat points. I have also found a couple half bullets and the things are filthy. I loaded 500 yesterday and my press is filthy. My finger tips were literally caked with the black dust and it's difficult to scrub off and I had to wash after every couple hundred rounds. With all the crap on my fingers, I find it hard to believe that it's not going to build up in the barrel significantly. Since I couldn't get ahold of them prior to shipping, I haven 't even worried about trying to get with them over the issues. They will get no more of my bullet business.

I'be been running 3.3 TG and a 147g MG and getting right at 129 out of mine. Now, I tried some Zero 147 JHP with with 2.9 TG and ran at 116 and 3.1g TG and was right at 123. To be honest, I don't like the TG because of the sooty buildup. I'm going to work on loads for VV N320.

OK, I loaded a few more to get a decent sampling, then got to work with the mic. I loaded 72 bullets in total then devided them into groups. I got 39 from 1.120 - 1.1285 with a flat point that measures .230 as an average, 22 from 1.133 - 1.1395 that measure .224 at the flat point, and 22 from 1.140 - 1.145 that measure .215 at the flat point. I wasn't sure how to measure that transition from taper to flat point, so I found a piece of flat steel that had a dimple that was .008 deep and put the mic flat against the flat steel and put the bullets in the dimple. I know, not very scientific but the best I could come up with at the time. Should I mess with calling Black Bullets International on this and see if they'll do anything about it? I don't think I can run the 1.145 length in my M&P with any reliability and don't really want to have my shortest ones down around 1.110 to make them all work. Supreme accuracy isn't a concern, but reliability and making minor PF is. I shoot IDPA and have some state matches coming up.

Not taken as an insult at all. Just answering a question. I need to get to the range to chrono these things so I can make changes as necessary to my load. Then go through and see how many of these damn things are odd sized. I know when I ordered the BBI's, the website said they were 2 - 3 weeks out. Ended up taking 7 I believe and they wouldn't answer phone calls or emails during that time. I wouldn't blame anyone for not ordering from them!

I've been using calipers all my life. It is a digital and I've not had this problem with any other bullets. This is the first time. I think you meant to say that your variable was .006, not .06, Huge diffence. I set up the seating die just as described by Dillon. I measured my 147 JHP Zero's and 124 JHP MG, and my variable is .011 with those. I can see the problem with the round nose profile of the seater, the bullet noses at the flat point aren't the same diameter!

Mixed head stamps, but in checking, it seems to do it just whenever. I have Winchester at 1.121 and 1.143 and the same for Feds and others. I am using the dillon dies.

I set up my 550 for the BBI 147's I just got in and I'm having problems. I set it to load a test batch of 3g N320 @ 1.30 COAL. I ran 20 and started putting them through the mic and I'm varying from 1.121 to 1.144 in length. I tried to run the long ones through the last 2 stages again to make them shorter to no avail. I tightened the shell plate down to where I can just turn it without forcing it and retightened the set screw. No joy. I then took the bullet seater head and changed it from the flat bullet profile to the round profile, and I'm getting about the same variation. Whats my issues? I appreciate the help guys!

I purchased the M&P 9 Pro reluctantly last year. I was the same as you, I hated the polymer framed guns. I loved my $1,400 STI 1911 and haven't found anything that fits my hand like it does to this day. I purchased the M&P after I had a few issues with the controls during matches. I'm relatively new to pistol shooting but I shot both on and off for 6 months. The M&P easily took 15% - 20% off my times during mathces immediately. At the end of the 6 months, the STI went bye bye and I shoot the M&P pretty much exclusively. The polymer frame issue was all in my head but the times I was posting and continue posting when I shoot definately justify the customization. It even led to a just received M&P 40 Pro 5". I'll keep one stock so I can shoot SSP/Production. The other has turned into an ESP/Limited gun with Apex and SSS parts and may even get turned into an Open gun. If reliability are a concern, this link pretty much is what made me give the gun a chance: http://mp-pistol.com/boards/index.php?/topic/13728-m9-torture-test-take-2/ I figure if a gun with this cost can take 50,000 rounds in 6 months and still be functioning reliably, that was good enough for me. If you read through the whole post, you'll find that the first major issue was the slide breaking and not the frame. The gun has a lifetime warranty too.

You know Dan, I don't mind it taking however long a company estimates. When I ordered, their website said they were 2 to 3 weeks behind. NOT 6! I can't even get ahold of them to cancel the order! They will no longer sell me bullets.

I've got a new 40 Pro on order from Buds Place. If it ever gets here, I'll measure them but don't have an old one to measure.

I have a set I purchased from Speed Shooters Specialties being delivered tomorrow. I wish I had researched them a little more. The ones I purchased were $160, the I-Kams. I ran a search to try to find the quality of video and see some of my old fishing suppliers have them for $99.00 and other places have them as low as $85. Kinda ticked me off. Do your homework!

But you'll sell it and loose your tax money and about 10 - 20% of the value depending on the gun? And, your going to sell it without telling a future buyer that it shoots low? You loosing either way you go. Why not make the gun personal to you and just install new sights? Myself, I don't want to have to install different sights or anything else on a gun if I don't choose to, but it happens. To me, the platform is stable enough that it's worth improvements to make it better for me.

This must be pretty common with the M&P. Don't get me wrong, it didn't make me get rid of mine and won't in the future. I have the 9 and it shot 6" low with 115 WWB. I had friends that shot the M&P incompetition and they shot it with the same results. Mine went back to S&W and they said they replaced the barrel and said they test fired it. I got it back and it was only 4" low. I installed an adjustable target rear and new front to fix it. I just ordered a new Pro 40. I hope I don't have to order new sights for it, but will if necessary. A person shouldn't have to do that! I think S&W needs to put a new group on their test bench!

I've got about another 2 week supply of my other stuff, but I don't want to wait 2 more weeks if I have to order from someone else that can take another 2 more weeks. I went to Montana Gold to see if I could order another 1000 from them and I see they are backordered too. I guess I might have to shoot some plain lead if nothing else. Thanks guys!

Whats the deal with BBI? I ordered 3000, 147 9mm over a month ago and the website said they were 2 to 3 weeks behind. I tried calling this week to find out how far out they are and had to leave a message with my return info but haven't received anything. I also emailed them early last week but hadn't heard a thing from that either. Has anybody else had to deal with this lousy serrvice from them? I'm running very low and need bullets but I don't want to buy from somewhere else and then have these ship and have 6000 of 2 different types of bullets laying around.

I've been using Tightgrout, 3.2 Berrys 147 CMJ or 3.3 MG 147 CMJ or 147 Zero depending on the bullet.. but I'm tired of the filthy gun! I'm switching back to N320. I like the softer recoil and the fact that I can load lead with it too without too much smoke.

Thats what I was thinking and hoping. I ordered a .40 today.

Yea, I checked my frame this morning and found absolutely nothing which made it caliber specific. Even if I can't shoot SSP or Production, I could still use the 40 slide/barrel on the altered grip for limited. Might even do some slide lightening while I'm at it down the road if I like it or may even buy a 9mm conversion barrel for it and build an open gun..

I have a 9 Pro that I've set up to run in ESP by stippling the frame etc. I'm thinking about buying a new 40 Pro and switching top ends to allow me to run in limited IPSC and use the 9 for production. Will this work mechanically?

My 19 round MecGars have witness marks at 5, 10, & 17 rounds and the holes are only on one side. Haven't had a chance to use them yet so don't know about reliability.

Hey, let us know how it works out. I was considering doing the same thing. I love that rocker safety they use on the CTS and was considering grinding it down so it will fit into the IDPA box for ESP!

I cut the Apex spring. I could have done the original, but that's what was in the gun when I decided to do it. OL

LOL, are you saying it's all there? Because its not, and it's not all written clearly! The rule say 50% of the upper torso and does not mention the lower unless it is vertical cover. You know, what kind of question was that anyway? Do you think anyone would run an S/O class without one?

I just recently finished an S/O class, so I'm pretty new to making judgement calls. But, there was a big discussion on this issue. The rule says 50% of the upper torso. Our instructor insisted that it was 100% of the lower body. He's been wrong before on issues so I'm not absolutely positive on this one but it is the way I'll have to enforce it at our club until told to do otherwise. It was brought up that the majority of all "cover" calls/penalties are for feet and legs. I know when I S/O, I'm more lenient on individuals that are advanced in age or physically challenged in a way that makes it more difficult for them to lean that far. But lean you must if you don't want a cover call. All of the better shooters I've seen lean and still have their head and shoulders pretty upright meaning they are not canting their guns very much if at all, with a few exceptions.

You might have a hard time finding a fiber optic that changed it by that little of an amount. But, "behind" thefront sights leaves a lot of explaining. Going from how mine shoots, at 10 yards, you are so close to an IDPA target that if you aimed at the middle, you'd still hit it in the low middle! I wouldn't mess with it if it were that close. IDPA is not bullseye shooting and you shouldn't be taking that long to aim precisely at close targets.