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Call STI. They fixed my HexTac when the previous owner filed down the grip safety to disable the safety. They even paid for shipping both ways. They took care of my issue for no charge. The original builder did the repair too! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I just bought the combat master 2011 to begin my retraining for USPSA. I had some health issues and lost a lot of my training from two years ago. A quality air soft seems to be the way to go to get back into drawing from a holster and firing the first shot. I can report back once I get back to “dry fire” training. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My trip into open was with a 40 s&w M&P CORE with a Fastfire3 3moa MRDS. I also added a threaded barrel with a Carver 4 port comp. This was absolutely the wrong way to go. I had my hat handed to me at every match. What it did teach me was how to find the dot on my gun. I now own an STI DVC Open. I will say that open is fun but EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. Reloading is a challenge until you find a load that works well for your gun. Then it is just practice. My cost to get into open so far is around $7500.00. This includes two guns, a progressive reloading press with dies and supplies (powder, bullets,primers, etc.) Other than that you need a place to work on reloading. I am sure others will add to my assessment. So you see, it is expensive but for most guys it is a labor of love. Good luck no matter what you decide. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Brazos customs Slipstream. I have the standard mount you will need the wide body mount. Mine sits directly over the center of the barrel/slide. I have an RTS2. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

There are two versions of the mount. One is the standard frame where the slide sits just over the frame and the wide version for the model where the frame and slide are the same width. Contact Brazos and they will help you. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have the 3moa venom on mine. Never used a viper. I use an 8moa CMore RTS2 on my major open gun. I use the bullet size as a dictator for the dot size. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Agreed you need a host of skills to be a gunsmith. Which is why I will only ever be an armorer. I can replace and fit parts but I will never be skilled enough to make parts from scratch. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Sorry I got you all worked up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Seems that one would want a full sized lathe and mill and you almost need an out building for space and to keep the smells out of the house. I thought I understood how to be a gunsmith until I met a real gunsmith. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I spoke to a real gunsmith recently and he recommended taking a course in using precision tools, a lathe, then a course in using a milling machine. These are the basic skills that you need to become a true gunsmith. Then you need quality machine tools large enough to do any job and the space to set up shop. Without these skills you are an armorer not a gunsmith (my opinion). I was shocked at the amount of knowledge in machine skills is required to be a skilled gunsmith. Whatever you decide, good luck! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for the guidance. I have seen the buffer but couldn’t determine where it went. I originally thought it went behind the guide rod so it could cause a gun to not go into battery. The photo makes it very clear where it belongs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I have never used a buffer. Where is it installed? Can someone post a photo of where it sits in the gun please? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I replaced my slide ride with an RTS 2 since that is what STI sells the DVC Open with at this time. I didn’t like a few things about the side mount. The looks, the balance, the sight picture and the interference with the slide rocker and thumb rest. All of these made me move to the RTS2. I sold the mount and CMore slide ride to offset the RTS2 cost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I went with the STI DVC Open due to the availability of spare parts and the ease of warranty service with STI. Cost was a wash on the two guns. I am very happy with my STI in 9mm major. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I was shooting 40 Open for a short time. I had a 4 port comp and could not produce enough gas to operate this comp. was looking at a 3 port but made the move to 9 major instead of working up 40 equipment and loads. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Wolff 10lb in my STI DVC Open so far. Looking at a lighter spring test to control the dot tracking. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

For open loads I always stand 10ft from the chrono. I destroyed one by shooting open loads too close, looked like I had shot it but had lots of powder burns on it. At one point I think it was on fire [emoji91] oops! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Here are a couple of shots of the other side. As the second photo shows, the slide racker does not hit the mount. There are no dings in the racker or the mount. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Sorry to hear about your issues. I have an STI DVC Open and had the same issues you are having. I went with an RTS and never looked back. I also replaced the recoil spring with a 9lb and adjusted the extractor to hold the round. No more FTE. This may explain why STI now sells the DVC Open with the RTS. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I have the STI DVC Open and I went with the Brazos Custom Slipstream and it works great. I can get a photo of the other side if you want one. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I had the battery issue just recently. Shoot and it goes off shoot again come back on. Replaced the battery with a tested battery, same thing. Just for the heck of it, I put a new eveready battery in and the dot brightened up and no more problems. Moral of this story is not all batteries are the same. My experience at least! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Another vote for The Blue Bullets. I shoot 147 for production class and in my Scorpion for PCC. No leading ever! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I had the same problems with my 9mm open gun when it was new. I tuned the ejector and all of the problems went away. I used my Limited gun as a guide. I forgot that I had to tune the extractor too. It would not hold the case in place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Call STI and ask for Dave Dawson. He will give you the straight answer. He is the owner of Dawson Precision and has gone back to STI as a director. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I load pistol and rifle cartridges on my Hornady LNL AP. The only issue I have had was I broke an index pawl when a primer got stuck in the case and I tried to force the issue. I contacted Hornady to purchase a replacement (my fault, mind you) they sent me one free of charge and I had it in three days. Great customer service from Hornady. I have had no issues other than that. I timed the unit at setup and I clean and check timing after every 1000 rounds or when I change calibers. Other than that, I use canned air after every 100 rounds (primer tube refill) and this keeps the priming mechanism clean and functioning properly. Dies get cleaned after every 1000 rounds when I clean the press. So, I am very happy with my Hornady. Should anyone wish to "dispose" of their Hornady LNL AP, I will gladly take it and "Dispose" of it properly. I will even pay shipping to me