[...to CRIMP or not to crimp?]

With all these answers about crimp diameter it seems to me that you have forgotten that crimp

is not the proper term for what you are trying to achieve..The object is to remove the bell

that you applied to be able to seat the bullet in a straight manner..Just enough to not have a

lip on the mouth of the case..If your bullets are not extremely over sized this should not be

a problem..

In over 50 years of reloading I have never measured the so called crimp and never had any problems

once the OAL was established,to long,to short then you might have problems..

Sorry for the long post,just had to throw my two cents worth into the ring..

Henry T

[Looking for a picture of a Springfield 38 super factory comp]

I have a 45 Factory comp gun. No pictures or knowledge on how to post one if had ..

Don't know if you will find one that has not been changed somewhat,after all it didn't have a beaver tail grip safety

and all those other little things that made it a bit more comfortable to use..

The 45 was king in this area back then,early 90's..

[How to make Dummy rounds]

To keep my dummy rounds noticeable I drill a hole in the side of the case..

As for the primer pocket a bit of firm rubber(pencil eraser or gasket material)

cut to fit solid will save firing pins.. Still keep them separate from live ammo

so there are no mistakes..

For a non reloader one of the original(hammer operated)Lee reloader kits might be

found at tag sales or gun shows for almost nothing..One of these will make good

dummy's and just might create enough interest to really try reloading..

I started with a Lyman tong tool almost 50 years ago..Most of my guns have never

seen a factory round of ammo..

[Cracked Mag..]

I have no way to show a picture of the cracked mag so perhaps a bit more info might help..

The mag is original to the gun witch is a ,I think,very early production run..

Ser. no. is AH9xx...

The crack is in the back running down from the top of mag through the witness holes on the

right side down to hole 16..

I did use it once and it fed alright but did not hold the slide open when empty..

Would like to have some idea of just how old this gun is,anybody have any idea how to find

the manufacture date ??

The weapon in question belongs to my nephew who hasn't used it in years and asked me to give it some use..

At the time I was interested in something along those lines but being from Mass. there are only older used

Glocks available here..Ended up buying a Sigma VE,2005, because it felt better in hand..Have been a 1911 user since

late 60's..

Then along came a M&P9 and that is current favorite,even though it too has the wonderful Mass trigger..

[Accurate No.5 powder?]

I found it to be rather dirty in light loadings in 9mm..

[Cracked Mag..]

I have a early G-17 that hasn't seen the light of day in way too long..Got it

out the other day and cleaned and lubed it up,didn't notice anything wrong..Got

to the range and in loading the mag noticed it was cracked down the back side..

Is this something that happens with age or what ??

Thanks for any info you all can give me...

[ciener 22 kits]

I found on the kits that I have one must remove the 9mm ejector or enlarge the ejector slot in the slide..

Have a very early one that gave me the fits trying to make it work like it should,still not great,and a later model with some changes made at the factory..

Must say that I wouldn't buy another Ciener kit..Alright for plinking but a pain with the FTF and hammer following the slide and light strikes..

Can't say I would even take a freebe after all my problems with them..

If you try one all I can say is "GOOD LUCK"..

[M&P 9MML Primer problems]

Good Evening,

I am just a little frustrated lately with my M&P. I have used used Small rifle & small pistol primers, and I am getting light primer hits. Today I shot a match of less than 100 rds and I had at least 10-15 light hit primers that didn't go off. I would like to know if anyone out there is having the same problem, and if you have what have you done to fix the problem.

Joel A. Morales

A-63829

It is possible that you are not seating your primers deep enough.. Did you try to fire them a second time ?? Or in a different gun??

I am sure that just about everyone has had this problem at least once or twice..

[Stonewall Bullet Company]

Got some of his 147 RN a while ago..Shoot real well in both the 38 super and the 9mm..Don't have a crono so no power factors.

Using 3.2 gr bullseye in the 9mm and 3.5-4.0 in the super..Fun and pleasant shooting for this old guy..

[Browning Hi-Power Trigger Job]

Probably out of the question but something to consider,other than 9mm,is a 38 super.. Great gun in single stack 1911 that with reloads will go from the light 38 target loading to the flame throwing 357 mag..Feeds and functions with the best and with a decent barrel,Nowlin or equivalent,will be the most accurate non custom auto to be found..Same bullets as the 9mm and mostly the same powders,just trade some of your 9mm brass for 38 super..Easy caliber to reload and with moderate loads brass lasts almost forever..

Maybe not for you but something to think about anyway..

[Herters 9x19 brass]

Way back then I bought some Herters 357 brass..Worked just the same as the Win that I always used..

Thought it was good brass..Might still be some around somewhere,just don't shoot much 357mag anymore..

[Will changing the crimp have any effect on the case pressure?]

To much taper crimp will resize the bullet and the case,the brass case will have some spring back where as the lead core of the bullet has none..

Thus you have a loose bullet..

Try it with a unprimed case,why waste a primer and powder,and see what happens..Do the bullet test,press the round against the bench and check for set back..

[Will changing the crimp have any effect on the case pressure?]

Too much taper crimp might leave you with a loose bullet that will set back while feeding..

Set back causes higher pressures thus maybe big problems..

Crimp only enough to remove the flair,bell,case tension should hold bullet securely during feeding..

On a revolver case a heavy roll crimp might be called for but not on an auto case..

[cleaning media]

Have I been doing things wrong all this time ?? I have been using used drier sheets in my tumbler,no smell..

They do seem to collect a lot of dirt or something and the media seems to last longer..

[Cheap sights on eBay]

A while ago a now defunct bullet maker had a line of copy cat red dot sights.. I tried the Docter style..Must say

it looked good.. But take the thing into a dim indoor range and the dot would disapear..Sent it back and saw that he had stopped

carying them soon after..

There was no country of origin but must assume that they were made in China on the cheap..

As I stated that was a while ago and maybe things have gotten a bit better..Must say I would not bet on it being changed..

Just might be worth a try ..You never know,things happen every now and again..

[.40 barrel in .45 slide ?]

I hope this is not out of place..

I remember reading about replacing the barrel in your 45 with a barrel chambered for the 38 spec..Wanted to try it but couldn't find

someone to rechamber a 9mm barrel at a price I could afford,after all this would be just a fun thing ..Guess it is still rattling around the

empty brain case,would still try it if possible..

[My Witness Project Gun:]

The mount for the Docter sight replaces the rear sight and fits in the dovetail..No holes to drill..

[9mm Load for Disabled Shooter]

I must be real old fashoned..I like a 147 lead in front of 3.2 gr of bullseye as long as mags ans chamber allow..

Don't know the numbers,no crono,but it is mild and accurate.. A fun loading..

[Recoil springs]

This is not a Glock question but the pistol is quite similar so I hope some of the experts here can help me..

I have a SW9VE,Sigma,and am wondering if using a reduced recoil spring,18lb is factory,perhaps a 15lb would

be safe ?? I realize that the recoil spring keeps the barrel in battery when the trigger is pulled and firing out of battery is bad

juju..Must say I hate to buy the spring and perhaps damage the gun and maybe me when someone can perhaps advise me on this subject..

My ammo,reloads,would be minor or sub minor,nothing heaver than factory 125gr or 147gr lead..

I guess it is time for this gun to come out of the closet,rumored to be S&W's best seller before the M&P came along..Realise it it no target pistol

but they do shoot rather well when you either fix or get used to that wonderful,Mass special, trigger pull ..

[New to 38 Super]

I like a cast 147gr fp or rn with 3.5 gr of bullseye behind it..loaded as long as your chamber or mags allow..

Have no idea what it does as for velocity but shoots real good in my single stacks..Very pleasant for fun shooting...

[New gun - .45 ACP open gun]

I used a small screw driver as a scraper to get most all the lead and carbon out of the comp chambers..

Then a soak with Hoppies finished it till next time..

[Odd SW M&P issues.]

Use a 14lb spring with the Wolff guide rod in the 9mm with no problems at all..Load is

a 147gr LRN with 3.2 gr Bullseye and it is more accurate than this old shooter is capable of

holding..

[New gun - .45 ACP open gun]

If memory serves me right I had two loads for the SA factory comp gun in 45 ACP..

For plates, 200gr lsw with 4.Gr Bullseye..

For pins,225gr lfn or 230gr lrn with 5.0gr Bullseye..

I enjoyed that gun so much that I put a a similar barrel in a Colt so I didn't have to change springs

when shooting pins or plates..Any excuse for another gun you know.. That was back in the early 90's

and I still have them both..Don't shoot them much anymore,now it seems as though the 9mm is used

more..Just a bit cheaper to shoot altho the 38 super gets some time every now and again..

Nothing hot anymore just pleasant mild loadings like a 147gr lrn with 3.5 gr bullseye in the super..

[Source for .38 Super 150 Grain RNL/FB Bullets?]

I got some 147gr lrn from Stonewall bullets a while ago..Nice bullet at a great price..

[S&W Sigma 40 ?]

Like I stated earlier the Sigma is not a target pistol but the heavy trigger can be fixed by a good smith and keep the reliability.. The ability to digest

lead bullets and put them where you want them to go is also there..How do I know ??I do have a 9ve that gets taken to the range quite often..By the

way it,the Sigma, is a recent purchase..I wanted to try a polymer pistol and compared a Glock and Sigma side by side..The Sigma came home with me..

Must admit a 1911 it isn't but feels as good in hand and shoots almost as well all things considered..THat was almost three years ago and it still is favored..

Recently a M&P9 joined the family so we have two plastic guns and quite a few all iron 1911's and CZ's and Brownings..They all do just what they are

supposed to do,go bang on command and put that piece of lead where it is supposed to go.

I am pleased with them all...