Gun Geek

A bit off the subject of this thread, but take a look here for a mag system... http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/index.html

Are they? I need to turn my 3gun M2 blaster back into a hunter, at least occasionally. Can't find the M2 mag tube cap (but I have the spring ). Located an M1 cap, so the question is will the M1 cap fit the M2? Thanks in advance if you can help...

Nope. At least not in USPSA, sight pictures are not forbidden unless there are psted match rules prohibiting it. In IDPA they bing you for a procedural. At a minimum. It could also earn you an FTDR. Site pictures are philisophically in the same class as round counting and individual walkthroughs. Dry firing may cause the SO to have a heart attack

Is that an AD or an ND!? Anyway, thanks for fessing up. OK to make and admit mistakes, not good to hide them. I was worried Homeland was after us, or worse we were going to be hijacked.

OK 45 second on the Google calculator and I got the following: A baseball is no more than 150grams, which is about 2315grains. For a 125000 pf, I would need to throw it about 54fps (125000/2315 = 54) 54 fps is about 37 mph. I can do this! (I was clocked in Highshcool at about 60mph) Next time I get to the range, I'm taking a baseball. I wonder what the president of the pistol club will say if he sees me throwing a baseball at a popper or plate rack! Probably laugh because I'll have to throw a dozen times before I hit the darn thing. My gut tells me the baseball will take the plate over faster than my 9mm loads at 130pf. Now we're having fun! Ask that physics major what he thinks...

Sorry, got this backwards. At a given powerfactor, the lighter bullet would have more KE than the heavier bullet. KE is 1/2 x m x v^2 (squared). KE is more sensitive to changes in velocity than in mass. My quick calculations (on the back of my electric bill) show that the lighter bullet (at a 125pf) will have about 25% more KE than the heavier bullet at the same pf. The other part of the story is momentum, which is m x v. But we already know it is the same since the powerfactor is the same (yeah I know, weight and mass are not the same, but it works for this discussion). It is my observation as well that the heavier bullets tend to do a better job knocking things over. But why? It has to do with the time the bullet spends pushing the target (longer with a slower bullet) and, with the amount of energy used to deform (destroy the bullet). A small fast bullet (i.e. 9mm) is completely destroyed when hitting steel (ever find anything other than an occasional jacket?. Big slow ones are not destroyed - you can regualrly find 45's especially FMJ after they hit steel. Now I'm getting interested. I wonder what speed I would have to throw a baseball to get a pf of 125,000. Wonder if it would do a better job on a popper than a 9mm? Hmm...

I use the heavier SG sparingly on my Savage. Works well. Doesn't seem to be a need to really dope things up.

I haven't tried in 5 divisions, but I have shot 3 divisions. I'm in the camp of classifying 1 down in other divisions from your highest. Much of the skills (both the classifier and match) that put a shooter in a class are very much transferrable from one class to another (Indian, not the arrow). This is especially true of match skills (very few matches are won or lost on split times being 10% different, except maybe between Burkett and Langdon). Lots are won or lost on procedurals, mistakes, approach to shooting a stage, etc. That stuff translates. Split times are equipment dependent and don't translate. Sorry - continued the drift...

Stick with the regular AR. The others will cost you a pile - the price of being an early adopter. Don't remember if you handload, but I wouldn't touch either unless you did (or had a money tree in the back yard). Get good with the regular AR and then think about switching. You always need more guns. Here's a paste from the bushy website about .223/5.56 .223 Remington or 5.56mm: We've had numerous inquiries about .223 Rem. versus 5.56mm NATO ammunition. The short answer is that all Bushmaster barrels are chambered for the 5.56mm cartridge. Most of our barrels are stamped 5.56 NATO - usually just ahead of the front sight. Despite the fact that our Lower Receivers are stamped CAL.223-5.56MM, our chambers, barrels, and bolts are designed to withstand the higher pressures of the 5.56mm cartridge. We do this for the safety of our customers, and because our rifles have always been built following the military pattern. In any of our barrels, both the .223 Remington and 5.56mm NATO cartridge can be fired safely. So, what’s the difference between the two cartridges? They have basically the same exterior dimensions and length, but the 5.56 is usually loaded to produce higher velocity and chamber pressures. It has thicker case walls for the extra strength needed to handle those higher pressures. The difference comes in the chambering of the rifle, and that difference is in "Leade" (more commonly known as the throat) which is the portion of the barrel directly in front of the chamber where the rifling has been removed to allow room for the seated bullet. In a 5.56mm chamber the throat is typically .162" - in a .223 chamber it's usually .085"(about half that dimension). The result of firing a .223 cartridge in the Bushmaster 5.56mm chamber is a slight loss of velocity when measured against the 5.56mm cartridge. However, if you own other (non Bushmaster) rifles specifically chambered for the .223 Remington, you should not use 5.56mm ammunition in them as it is considered by SAAMI (Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) to be an unsafe ammunition combination. (This 5.56mm/.223 Rem. information from Bushmaster Gunsmithing and the Winchester Law Enforcement Ammunition Website.)

I don't decap before cleaning either. I've never had problems (would be high primers or duds?) When I started with my 650, I wrestled with this as well. In my rockchucker days I very carfully cleaned primer pockets (brush on a dremmel). Heck - range brass looked new when i got done with it. I also liked guns that were shiny wood and blued finish. Figured I'd just try it a few times and see. All that was about 75,000 rounds ago. Now my guns are matte black or stainless metal, plastic or metal grips, and they are usually kinda beat up and dirty 'cause I shoot them all the time. I have some 308 stuff that I absolutely babied. I did every step as perfect as I could (including cleaning pockets). I can't tell any diff between that and stuff that I cut a few corners on. Both shoot clover leaves at 100yds.

Never seen this happen, but we shoot'em at a pretty godo pace, so there's not a lot of time to calculate. Also, we keep the scoresheets on the clipboard (shooter doesn't carry them around) Just too complicated. Requies someone to keep track of all this stuff. If you don't send it to HQ, the MD keeps track, along with all the other stuff... No way! one of the complaints about USPSA is the complex scoring and classification system (hit factors, major/minor) You gotta have a claculator to know how you did on a stage. Statistics and normal curves? 2/3 IDPA shoorters would probably tell you that statistics refer to a woman's body measurements and normal curves are on woman that's not to skinny, not to fat - normal. Heck, powerfactors confuse many people. Just a little too scientific and rigorous to fly in the real world. Remember those of us posting here are a self-selected group of techies. I think Sir Winston had it right (referring to Democracy) - something like: it is the worst system possible, except when compared with the others.

Fo - let's get together and get the rules changed...

+1 to Flex. Pointing this out is NOT being a Range Nazi. Now if the guy was an a_-hole about it, he's still not a Nazi, just rude, but right. Pointing the gun over the berm is very much a no-no. Always. But, you say, it isn't loaded. In addition to what Flex said (they are always loaded), when you seat the mag, the gun is for all purposes, loaded - you ever had a gun flip into battery unexpectedly when you slam home a mag? I have. Glocks do it a lot. Now you've got a hot weapon pointed into the sky. Nope. I believe a gun at slide lock, no ammo in a mag, laying on a table is perfectly safe, still don't want it pointed at me. Gun in someone's hand at slide lock and a guy getting ready to stuff a hot mag in it is NOT perfectly safe. I don't see any ignorance on the part of the SO. Ok, sorry to hammer you John, but there is one more point. If you've laid off for 15 years, you may be coming back into a heightend sense of safety. I don't know your age, but my dad (late 60's) and his dad, both military, have terrible safety practices - just wasn't the way they learned. The didn't wear safety glasses or ear protection either.

I agree with shred and Dave - more of a "feel" situation, especially when I'm shooting 7's, 8's or 10's. Don't know if it weight or something else, but I usually know ehn the last round is in the gun. When I shoot more (i.e. Glock 17) I don't do so well knowing where the end is. Steve: A touch of Zen...

Short answer is yes! I have a Kimber version and a Glock conversion as well. My club doesn't allow us to use 22s in the action pits (yeah, your're right) so I mostly use it at the standstill range. Still very helpful. I have very little problem ever. Be sure you use high velocity 22s, cycling can be an issue if you don't (put that's in the instructions). The only thing I don't like is that they are 10rd mags...

Smith: 2 Procedurals would have been more correct - must reload behind cover, and NO speed reloads allowed at all. An FTDR would be more correct if you seemed to insist on continually breaking the rules Pitt: What you describe is a speed reload (even if the mag is empty) and is verboten in IDPA. Don't do it. You will earn a PE (3s), and maybe an FTDR (20s). Anytime you reload with the slide in battery, you must do a tac or RWR. Only exception is if you are clearing a malfunction. The idea is that you are in a gun fight and 1) won't be counting rounds so you will shoot until slide lock, and 2) if there is a break in the action, you will reload the gun and not leave mags/ammo laying around since they might be used against you or you may need them later. You may or may not agree, them's the rules, and that's why them's the rules.

IDPA didn't want a Tactical T-Shirt equipment race?

Actually good questions, I'll take a try at a few... 1) There's not really a difference between dropping an empty mag or a partial mag with a round in the chamber. The principle is that in IDPA you are not counting rounds. To drop an empty mag with one in the pipe you have to be counting or you do it by accident. If by accident, then the guy will probably rack the slide. To me, no advantage gained by dropping the mag, no PE (unless a TAC/RWR is required). If the shooter counts rounds, drops the empty mag, inserts a fresh one, they have done a speed reload, and earns a PE. The SO should ABSOULUTELY be worried about a round in the chamber. What they shouldn't be worried about is rounds in a dropped mag. 2) VERY DAMN LITTLE. With a new shooter (elderly or not) I work hard to make sure they follow instructions. If they are going to end prone, I tell them before the stage starts how we are going to handle the re-holster. If they sweep once with a checked gun, I will give a warning. The second time they get a DQ (done it). If they sweep the crowd with a loaded gun for some reason - DQ. If they sweep themselves, I make note. If they are habitual, they may get a DQ (never done this). To me there is NO ROOM FOR SAFETY MISTAKES. Everthing else we can work with. 3) Don't know 4) Just not in a shirt pocket. Vest pocket or those big slash pockets on 5.11s are fine. Tough MD making you do a RWR in a car! 5) IMHO Why are you doing Vickers at 25 yards? You'd be hard pressed to say you needed to defend yourself shooting 25 yards (duty to run!). 25 yards should be seen in standards and be limited vickers, again, IMHO. Anyway, if you aren't doing LV, why do you care about stacking? Can't have it both ways, this ain't USPSA 6) Don't know if it is in the book, but it is a judgement. It is usually obvious (they're flustered and looking for the mag). If it is not obvious (once in 4 years) I usually call it based on whether they got an advantage by not retaining it (who cares what their intentions were, just the results). Usually a bobble will cost time, and if it does, that's enough penalty. Again a judgement call. 7) Score keepers should have lots - you're right they can see PEs, and catch stacking or sequence problems. 8) Newbies get a wide berth on 1st match with gear. Heck, if they're new, they're not going to be competitive anyway, who cares, let's have some fun. I explain the rules and the reason behind them, and let the guys play. If they are Masters in disguise, you'll see it, and then they get the gear qestion. BTW this is for a local match. A sanction match - rules are rules. 9) Don't think there are any rules on vest stiffeners. Burkett and Langdon use big cable ties (I've seen it). I use a big shirt with a stiffener. Much more likely to be my carry clothing than a 5.11 vest. Glad to hear a club going good again. I think that shooters respect fairly tight (not nazi) and even enforcement of the rules. The know the game before they get there and can practice it.

The promised pics... http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...ndpost&p=390332

4) Some rounds do not fit into the cylinder of my Blackhawks Lee FCD - cures what ailes 'ya, and lots cheper than a whole new set of dies. However, it's probably worth it to figure out why the rounds don't fit into the Blackhawk cylinder. The thickness of the shell plate relative to the thickness of a shell holder is not really an issue - the die touches the top of the shell plate and the top of the holder. The thickness of that lip that holds the case down may be different, but I can't imagine it's that much. Question - which part doesn't fit - the front around the mouth or the bottom down near the base. Was this brass fired in this blackhawk? Front could be that the crimp isn't properly applied (case still flared). Back clould be that the sizer doesn't go all the way down. If the crimp is no good, it could cause problems with low power loads (not enough pressure to burn the powder correctly). Actually, now that I think about it, #'s 2, 4 and 5 could all be the result of short stroking the press. Make sure you do full travel.

Good pics. I know the angles can be tricky, but it looks like the shell plate is not indexing right. You can do some serches here, I know we've discussed it. Couple of things to check - there are a bunch of littel parts under the shell plate - a pawl and the detent ball. Make sure they are installed correctly and working right. One question - does the plate back up as soon as you start down with the handle? If you talk to Dillon again, work it as in indexing problem. I think that will help them...

OK, we'll hit the basics: 1) you said you got the press in 45ACP. You using 45 ACP brass? 2) Do you have the right shell plate for 45ACP? (number 1) ? 3) Is the tool head seated correctly - both pins installed? 4) Does the platform (cast aluminium thing under the shell plate) wiggle? I've seen these get loose and foul up a press nicely. 5) Is the plate indexing right? by that I mean does the plate rotate to the correct postion so that the casing is centered under the hole in the tool head? From your second post this may be the issue. After the slide places the case in the plate, it should be directly in the center of the hole in the tool head. 6) Measure the opening of the sizing die. I will check out a Dillon. I expect a difference, but I don't expect thsi will be the problem. I expect that the bigger mouth on the Dillon die would let you go faster, but the Hornady should still work. The line in your original post about purchasing RCBS dies and having the same problem makes me think there is set-up problem.

Check out the thread below. I mounted the case feeder to the wall behind my press. I did it to lessen shake, and make it easier to get to the feeder. The only mod I had to do was cut down the clear tube from the feeder down to the press. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...ndpost&p=390332

Finally got a few pics - To stop the case feeder from shaking, and to make it easier to access (adding cases, changing plates, etc) I did away with the black pole going from the press body to the bottom of the case feeder. I made an L bracket out of some 1" steel tubing that I had from another project (can be had at Lowe's, HD, Ace, etc), and mounted the fedder on top of it. Below are the pics: Overall height off bench - about 35" Floating case feeder L Bracket

I've used other sizing dies with no problem. Sounds like the case is not properly positioned in station 1. It should be all the way against the radius of the slot in the shell plate. Check pages 39 & 40 onf the 650 manual. It talks about how to adjust the case insert slide. On page 40 the manual says to use a primed (spent for safety) case in station 2. This is an easy step to forget. The reason is that the primed case in #2 limits the travel of the platform, which limits how far the slide pushes the case into the plate. You have to adjust with this limit in place. Hope this helps!