tbarker13

The tarp idea for Steel Challenge matches seems to make sense - something that could be done without really interrupting the flow of the match. To me, that's the key. I don't care what people do about their brass as long as they don't slow down the match. Few things are more annoying than bringing a squad onto a bay, where we have to wait 5-10 minutes for the squad ahead of us to finish picking up brass before moving on their next bay. It's not just the 5-10 minutes, but rather the extra hour that adds over the course of the entire match. Fortunately, at most of the matches around here, everyone waits until the stages have been torn down before picking up brass.

Really tough to beat the SP01 Shadow. I got the accushadow version of the gun from CZ Custom. I also have a non accu version of the same gun. Either one works great for USPSA. But if you want to shoot IDPA, you need to stay away from accu model and the target model.

Neither of the guns you mention are IDPA legal. The Target has been deemed illegal because the slide wasn't actually milled by CZUSA to install the adjustable rear sight. If you want to shoot it in IDPA, you'll need to choose a regular SP-01 Shadow - or maybe one of the new Shadow Target IIs. It looks like their adjustable sight fits into the standard slot. But I may be wrong on that. As for whether or not it's worth the extra money to get an AccuShadow - it's a tough call. I have one of each. And the regular Target model is quite accurate. If that's all I had, I don't think my gun would be holding me back in action pistol games. Still, my favorite is the AccuShadow - and I have no regrets about spending the extra money on it. Hell, after this season is over, I'll probably send it back to Stuart and CZC to get one of the match barrels put in it.

"The steel slide is machined from billet and is hand fitted to mate perfectly with the interior, full length guide rails, of the billet aluminum frame." From the Sphinx web site. Maybe the guide rails are steel.

Really curious about the black line and its aluminum frame. With the gun being aimed at the competition crowd, what sort of testing has been done to assure the frame can handle the abuse? Will it run 80,000-100,000 rounds without any major issues? Just seems like a lot to ask from an aluminum frame - but then, I don't claim to be an engineer. Perhaps it's stronger than I think it is.

Can I be added to this one? I think I am very close at this point. Production Tim Barker TY73964

Just wondering how long you've been using them. If you've been shooting with them at least a couple of months, I'll say no more. But if they are still new, you might shoot with them a bit more to see if your hands adjust to them at all. When I recently installed aggressive VZs on my guns, I noticed the pain much more in the early going. When I practiced with them on Friday, I didn't even notice.

Also for what it's worth, a Wilson rep on 1911forum.com says they've now upped their order to 2,000 guns. He said the gun was approved because the purchase orders have been placed.

Its not the cut for the HAJO sight. It's the cut for a bomar-style sight, like those found on the CZ Shadow Target model.

Certainly. But just to be clear, the gun in question is illegal for both SSP and ESP. Because of its long dustcover, it would only be legal in ESP if it met the requirements for SSP. You have to sort of suspend the logical part of your brain for that to make sense.

Except that it's not the adjustable sights that kicks it out of SSP. It's the fact that a subcontractor (CZ Custom) milled the slide for those sights. If CZ-USA paid its own employees to cut the slide, the gun would be legal in SSP.

Exactly. It's the fact that they were milled (by someone other than CZ) for a different sight that makes them illegal for SSP. A short dust cover Target Shadow, however, could probably still be used in ESP. Both divisions allow changing to another notch and post sight. But SSP specifies that the slide cannot be machined to make the switch. ESP does not appear to have that same prohibition.

I have some clarification on this. My AD asked Robert Ray for clarification. Ray says they meant to say "SP01 Shadow Target" rather than Accu Target during that last clarification. So, yes, the Shadow Target is not allowed in IDPA.

Hmmm. I think I'm using the nickel plated mags as well. (Not sure why I called them stainless). Thinking I better make sure that scale is properly calibrated. I'll weigh one of the mags tonight to see where I'm at with that.

Good idea. I do have the weights used to calibrate my electronic powder measure.

I'm using what I believe to be a pretty good scale. One thought was that at the next major match I attend, I would head straight to the chrono to ask if I could weigh the gun on their scale - before I start shooting. I could bring a lighter set of grips or a polymer guide rod - just in case it turns out my own scale is off.

Ahh cool. Hadn't even thought of that. That could be a possibility.

I put about 400 rounds through it earlier in the day. So, just a little bit dirty.

I have an Accu Shadow with fully-adjustable LPA sights. It has the thick Double Alpha grips. Stainless Mecgar mags with Springer Precision basepads. I weighed the gun (with empty mag) last night and come in at 43 1/2 ounces. I'm worried that I might be pushing the 44 ounce Production limit for this particular gun. The easiest way to shed weight would be to switch to lighter grips - these Double Alphas weight about 3 ounces. The only problem is that I really like thicker grips. Wondering if anyone else is running a similar setup - and if you've ever run into problems when the gun is weighed at matches.

Once I have my competition load picked out, I won't change anything. No tinkering. So much so that I would buy another set of dies if I decided I wanted to make a different load

CZ Custom. If you plan to shoot a Shadow, start with a gun in the best shape possible. Then all you have to do is focus on your shooting - and not worry about things you want to do with the gun later.

Recently switched to production with CZs. Was going through some old ammo and had some berry's 147s loaded out to 1.16. They would not work in the Mecgar plated mags that I'm using with my Shadow. I ended up settling at 1.14 for my loads.

I'm going through the same thing right now. Recently switched to the #8.5 hammer spring from Cajun. Loading with a 650, using Federal Primers. So far, I've only had trouble with one round out of about 1,000 fired using this combination. And that was a high primer I should have caught when chamber checking the rounds. Haven't yet tinkered with recoil springs, but I did order a few different weights from Cajun to try out.

Steel Challenge, Section 8 (covering things that get you DQd): Holstering a loaded handgun without the external safety applied ... USPSA: (again, things that get you DQd): 10.5.11 Holstering a loaded handgun, in any of the following conditions: 10.5.11.1 A single action self-loading pistol with the safety not applied

I may be confused. But are you saying that when competing with a 1911, you don't engage the thumb safety before putting it back in your holster at the start of a stage? I'm not all that familiar with the rules for steel matches - maybe you are talking about starting from a low-ready position - rather than from a holster.