Carlos

Both magnum and Rifle primers can & sometimed do pit STI & SV breach faces due to poor sealing. Federal presents the fewest problems with this. Unless there is a need for magnum or rifle primers, they are best avoided.

Seem to recall an incident related to me by a friend: one of our more brilliant fellow citizens brought his brand new pistol grip-only pump shotguns to the indoor range, along with some full power 3" magnum slugs, and a spectator or two. The range staff caught on quickly to the fact that this guy had little to no idea what he was doing, so after failing to talk the guy into buying sole low recoil rounds, they demonstrated to him how best (under the circumstances) to hold the shotgun at full arms' length and actually aim the gun, and above all, hold on tight because the recoil would be fierce. Guy seemed to catch on, so they let him pay and out he went to show off. You guessed it: the very first shot went off with the guy holding the gun right up in front of his face about an inch from his mouth with both arms loosely bent. The recoil knocked out at least one tooth - which ended up on the range floor. Guy left soon after and later tried to file a civil suit against the range until his lawyer was provided with a copy of the in-store video showing the range staff trying to sell the guy lower powered ammo and then demonstrating the proper technique to the guy. Some people.

Agreed. The Dillon instructional reloading video - the one with Brian as narator - shows that you should use OneShot on ALL BRASS - even if you are using carbide dies & it only takes a second to apply & never needs to come off (just shoot the reloads as they come off the press). Also, I firmly believe that all the .40 S&W case-head separations you see posted on the net are due to set back. The U die prevents set back. I confess that I used some of the worst brass available (from an un named commercial range) and with the U die I never had a single case head let go with Major .40. Also, I followed your link and look to be Bear Creek moly coated bullets. If they are anythng like Precision bullets, then they SHOULD be able to be safely used in your stock barrel (can anyone confirm?). You may want to really clean out all the copper before switching to moly. And the money you save will buy a lot of practice components.

Hi Jack. I agree with Scooter. If you insist on following the manual (the same one that gave you "test-barrel" results that were way off) then its time to find a harder-kicking (read: slower) and less-clean burning powder. Unique is one option and it is actually cleaner than burning straight black powder - but not by much. However, there is another alternative (one you will likely ignore - I know): exceeding what the book thinks is the max for Clays and the super-low pressure, non +p .45 ACP is perfectly safe in .45 ACP at the OAL you are running & I have 2 full seasons & 11 burnt pounds of clays to prove it. I ran the West Coast Plated 200s in both SWC and RN at 4.5 grains through an STI Edge and never once had any pressure issues whatsoever. No flat primers, no case failure, nothing. If you still think that the .45 ACP case is too weak, do a quick search on ".45 Super." That loading should also demonstrate how strong of a design the modern 1911 is (I assume your 1911 is modern? Some 1911s could be getting close to 96 years old and if that describes your gun, then I could understand your caution about what the book calls a "max load"). Now there are stories out there about Clays when you really REALLY push it hard - like back in the day when you had to make 175 to 180 power factor in an already high pressure .40 cal with 200 grain bullets and tried to do it with old .40 brass on a hot day. The .45 ACP does not run anywhere NEAR those pressures - not even at 4.5 grains. So why the really weak book data? Probably the manufacturer's fear of set-back. I would not be the least bit concerned about 4.5 grains under a 200 and there are plenty of other folks running that load without a problem. At any rate, please let us know what you decide & best of luck. C. PS - if you still decide to switch, a viable, clean burning, single base alternative to V V N-320 would be Solo 1000.

EDIT: The pinshooting site is back up: http://www.sportshooter.com/compete/dro_pinshooting.asp Did not know that the site had returned. Take a look for more info. Good summary. There were once loose sets of "rules" for pin shooting but those days are long gone. I imagine steel tables would be a bit pricey for start up, so wood will have to do. Thought: a .22 will knock over a full sized pin at the back edge of a table. Pin tops (cut at top line) will really fly when hit with a .22 One of the "points" of pin shooting (if there still is one) is to set the pins at the FRONT of the table to get the shooters to use a powerful enough gun so that the pin flys clear accross and off the back of the table when hit in the center. Fallen pins require extra hits to clear the table. Five or six pins are common. Some clubs limit the rounds in a mag to force accuracy ro risk a reload. Six, 8 & 10 rounds are common. Most places use a "low ready" or touching the rail start position. No reason not to allow holsters though. Regards, D.C. Johnson

You are most likely right about having been to a commercial reloader. Such a sign also tells you that the brass could have been fired in a chamber anywhere from 2 to 50 times. I helped out at a public indoor range until recently (when the range burned down) and we traded our brass back to the commercial reloader for a credit on reloads. The brass thus "stays in the system" until it cracks or separates. NO telling how many reloads are on that brass. If you see a cut primer pocket on range brass, I would NOT try to load it to major in either 9mm or .40.

I am not sure that I agree that a dedicated .45 ACP length cylinder would be a "huge mistake." While I understand your argument about versatility, it is a feature that few USPSA or IDPA competition shooters would ever use - at the cost of the extra weight for a longer cylinder - which would be a draw back for the already heavy-for-competition Redhawk. While the gun you describe may be your versatility "dream gun," I am not sure it would be the ideal competition revolver. Still, such a versatile revolver might sell better to the general public who don't compete and who would probably value the ability to fire anything from the GAP to the Starline Magnum. Regards, C.

The agency in question is a federal agency. I imagine they have plenty of homeland security money. Ammo was Speer in .357 Sig. Dunno what their carry load is. I asked a rep from Sig Arms about lead free ammo since they have a "lead free" range at their facility. The ammo I asked about was marked "Use by 2008" and I saw it in 2004. The rep stated that while most of the ammo would probably still work in 4 years, that there would typically be some misfires or duds beginning 4 years after manufacture, and that it would get worse as time goes on. A misfire in training would not be a big deal. But would you feel comfortable w/ the idea that "most of my self defense/ CCW ammo will probably work." ? If lead-free primers are ever mandated for civilians, it will be a bad thing.

I doubt its the commercial reloader. All the big commercial reloaders depend on ranges for brass. At my old range, I left brass in the floor with 10+ loads on each casing - and all sorts of defects including the defects like the ones you pictured( not sure what gun along the way caused it). Oly way to avoid it is to inspect or to load your own. BTW - the cases sold by re-manufacturers are generally sold back to them - and they stay in the system until they split or the case head separates.

Agreed. My TG/180 JHP load w/ my gun (SV w/ KKM barrel): 169 PF. Same load, same day,chrono, conditions, etc in my friend's Para P-16 w/ stock barrel: 160 PF. Can't explain it other than: guns vary - quite a bit.

"CF" does seem to correspond with "Clean Fire." BE WARNED: the clean fire ammo was used in bulk by a law enforcement group at our range prior to the range burning down. All of the bulk boxes were clearly marked from the factory: "USE BY 2008" -clean fire primers have a limited "shelf life" after which some of them will fail to fire. Given enough time, they will mostly become inert. -regular lead styphnate primers last virtually a lifetime or more.

I don't think that the police anywhere should pull this crap on ANYONE. However, regarding your personal situation, are they aware that you are an FOP member? Moreover, they wrote: "1 police vehicle - $218.68, 1 police officer - $19.88" -if you are going to pay for those items, then I would INSIST that they deliver the police car, complete with one officer inside, to your house. After all, you DID pay for them.

Part of the shortage has to do with military & training demoands. See this article: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americ...ticle314944.ece They are having to import ammo from Israel.

A third option is a plated, CAST bullet. All of the other electroplates out there use a soft pure lead swaged core, for example: Gold Dot, Speer TMJ (Blazer/Lawman) Ranier, Berry's WestCoast/Extreme. Only one comapny I know of makes a plated HARDCAST: Frontier out of South Africa. T&T reloading in PA sells them. Accurate enough that I used them at the 05 Nationals. The 180s average about 175 grns. Consistent, accurate & clean. Anyone know cost?

Anyone try the Wolf brand? Are they made in Germany like their shotgun slug ammo?

You should probably start reloading on your own machine - or a friends - out to 1.200" OAL or more. Most S_I guns won't run reliably on short ammo & you will get the occasional jam. Why risk it? If you must buy loaded ammo, the Precision Delta is loaded long enough for an STI (but will not fit the magazine of other .40s - like a Glock).

We are using a lot more ammunition in Afganistan and Iraq than I thought & are buying it from Israel to make up the US shortage (though the "ratio" cited probably does not account for training & is pure media hype): http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americ...ticle314944.ece

Actually, come to think of it, I have an extra non-Lee brand seater die in either 9x23 or .380 ACP that would work perfectly for 9mm - and I would be happy to lend it to you for the season. Drop me a PM. D.

Good to see you last weekend. I set up Vlad's 650 with Lee dies, and I set up Russell's 650 too - as well as my own - with the Lee seater die. We all had OAL variations as you describe. BIG variations that should not be there. Vlad and Russell switched to the $60 competition seater die. I am now using an old RCBS I had layin around - I guess I am too cheap to buy the competition seater. Hate to say this, but that is the one Lee die I would replace out of that set. Hope to see you again soon, Douglas

Add the increased demand from 1) the war 2) Homeland Security response/training 3) rising international demand - ie China and 4) the fact that the reloading/shooting world is understandably worried & hoarding, the current shortage makes sense.

Brian's book makes the point that advances in shooting have often come from an open minded approach where one is willing to expirament with new/different ideas and test them against the timer. D.R. claims some disciples who have done well under his instruction. But if I recall, the last time there was an open discussion with him here, it devolved, in part, due to his rigid beliefs as to why his way was "the best;" I do understand that the man is trying to make a living from training & selling books, so his position is understandable. I also followed the GT discussions recently and D.R.'s new game appears to have aspects of both USPSA and IDPA.

I am usually a fan of titegroup - but not with the coated or lead bullets. Seems to produce too much smoke. N330 should serve you well - as should other single based, cool burning powders, and even some double based powders like Universal. BTW - there is actual published data for the 147 grn LEAD 9mm bullet and straight Clays (Lyman manual, I believe). That combo should be super soft shooting.

Whoa, let's back up here a sec.....I know you're trying to help, but you're RePeteing an old wive's tale here. In reality, a lighter hammer actually improves ignition. When it comes to primer igntion (and I'll quote Randy Lee on this) "Fast slap always beats slow crushing blow." A lighter hammer has faster lock time, and will slap the primer better. That's the whole point of the Randy hammer, and the whole point of the home Dremel version that I do. Adjust the mainspring tension on a stock revolver's DA pull right down to the raw edge of ignition reliability. Then replace the stock hammer with a lightened hammer with 40% of the weight cut away, and you will find you can reduce the mainspring tension down even further and still get reliable ignition. I shot with Paul last year at the Single Stack Classic, first time I'd seen him since the days of those "Big Money Shootoffs" up at Second Chance. I enjoyed talking with him, and I've always appreciated Winchester ammo's support of the shooting sports. But Paul is incorrect on the primer thing. Paul is definately wrong about Winchester's being the same as Federal. Carmoney: I'll pick up another hammer and try your Dremel lightening and give an objective report. I like to experiment too. I agree- Paul is wrong about that. Ask him whether Winchester is using a "Basic" or a "Normal" formulation of lead styphnate in their new primers, and whether they recently switched. If not, then there is NO WAY their primers are the same a Federal. The tests above seem to confirm that Winchesters are not as sensitive as Federal. Not only is Federal using a different priming compound, but the metal seems softer as Federals flatten out even with reasonable pressure loads. BTW - in Rifle factory ammo, my AR will only set off two brands of factory ammo - Federal & Wolf. Anyone know where the Wolf reloading primers are made? Is it Germany?

I would not deem that to be a frame modified for competitive advantage. Rather, its obviously the result of dry-firing. Instead, I would deem that: "a good start; keep up the good work!"

Agree - good source of info. Just keep in mind that when they say "illegal for production" over there in the Global Village - they are talking about IPSC rules that are NOT applicable to the USA. Rather, we follow USPSA modifications to the IPSC rules. Some other sources: www.cz-usa.com www.czforum.com www.czshooters.com