Art Yeo

Which Dremel model do you like best and has the biggest bang for the buck? Of course, the application is for general gun-smithing, maintenance, installing stuffs, touching up, polishing, etc... but, they are all for rifles and pistols.

Thanks for the response. I have never used walnut shells myself, just wanted to know what the difference is. Hmmm ... wonder what will happen if you do half and half from both types ... it'll clean faster and also shines?

In terms cleaning ability, is corn cob media better or walnut shell chips? http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-coarse-grade-walnut-shell-blast-media-92150.html

I shot about 250 rds of 9mm Montana Gold (MG) 115gr FMJ powered by 4gr of BullsEye and when I cleaned the barrel today, I saw quite a bit of leading which my regular bore brush cannot remove. Had to resort to ChoreBoy on brush. Anyone seen this before? I do not think the 4gr of BullsEye is overpowering the bullet, do you? Please be reminded the MG FMJ have open base and lead is exposed at the bottom. I'd expect super high velocity and magnum pressure can certainly melt the lead but 4gr of BullsEye?

Les Baer 1911 have higher quality components and the fitting process is done by hand. Accuracy is consistent and you can reproduce it at will.

If anyone is disillusioned with their current plastic guns in terms of accuracy issues and trigger problems, you should consider the Px4 Storm FS. The little gun was such a pleasant surprise to me when I shot it the first time today that I had to tell you guys about it. OK, the trigger is not a 1911 trigger but it is significantly better than a stock S&W M&P9 trigger. I can say that without any twitches on my face because I have been using my M&P9 for IDPA matches and was getting really unhappy with its accuracy problems. Here's what I have shot today at 50ft and I believe it is pretty close to what my Beretta 92A1 performed at this distance ...

I think you guys may have mis-read what I wrote and it'd also help to glance at the plate targets of the before/after KKM barrel performance. After the KKM barrel was dropped in, the performance of the M&P9 is close to my 1911's at 50ft but not before. That's all I'm saying. Hope it clears up things.

I agree with you if USPSA or bullseye matches are what one has in mind, then finding and getting the right pistol that can perform at those distances are certainly not just an ideal property to have but a requirement. As for myself, I only shoot IDPA and carry them for CCW purposes. I can safely say that the IDPA matches will only stretch the pistol at longer distances but probably no longer than 25 yds. For CCW, almost all 99% of the CCW encounters are less than 15ft and significantly large number of those were under 10ft. As an academic exercise, I'd certainly be interested to see how my pistols perform at 50 yards, including my Les Baer 1911. No KoolAid needed, simply test your weapons at the distances of your application and trust the results of your tests. That's the best one can do.

I'll try that in my next range visit but, seriously, are there 50 yard targets in IDPA? I have not seen one that far. I have seen 20yd to 20+ yds ones. In my mind, the KKM bbl has made the M&P9 good enough for me.

Does anyone know if the stock bbl of the M&P are chromed internally, like the Colt AR15? I know match barrels are not chromed.

Well, the KKM barrel(bbl) has arrived and when I unpacked it, it looked exactly like the factory stock bbl, except for the color --- it was stainless without the Melonite (as if I really care about colors!). I put both bbl side by side and examined every corner and every groove and I found nothing different and my heart began to sink and heart-beat rate raised. The only difference I know of the twist-rate and, of course, the CNC machining may be different in terms of the specs compliance. Then, I disengaged the old bbl and put in the new one, racked the slide and things feels normal. Brought both to the range, and shot the pistol using both barrels at 25ft and 50ft. Hiding behind the fence, there was a shy (new to the family) Beretta Px4 Storm (Full Size) that I brought for the sake of comparison and after hearing so many accuracy praises from current owners. Note that the Px4 has a chrome-lined and rotating barrel. At 50ft, here are some results that are pretty clear cut compared to the ones above: Conclusion: [1] The KKM bbl did solve the accuracy problem which plagued me to no end. The grouping has a distinct association and I have confidence in the M&P9 once again. The only issue is this: does Smith and Wesson know how to fix this problem and will they fix it? I'll leave that to the business minds at Springfield, MA to think about. [2] I am now wondering if the M&P9 is worth it at all. Straight from the factory, I had to put an Apex kit to make the trigger feel better. Then, now, I had to put in a KKM bbl. In comparison, the Beretta Px4 FS shot like a pro straight out of the box, the trigger felt better than the stock M&P9 trigger and it is only a 4" bbl. It's accuracy is quite impressive, I'd say again. For those who are itching to buy another plastic gun, you might wanna put the Px4 in your short list.

FMJ wraps around but the base of the bullet is usually not covered by the jacket. CMJ or TMJ means the entire bullet is completely wrapped by the jacket.

Well, I hope my new KKM barrel can come anywhere close to your results with my M&P9 and I will be happy. I am not looking for a silver bullet from the KKM barrel but I want to see a distinct group, not randomness. That's all I am asking, nothin' fancy.

All, In all of your years of experience, which bullet type produces the best accuracy and reliability in a 1911 used for competition: Full Matel Jacket (FMJ) Complete Metal Jacket (CMJ) Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) ? Do tell us why if you know why because it will help me consolidate my thoughts. Thanks!

It's interesting that they allow 45ACP in the Revolver division. In the eyes of a revolver purist, the 45ACP ain't a revolver cartridge. But, didn't Jerry Muculek built his whole career based on that cartridge in revolvers? So, in short, I guess if winning is all that's in my mind, a 625 is probably the way to go: it's a 6-shooter and has low recoil. But, a more revolver purist would pick a 686 shooting 38sp and may have a recoil disadvantage unless he loads it lightly.

Thanks, that helped to give us a data point.

Check the gun thoroughly before you take it home is my advice. I bought my first Performance Center 1911 45ACP some time ago and it cost me close to $2K by the time I paid tax. Shot it in a few local matches IDPA and it ran good with under 2,000 rounds in its odometer. Then, come the WA state IDPA championship and the safety-lock plunger tube broke in the middle of my competition. Slide locked every couple of shots and destroyed my scores completely. Had to switch over to my M&P45 as a backup but confidence was shaken by then. Wrote a big complaint to the Performance Center head. No apologies was given and they acted like it was a routine happening. Fixed the gun the usual way and returned it back to me. Here was my initial report to this website ... http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=134615&st=0&p=1514128&fromsearch=1entry1514128 Visually, it is a beautiful gun but QA level for the SW1911 guns does not seem comparable to those of Les Baer, Springfield Armory and Kimber. What followed after this incident, I have learned 2 lessons: to never buy an expensive gun from a manufacturer who does not have a long track record producing the particular type of gun I am intending to purchase. My current 1911's (Les Baer, SA TRP and Kimber Grand Raptor) are all solid as a rock and have accuracy above what I have. Always have a backup gun that's exactly the same; or, at the least, close to exactly the same when going to attend a larger championship; otherwise, you are preparing to fail. NOTE: IIRC, the two largest and most successful 1911 manufacturers are Springfield Armory and Kimber. There's a reason for that status.

The fact that the M&P9 prefers the 147gr bullet was also confirmed by Julie G. (the captain of the S&W competition team) in some previous threads at the pistol-forum website. Also, what difference did the KKM barrel make? Did you do any before/after comparisons?

Thanks again. Is this Olhasso spring durable? Yes, I reload, so it would't be a problem, I am already using the softer Winchester primers.

I already have a 92A1 and have been shooting it for a year now but not in matches yet. I think I am quite fortunate because the stock trigger and action are very smooth. That was something that impressed me when I first shot it. What kind of smoothness are we talking here --- like a Smith & Wesson revolver smooth is what I was talking. Yes, thanks for recommending the D-hammer-spring swap. That's what I will be doing by myself with this $6 spring if I make the decision to use it for IDPA. I also agree that the DAO is quite long and far out but my hand seem to be managing it alright, not too much of a stretch. The obvious downside is that it take time to pull through that first shot. I may try it out one of these days at the local IDPA match. Thanks for the affirmation.

I'm kinda thinking along the same line. I have already spent $100 on the Apex Competition Kit. Just spent another $175 on a KKM barrel and waiting for it to arrive. ... Soon, we're talking the price of a brand new Springfield XDM 5.25" Competition model ...

Safariland 568 hip holsters are one of my favorites.

Thanks, looks like they are big into selling STI and XDM.

Sorry for the ambiguity, I meant the Competition XdM model.

I'm not having any luck finding XdM 9mm Competition (Comp) model anywhere. Where are your favorite online stores? BTW, how long since the Robbie's designed Comp model was released? What's the durability and accuracy factor like?