JDHunz

USMC Speed-dial or Speed Loader...

That is good news to hear! The Tripps, and their entire staff, are some of the most wonderful, helpful, gracious folks I have ever dealt with. I hope they can get their "homelife" back up and running...I have no doubt they will in good time.

I went from a 9mm (just never loved it in a 1911) to a .45 (cost was just too high) and settled on a .40...LOVE IT! Sold anything that was another caliber so I only have one to load. Using the same load in my STI Trojan and my new DP Edge and don't intend to ever look back. I can easily make major and don't have to worry about trying to do it with 9 major or, for me, the prohibitive cost of .45. Don't think you can wrong with either, but if you already have .40, go with that. As stated, depending on what you end up using for the gun and mags, once you get them tuned and running 100%, you will be good to go. Best of luck!!!

Personally, I like the paperclip method over the allen wrench style for the reason you stated. However, if I wasn't such a tightwad, I would seriously look at a DP tool-less GR as well...those are freaking sweet!

A good teacher learns as much from their students as thier students learn from them. Which is why I LOVE my job...I'm a teacher!

+1 to what Trace has just suggested. Both guns by Bob and Matt are great, but if your budget is $3k, you'll be hard pressed to stay under that, especially if you buy 'tuned' mags - that's another $400-500 depending on who does them, holster ($150-200), mag pouches ($120 total), etc. There are several posted in the classifieds here that would be great - like a tuned Edge or something - and would save you big $$$ to spend on ammo, etc. I would take baby steps, if it were me. I started out in production, did that for 5 years and just now moved to L10/Limited with a custom gun. Make sure you enjoy the sport before dropping a ton in $$$, only to not like it much. Just my opinion...

Brandon, did you ever post pics of your Trojan??? Or did I just miss them?

It's all in the reverse plug...it doesn't "seem" like it will work, but it does. You won't have a bushing at all...the way the RM works will be the same basic principle when you go to a FLGR...the reverse plug has a shoulder inside it to keep the spring captured during recoil. Once you take apart the RM system, you will see how the FLGR and spring will work... If I can, I will try and take some pics of mine tonight and show you, but it's pretty simple. You will want to make a capture device for the FLGR to keep the plug & spring compressed. Do a youtube search for STI and taking down both a recoilmaster and full length guide rod...will explain a lot.

I've got 4 tuned 140mm mags, the stock 126mm mag and several stock 140mm mags w/DP SNL base pads that lock the slide in the event I decide to run L10 for spits and giggles...

Yeah...standard govt...got them from shootersconnection. Only like $8 each, so I bought three. Put on in my Trojan .40 as well and that has worked great, too.

I just did the same thing...I put in an STI full length guide rod with an EGW reverse plug (you could use the plug that came with the gun, but I wanted a different one) and an ISMI 12.5lb spring. Runs great...I'm shooting .40SW, but the way... Depending on you loads, you could buy a couple different weight springs and experiment, but from experience the 12.5 worked for me. YMMV... Hope that helps!

My "other" kids...my trusty STI Trojan .40 and new STI DP Edge in .40...I just love their guns!

VZ Operator II...great grip!

I've been doing the same thing for the past 17 years - English/Language Arts teacher...8 years at the high school level and been at the middle school level since. I get the daily dose of hormones, immaturity, fart jokes, OMG, cat fights and other bits of stupidity to last a lifetime. But, I wouldn't want to do anything else...I love helping kids learn and seeing that light in their eyes when the finally "get it."

I was a proud, teary-eyed dad...only seems like it was yesterday they were born. After Mollie's struggles with her heart and nearly losing Beckett to a massive seizure, I thought this day would never come...and so their journey begins...

Awesome Brandon!!! Worse case scenario is you have to "look" at the epics of mine I sent you a while back until yours arrives...kinda like gun-porn... Post pics when you get it and the mags...would love to see all your new "toys"!

+1 - Tripp only charges $80 to work his magic - he did it to my .40 Trojan and now it runs perfectly...unlike me. The biggest cost in sending it to Virgil is the shipping - about $150 round trip. But seriously, it's money well spent...

Call Virgil on Monday...he can probably talk you through a remedy or give some suggestions. I load mine (using the .40 Tripps) at 1.142 using Berry 180gr round nose and they feed like a dream. I have had issues with the MG 180 HP doing the same thing, but have not had that happen with the Berrys when shooting my Trojan.

When you say the first round won't load reliably, can you be more specific? Are you getting nose dives? Depending on the type of issue, that will let the folks on here figure things out a little faster and help you more. The more detail you can provide, the easier it is to find a cause and offer a remedy.

+1 on the Tripp mags. I have used the .40 Tripp mags in both the 9 & 10 rounders and did have my gun tuned by Virgil Tripp himself. If I had to do it over again, I would probably run Tripp 10mm mags to load longer as others have suggested. But your best bet is to call Tripp and talk to either Aaron or Virgil - you really won't find better customer service. Heck, during their move Vigil called me from the road to check in my pistol! You're going to love the Trojan!

You are correct to a point that they can be tricky at first, but it can be easily fixed. My Trojan .40 had some feeding issues at first using the Tripp mags, but after being in Virgil Tripp's hands for $80 and less than a week from shipped down and back, it runs perfectly. I am sure that any competent smith can work out any bugs, but I called Tripp first because I was using their mags. Virgil simply said, "Let me get my hands on it and I'll make it run anything." That was no lie. That being said, my Trojan will stay with me forever - I simply love the thing and my wife loves shooting it! She found the recoil perfect and loved how it handles. I am sure the Spartan would be very similar, but you really can't beat the Trojan in its price class. I've shot others in the same price range and wasn't impressed. The Range Officer, to me, was a big let down...just not what I would have expected from Springfield.

+1 on either the STI Spartan or Trojan. The fit & finish on my Trojan is fantastic and it shoots like a dream. Granted the price of a Trojan is above your price point, so a Spartan might be the route to go. You save some $$$ that can then go towards mags, magwell, etc. The frame and slide may be made in the Philippines, but everything else is STI. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Grumpy - Saddened by your loss as I, too, am the daddy of a beautiful Russian Blue female who has warmed our hearts for the last 6.5 years after we rescued her. I had to put down my 16-year-old Seal Point Siamese many years ago and it still makes me sad. We almost lost our Russian a few months back from an intestinal problem, but she pulled through. Wasn't sure how I would explain it to our 4-year-old twins as Cleo is my daughter's "baby." I feel for ya!

Ok...depending on what mags you are using, you may have to cut the base pad down a bit. The NO-GAP version typically requires that you use the Dawson base pads so the mags will fit up into the magwell. Be advised they are about $10/each. Now, you can solve the problem by ordering the GAP insert for like $20...that's the only difference between the two. Something to keep in mind before you get it all put together...

So sorry for your loss...what a beautiful girl!!! Of the pics you have posted, I absolutely love the one of her in the field looking off to the side...complete puppy happiness...