mike g35

I recently switched from shooting a Glock to shooting a 2011in USPSA open division. However I still shoot GSSF and since I sold my open Glocks I'm looking to build a G17 upper for GSSF unlimited / "tactical" use. I'm gonna do the old red dot / iron sight cowitnessing deal on this slide. My question is which slide should I buy? ZEV? Lone Wolf? Or TSD? I've heard good and bad about all of them, I figured this might be the place to ask for a definitive answer. Which is best? Why?

Thanks, no problem. I think it'll make for an interesting thread and a fun experiment. What I can tell you is whichever gun I end up preferring I am going to make my primary open gun, the other will be my backup. And once I'm sure I prefer one over the other I am going to pay the down on a custom build. Then once the custom gun is near completion one of these two will go up for sale....maybe. So far, purely from a "feel" and aesthetic perspective I seem to be drawn in two. The full size gun "feels" better. It's a little heavier but balances well. The Shorty on the other hand feels less like a open gun and feels more like a limited or production pistol. We all know the shorty will win on transitions, its lighter weight (as Cocobola said) will make it easier to swing and stop. But open isn't limited or production, its open, it's about getting the gun to move the least amount possible while firing while still being able to transition and remin quick with the firearm. I can't see how the full size gun will not beat the shorty when it comes to running flat and faster follow up shots. But, until both guns are fired and tested while running at 100% I am withholding any preconceived notions on which gun will be best. Only the tests will tell the tale. Would anyone be interested in video to accompany the thread? I usually video my matches and practices and if you guys have any interest I'll post the videos on my YouTube channel and then post the links here.

So as all I've of you know I recently bought my first open 2011, a STI Matchmaster. Well....I did it again. I know from experience with other platforms I've used in open that if you can count on one thing and one thing only its the fact that something, at some point, is gonna go wrong. Parts break, and you'd better have a backup gun if your paying to shoot big matches. Enter my new TruBor. I bought the TruBor so I could not only have a backup gun but also so I could have a chance to compare the shorty (MM) to the TruBor (full size). I figured as long as I was getting a chance like this my experiences could help others caught in the predicament of "first open gun, shorty or full size". So, I thought if start a thread, comparing the two styles, from the viewpoint of a new (to 2011's) open shooter. I'll update my findings as I go. I have parts on order to get the trubor up and running. I am also gonna compare to the sight options I'll be using, the RTS vertical, and the 90 degree CMore. I think some could benefit from what I find, at least I hope. Once the testing begins I'll update.

Looks good to me. I have no answers for you but I can tell you if it runs well shoot the hell out of it and enjoy. Welcome to the dark side!!!!!

This is exactly why I held off buying a used open gun and bought a couple new ones. I understand the financial difficulties getting started too. These toys ain't cheap. OP if I were you I'd shoot the current gun until it started to get to bad to deal with then I'd stop (being sure not to damage any of the parts in the bottom of the gun) and save my pennies to buy either a new STI trubor or have a new upper built for your current frame. Or, and forgive me guys, there are other platforms available to build an open gun on that aren't quite as expensive. Of course there are tons of suggestions we all could give you for fixing your problems but only you know what's in your budget. Sorry they got ya brother. Do your dealing here and you should be GTG.

Nailed it. I spent a lot of years being sponsored by some of the biggest names in paintball. It sucked all the fun out of a sport that I loved. Having to "sell" everyone on why they should buy what you use and you really get nothing out of it. Everyone thinks its so great to be sponsored but it can be a bigger hassle then its worth.Exactly. And I'm not knocking being sponsored, but its the type of sponsor you gotta watch. If you are forced to shoot this or that without having the ability to change from your current platform to one that suits your game better then you're forced to shoot with a disadvantage. Talk about something that'll ruin the sport for you, this is it. I'm not knocking what my old sponsor does or builds, but the platform just wasn't for me. I'm alot more relaxed and I am enjoying the sport much more these days.

I'm trying to help a friend of mine out. His fiancées father is sick and he's having trouble racking the slide on his M&P40c. I have installed these Mako Glock charging handles to help other people with similar difficulties in the past. I know they help but I am unable to find one for a M&P. Anyone have any ideas where I could get something similar? Do you guys think if I'm unable to find a similar part changing his recoil spring would be a viable option? I can't seem to locate a new spring and guiderod either. The guys a Vietnam vet and I really don't wanna let him down. Any ideas, help with finding parts, or opinions would be highly appreciated.

I don't know how applicable this is but I have a little story. I was "sponsored" by a small company that builds guns and gun parts. My "job" was to do Internet promotion, help customers with installation, shoot (of course), and do any and everything else I could to promote this company. I was not paid so let's get that outta the way. But I did it because I believed at the time they were the best thing going in their field. After two years of pushing product down people's throats, being constantly harassed by guys running competitors gear, etc. I decided to resign. I actually started shooting a different platform as well but that's a different story. Though I'm not top of the field (closer to the bottom actually) I can tell you that being "sponsored" isn't all its cracked up to be. It sucked every bit of the fun out of shooting and took away the "purity" of the sport. If one thing holds true for shooters it's that we like to try different things. You can't do that if you're supposed to represent a company and there product. If being simply "sponsored" was that bad, I couldn't imagine what it'd be like to get paid by one of the big companies. Shooting is supposed to be something we all enjoy, so go out and enjoy it and don't worry about "getting paid". That's what a job is for. Just my .02.

Anyone know if I can ship my ammo to Universal Shooying Academy? Im shooting on Sunday and I need to get my ammo there. It's a little too much to take on the plane.

correct and appreciated. The real question is why didn't I think of using feeler gauges to begin with? LOL Thanks for all the help guys.

Nice piece!!! Welcome to the dark side!!!

Which thumbrest are you referring to?

When I was shooting Glocks I really liked the Warren Sevigny competition sights. But, after seeing the TTi's, I think I would start there. The FO "dot" being at the top of the sight sounds like a great update to a classic design.

Look at Bobby Carvers work. Google B&B Enterprise.

Just an update for anyone that might run into the round top slide / 90 degree mount dilemma. I talked to Camerons Custom today, their mount WILL fit without issue. They've purposely built the new models to allow the use of any common slide profile. Just FYI.

I'm no expert but what I do is I do my basic sighting in at a close range, 10 yards or so, then I make sure I'm getting good hits out to 25. If not I fine tune at that range. I also shoot double taps at close range (3-7 yards) and see where my second shot is hitting. That'll kind if tell you how flat your gun is really running. EKUJustice gave me alot of good tips and info on this. And there's a ton of info about here I'm sure if you search. That's just what I do. Is it "correct"? Don't know, but it seems to work for me.

LOL I hear ya. If lived within driving distance of them I'd be broke!!!

I just wanted to thank Barry, Chuck, and the rest of the shooters connection crew for all their recent help and their INCREDIBLE service. You guys have got me as a customer for the rest of my life. I buy stuff from you guys and as long as the order goes through before 4pm my gear arrives the very next day!!! That's using UPS ground folks!!! . I have bought two STI raceguns, a Trubor and a MatchMaster, from you guys in the past couple weeks and an enormous amount of parts, magazines, etc. and I've been more than happy with it all. Everything I've ordered arrived faster than expected, it was exactly how it was described, and the best part, its priced right!!!! I'll be telling everyone on every social media outlet I'm on to shop at shooters connection. I'm even gonna wear the jersey I purchased to every match I shoot (including the ProAm next weekend). Thanks guys!!! You are the best!!!

thanks!!! It's nice on the dark side, I think I'm gonna like it here. My Trubor was ordered from Shooters Connection this morning. You can bet its not gonna stay stock very long. Some parts are on the way and that's only the beginning. Next up? A full custom build.

Well I guess you could say I've went STI crazy. I'm ordering a full size Trubor tomorrow from Shooters Connection. I wanna see what I think of a full size open gun compared to my shorty.

BTW I changed out the recoil master yesterday for a STI 5" guiderod, ISMI 9# spring, and a STI reverse plug. Added a Dawson aluminum Shock Buff for good measure. Thought I'd try a new recoil system that would allow me to tune the gun a bit. I also switched my firing pin to a Dawson Hyper Drive. Faster lock time? We'll see, I'm not sure I'm fast enough that it matters though. LOL I also changed the Ed Brown button to a Dawson Lo-Pro. No extension just a little bit bigger button to help with dropping mags. The EB button was too long, made me worry about dropping mags inadvertently.

I was told I should polish the mags for my open gun, inside and out. Is this necessary? If so, what polish do you guys use? Flitz? And how do you polish the inside of the mag? Are you using tools or just doing it by hand? Thanks for any help you can provide.

7.2gr of WAC, 124gr Montana Gold CMJ, OAL 1.170, mixed brass, Federal small pistol primers. I'm making major (170pf) out of the short barrel with that load and the gun runs pretty flat. Recoil isn't harsh at all. 100% reliable.

I did the same thing when I switched over to an edge for limited. Then again when I went to open a few months ago. I still have the occasional off day but since getting used to the dot being my friend, I have improved. Ya got the tools use em. Lets get some videos I'd like to see the MM in action. My next match with the MatchMaster is gonna be the ProAm in FL. I'll have tons of bad shooting videos after that match. LOL

Me, too.LOL