Carlos

Patrick - now I see. Thanks. BTW, I sectioned 3 cases last night - a 9x23 Win, a Starline 9 Supercomp, and a Starline .38 SuperComp. The 9x23 was noticeably thicker in the web and head; I could not detect a difference in Starline's 9Supercomp and their .38 Supercomp (other than headstamp). D. PS - I don't like sectioning cases.

Not sure about your barrel, but sounds like the bullet is hitting the rifling. A reamer would cure that. Keep trying with the 200 SWC - its a good bullet. If you do give up on it, Westcoast has a thick plated 200 gr Roundnose you might try. I think Berrys' makes one as well, but have not tried it. D.

I shoot 3 gun near DC - often indoors where we are limited to 50 yards. Even though I use either .223 or .308 indoors, it occures to me that I could use the Colt 9mm AR15 upper instead. Any setup or ammo hints from those using a 9mm rifle? Outdoors, most ranges in the capitol area are limited to 100 yards or less - I may have found the perfect gun for mid atlantic 3 gun. Thoughts?

TSW = Team Smith & Wesson. There is a company called CDNN Investments out of Texas that blew out much of the remaining TSW factory loaded ammo last year. There is an SW Custom center open gun for sale on the USPSA classifieds that was converted to 9x21 (though the orig. TSW barrel is apparently included in the sale). I think results from this cartridge were underwhelming for open class; I am unfamiliar with the history of 9mm in limited so I cannot comment on that aspect. As for its relavence today, I am not aware of anything that the TSW can do that cannot be safely and reliably done with the 9 Supercomp (9x23 Winchester) or the .38 Supercomp (especially since they lowered the PF - no more "Superface" for the .38 shooters). Now, can anyone explain the difference bt .38 Supercomp and .38 TJ (Todd Jarret)????

Generally, yes. You have noted what is likely the most common cause of bullet holes in chronos (they don't work as well when you shoot holes in them). To start out, you have selected a good powder: Win 231. It is very predictable - especially in .45 - it meters well, and its cheap, available most places and its fast burning (so it shoots soft). However, its unecesarily dirty. Once you have your bearings in the reloading game, you might try some powders that I find better than 231: a cleaner powder that is just as fast if not faster and also very safe is VV N320. Its more expensive, but worth it. To save money (or if you can't get 320) try either Hodgdon Tightgroup or straight Clays. Either is quite clean and afordable. To boot, Titegroup meters well, goes a long way, and has none of the pressure problems associated with it as Clays sometimes does. Let us know what works for you. (Edited by Carlos at 3:27 pm on Mar. 26, 2002)

There was something in Frontsite about the safety of using dowels in speedloaders a few months back - I will try to find it. I believe the manufacturer was working on a redesign of the part. While using dowels was not generally recomended by the article's author, I am not sure there was a rule change or "ban" put into effect - at least at the time of the article. Will check it out after work.

Big Dave - same thing happened to me from the same seller using same FFL to ship out firearm through US Postal Service (USPS) - even had same traccking number failure. There was a big, unexplained, delay and it was not shipper's fault - he sent it on the day promissed. My guese for the delay is heightened security caused both packages to be pulled and examined by postal service while en route. Not sure if it was an x-ray hit, a "sniffer" machine detecting fired powder residue, or maybe a flag placed on every package to/from an FFL or to FFL - any of these are possible and I doubt we will ever know. Local FFL said its happening to most of his guns rec'd though US post. My lesson learned: will insist on UPS Overnight w/full insurance next time.

Another vote for .45 - you have your choice of L-10 or limited class in USPSA - though its tough to be competitive on some limited stages against .40s starting with 20+ rounds. .45 is also VERY forgiving of reloading mistakes, which is why I chose it to start over the .40. Buy a Dillon 550 and some plated bullets in 200 gr. or less (westcoast makes a Roundnose 200), 4 lbs of Clays or N320, forget about ever cleaning your bore and go shoot a bunch. Welcome to the sport!

David has good advice; I'll add that on my expander/powder funnel, brass builds up over time causing sticking problems. Since I don't clean by S_I barrels anymore, I use an aggressive bore solvent to disolve the brass buildup on my Dillon funnel. Dillon case mouth expanders are generally smooth enough - if not, chuck them in a press, lathe or drill and polish with Flitz to a mirror finish.

BE- what works for you when the comp requires cleaning? Thanks, D.

Here is a crazy idea from the forum - use AA #9 - I have not tried it myself and you should read the entire thread - very entertaining! (for complete version, look for thread called "Barrel Life" on the 3rd page back on this forum): >>>I occasionally use AA# 9 to clean out my comp! About 20 rounds will clean out all the gunk that likes to collect in the dank, dark corners. The bang, bang, KABOOM, bang, bang, KABOOM will also get you some funny looks at the range. Nolan. >>>>

A free float tube is one of the most simple and easy to accomplish mods that will yield the greatest accuracy gain - given the same barrel. Easy to install and no, headspace does not change since headspace is fixed once the barrel extension is installed and the correct bolt selected. Same barrel, same bolt = same headspace. Although its a bit heavy for IPSC, I use a rifle set up for DCM/CMP National Match competition- it has a barrel which is full 1" dia. under the free float handgaurds. For the ultimate limited AR, a tubular free floated 20, or custom 18" "heavy barrel" (not the 1" bull barrel) with a limited-length comp would seem to be the way to go. Premium trigger and a rear sight with interchangeable inserts would finnish the package in my mind.

Ah- now I see. OK - accuracy wise, I think the new 5.45mm cal is supperior to 7.62x39 - that is in military, steel case ammo (we're not talking handloads when its avail. @ $90 a case). Now none of those guns (the AK-74 clones) are as high quality as say a Bulgarian; you "could" buy K-vars overpriced bulgarian AK-74 kit and have a custom built gun for over $500, but that's not your goal. Buy the 5.45 SAR (is it a 2 or 3?) for about $300 and put a limited legal break on it - you will have an excellent budget ltd IPSC rifle. Note- it will look rough, but AKs shoot with near perfect reliability - something that cannot be said for ARs and I have several - incl. one I built from a raw casting up.

I take rejects to NRA range and dump in the "Duds" can. If you have exposed primers (like those put in backwards - not htat I have ever made that mistake or anything) put a drop of light oil in the primer - it is supposed to deactivate the primeing compound. I use Kroil. Never had one of those so oiled go off. I pull down mistakes & recover the components (except primers of course).

Simple question; complicated answer: 1)Taditional AK? Bulgarian Arsenal. Possibly the new Arsenal USA, though I have not seen one. a close second would be the russian AK - possbily called the AK-101 series. The Saigas fall in this category and go for about 200 with better accuracy than the AK. For a small caliber AK, go russian. 2)AK varient? Valmet. Pricey. Preban. The best. Good luck finding one. 3)Tie/close second: Galil. Preban in .223 or 308 w/ accuracy on par with a Valmet- possibly better, and many other excellent features. For an AK-based IPSC limited rifle without cost concerns, the preban Galil for about $2000 used is THE way to go (if you must have an AK). BTW, my Arsenal AK has many Galil parts including the bolt carrier. Since the caliber is 7.62x39 and the barrel is only 16", accuracy is average AK-accuray, and not really good enough for IPSC. Why AK and not AR?

What TMC is talking about is last year's rulebook which allowed 9x19 MAJOR if it was loaded out to at least 1.250" OAL. What the hoopla is about, and what we are talking about, is the 9x19mm case loaded to ANY OAL under 1.250" and meeting the new lower 165 major PF - a round which has been banned by the 1990 BOD Resolution (the full text of which has never appeared in any of the rulebooks). As it is, there are commercial rounds loaded to 165 PF and factory guns sold which will handle 165PF 9x19mm ammo. There is also safe, published reloading data meeting the 165 PF. Still, the BOD has spoken for this year (and the majority made a mistake in my opinion). Looking forward to the next BOD vote. D.

Shot a friend's P9 in 9x21 and it was great! Really good trigger. For the prices these things go for, they are an excellent choice as a 1st open gun - and they have the capability to take you to the very top if you have the skill.

CST's comments mirror what I have heard: there is an international comittee push for "Gun-powder free" olympics; meaning only BB guns will be allowed if they get their way (God knows how one would shoot skeet or trap with air-powered guns). This crap likely has to do with the hassles of brining any sort of firearm to a place like Japan, or someplace with equally repressive gun laws. On another front, the US Olympic committee is apparently at wits end with some of the shooting sports where the US Never wins medals; i.e. rapid fire pistol. Apparently, the idea behind bringing in the champions of USPSA to try out for the US olympic team was to justify spots on the US Olympic team for most of the shooting sports. Our practical shooters seem set for gold come the summer games; I for one will be looking forward to their performance. Brian: did you end up trying out for the team? Who will be representing the US?

Glocklady's gun is about right with a few more thoughts/ ideas: Steel Challenge and light-set falling steel is a 9x19 game; look over on the open gun forum & you'll see that some of the top guys are winning with bullets as light as 90 grains. It just has to ping (or fall) so 9x21 is out. Steel guns emphasize speed over all else; light weight seems to equal speed so keep that glock light. It would seem the compensated glocks are the way to go over a comp gun that puts weight out at the end of your gun's barrel. If you comp, ask BP to make you a Ti comp. As for optics, look at Dale's setup in Fronsight; although he used the C-more, I think the OKO sight is lighter and just as big. I don't like the optima. Let us know what sort of frankenglock you end up with. D

Definitely C-more over the tasco. Saw a tasco's dot go out in competition last weekend; never have i seen such a thing with the c-more. Have never used an OKO - could be the wat to go and SV seemed OK with it on the IMM. Note, they COULD have used a Tasco on the IMM, but did not. Hmmm.

For pictures of sectioned cases, a historical perspective, and an explanation as to why the 9x23 is superior to the old .38 super, check out this link. http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t...096&forum=4 Jist of it is: ""See the three cases I've split in half (photo at website above). The one on the left is a 38Super case that was loaded with a 130gr FMJ then clocked at 1300FPS. The web thickness is .163, case wall at web is .024,tapering to .014. Center case is Starline 38Super comp, web thickness is .163 at web, case wall is .034, 1/8th from web is .034, 3/16th's from web is .029, 1/4 from web is .018. Right case is 9X23, web thickness is .168, case wall at web is .049, 1/8 from web is .043, 3/16 from web is .034, 1/4 from web is .030. Beyond all doubt the 9x23 is obviously a thicker case and should be a much stronger case. If they cold run a 130gr bullet 1300FPS in the 1930's using an old 38Super case and an unramped barrel, how fast can we run a 125gr from a 9X23 with today's powders? Hope to answer this soon, Keeper of useless trivia. (Edited by Carlos at 6:26 pm on Mar. 6, 2002)

go to http://www.pistolsmith.com and look at the 9x23 forum; especially the intro FAQ on 9x23/9Supercomp. The 9x23 Winchester and 9 supercomp have the same case dimensions and use (generally) .355 dia. bullets, not .38 Super dia. bullets (although manufacturing specs for barrels and chamber reamers vary widely). There is a greater variety of .355"/9mm bullets available than .38 Super bullets (though everyone shoots either 115 or 124 grn so this is of little importance). Trend generally seems towards the 9x23 over the .38 Super or .38 Supercomp.

If you elect to use the elbow grease method, the best stuff I have found is Flitz. I wrap a rag aroung a steel .30 cal bore brush section or a screwdriver (just make sure it does not poke through the rag). If you already own JB bore paste, that could work as well. I really like Shootergrrrl's idea - I will have to try that next time! D.

No problem! (brace for thread drift) Phil are you in the UK? I thought I saw an emphasis on IPSC shotgun over there since they banned all powder burning handguns? Are there any magazine, stock or barrel restrictions on scatterguns over there? D.

Hey Phil! Not sure what promises were made pre-election. What do you have? I know that the so called "assault weapons" ban and the general ban on manufacture of new magazines with capacity over 10 rounds are both supposed to sunset - its someplace in (I believe) section 922®, might be part of 18 U.S.C. I thought that even Bush indicated that he would sign a permanent re-authorization of the assault weapons ban. But if nothing is done, I believe both proposals are due to expire (perhaps 2003 or 4??). Anyone have a copy of the code handy? I am not holding my breath on either provision lapsing; I think the bans will be here to stay, I'm sorry to say. D.