austin rick

After replacing battery, the only way it comes on is to either hold the + or - button. As soon as I let go, dot goes out. I guess I didn't describe that part very well!

Anyone have problems after replacing the battery on RTS2? My original battery was dimming so I replaced it with a new CR2032 and dot only comes on while holding + or - button. Put old battery in and it works fine. What am I missing?

Thanks Warpspeed for the reply. That would make sense if it resizing/shaping the rim as well as removing the bulge. The whole tapered vs straight case is another issue. Rick

I'm shooting 9 major and just ordered a case pro. I was told, by someone at a match, that the 9mm die will also work for 38 Super and Super comp. Can anyone confirm or deny that statement? I do shoot 38 SC on occasion and would like to be able to run them as well. Thank you, Rick

Sorry to hear about Texas State Steel Challenge. We were going to offer a "warmup" to it on October 5th, but now it will hopefully be an alternative. Area 59 and Outer Limits Club are hosting our inaugural match on October 5th. It will include all 8 stages, held just outside Houston in Rosenberg Texas. Visit www.area59.us or email steelchallenge@emde.biz for details

Sorry to hear Texas State Steel Challenge has been cancelled. I was going to announce a "warm-up" match to anyone who was interested. Hopefully, I'm not stepping on any toes, here are the details. Area 59 and Outer Limits will be hosting an 8 stage steel challenge match on October 5 just outside Houston in Rosenberg Texas. Details can be found at www.area59.us

Supposed to be 1 year, but their service is pretty difficult to get through to anyone. They want you to take them back to where they were purchased. This set was a Christmas gift and my first set was over a year old, so that was not an option. You also cannot buy parts for them to fix them yourself. I use them a lot, occasionally mounted camera on them, etc. For the casual shooter/user they are probably fine. For me they are not. I did just get a set of MSA Sordin Pro muffs with Gel pads. They are unbelievable. The sound attenuation is very different. No clipping, so you continue to hear everything but the loud noise. The loud noise sounds a little bit like an echo, but I think it is when then loud noise drops back below the 82 dB level. I'm also looking forward to seeing how they work with a scanner at the indy car races. The HLs did not because of the clipping.

My second set of Howard Leights just broke. Both times it's been related to the headband, this time where they attach to the muffs. This was my last set of $50 muffs. I shoot open almost every weekend and figure it's time to spring for something that will help save my hearing. I double plug while shooting and use pro ears plugs while watching. I'm looking for a recommendation on which MSAs guys are using and how do they compare to the pro ears gold (slim). Thanks, Rick

Hey Flatland, I think I actually came in last B open shooter! I ended up with a DQ, but everything about the match and even the DQ was handled professionally and respectfully. I actually feel bad for the RO that DQ'd me (sweeping). I've heard a few complaints about the prize table, but it was obvious the club has continued to put time and money into the range. I'd like to see the offsite registration back next year. I don't think anyone complained about the fact that there was a continuous supply of water, which was extremely nice. A great match and great people. Thank you all for your hard work

Just heard back from Saul Kirsch at DAA. Says that it sounds like I got a defective motor and they are sending a new motor and gear assembly out. Bamm. Yes that is pretty darn good customer service. They get an A+ from me. Thank you, Rick

My motor just started dogging. Running very slow and not responding to the rheostat. Sent Mr. Bulletfeeder an email and am hoping they will respond quickly!

The links sent in my email don't seem to work anymore. Shouldn't there be an easier way to view squadding?

Would it be same to assume any SVI mags, purchased new from SVI, can be fit to an STI frame with minor mods to the STI frame? That is, as long as they met the front to back spec of 1.38" max.

I think they shut the site down to slow down the "panic" buying, which just creates a false demand that doesn't really exist. In three months when all the "doomsdayers" get enough primers, powder and bullets, the regular shooters will start getting to buy products again.

When Eddie put the 9 major barrel in my Dawson 38SC the extractor question never came up. The Aftec in it eats 9mm, 38 super and SC with no problem. I can go back and forth with a very small sight adjustment. I enjoy shooting them all, but especially like not chasing brass at matches. I'm glad I spent the money on the 9mm because I have lots of cheap brass and don't have to worry about backorders. Small rifle primers are a different story!

Yes. you can use the 550 case feeder on the 650. You just need to move the switch. I did it with mine. Or you can sell it here to someone looking for one. I was thinking about upgrading to a 650 so I could add a bullet feeder, but didn't know if my 550 casefeeder would fit. Are additional parts needed?

I had a pair or Howard Leight Impact Sports for a couple years, but the metal head band just broke and there is no way to get them repaired. I have contacted their website twice with no response. It's not a big deal since I got a couple years out of them, but, I will not buy another pair from that manufacturer. It's nice having an amplified set if you double plug like I do. Damn open guns!

I finally bought a spring tester for $30 because I kept losing track of which spring was in the gun and/or when they needed to be changed. I've saved that much in springs in the last year!

I have an old Dawson Signature Series in 38 SC that I had a local gunsmith put in a 9mm Trubor and after a few mag tuning issues, runs 100%. i think most of the 9mm major issues have been worked through. Lots of guys with 100% guns these days. I still pick up my practice brass and you can't re-use it too many times, but it sure is nice to let it lay at a match.

AT $25 a box, you'll be reloading them pretty soon. There's not much difference in cost ofreloading between the two, but I just can't leave 38 SC brass laying on the ground and it gets in the way of my shooting. I did quit picking up 9mm's a couple years ago! Almost feels good.

How about PM'ing me with your brass connection info. I'd shoot it exclusively for that price. Thanks, Rick

I agree completely. That's what I was trying to say when I said I would "fit a barrel", but I can see that I wasn't clear about it being a new 9mm. I've actually been checking on it and I believe the general consensus would be to go with a Trubor T1 for 9mm minor. It should also practically drop into this gun. (hoods cuts and the like, but pretty straightforward) I'm gonna try a few different loads and see if it's worth doing (another barrel). You're also right about the cost. I figure I lose about 20% of my SC brass at every match. That comes to about $.03 (brass cost per round) every time I shoot 38 SC, which is the same as leaving the 9mm brass behind. The only difference is you're not brass rat'n all the time. To maintain that 20% loss I use dykem on it so there is extra time polishing the old Dyken off and remarking it every time you shoot. (Nuisance factor)

It has more to do with time and energy. I'm a senior and by the time you do your brass prep, chase brass, bend over hundreds of times etc., I'd rather buy 9mm for $.03, load it once and let it lay. I don't always shoot at a range where it is practical to chase brass either. My old hands get tired shooting more than a couple hundred major PF rounds an hour during practice. I'm not a 9mm major fan and don't see myself going that direction. On that, I'm with you. If I start to shoot 9mm minor a lot, maybe steel challenge, I'll fit a barrel for my gun rather than continue to run it through the 38SC. I don't really see why it's a big deal. I think I know enough (may not be true!) that if I find the 9mm getting in front of the extractor it's going to hurt the gun. I've had that happen testing a .40 in a 10mm. The guy dropped a round directly into the chamber and then shot it rather than feeding it through the mag. Yes, you can immediately tell the difference. That has never happened to me feeding through the mag. Maybe that's one of the things that needs to be said under this topic. DON'T DROP YOUR 9MM INTO THE CHAMBER OF YOUR 38 SC GUN, ALWAYS FEED USING A MAG SO THE EXTRACTOR IS HOLDING IT JUST LIKE IT WAS A 38 SC. I'm not recommending this as a long term solution, but rather a temporary situation to see if you like the lighter kick of 9mm minor, steel challenge, or another non-PF game. I enjoy playing lots of different games, but when I start shooting different guns, I start seeing negative effects. This way one gun all the time.

I tried some 9mm minor loads in my 38SC open gun today and they cycled fine, even with a 10# spring. These were some old reloads using Berrys bullets and the accuracy was unacceptable. Maybe the soft lead and the .356 diameter were part of the problem. I'm gonna load up some .355 MGs and try them. I'm using an aftec extractor and it seems to manage both the SC and 9mm just fine. Anyone else finding the same to be true? I just want to practice gun drills etc with some cheaper loads than the 38SC with VV powder I'm using in competition. I'm also getting tired of chasing my brass all the time. Seems reasonable. If it works I can always invest in a 9mm barrel for 9mm minor and major. Lots cheaper than a whole new gun.

I spoke with David Cupp at STI and explained the problem. He offered to let me change the firing pin and hammer springs before sending the gun to them. They sent me the parts and when I took the gun apart I found the hammer spring had been replaced with something very soft. When I put it all back together it still worked AND no more light strikes. Thank you to David and STI for the parts and support. All my experiences with STI have been very positive, which is why I wanted the GP6 in the first place.