buddy_fuentes

I shoot the S&W Pro in Production. I installed Dawson's sights and have done nothing else. There is no recoil to speak of and the gun is plenty accurate enough for the games we play. The stock trigger is not close to my custom 1911's/2011's, but it isn't bad. Buddy

I'm with GaManBart, I have a Lyman "C" press set up on the end of my bench and I use the modified Lee die to de-glock my brass. It works great and I don't have very much in the set-up. If I felt I needed to push the brass all the way through, I could remove the decapping pin from the die and get a small rod to push the brass all the way through. However, as I said, there is no need to do it any different than I am doing. I just checked a piece of brass and the area that is not touched by the die is so minute that I really can't measure it. Buddy

I bought the Pro not knowing there was any difference in the models. I did not care for the rear sight and after a few trips to the range I ordered the Dawson front sight and the adjustable rear sight. After sighting the gun in and shooting it a bit, I'm very pleased. When shooting plates, it seems that you are just pointing and shooting...then the plate falls. I'm seeing the sights, but it is not like you are taking aim, they are just there. I have done nothing to the trigger and it feels better to me than my Glocks (I mostly shoot 2011's and 1911's) I would like the trigger lighter, however, it probably wouldn't make much difference in my shooting.

I have a Ransom Rest and have tested many 1911's on it. Most of my test were done at 25 yards, but there were some at fifty yards. I found that most 1911's had trouble shooting under 2" at twenty five yards with most ammo. However, when you found the ammo that the pistol liked it would usually do much better. I bought a Baer and was very disappointed in the groups from the rest. I had been using a load that had done well with almost everything I had tried. I changed loads and found this pistol would shoot some very tiny groups with a particular hand load. You can buy an expensive pistol that may or may not shoot as well as an inexpensive one. I have a STI Lawman 1911 (.45 ACP.) that is as accurate as almost anything I've seen. Most of us can't shoot well enough to utilize the accuracy of most pistols. You can't go wrong with the STI. Buddy

I shoot with Donnie and he is good to deal with and he has an excellent product. I like the green bullets and would recommend them to my Son. Buddy

Hey G-Man, I find the 9x23 much easier to shoot than a forty. Recoil comes straight back rather than jumping, however it does make a good bit of noise. It is like a .357 Mag without the recoil. Our department issued .357 Mags for years and the scores were pretty low, too. The autos were adopted in the late 80's and the scores went up. No matter the round being used, some will never shoot well. Too bad they don't usually give you the option to carry a reasonable round/pistol. Buddy

I really love this round. Too bad the major ammo manufactures don't promote it like they did for the 357 Sig. It out does the Sig and would be an ideal Law Enforcement round. I don't know if the differences in case capacity makes much difference as for velocity. The small volume cases probably produce more pressure and therefore a bit more speed. I really cannot see the advantage of shooting a 125 grain bullet at 1600 fps. as opposed to 1450 fps. I like a 9mm 1911 for steel. Falling steel I use a 147 grain load and 125 for stationary.

Take one of each cases and fill with powder and then weigh each one to see the difference.

I've played around with 9x23 for a good while now. I have one Colt factory 9x23 and a Springfield Armory 9x23 that eerw had worked over by EGW. I don't use them for competition, but they are great carry guns. A 125 grain bullet traveling at 1400 to 1500 fps. is pretty impressive. I started off thinking a 9x23 would be a good bowling pin gun, but quickly found out that wasn't the case. So I started playing around with loads to see the most accurate and the softest shooting. I used Winchester brass at first and then got curious about the Starline brass. I bought a thousand rounds of Starline and gave it a try. I have never seen any difference in the strength of either case. Both have performed to higher standards than I expected; with some cases used more than 18 times with no noticeable change. There has never been a split case or problem of any kind. (Most are loaded around 1400+ fps with a 125 grain bullet and a good many were loaded with a 147 grain at 1200 + fps. The 147's were loaded until I saw pressure signs [1300 +] and I backed off.) I loaded them on 9 mm Dillon dies for a while until I ran across a set of 9x23 (Lyman?)and I started using them. I see no difference in the dies either. This is a great caliber. Buddy

Sorry,I don't have any information other than what I've given. Buddy

I've shot a truck load of 155 LSWC in various 1911 forty-fives. I didn't have any feeding problems and would think that Moly is slicker than lead and should feed easier. Build some "dummy loads" and seat the bullet as long as possible. Try hand cycling them and see if they feed, if not, seat a little deeper and try again until it cycles or you see that it won't. As someone else stated, I wouldn't modify the gun if it is functioning well with other loads.

Who did the finish and how long was the turn around? Thanks, Buddy

If you have trouble with the Wilson Mags as you stated, try Tripp Cobra mags. They are great and hold 10 rounds also.

I hadn't heard that before. Can you give us any specifics of the accuracy difference? Like 10" group with 175 and 5" group with 200? And, at what distance? I'm working on accuracy right now and would like to know any info like this that you can provide. I'm able to hold most shots in a 10 point ring group on a Bianchi target at 50 yrds using my 170 grain Precision coated. But, I haven't tried any 200 grainers. Sorry for the slight thread drift. Thanks, Chris I use a 8" paper plate at 25 yards to test my loads and although I don't measure them for MOA accuracy, the 200 cuts the group size in half. I don't shoot off bags or anything like that because that isn't the way I'll be shooting a match. We use a self resetting 6" steel plate at fifty yards and hits are pretty consistent with either bullet, but again, no measurement. I've used the Precision Bullets for years and they are good, but I cannot see any advantage over lead so that is the reason I switched. Sorry I couldn't help you more, but that is just the way I practice.

My slide has been lightened and I like an 11# recoil spring. In my 5" gun I use the 12.5# spring because it feels different. I favor 4.4 grains of VV N-320 over a 180 grain LTC for 174 PF and 4.0 E-3 with a 175 LSWC for 171 PF. Mixed brass and loaded to 1.175 OAL. I have found that the heaver the bullet, the more accurate the long slide is. It likes 185 and loves 200 grain bullets, but I have about 25K 175's and 4k 180's I need to shoot before buying any 200's.

Indeed a very nice pistol. And Nighthawk builds a quality pistol that is everything any of the others are. None are better than the other, you can spend money for a name or bells and whistles. It is just a matter of what you want or how much you intend to spend. At one time I had 16 1911 pistols and some were full blown customs and some were semi-customs, and there were a few factory guns (Colt, Springfields, Kimbers, and Paras) The Semi-customs did everything that the expensive customs did. If I were to buy another single stack tomorrow...STI Lawman would get the nod. Best bang for the buck. Buddy

Three Les Baers, one Wilson, and a STI Lawman. Each is a great pistol. All have been reliable 100%. The STI stunned me with the accuracy. The STI Lawman is the least expensive of those I mentioned. Everyone of the pistols above would be a great choice and I would be happy with any of them.

I always felt a classifier is just another stage. If you blow it, you get one shot at it. You don't get multiple runs on the other stages just because you didn't like the score. I agree with Dan. The guys that shoot a classifier over and over to move up are only hurting themselves. They aren't going to be able to preform at the higher level when not allowed to shoot stages over and over. Buddy

I bought one at the SHOT show several years back and it is pretty good, if I use it. My son has used it extensively and has tried to adopt it. Rovatec Bullite training system from Israel. www.rovatec.com is their web address. It comes with five tennis ball size reflective targets. Buddy

If you haven't found one there is one for sale in the classifieds at www.bayoushooters.com If memory serves me correctly it was $525. Buddy

I live on a river in South Louisiana and the swamp is across the street. We have snakes, mostly cotton mouth moccasins. I kill all snakes I see with the exception of King Snakes. I keep a S&W 2 1/2" model 66 loaded with CCI snake shot loads. One shot is all that is needed for 20' or maybe 25'. I bought some of the CCI shot capsules to load some for forty-five acp, but haven't loaded any. I am told they will cycle your slide. An old S&W model 10 or Chief Special should do the trick.

In South Louisiana most places charge $15-$20 for a transfer. With time used to fax ffl, receive firearm, record, notify owner, fill out form, call in, and log out firearm the dealer is probably spending 15-30 minutes. $20 is fair and $50 is robbery.

I think Dillon's guarantee is for one year on electronics. You may want to check before sending it back.

I carry a 5" Wilson KZ-45. The polymer frame makes it lighter and gives you a 10 round magazine. The pistol is crazy accurate and reliable as they come. I installed a gold bead front sight and that is all I have done to this superb pistol. I just had a STI aluminum frame "Commander" built in 9mm and it will be my carry gun when the finish has been applied. Twenty-six ounces and 22 rounds! Buddy

I have been using my 6" Limited gun for a year and a half. The sight got loose and I switched back to my 5" gun until I got the sight staked. The 5" was OK, but I feel better shooting distant or small targets with the 6" gun. You should try one...