Kimber_45

Contact both companies to verify the details of your situation and ask advice. Make a decision on a start load based on the option they think is the safest. Reloading is not the place to start guessing and taking risks. The real goal here is to keep both eyeballs and all your fingers intact. Don't blow up your gun. Ask the experts, not an internet forum.

Side note: I had a very hard time resizing once fired 308 brass on my 550B... 2 stuck cases and a lot of frustration ensued... so I got a single stage press (RCBS Rockchucker) for resizing. It is FAR easier to resize now. The difference is like night and day. I also upgraded my resizing lube from Hornady One Shot to Imperial Sizing Wax. It works great, but the real difference is the increased power and leverage of the single stage press. YMMV... I'm just sayin'. If you have this problem, consider resizing on a single stage press and loading the rest of the steps on your Dillon.

My $0.02: +1 on Safariland ELS belt system. It is quickly customizable for any stage scenario. If you go with the ELS system, consider attaching your pistol holster with an QLS connector. It is compatible with ELS belt but stronger. Some shooters have had issues with the ELS forks breaking on their holster... it seems they're not strong enough for the added weight and abuse over time. Having said that, I have a 1911 holster mounted with an ELS fork. Zero issues so far. While there is nothing wrong with an ALS holster, a retention device is not strictly necessary. A kydex holster without a retention device is sufficient as long as you tension it properly. The ideal shotshell caddy system is a personal choice. Gear that allows the shooter to use the Load 2 or Load 4 methods are easier and faster for newbies to learn with less training. Consider the EZ8 caddies for an inexpensive option. http://www.theshooterssource.com/shotshell-carrier-p-20075.html One more thing... always carry 1 extra rifle mag that you think you will not need. In case one of the rifle mags that you are counting on takes a dump and jams catastrophically, you will have a replacement.

Don't think so... I think the mag tube ring is in the wrong place.

Yes. I could get a 2nd 1300 for the cost of the gunsmith work... or even for the cost of a replacement barrel. You are right of course. There really aren't any other options.

The Defenders have a good reputation. They're well liked all-around by people that have them. A Defender might have been a better option for me too. I found my 1300 at a gun show and snatched it up. Yes, I overestimated the availability of replacement barrels. I sure did not care at the time. I just needed an inexpensive 12 ga pump, and I needed it immediately, in order to take advantage of my first few opportunities to shoot 3 Gun. So I got what I needed and I regret nothing. It was phenomenal. And I like the 1300 anyway, regardless of my complaining about it. It performs accurately and reliably. That is more than some guys can say about their Benelli M4s when on the clock. As a side note, if your Nova is shooting way left, the stock is probably too long on ya. I had that issue on my 1300 with the original stock. A shorter stock fixed the problem. Shotguns gotta fit if you want to hit what you aim at.

Well, I have an old Winchester 1300. Despite the age, it offers several good traits to me in HM, including a lightweight aluminum receiver and lifter that requires no welding. I put a fiberoptic front sight, magazine tube extension, and short LOP Speedfeed stock on it. I patterned it and my shot hits dead center now... they were off terribly with the original furniture. Also, when I do my part, I can hit steel out to 100 yards (YAY!). Not too shabby for a smoothbore fossilized dinosaur. All great. Problem is that the barrel is 28" long, and its on the heavy side for me to swing quickly. Shotgunning in 3Gun is challenging enough. The long barrel makes it even harder (READ: slower.) Winchester 1300s are no longer made. That means barrels and aftermarket parts are hard to find. Sure, I can still find new replacement barrels in a couple place online, but they're 26" or 18.5" and $200+. Ouch. Too long, or too short, and too expensive either way. I want something more in the vicinity of 20" to 24". It was hard enough finding a mag tube extension I liked... I finally settled on an ATI and its perfect. Nevermind that I had to dig into the bowels of the Internet and websites that no one has ever heard of just to unearth one in stock. That was bad enough. Barrels are worse. They're simply unavailable. Thoughts? Options? Should I drink the KoolAid, throw the 1300 in the street, and get a SuperNova instead? I'm considering having my 28" cut down and rethreaded... I fear what it might do to my careful fitting and ability to hit far flung slug plates. Also I'm not sure how the gunsmith would handle the vent rib. The rib stands taller in toward the center of the barrel, shorter toward the muzzle end. If he just hacks the barrel down without adjusting the rib, well. The sight picture will probly change a bit.. as will my POI. Boo. My POI will change anyway if I make any changes to the gun... I am having a hard time accepting it. I've been putting up with this conundrum for two years, and I'm still feeling indecisive, since there seems to be no answer that I wil like. Input will be appreciated anyway.

Your setup is awesome. I stared at that photo for 30 seconds trying to figure it out... why the two rear sights in tandem?? Then I saw the shadows and different amount of light through the apertures and thought... no... that's not just a trick of the light. One is a large aperture, and one is a small. Reading on and your posts confirm it... it is faster. Mind blown. Bravo.

Heck yea!

No it doesn't have to be QD. I would just want it to be. At the risk of starting an alternate topic thread war... Get the Larue. You don't save much with the AD and the Larue is just plain outstanding. Mine is 5yrs old, has seen service thrown into countless down buckets and it's still good, still holds zero on and off the rifle and the scope mounted in it is still in good shape too. Good testimonial. The Larue is not that much more expensive, I agree. I'm considering the AD over the Larue mainly because SOCOM contracted through AD for mounts specifically for use on SCAR 17s... and I like the idea of having a SOCOM approved AD mount on my 17 too. ADs have a tactical QD lever option, return to zero capability (I contacted the company to verify this), and they come in Flat Dark Earth. I prefer FDE... but that's just vanity and aesthetics. No practical motivation there.

Let me lay any confusion to rest... My statement that Stag makes better products is 100% personal bias. <--Honesty. Here is further (similarly motivated) argument: Stags are cooler too.

No it doesn't have to be QD. I would just want it to be.

Thanks co-exprs. I appreciate your logic here. 308s have more knockdown power at distance, SCARs have a shorter sight radius that puts them at a disadvantage for longer range shooting, so a powered optic will stretch out the distance capability of the rifle. Therefore, go with the powered Vortex. And with an excellent mount... quick detach... Larue or American Defense... it can be removed for any matches that are irons only. And it will return to zero when it is reinstalled. This will be my solution.

I'm debating between a Vortex PST 1-4x with MOA reticle versus a Leupold Prismatic with DCD reticle. It is to be mounted on a SCAR 17. I'm pretty much set on these 2 choices because they fulfill my personal criteria: 1)The optic must be a decent brand. I can't have some cheap POS that can't hold zero, or the FOV is too damn small to be practical. 2)Etched and illuminated reticle. 3)Turrets and reticle must be in MOA. None of this mil dot math BS for me in 3 Gun, thanks. 4)Affordably priced. My budget tops out around $500. 5)Must have a true 1x on the low end, or just damn close enough. I need to be able to keep both eyes open comfortably for CQ shooting. I'm leaning toward the variable power Vortex. The problem is that multigun rules vary so widely by match and venue, on all levels. From Club level to National level matches, there is inconsistent consensus on allowable equipment. What if I get the Vortex and some match doesn't allow variable power optics in HM Optics?? /grumble/ Then I guess I'm back to shooting irons. Irons are fine and all. I'm proficient. It's just not the point. Ideally, I want to use my shiny new optic on my pretty little battle rifle. And I'd like to use the SAME optic for the most, if not all, 3 Gun matches. I mainly focus on local Club level matches, nothing too serious. But I do plan to go to a National match or two eventually and I want the right equipment the first time. Opinions?

+1 on SCAR 17. Go all in! Its very lightweight, relatively short overall, very effective muzzle brake, easy to manipulate, has shit loads of rail space, very accurate for a battle rifle, looks bad ass... and yea, it is simply amazing to shoot. One negative is that SCARs are hard on brass. Mine leaves dings near the mouth of every case it ejects. They are still reloadable. I just don't like it.