Carlos

Actually, there IS such a gun, and it IS now a "DD" DD = "Destructive Device" - i.e. - a firearm covered by the NFA Title II (aka Class III). DD = same general set of restrictions & $200 tax as "silencers" and machineguns, although DDs can still be built with prior BATFE approval. Around 1994 or 95, anyone could buy the USAS 12, just like you would buy a Remington 1100 or Benelli. The USAS 12 was & is normal semi-automatic shotgun, and like the Saiga, it uses a box magazine. Without warning, the then BATF decided that the USAS-12 was not a regular "sporting" shotgun and designated the USAS 12 as a D D (along with the shotgun-revolver known as the "street sweeper"). Owners were allowed to surrender their guns to the government for destruction or register them without paying for the required $200 tax stamp. While a citizen might have bought a USAS 12 the day before, just like any other shotgun, suddenly, that shooter had a Class III gun on his or her hands with all the restrictions (no interstate travel without permission; can't sell it unless buyer first obtains $200 stamp after several months wait & BATFE grants approval, etc). This action in the 90s creates a precedent for the same thing to happen to the Saiga - though as long as they are imported in their current configuration (and that is required under still other provisions governing import), there probably won't be action taken against the Saiga. The USAS 12 was developed by Max Atchisson in the US, and produced by Daewoo in South Korea. I might add that the same sort of "re-classification" if done today, would probably be challenged under Heller without regard to the incorporation issue, since Heller (so far) applies to the federal government and apparently the 9th Cir. as well. dd designation??????destructive device, just guessing

I don't doubt your account at all. AND, things are supposed to just "work" right out of the box. Further, not having been there, I dunno what caused your shooter's malfs. PMag apparently "curred" the issue. BUT - if anyone out there buys one of these CMMG mags, you might consider the following to make these work for you: -OP mentioned 1) the follower moved roughly in the tube at first & later smoothed out with use. 2) the parkerizing on these rubs off and doesn't appear to be high quality I have parkerized many of my guns & parts at home. Parkerizing produces a rough initial finish (also depends on the metal prep - which can be blasting with glassbeads, sand or other media). You might consider giving the insides of these mags a very thorough brushing with solvent, followed by oil, and then manually depressing the follower a few dozen times with a paint stirring stick & then thorough de-grease. Thereafter, I like to treat my 3gun mags with silicon spray. YMMV.

Anyone know if the "iTouch" version (an iPod that looks exactly like the iPhone) will support the Shottimer application?

Hi Frank! Many here would tend to disagree. Your post refers to "max;" I assume you are talking about one of the "published" loads for HS-6. I appreciate the fact that many folks take the published reloading data as the Holy Gospel. However, it is overly simplistic to blindly follow all such data without regard to the reloading company's liability concerns - particularly in the case of 9mm. We've been over this before, but here goes. The 9mm chambering is OVER 100 years old. That means there are 9mm handguns out there that are more than 100 years old, and some use weak, blow-back designs, like my Astra 600 from 1921. The reloading companies (and the liability lawyers they employ) MUST consider the fact that their published load data must be safe to shoot in the OLDEST gun imaginable with the WEAKEST design and using the WORST brass & reloading practices possible. Put another way, you can consider most reloading manual's published data to be the equivalent of "9mm Loading for Dummies." Furthermore, much of the PUBLISHED loading data for 9mm is far under the ACTUAL maximum that a modern gun (like the OP's STI) can withstand using GOOD CONDITION brass. Moreover, one company, Vihta Vouri of Finnland (a country without as many litigation-prone lawyers as we have here in the USA) actually DID publish safe 9mm Major data briefly in the US (google "Jeff Maass reloading" to see older data), and they still do so in other languages in Europe and elsewhere (with warnings like: "use max loads only in modern good condition guns. duh."). Finally, 9mm and equivalent-OAL 9x21 was previously and safely loaded beyond the OLD max of 175PF, and much of it loaded to the SHORT length of 1.160." In sum, 165PF 9mm Major at long OALs may have its drawbacks, but safety has NOT proven to be one of them. As for published data for MODERN loadings such as .40 S&W under 1.160" and .357 Sig - I DO tend to take those as gospel because the chamberings and the guns were developed in the last couple of decades, hence, the data is not "watered down" the way 9mm is. Regards, D.

Brian I think you are really onto something. I have lived near coastlines for much of my life. Styrafoam containers easily blow out of landfills and really pile up along the coasts & rivers. They ruin everything from the view to the wildlife. And they last forever. No one wants the status quo.

Have been to Petra and it is not to be missed - and if you have travelled to El Salvador, you should be fine visiting Jordan. Get your visa EARLY - the embassy in Tel Aviv takes a while. Once you get there, I suggest renting the donkeys to visit the upper temples & renting camels to get back to the entrace at the end of the day (camels were more fun IMHO; my feet nearly dragged on the ground riding the donkeys). As for Israel, I wrote this about my two visits in 2003 and 2004: "I wish more anti-gun Americans would vacation in Israel It is an EXTREMELY safe place to visit now that the security fence around the west bank is in place & Gaza went to the PA. I have been there twice and they LOVE Americans there (try finding another country in the middle east like that). In both Israel & Switzerland, the country is "awash in guns" and mere citizens are "armed to the teeth" with a "weapons cache" in every home. Both countries have miniscule violent crime rates that are lower than the US. What is the difference? -though they have the guns, the Israelis & Swiss don't use them on each other. U.S. anti-gun voters need to understand - its not the gun. Rather, its the mentality of the society that is at the root of the crime problem. " Finally, I would go again to both countries in a heartbeat (especially Isreal) - but I might add that the hotel where we stayed in Aman was blown up back in 2005 or 2006 by terrorists targeting westerners. Keep a low profile & you will be fine (we were).

Same goes for many of the 75s - which were early favorites in Open (the P9 is a 75, as are all tanfoglios). The small frame 75s won't take a 38 length case. Also, the argument against 9Major assumes you will get your expensive 38 brass back. Around here, that assumption would be false; some may find this view objectionable, but around here we don't hold up everyone at the match with "brassin" - if it matters to you then YOU can come back later and pick up your own brass after the match on your own time. I personally won't allow it at my match since I am responsible for running 12 shooters per hour without exception (indoor USPSA match at a commercial facility - time is money). Just sayin'.

I have tried them all and now use ONLY Wolf. THe benchrest guys prefer the Wolf brand. Why would a pay more $$ for primers that are not as good?

Correct! 1) There IS semi-plastic cased 5.56mm ammo as pictured; we used to sell it at Shooters Paradise before it burned down. In ARs, the accuracy at any decent distance was marginal. We only had a 25yrd range, so it did not matter. Supposedly, after depriming it could be reloaded simply using your hand (no press required - frightening). 2) Wolf does NOT make plastic cases AFAIK. 3) SOME Wolf 223 uses a steel case. Originally, in the late 80s, it was coated with the same "laquer" as AK-47 ammo - and THAT caused problems with ARs, so they created: 4) Polymer - COATED, steel cased 223. The coating is entirely different and 100% compatible with ARs. This ammo is reliable, although probably not the most accurate ammo out there (nor the cleanest). Still, the price is right. Steel 223 cases are reloadable BTW.

Brian's book urges one to keep an open mind, expiriment, and find what works for you. Let the timer and quality of your hits determine the best grip for you. As stated, Angus Hobdell and at least 2 current world champions (Tyc & Graufel) employ this grip.

I use it for both lead and plated 230s for revolver use. Works great! -Major 40 -minor 9mm -Major 45 ACP. This stuff does everything except Major9.

Me too. I ordered the 40 with night sights (post & notch). The 9 I own has a different front - I think I might have used the front sight off a Sig with the odd Steyr rear, but its been a long time.

So far appears to be only magazines for the Steyr. Hope they add holsters, different sights, spare M parts, etc. http://www.steyrarms.com/store/index.php/magazines.html

Excellent! That is just the sort of information we need. Ruger is such a large player in the firearms market that we (USPSA and IDPA) can't afford to ignore them. Great to know that Ruger has supported us in the past; perhaps we can grow that support in the future. Regards, d During the times I was running prize tables for the Indiana State and Region IDPA matches Ruger donated several times, all merchandise (shirts, hats etc) They did the same for last years Indiana USPSA Section Match (About $500 worth of their nice denim shirts) and this year they have donated a certificate for their SR9 pistol. Ken Jorgenson who used to work with S&W is the person to speak to.

One of the FEW 9Major loads you will find in a PUBLISHED manual is for 147s. Look at the V V load for 3N38. Recoil is likely to be stiff. Anyone ever see a PUBLISHED load for 9Major with 124s? (granted, I shoot 124s - but all my loads are "off the books" FWIW).

Take it in context. Everyone on this site admires Rob Leatham - for good reason; you won't find a more kind & honest top dog anywhere in USPSA. He has earned the title "TGO." And Springfield Armory writes his paycheck. But the Springfield that TGO shoots in Limited is not offered as a regular catalog item by SA. I suppose you could get their custom shop to build you one (for enough $$). Its all just the politics end of the sport; ignore it & you will sleep better.

Mine is 0QO Qo0 (we have more speed cameras and red light traps here in D.C. than they do in England. Its all about the money around here).

Agreed. I referred to 2 DQs in my earlier post. And my own "near DQ." All involved dropped (or almost dropped) loaded guns and race holsters. Why do we DQ? A: to give the shooter time to reflect on a safety/rules infraction. AND to hopefully see to it that it does not happen again. But, it is not just for the shooter to reflect on what happened. A DQ is there for all to learn from. The incidents I am thinking of would not have happened but for the race holsters used or, at a minimum, the absence of a lock applied at the start signal (all 3 happened with unlocked CR speed holsters). I think this is a worthwhile safety discussion. AND - I agree witht he earlier post that the poll results suggest NO rule change is likely as far as race holsters or lock use (so there shouldn't be any reason for those 90% voters to get upset or hostile). Finally, I refuse to design seated stages with a holstered, loaded gun due to 1) race holsters and 2) sweeping. Thoughts?

I only wish RCBS still offered to sell equipment for bullet making. Only option I am aware of these days in Corbin - which I am sure is nice quality - but they want over $700 for the .22 bullet making set up. If someone would offer a set of dies - even in the $300 or less range - I might take a crack at bullet swaging from spent .22LR cases.

I am with you & Matt Cheely. I voted to keep the lock on until the buzzer - BUT, that rule would effectively eliminate the Safariland with the screw-knob lock and the CR Speed (I own one for revolver division BTW). With the lock on at the buzzer, you effectively have to first reach down and disengage the lock, then go about drawing the gun (speed advantage negated). For limited and open, I used a 1st gen Ghost & later a Limcat; I still have a newer Ghost for the Tactical Sports CZ limited. Those holsters allow the lock to be disengaged during the natural draw motion and it does not slow you down any more than disengaging the thumb safety on a 1911 or a 75. I had the unfortunate experiences of DQing 2 experienced shooters who dropped loaded guns from an unlocked CR speed & I nearly dropped my 625 from my own CR speed once at the end of a long hot match & the gun was not precisely placed in the holster. Retention tests once existed in USPSA, IIRC. But the use of "safety straps" and bunji "walk through" cords made them sort of useless.

Actually, that Weaver you linked just went on sale f0r 140 bucks. I have one and its a great scope. Pair it with the Armalite brand once piece mount and you are off to the matches.

Close - but I was actually lookin at a replacement for N310 and N318 when I stumbled on Solo 1000 in 2004. Speed of Solo1000 put it in the running against those two and I had hoped that its single base chemistry would make it a clean, safe, alternative like V.V. Is 1250 also single base?

This portion makes perfect sense, Troy. Well put. Ed Deegan asked me about a similar possibility (theoretical) - and I did not have an answer for him: what if the loaded gun is placed on a prop (like in our national classifier "Minimart") and the RO knocks it off/tips over the table? That scenario removes the issue of "holster safety." Who, if anyone, is DQ'd then? I agree with Troy that it could not possibly be the shooter, since he/she is not handling the gun at all. In fact, the stage description requires the shooter to remove his/her hand from the gun, thus preventing control over it.

For as much $$ as Ruger makes on firearms, I am not aware of a single cent going to either USPSA or IDPA. HOWEVER, Ruger is listed as a "Corporate Member" of SASS / Cowboy competition shooters. This proves Ruger is willing to support shooting competition in at least one form. Perhaps the right people from USPSA & IDPA need to approach Ruger about sponsorship (and if they said "no" in the past, maybe its time to ask again?).

I have often seen LEOs here in Area 8 chamber a round, remove the mag, and re-holster to top off. I have seen it enough that it is apparent that this technique is being taught - at least in this Area. Couple of thoughts: -if they are trained that way at their academy, then how will they take it if a civilian USPSA RO tells them they are being unsafe? What impression will it create? I know how a S.E.R.T. officer/friend reacted at an IDPA after the S.O. informed him that his technique was not "tactically sound" (this officer serves no-knock drug warrants several time a month; he did not appreciate the "advice"). -OTOH, as Troy points out, it is not necessary to complete the C.O.F. and it may involve pointing a loaded gun at a part of one's body (i.e. in the case of an IWB type holster) more than necessary. Finally, in the case of SA only guns, it is still an automatic DQ to reholster without applying the manual safety. RO need to be on top of both reholsterings.