ericridebike

So, I've now shot two matches with this mag release button installed. In each one, the button ends up rubbing against the base of my thumb during recoil. Both times I ended up with a blister and a little bleeding. Anyone else experienced anything like this with this button? The button doesn't feel like it has any sharp edges, but I may take it off and smooth the edges up a bit more and see if that helps any. I use a thumbs forward grip, so don't think anything is unusual with my grip. I really like how the button works and I hope I can find a fix. I guess I could wear a glove, or just build up a callous there lol.

So do you guys all wear plugs with these style hats or anyone figured out how to make muffs work? I really don't want to give up my electronic muffs cause my hearing sucks and I have trouble hearing the timer beep with only plugs sometimes, but do like the sun protection.

Dry fire training is a great way to practice many of the skills that will help you improve in USPSA. You can do it at home anytime without the cost of ammo, etc of live fire. I recently picked up one of Ben Stoeger's dry fire training books and some of his scaled down dry fire targets and really feel like it is helping a lot. Only thing else you really need is a timer of some sort. I use a free shooting timer app I downloaded on my iPhone and it works well enough.

I think the most common configuration people use for competition is a plain black rear with a fiber optic front. As mentioned before, the fiber optic rod will help you pick up the front sight quicker. The front sight is what you should really be focusing on so it makes sense for it to have the fiber optic in it to help you pick it up and be a contrast vs a plain black rear sight. Many people that have rear sights with dots or fiber optics end up blacking them out with a sharpie marker. That way you know when you see the fiber optic rod, you know you are looking at the front sight.

Great advice from chbrow10. I've had a couple RIA's and they have been great guns. The other thing is Armscor/RIA has excellent customer service. I had a few questions about one of mine and got a quick e-mail response from Martin, their CEO personally. Great company that makes a great product for a reasonable price.

Like others have said, have fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself. The main thing is to be safe. Be familiar with your gun and equipment. Keep your muzzle awareness and don't break the 180. Let the RO know it's you're first match and they are usually very good about helping make sure you have a good experience. It is an incredibly fun game and you'll meet some good people. I'm sure you'll be addicted in no time!

I wonder if they were using factory ammo? My .40 DVC didn't like factory stuff and would FTF sometimes with it. It seems to like longer OAL. Since loading my own at 1.18, it functions flawlessly. (The factory stuff I tried was just over 1.12).

I also came from the Glock platform to the DVC as my first 2011. It's amazing to me that the cheap plastic Glock mags work fine,even if you add aftermarket base plates, etc... Amazing how much "tuning" these 2011 mags can require. If you are content with 18 rds, the stock STI mags will probably serve you well. I shot my first USPSA match with mine last weekend using stock STI mags and they functioned flawlessly. Like I said in my post above I got a TTI pad/grams guts and I like that combo, but will have to test it for function. I know there is the possibility of the slide locking back with one round left, so will need to test and see if it does that. If so, will probably go ahead and modify the mag catch to not lock back on empty to resolve that issue. When my wallet recovers a little more from buying the DVC, I'll buy TTI basepads with grams guts for the rest of my mags.

The stock STI 140mm mags that came with mine hold 18 rds of .40sw, I got a TTI 4g2 basepad with Grams follower and spring and I got 20rds with those "guts" in the stock STI 140mm tubes when I got them. I left it fully loaded for almost a week and just checked it and can squeeze 21 rds into it. Not sure if it will be reloadable with 21 or not yet. Gonna let it set for a while longer with 21 rounds in it and see how it does.

Welcome from Durham!

+1. Luke and Ben are local to my area and are great guys. They have a lot of info on Competitive Shooting and training, as well as some general firearm news related topics. Good stuff on their website as well. www.triangletactical.net

I actually just emailed David Cupp at STI about the springs. He said in the .40 DVC the mainspring should be a 15# and the recoil spring a 14#.

Is yours from the picture stainless? That's what I really want, but have only seen the blued versions for sale. No. I polished, picked and cleaned it up. Thanks. It looks good, I'll have to give polishing one a try.

Is yours from the picture stainless? That's what I really want, but have only seen the blued versions for sale.

Mine is perfect. I have skateboard tape on my duty gun, and use Dawson grip tape on my Glock 35 limited gun. The DVC grip is the best out of all of them...not too aggressive and not too wimpy. +1. I love the grip on mine too. I too have used skateboard style tape on previous guns. I was a little nervous that the DVC grip might be too aggressive for me, but it is just right so far. I've handled a lot of stippled grips and many were too aggressive for my tastes, but the style of stippling on the DVC is grippy without being uncomfortable.

That's a great point I hadn't thought of earlier. Just getting started loading .40, so will have to work on a load to use for 3-Gun and Steel and see how that goes. For my purposes, being down a few rounds shouldn't make a difference. Thanks for the advice.

So, just want to clarify for my understanding. I have an STI DVC Limited in .40. Could I have a 9mm top end built to use with the .40 DVC frame? I would love to be able to do that to run the .40 for USPSA Limited and then have the 9mm top to use for Steel Challenge and 3-Gun. Shot my Glock 34 last night in a Steel Challenge match and after shooting the STI, the Glock just isn't the same anymore.

My .40 DVC didn't like factory stuff either. I ran some Blaser Brass and Perfecta stuff through mine initially. It fired and functioned well except for an occasional FTF. Mine seemed to occur when I would insert a fresh mag and rack the slide to load the chamber. The round wouldn't always feed into the chamber without getting hung up. I'm pretty sure it is due to the short OAL of the factory stuff(~1.12). I found if I slid the top round in the mag a little further forward towards the front of the mag it would feed into the chamber with no issues. For some reason it never seemed to happen after the first round, the rest of the mag would feed and fire without issue. I got some of my own ammo loaded up with an OAL of 1.18 as recommended by David Cupp at STI, so hopefully it will cure the FTF issues. Otherwise, the gun is awesome and everything I hoped it would be.

The pistol came in a sealed bag with a 120mm mag in the well. Did yours came sealed? Hard to tamper and switch out mag right? Yeah, if that's the case it doesn't sound like it was tampered with. I would call STI and talk to them about it. Hopefully they will trade out the mags for 140's for you.

Yeah, mine came with 140's. I would definitely be checking with whoever you got it from and if no luck there, I would call STI and check with them. Hopefully an honest mistake & no one "switched" them out.

Anyone happen to know what weight recoil spring comes stock in the DVC .40sw?

I think it's one of those personal preference things like Chevy vs Ford. I prefer red.

My 12 gauge will be waiting... ;-)

Do they make the STI extended in stainless? All I have been able to find is the blued version.

Hey - I resemble that remark! Yes you do. Thanks again! Good luck on the hunt for the 9mm.