mont1120

In order to rise up out of C class in Limited 10, I'm improving each small option I can on my Kimber Custom Stainless, and wanted to know the preferred expanded magwell for .45 ACP. My reloads can hopefully benefit from the wider opening, and I rely on the experienced shooters here to guide me in the right direction .

I want to comment on a problem I have seen with lead bullets in at least the Springfield XDm. While I originally thought there was something wrong with the XDm, I had 4 cases blow up and crack the frame on the 5.25 frame and damage the 4.5. I finally narrowed down the problem to reloaded brass with the PMC brand on the rim and case head separation. The rim blows off the back of the brass and makes your hand feel like a sledgehammer has hit it. It happened in both the 180 grain and 155 grain lead bullets. If you look at the spot where the rim meets the extractor piece of the brass, you can see minor imperfections that cannot be seen with the naked eye that show where it is more than likely will blow. I checked and double checked the load, and it happened with Unique, Bullseye, and Red Dot. If a plated bullet is used, or jacketed, I have had zero failure. For some reason there must be a pressure spike when using lead bullets that the PMC brass cannot deal with. So, be very careful with PMC and lead, it hurts and will cost you.

jcrayton; I just got my 4.5 .40 cal back from Rich at Canyon Creek, and let me tell you I would recommend no one else. It is difficult to describe the dofference in the trigger I had, and the one I got back. It is incredibly smooth, has no take up, and the ability to bring the gun back on target is vastly improved. I will be sending my 5.25 to him after our short shooting season ends. Simply put it was well worth every penny. He is backed up a bit and no wonder.

I used 1000 of the small rifle primers and had no issues. Perhaps one did not fire, but that could be a host of problems. Buy em they are out there, certainly the market is empty right now.

Finally got time off of work to fire this pistol. I was really surprised at the function ans smoothness of this gun. This will be my IDPA unit if I can ever get enough mags in time. Thanks Mr. President.

Just got an SCR9 for Christmas this morning. wonderful gift. I have not shot it yet, but the slide is harsh in the finger groove area, and it takes quite a bit of pull to bring into battery. One other not, is the slide release lever on every one elses SR so hard to use? I have to pull the slide back, then push the lever down to release the slide. Would be horrible to use in competition for any kind of speed reload if the count goes south. (An action I am quite fond of. Nothing like slide lock with one round to go. A great test of nerve rebuilding.)

Shooting at the range last week and they guy next to me was shooting a .40 S&W. I heard this strnage pop, not a primer only pop, but a strnage mini explosion. He stops shooting, opens the slide and out pops the end of the case. Lodged in the barrel is the case. I took the pieces and as you can see by the picture, this is not a good sign.(Sorry about the picture, it is bad.) Anyone know what causes this type of shell damage? The pistol seemed OK and he kept on shooting. He was using 180 lead of some sort, so I think they were reloads. Any ideas?

OAL=1.12 180 Grain Lasercast Flat nose Lead Win SP 4.1 Grain Red Dot. I did check the crimp and if the bullet moves, it would have to be slammed into something

One PMC, the other was Winchester. I really took care to make sure I was checking for cracks, Glock bulge, and any spider webbing.

I have had two major case head separations this year, the 2nd one caused my XDM to have to be returned to the shop. I must be missing something while inspecting cases. I re-size each case because of the Glock expansion issue with a Lee sizing dies set up for exactly this purpose. The first failure occurred in my older S&W, and while it felt like my hand was hammered, no damage was done to the gun. Does anyone have a photo of a case they have determined is a candidate for case head failure? I go over each and every case, and must be mistaken in what I am looking for. I always load under maximum charges, I never try to meet max power levels in any rounds I reload. I have never had this issue except in an older British .303, but some of the reloadable Greek cases are another story altogether. Thanks for any help and tips you folks can provide.

Last Saturday I ran 50 rounds using the 9MM conversion and had no problems with ejection, and I did not change the recoil spring. You do need 9MM mags to feed properly. I did see my zero move right, but that could be the loads, or aging eyes. Next project is the .357 SIG conversion that came in. The more I research the round the more I like it.

EFK Fire Dragon and Storm Lake both make 5 inch barrels, but I'm not positive these fit the XDM 5.24 model, you will have to ask. They both are listed as interchangeable with the .40 and .357 SIG.

I decided to try the 200 SWC in my .45 Kimber, and had really odd problems. I did start to experience feed problems, and depending on temperature of the day, would start having mis feed issues about one in 50 rounds. I used Red Dot and the combination made my pistol develop crusty black layers of dirt internally, but no barrel leading. The biggest problem was key-holing, and it was consistent. One one target the range was no more than 3 yards, and they went through sideways. Looked like a piece of shrapnel instead of a neat hole SWC's normally give. I will be trying Unique or 231 with the same bullet (Lasercast), I suspect the Red Dot combination is something the Kimber does not like. I have used the 200 SWC before with good results, but that was 231. Sometimes when you get a great deal on powder, the best solution is to pass it up if you have a successful result from other loads.

I decided to purchase one of the conversion barrels from Storm Lake, and added a lighter spring to go to 16 lbs to convert from .40 to 9MM on my 5.25 XDM. Funny thing, one should pay attention to the barrel length ordered. So, my well thought out solution was to go out and buy the gun that fits the conversion barrel.??????? In response to pistols flying off the shelves here, I managed to persuade myself to follow this course of action, plus I was then forced to buy the .357 SIG conversion barrel also, in 4.6 inch. Seemed perfectly logical to me anyway. That in turn necessitated another purchase of .357 SIG dies, brass, and of course new mags which are becoming rare also. The barrels fit like they were made for the upper, and according to the manufacturer, you need to purchase the conversion, not the replacement caliber barrels. If I only had two minutes to now go shoot the new system. I now have another mandatory buy coming, diamond earrings for the wife to restore balance in a shooters world, which I'm sure most here have experienced.

I had a strange problem with Berry 230 grain .45 roundnose bullets. For some odd reason they would stovepipe in my Kimber about every 5 or 6th round. Did not matter if I change OAL or powder, there was something odd about the bullet. My Colt would also fire them OK. I did contact Berrys and offered to send back the unopened box of bullets and asked to trade them for a box of 200 grain. I would pay the shipping both ways. They refused. Go figure.Said since it was past the return date, they would not do it. I did want to add I used to use nothing but Berrys for the 9MM, the 124 grain flatnose were great.

Just competed yesterday in a 3 Gun here in MT, used my Mossberg 930 I built this winter, and wouldn't go any different route. For the money, I shot as fast as I possibly could, hit where I aimed, (that does not mean I aimed where I was supposed to) and had zero problems. Acutally loaned it to a shotter who will now pick one up for his games. The only things I will do now is open up the loading port, my fingers manage to get roughed up a bit, but comparing cost vs benefit, go Mossberg.

There have been thousands of the XD's sold, that is why I purchased one. As I stated before, I am not upset the gun failed. This happens, nothing out there is perfect. The real issue is response to questions when I need service. When I have to email a business 4 times to even find out if my firearm arrived, that is unacceptable. As I have learned over and over in the world we live in, "Get it in writing." One thing I hate to do, and you can disagree on it, is call a business and wait on the line for 15 minutes at a stretch. And I point out, we all are here on the Internet using this forum to exchange information, ideas, learn, and express opinion. I think therein lies the issue, that a company of Springfield's stature should learn to adapt to the medium we all use. I personally would be considered a two finger typing dinosaur out of touch with the new social medias, I don't understand the draw of Facebook and Twitter, but I do understand information flow, and to be considered a successful company, this is how business is done. Even some who disagree with me utilize the Internet and email services to a degree for a livelihood. So, I base my opinions on how a company informs and resolves issues, and hold that to a degree of service I get from other companies in the same business. Midway, Brownells, Kimber and a host of others understand service, why would I not expect the same from another gun maker? No, I do not expect overnight service, but yes, in this day and age I do expect response.

Well, I finally got an email reply yesterday. And to be honest, I am not real happy. It looks like two more weeks to fix the firearm, they have not even looked at it yet. This is dreadful customer service.I know Glock is much, much faster, I was even told of Charter Arms turning a pistol around in one day, and charging absolutely nothing for a pistol out of warranty. One of two things is going on here, either Springfield cares zero about its customers after the sale, or the guns are breaking at a rate Springfield cannot keep up with. I will have a .40 caliber XDM 5.25 for sale very shortly. I did not know I bought the Yugo of firearms. So, what is the vote for plastic, Glock or M&P? Or, I might just stay with the ol Taurus PT92, never jams, works every time. It is kind of clunky though.

Well, I finally got an email reply yesterday. And to be honest, I am not real happy. It looks like two more weeks to fix the firearm, they have not even looked at it yet. This is dreadful customer service.I know Glock is much, much faster, I was even told of Charter Arms turning a pistol around in one day, and charging absolutely nothing for a pistol out of warranty. One of two things is going on here, either Springfield cares zero about its customers after the sale, or the guns are breaking at a rate Springfield cannot keep up with. I will have a .40 caliber XDM 5.25 for sale very shortly. I did not know I bought the Yugo of firearms. So, what is the vote for plastic, Glock or M&P? Or, I might just stay with the ol Taurus PT92, never jams, works every time. It is kind of clunky though.

Has anyone here had any dealings with the factory on a problem with a firearm under warranty. I had to return a new XDM .40 caliber pistol that has all of 500 rounds put through it when the ejector failed.No big deal from mypoint of view, but Springfield would not send a replacement.I was told I would have to send it in for repair. As we all know, it is competition time, and I was told the firearm would be back in two to three weeks. Now, after 4 ignored emails,and three weeks gone by, I cannot even find out if Springfield has the firearm. I have gotten zero replies via email. I like doing business via email so as to have a record of what is being said. In this day and age, I would think customer service is a priority. Perhaps this is just an anomaly, or I am missing something. Are any of you having the same problems with this company? If so,and Springfield does nothing to correct the poor service I will have an XDM for sale very soon. Oh Dear Lord, don't tell me I will be buying a(must I say it) a Glock? Back to the 1911, keeps shooting, rarely jams, and keeps on ticking.

At our first three gun match of the year in the NW, we had an excellent course designed and it had 5 completely different stages that really kept you counting and scheming to get the right combination of speed, round count, and target sequencing. For left handers, most of the time we are left with stages that somehow try to dislocate every joint in your body, but it is half the fun. But for once, the opposite held true, the angles were favorable to lefty's, and I thought "Self, this may be the opportunity to move up a few notches and surprise the regulars." Well, Murphy and his law book were just around the corner, and he must have heard me. What was not favorable was the carbine shoots which were done low to the ground, and lefty's HAD to go prone and shoot sideways at the targets. Well, Murphys says "Sir, brass flies across your face from a M4, and maybe it doesn't bother you much, but just wait." After 4 rounds went out, a funny feeling came from the crook of my elbow. I had just baked a nice little headstamp mark as the brass sat there and burned me. Now, that should have been notice served to watch out, but adrenaline had its way and off we go. Blazing away as I was, I had to lay down prone again on my left side, and began firing at the 100 yard gongs. Well, another piece of brass flew out and I'll be damned, it landed square on my neck, and laid there as I continued to shoot.The RO is laughing, I'm cooking, I don't use my head and clear the brass, I just keep shooting and getting distracted by all of the amusement had by all. If I would have just cleared the burning sensation off my neck, I think I would have finished faster. But the real culprit was not just being left handed, it is the left side down position while prone, PLUS the bill of a baseball cap. That was what was actually deflecting the brass back down on the body parts. So, just thought I'd pass it on, if you are a lefty laying left, take off the doggone hat............. And you do not have to explain to the Mrs. that the dark marks on your neck are NOT hickeys. Still, what fun. what fun.

The sights I added from Truglo even come with two rear sight, a twin dot set up and a ghost ring which also has the green dots on the sides. It is really a great system, had not problem acquiring the clay birds at all. This will get your Mossberg on the target fast, and make it accurate for your needs. I was using Remington low recoil slugs BTW. The sights are worth every dime. The day was cloudy and the visibility from the red optic and green dots were allowing me to pick up the 50 yard paper target, white plates, and the birds coming up. It was good enough that I could shoot a popper, move to the next popper, hit it and come back to the clay bird and hit it before it broke up on the ground.

Well you better find some. I have put about 750 rounds through my XDM .40 5.25, and snap, it now fails to extract the rounds. I called Springfield, (they never bothered to answer my email) and I have to send it in, they will not ship a replacement. So, I am three weeks down with this gun, so when I get it back it goes on the back shelf. I was beginning to learn to like this pistol quite well, but that has changed. Back to the trusty old Kimber 1911. Plastic guns fail to amuse me much anymore. Bad customer service in this day and age is totally unacceptable. For competition shooters in the NW, this would be a disaster if this was my main gun.

I tried the tension re=setting on the tube and barrel clamp with no real discernible changes in slug accuracy. I then purchased a set of TRU•POINT™ XTREME TURKEY / DEER UNIVERSAL, SKU# TG960 from Truglo, and that did the trick. The raised front sight, and the ability to adjust windage has made the Mossberg a real competitors choice. At the first three gun of the year this past Sunday, I placed 8 out of eight slugs from 50 yards to 25 yards right where I aimed the gun. (Didn't say I pointed well, but that is another story.) The course also combined steel plates, and poppers which threw a clay bird in the air also. No misses except for my fault. I am very pleased with the performance of the weapon. I watched two Benellis and two Saigas flat out stop running, and several jams, but the Mossberg never missed a beat. Very happy with the platform. I would not buy the sights from Optics Planet however, they indicate they are in stock, but lo and behold, they did not have them and I was not informed of this until a week later. Crap service.

My barrel is the turkey model with the open ports on the top. I did add the metal band around the barrel to cover those ports up so I am not in open class. I had seen somewhere that you needed to watch where you mount the barrel clamp for the tube extension, so that might be the next test. Then I will try another choke, mine is extended. In addition, I ordered the Tru Glo fully adjustable deer sites to see if I can get that to work. If all else fails, I will buy the dreaded Benelli. Downright heresy.....................