srf

Every one had the same opportunity. Everyone was read the same WSB some people shot it differently. All shooters had the same opportunity they just did not see it. I don't see why it was tossed ARGH>>>>>I just saw this,...WTF! Of course it was a stage I had done well in at about 3.18 with all A's, 1D.I was in 2nd as of last night on that stage. When,..exactly was the stage tossed? Why wait until the end of the match? I have to say I really enjoyed the stages and thanks to the hard work of those who did all the work,...but I would only ask this question as it just does not seem right to toss it after everyone has shot it and had an opportunity to read the stage instructions. I just wanted to add that the guys at Pathfinder did a great job with the match. Although I'm not happy they dropped stage 6, overall the match was good. I shot the stage in 2.68 seconds down 2 of 3 points (2nd place as of Saturday night). 14th to 19th in Open was seperated by 7 match points. I was 19th. I can't help but feel I lost a couple of positions by pulling the stage.

Stage 6 (Hi/Low) was removed after the Range Master and Match Director conferred. The stage was not shot according to the design intent on Thursday. This was determined to be a forbidden action, and it was not possible to have the competitors who shot it prior to the declaration of the forbidden action reshoot. The only fair course of action provided for by the rules is stage removal. I spoke to Amidon Thursday about this stage. He told me that a forbidden action wasn't applied in a timely fashion Thursday so the stage would be shot as specified in the COF. Everybody that shot the stage Friday and Saturday was scored. I run matches and I know things go wrong, but it's pretty disappointing to have a stage thrown out when shot as specified in the COF at a match of this stature (yeah - I shot it well and throwing it out hurt me pretty good in the standings). Could've been worse I guess - at least I didn't get stopped by the NYSP on the way home.

I've had 'em a few times in my life (calcium). I just want to reiterate: Drink water and stay physically active! The last couple of times I had them I was old enough to reconstruct the events (I was 10 the first time I had 'em). I used to drink a lot of milk - I drink far more water now. During my last occurance (10 years ago) I passed one after playing a round of golf, and another after framing an addition for my bother in-law. It sucks because you feel like s$%t and you hurt, but movement really helps pass 'em. I've gone 15 years without a reoccurance - the good news is that with a little attention you don't have to go through this.

Anybody shot Benelli's new MR1 yet?

This was a big discovery for me last year. I don't care who did my triggers - I could make 'em follow when they were set around 1.5lbs. It dawned on me that maybe there was something about how I manipulated the trigger that caused the hammer to follow. So I decided to go in the opposite direction. I set my open pistol at 2.5lbs and my limited at 2.75lbs. These weights allow a good prep and trigger return. My splits are better now, and way more consistent, compared to when I was using a light trigger, and the hammer does not follow. I'm not knocking a light trigger, but it's not the be all end all for me. Being agressive on the trigger and the pistol working 100% allows me to really focus on attacking the stage.

I have one of these installed on a SA I had built 10+ years ago by Santurri LTD. It's a great magwell that works with any mag - and I've used them all in this pistol. This was my first real competition pistol until I contracted SV/STI disease. If installed properly you can't see the seam between the funnel and the frame. I like the fact that it maintains the normal height and proportions of the pistol. Over the years I've developed Dremel syndrome and opened it up to where it just gobbles up the mags. It does permenantly alter the frame, so make sure this is the one you want.

When a 1911 is in battery the breech is locked. The slide and barrel are one. When the gun is fired it stays locked until enough energy is bled off to allow the slide and barrel to unlock. The recoil spring does little to retard this unlocking. The fit of the barrel feet is way more important to locking and unlocking. Damage that occurs in pistols with light recoil springs can usually be attributed to a misfit barrel and/or misfit at the impact bridge of the frame . I run a 9lb spring in STI 40. The pistol has well over 100k rounds through it, mostly with 9-11 lb recoil springs. I've had it re-barreled three time by the different reputable 'smiths and replaced three or four sets of sights. It's a little looser now but it still chews 'em up and spits 'em out 100% of the time. I've had the opportunity to pick the brain of a big-time GM about recoil spring voodoo. He runs his recoils as light as feeding the next round in the mag will allow. If your barrel if fit properly - I say run 'em as light as you like the feel of the pistol, and as 100% function allows.

I was at a gun show recently and saw what appeared to be a new ACOG for $300 (?). I looked though the scope, no tritium, just a reticle. I thought it was probably a fake; but it was a great fake. It looked all the world like a real ACOG - with good glass to boot. The dealers 'appeared' to be Chinese, go figure!

Keep the cards and letters coming folks - I really appreciate the input, especially from those who have experience with S_I's in 45. Jaxshooter - Who built your SV?

I'm addicted to S_I 2011 platform (there, I've said it. The first step to cure is admitting you have a problem ). I've always wanted one in 45 acp primarily for home protection and secondarily as a Limited 10 or CDP platform. I've spoken to a couple of 'smiths that felt the 45 is not as reliable as other calibers due to magazines issues. I really like 2011 magazines and the big mag funnels in these pistols. My 9, 38S, and 40's, work perfectly. I want that in a 45. If you shoot a S_I in 45 I'd really appreciate your input. Any 'smiths that have any info they'd like to pass on would be greatly appreciated. Questions for anyone with experience with S_I double stacks in 45 acp: Is your S_I 100% reliable? Is the barrel ramped or not (if yes - what cut?)? Do you use STI or SVI mags? Thanks!

Got the call two weeks ago. As much as I tried - can't go - first and second week of school. The dates are tough if your a teacher. It's still nice to get the call!

My .02: I've got small hands and some years back I hit the button with my left thumb and generally used my stubby digits as an excuse for slow reloads. I put (various) mag buttons on and proceeded to drop mags during stages (of course never in practice). Then I sucked it up and did what I should've done prior: Practice. I shift the gun, and found that reducing the dept and width of my grip (S_I) helped some, but practice was the real key. All you have to do is look at what the big boys do - and some of them have small hands. I figure if they can do it, I can do it. The other equipment mod that's worked well for me is to install a 'Low Pro' button turned down (I just use a file and emory) to the same diameter of standard mag catch. The extra height gives me just a little more leverage - but I never drop a mag by accident. It was all worth it when one day after completing a stage a fellow shooter that I really respected came up to me and said, " That was a smoking reload!". The funny thing is, as I'm thinking about it, is that overcoming this reload problem really changed my attitude about learning the game of IPSC. By overcoming a not really significant physical problem (small hands), I began to focus on the positive attributes I possessed and became a better shooter. I guess it's true that attitude is everything.

My girls haven't expressed an interest in handguns yet - but I was thinking a good starter would be an aluminum compact frame 1911 single stack frame (Caspian, Kimber, Colt, whatever) and a Ceiner Commander 22 conversion. I know that the Tac Solutons is introducing a new 22 conversion that is great (I shot one - very cool), but the Ceiner's are aluminum and light. Put a short trigger in and some thin grip panels and you'd be good to go. Light weight + small hands friendly + lots of low (no) recoil 22's = fun. I like the idea of starting her with a 1911; They ergonomics are still the best - and caliber progression (22, IDPA 9, hot/carry/factory 9, down loaded 40, IPSC major 40) growing in to fullsize frames makes a lot of sense to me.

For a functional grip safety, Caspian is hard to beat. I also find that the STI works well (on all my game guns) and I can hold higher than the Brown.

I too lusted after the elusive (that's another story) sub 1 1/2 lb trigger. What a waste of time (and money) that was. I played with a 2 1/2 lb in an IDPA pistol and I couldn't believe (and didn't really act on it for a year) how my trigger manipulation and shooting improved in USPSA. I could now slap the crap out of the trigger on close arrays with little or no trigger freeze and prep the trigger for those tight targets or long steel shots. Now I've settled at 2 1/4. Like HSMITH I found a big bonus in prepping the trigger properly when necessary.

Does anybody know if there are any functional differences between SV's various hammers? I've noticed that the spur hammers are somewhat less expensive than the 'Triple Xcelerated' versions. I assume that the Triple Xcelerated weigh less - but are they worth the extra money? I'm looking at using one with a SV sear in a limited gun that would end up with a 2 1/4 lb trigger. What are your experiences?

And don't know about you guys, but when I looked back on my answers I thought to myself..." I spent how much on this game? "

I built a limited SVI in 9mm (IBF) two years ago as a dual purpose IDPA ESP pistol and an USPSA training pistol (This turned out to be a much better idea than I'd realized at the time once bullet prices started to rise). I use spacers in the 126mm STI IDPA mags and 140mm STI USPSA mags. The 126's use STI followers and Wolff springs and the 140's are all Grams. They all work flawlessly. I do not load long - 1.150 with a 124gr Zero or MT JHP.

I started loading my STI 40 long, but changed to standard length so I could use the same ammo in a Glock. That was about 8 or so years ago. I shoot regularly (re: lots) and with two separate STI's I've never had one problem. I load 180gr JHP's with Winchester brass, Winchester small pistol primers, and Winchester spec'd OAL. This load is equivalent to Winchester factory over the chrono. I'd bet my life on an STI/SVI - and don't say that lightly (and I don't shoot my Glock much anymore either).

I have; and my buddy is lucky he can use one of his fingers after a richocet off an 8" plate at 50 yds severely damaged tendons in his hand. The plate was new, 3/4" thick, and AR500. The round was 223 at approx 3000 fps. I'll shoot rifle steel at 100 yds all day, but 25 yds is dangerous without frangible ammo.

What's Max shooting in Production?

You can run a side saddle on an M1.

Up until last December I'd worn contacts with a -6.0 prescription for years. I shoot right handed but I could never 'line my body up' to shoot out of my dominant left eye. For the longest time I just closed my left eye but finally gave in to the fact that it was killing my transitions, as well as causing tension in my eyes and neck. After a couple of false starts I decided to use Magic Dots over the left eye this season and stick with it no matter what. Last December I had my annual visit with my optometrist and discussed with him what I want to see when I shoot. He's a great guy and very politically conservative so we always have a great discussion of the years events, as we're some of the very few conservatives in this state. He changed my Rx to -5.75 to allow sharp focus on the front sight (I shoot Limited) and it has really paid off. My performance has picked up a bunch. Keep in mind that my non-dominant eye is doing the work. In fact, its always been non-dominant because it's slightly weaker (20/30) than my left (20/20). We've never sought perfect correction because contact fit (which can be tricky with my Rx) has been perfect if I use the same Rx in both eyes. Front sight sharp and target a little blurry works well for me. It's a simple correction that some might want to try.

Congrats 10mmDave and PMD in revolver!!