Clint-M

I like the Safariland's look and versatility with the ELS attachments. I hadn't looked at those. Is the ELS solid should they take a hit going around a barricade? CM

I've seen some posts about them but not much real information about them- plus Comp-Tac is here in Texas and I show preference to companies in my home state. Do you have any shots of your Bladetech? Also, if how are the magazine pouches that come with these compared to others? CM

I'm looking for a new holster that will be used %90 of the time for multigun competition and I'm deciding between these two styles. If anyone has a good bit of experience with both I'd appreciate the input. I know most everyone will select Comp-Tac and I'm about certain that will be my choice, but I'm looking for pros and cons of each. Also, not necessarily Raven Concealment, but just the style so no need to discuss wait time or prices really. Gracias fellas, CM

Nope, is it the newer connector? I think the V3 is supposed to be used in the Gen4 frames where older versions are not. My V3 lightened my trigger about a pound or so. CM

I'd greatly appreciate that, Eku! CM

Hmm, I guess I'll just wait and see and check out other base pads if I can't figure these out. CM

Has anyone tried the Arredondo followers? I thought I had some #6's but they didn't work out from the buyer. CM

+1 on GlockWorx trigger gear. I was considering trying the .25 cent job but I did not want to do something I could not undo in 5 minutes for carry so I purchased their V3 connector and competition spring set and could not be happier. For $25 shipped that is one of the smoothest triggers I have felt, even better than the trigger jobs I have paid to have done previously. Right now I'm waiting on three more sets to come in the mail with some firing pin safeties also. I'm sure the $250 triggers are smoother and somewhat better, but $45 of GlockWorx does a great job for me per trigger. CM

How many did you load when it caught the plastic, Jesse? CM

Whole thing has been rounded, shortened, and smoothed. The rear and rear corners anyway. I'm beginning to think it is just the spring though. 18 seems like the follower should be past the lip, I'm going to order some #6's right now and if they don't fix it and if the spring doesn't loosen up by the time they get here I'll figure something else out. Thanks Eku. CM

Didn't use any load assistance but round #18 takes all my strength to load and won't even load when I drop the slide on it. No way could I fit another round. I've taken quite a bit off the 8 follower, I don't even know if it will feed properly at this point but we'll see. The only thing I could imagine at this point is the spring is just super powerful right now. Hopefully some break-in time will loosen it up but surely not for +2 on the capacity I get now. Any tips on that besides leaving them loaded? I'd be happy with 19 that feed reliably so that's what I'm trying to get. CM

An 8 and a 9. CM

Hey guys, I've been piecing together a Glock 22 for local competitions and purchased two Dawson base pads to see how I liked them. I decided on Dawson because they're just 30 minutes down the road from my house and I like supporting local shops more than sending my money elsewhere but I'm kind of regretting it now. I received the pads and put them into a couple of new magazines I had lying around. Initially I only got 17 capacity and thought "Okay, you've seen the videos, this is normal." Break the magazine down like you do, grab a file, and take a bit off the rear just like in the video. Piece them back together, only 17. Maybe a little more filing, no problem there. A little more off, a little more wiggle room but couldn't fit another round. Again, take quite a bit off this time, round everything, smooth it with a fine file and put it back together. I can now squeeze my 18th round in barely. Same story for both base pads. They've been sitting for over a week now, everyday I've been unloading and reloading hoping that I might get some help from the springs and magically slide the 18th and 19th rounds in but I'm still barely getting 18. I didn't expect to get a full 20 in, I know they're a bit picky based on others reviews but I was at least hoping for 18 rounds I could cycle through my pistol reliably. I'd really like to stand behind Dawson because I know so many others have had success with their products and the few I have picked up have been superb so my question is, what else can I do? $35 for +2 capacity is ludicrous and not even worth the hassle. Obviously time will allow the springs some give, but if I wait longer will the wear give that much space? This is not a Dawson Precision bashing thread, so I hope no one takes it as such. I'm just looking for some help here. I've got 8 and 9 followers on the two magazines and I've done a small amount of smoothing to the inside of the magazines as well. I'm hesitant to take much off, just smooth. If these don't work out I don't want to have to buy new magazines also. Thanks for any help. CM

My next step was to send it off to either Benny or Accurate Iron after I received the lifter from C-Rums. Still not sure about what else I'd like to have done to my Benelli and probably won't until I get some work done with it. I sent Accurate Iron and e-mail and never heard back so I'll probably try giving them and Benny both a call and seeing what they say. Do you have a Redneck Tactical link? Thanks for the link, eringobrah. CM

Do you have any pictures of your lifter welded and bent? I've got one that should be on the way soon from C-Rums- just the lifter, so I'd like to see what you did. CM

Those are pretty much the questions to ask yourself. I have smaller hands and they sweat constantly, still have trouble getting a good grip on the Gen 4, but it is so much better than I can get on the Gen 3 frames. It's like night and day for my grip consistency. I have a 22 Gen 4 that I have about 1600 rounds through and have not had a single hiccup and a 19 Gen 4 I only have about 300 through with the 03 spring that has been flawless- but it is only 300 rounds. Glock is sending me the 04 spring but I'll likely just save it for later unless I encounter some issues. As for the 40 s&w, I also found the recoil noticeably more manageable on the Gen 4, but I think a better grip helped me more than the new recoil spring. Never had any issues with Gen 3's either, but the grip change was big for me because I'm hesitant to get the grip stippled. CM

I haven't seen a 6x6 and I've been looking around quite a bit for the 4x4 in-stock so I'm sure I would've seen something if they were out there. CM

I chose the M2 not very long ago and am very happy with my choice. I think either will suit your perfectly well. The reason I chose the M2 field model was that I preferred the inertia system over gas system and you don't have to change out the pistons for lighter loads. For the Benelli you'll want to get a magazine extension and a welded lifter for competition shooting, they are musts. I thought I'd get by on loading without the lifter and it takes a lot of time and agony. I also put on a barrel clamp and Nordic's fat bolt handle. Two musts for myself, but not necessary in most cases. I know where you can find the popular M2 field 21" if you have trouble finding one. FNH's are much easier to find. CM

Have an M2 field 21" on the way, should be here by the end of the week with a Nordic Magazine +5, clamp, and Big Fat Speed Bolt Handle coming early next week. Everything else will remain stock until I find the need to tinker! Thanks gentlemen, and if anyone else is looking for one of these PM me, place I found was well stocked. CM

Thanks for the advice Charles and Cutter, looks like I am just going to have to keep searching and look for that M2. Salient Arms' website has one in stock. Jesse- I'll bet it was a blast given the circumstances. I didn't realize you were the "3-gun cartoon cats" guy. Those videos are hilarious, I guess I should have asked if anyone knows about the SBE II Shotty.

Thanks for the heads up on the 21" being produced in quantity again. I've kept my eyes open for a few weeks now and have seen one new one that was purchased before I made a phone call to get it. The reliability with less powerful loads is why I am not so patiently waiting for the M2 to appear, but I've seen more similar prices between the two models and the best deal I have found is the SBE II so far. Getting antsy, going around to look today at a few more shops and stores for the elusive M2! EDIT- Just checked out your YouTube site, that video of you rolling around in the scooter is quite possibly the greatest thing I've ever seen. CM

Thanks for the reply, Rooster. What kind of experiences have you had the last 3 years? More specifically, have you put your gun through its paces and found it to hold up well under adverse conditions (weather, moving around a lot, long periods of intense shooting, etc.)? Also, did you find your SBE II to be picky about the ammo you ran through it at all? CM

Hey guys, I've been lurking your forum but just joined this week to ask a few questions. I'm relatively new to shotgunning and had a few questions about the Benelli SBE II. Just to start, I'm looking for a pretty general all-purpose sort of shotgun and this will be my first auto loading shotgun. I'm passively working toward 3-gun, but I'm not strictly buying a 3-gun ready shotgun. I was initially looking for the Benelli M2 and the Winchester SX3 because both receive rave reviews and are well-documented work horses. I've had my hands on plenty of Winchesters and really did not care for them. They just did not fit my body well I guess. So I've been searching around for a Benelli M2 field with a shorter barrel and have found quite a few of the tactical models that felt just great in my hands, but I don't want a tactical/defense only shotgun. Long story short, I cannot seem to get my hands on the Benelli M2 I want without buying an extra barrel for $450; however, I found a pretty good deal (cheaper than the new M2's) on a new SBE II with a 24" barrel locally and am thinking about picking it up. I only want to buy one high end shotgun but I cannot find many in-depth reviews on either gun, and pretty much none on the SBE II. I know the differences in the two weapons very well so I don't need them listed. I was wondering if anyone had first hand experience with the SBE II or both preferably? I know the SBE II can handle 3.5" shells and I've read mixed results on using 2 3/4" light loads, but those seemed to be right out of the box and I plan on putting a lot of rounds through the gun to break it in before trying to compete or rely on it in any form. The gun will be used for some 3-gun and competition training, I use a pump for work but if I can find a reliable auto loader that may change. Also a little bird hunting, but not a lot and just plain fun plinking. So, any first hand experience on the SBE II in reliability? Anyone ever shoot a 3-gun match with one? At a basic level will I be hindered in having the SBE II over the M2? Any experiences will be greatly appreciated, thanks guys! CM