cautery

I don't remember breaking in Proto #1 (or Proto #2 for that matter). Be glad when I get al this "drop-in" testing done... I really want to get an oversized barrel that hasn't been finish reamed (or rough remaed too deep for my finshed chamber specs). I want to see what happens when the jump/headspace stuff is combined with a barrel that is located in the same place for every shot with respect to the sights.

Who knows... What do you think? I could practice first, then clean it, then test... I was going to d about 300 rounds in practice tomorrow...

Continuning my work in designing G-35 barrels... I received Proto #3 over the weekend, and it looks very promising. I will be running a series of chrono/grouping tests tomorrow, and will write/post a full report as soon as I can. But as a preview, here is what I plan to do tomorrow: 1) Go to range with chrono, Ransom Rest, and about 8 different test loads (actually, it's my "stock" reloads, and a serires of 7 "semi-match" loads varying only in powder charge). 2) I am going to chrono all eight ammunition loads through a) Glock stock barrel, 2) Aftermarket stock "drop-in" stainless barrel, and 3) Proto #3 (same base barrel as #2 above, but with my chamber and headspacing design). 3) At the same time I chrono the loads, I will be collecting grouping targets on each load per barrel to use in analysis along with the chrono printouts. (Then I am going to re-zero my weapon with Proto #3 and my chosen match load... and then practice if there is enough daylight left.) Proto #3 has a "shorter than SAAMI" spec for the headspacing (headspacing shoulder to barrel hood), a VERY short lead, and a "standard" throat angle. This allowed me to select a sample of same headstamp brass, and trim it all to an approximate 0.001" headspacing. My only concern at this point is that the finish reamer I used was designed when I was using MG 180g CMJ bullets. I am now using PD 180gr FMJ. The PD bullet (as most other also do) has a different profile than the MG bullet. Since I am using a Redding Competition Seating die (micrometer), the bullet seating insert indexes on the bullet profile rather than the flat tip (not a bad thing BTW...) Switching to the PD bullet and using the reamer cut for the MG bullet results in a zero bullet jump at approx. 1.120" rather than the 1.1301" for the MG bullet. Thus, I am having to load the test rounds down to 1.119"... not a bad thing (w/ VV N-340 anyway), just different. Because of this, I have backed off to 5.3gr starting load to make sure at least one loading falls below Major (and to make sure pressure isn't an issue). Now, the test tomorrow has several goals, but the primary one is to "re-validate" the "near zero bullet jump" theory with this new barrel. Secondly, I want to find out if the shorter OAL (deeper seat) will cause pressure problems at max load (6.0gr), thus I am stepping up from 5.3 to 6.0 by 0.1gr increments. Ancilliary goals are to get a better idea where the most consistent load is as relates to powder charge vs. chrono/grouping results. Additionally, I am shooting "stock" reloads against "semi-match" loads to test the close headspacing theory. The stock reloads are random case length (as sized) all within/under SAAMI specs. Some much shorter than the chamber, some right at chamber length (I've culled the few that are above chamber length for safety reasons). It is my hope that I can validate my theory that consistent case length, close headspacing, and hence consistent location of round in chamber will deliver more consistent (hopefully smaller) groups than the "stock" reloads. As long as nothing unexpected happens on this series of tests, I plan to order a new finish reamer cut to match the Precision Delta bullet profile, allowing longer OALs (out to the max magazine capacity), while maintaing near zero jump. this is so that I can start this whole exercise over using VV N-320 and/or Tightgroup (which are the two candidates for next season's powder order). I am also trying to get a full sample collection of MG and Zero .40 S&W bullets in JHP, FMJ and all weight ranges to compare profiles to determine if the two finish reamers will accomodate all of them, or if I will need a 3rd/4th to complete the set. Stay tuned...

Tom, I'll be there. Just dropped the app/check in the mail. I'm sending you a PM as well.

Yup... that too. I should have specified that my list was NOT all inclusive... and still isn't. Thanks Kyle! I'm a little distracted trying to finish my RO Level I exam to send in.

Thanks Steven... Regarding the OAL of your test rounds. OAL is only tangentially important to the rounds actually fully seating to the headspacing step on a STOCK KKM barrel. The throat on a KKM is approximately 0.105". The seating depth of the bullet should hae very little to do with whether the round seats to the headspacing shoulder unless it is loaded out VERY long... significantly longer than a stock Glock mag will accept and/or feed. If the chamber on you KKM is 0.007" shorter than the Glock barrel (assuming the Glock barrel is max SAAMI spec of 0.850"), then your chamber is set at 0.843". If a round headspaces ABOVE the barrel hood face, then the likely causes for this on your short chamber are: 1) Brass in excess of 0.843" length after loading. 2) Case mouth not crimped sufficiently. 3) Over-sized bullet diameter and/or case wall thickness greater on some cases. The BULLET itself as relates to OAL should NOT be touching the ramped lands and thus should not be what's causing the round to be headspacing above the barrel hood. If you have ANY questions about this at all, please feel free to call/email me, as I have some experience working with this on G22/35 Glocks. (559)779-2944 cautery@montac.com

Well, depending on the quote I get for 320 tomorrow, I may just have to go with TG... Shooting as much as I plan to next year, I could stand to save as much as I can when reasonable. I "knew" you were using TG, but it just took me a while to get around to looking at faster powders... Until I started thinking about open, I really never considered a faster powder for my Limited pistol... Looks like I will stay in Limited for at least all of next year.... It'd probably take that long to take delivery on a custom open pistol anyway. Wonder if Cabela's has both powders? Haven't been to the new one here in Ft Worth... It'd be a good excuse. Thanks Kyle...

Not just the envior-nuts... NOBODY wants a new refinery near them (except possibly those of us IN the industry)... Shoot, here in the Barnett-Shale, we can't even get approvals for saltwater disposal wells... If you can't get rid of the salt water, you can't produce gas... (or oil, etc.) Rich biotch, SUV drivin', soccer moms kill EVERY app with a letter writinf campaign to the Railroad Commission... So can you imagine how many letters get written everytime someone tries to apply for the permits to break ground on a refinery? NIMBY.... Well, get ready for $10.00/gal fuel prices. Wait til folks see their natual gas bills this winter.... and their electric bills (for natural gas fired generating facilities). Frankly, the average US resident has become absolutely ignorant of how/what is necessary to produce domestic energy since the mid-80s...

Heh... almost, but I will use all of it probably between now and the end of next season... Powder is cheap compared to buying 30K primers and bullets.

I need to borrow one for a few days. Promise NOT to modify. Promise to return. I had Jim Shanahan do a grip fill/reduction so that my hand would fir better (small hands/short fingers). Now I want to see if there is a way for me to mod/make a magwell to put on my pistol as modified. As an aside... I finally got my final "drop-in" proto custom barrel, so I'll be loading the test ammo tomorrow and testing it Wednesday if all goes well. (I qualify with "drop-in" because I anticipate moving on to a smith fit barrel for the next stage of evolution. If you have a THE you could loan me for a bit, please post here or email me: cautery@montac.com I'll of course pay shipping both ways, and will put a replacement deposit down too if required. Thanks,

I'm getting ready to order something on the order of 32lbs of powder, and I'm teetering on the edge between N320 and tightgroup. The data looks good here, but have you done any group shooting comparisons? Just curious. Is TG a little smokier/dirtier than N320? Does it meter as well, the same, or better? Maybe I'll just run down and graba pound to check it out for myslef...

How cool... Not having to bag targets is a good thing. Of course, no rain is better.

That's what I'm talking about standles... When I buy/build my next house, I think I'll put a reloading "island" in a huge room... preferably with a flat screen on the wall somewhere in view.... HVAC, refrigerator, video, tunes, and a recliner all in one room... with a direct entrance to an adjacent restroom/shower.

7:30pm (1930hrs) sounds good to me.... Of course, as long as there's food and drink attached, I'm pretty easy to please.

I'm already spending well over twice what I WANT to spend. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a BP in great condition for less than 3K WITH some tools.

DONE! McBride's Land and Cattle on Scott St. Thanks Carina, I knew I could count on you. What time? If we settle on a time and everyone who wants to join the "party" says so here, I'll call ahead and hopefully have a table waiting on us (or at least reduce the wait time considerably). So... so far it's two folks... BigLucky! You in? R Kelly? Brazos Custom? Come eat with us Bob. supercomp9? Azone41? GeneralChang? You and Kurt need to sneak away a little early and make it to dinner! scorch? sfinney? I know you and Robert are FROM thereabouts, butit'd be cool to have you both there! sgtglock? Bring the whole crew! How about the rest of you lurkers out there? Post up if you want a seat at the table!

I'm itching to make metal chips, but I KNOW if I rush into this and buy the "wrong" one, I'll kick myself in the arse for years.... Happened the first time I bought an air compressor, among other occasions.

OK, I'm gonna try one more time... This steak house is listed on the DTR site, and Robert vouches for that list: Fat McBrides Steaks 4537 Maplewood Wichita Falls, Texas 940-692-0250 This steak house is the one that BigLucky said was the best one they ate at last year: McBride's Land and Cattle 501 Scott Wichita Falls, Texas 940-322-2516 I'm guessing EITHER place has pretty good food... Y'all pick!

No basements here... But I get your point. The combo machine is definitely out. I'll be going dedicated mill and lathe. Sure wish I would have known you had those BP mills... That's been worth the trip to MA.

Heh, Nemo.... hardly seems fair does it. When we bought our house back in '96, we had a deal: INSIDE the house (except garage), she pretty much had the say... She got all the Master closets and cabinet space except for 1 small, bottom drawer by the sink. I kept all my stuff in the "Office" bedroom. (I kinda liked that part). OUTSIDE the house and in the garage, I was SUPPOSED to pretty much have the say. Well, before you know it, they start spreading out... First, it was the new car that HAD to be parked in the garage... So, my auto projects HAD to be finished/moved out EVERY night. Then she a te half my storage cabinet with her Griot's crap to CLEAN the new car. Then she slowly ate half my Gorilla Rack shelf space with.... well... CRAP she couldn't cram into any other crevice INSIDE the house. Blah, Blah, yadda, yadda... next thing you know, you don't "own" the garage either... and you're stuck in some "little corner". I "cut a door in the corner" and hauled tail to Texas... Gave her the whole house free and clear. Hope she drowns in crap.... Nah, not really... but kinda... This time (3rd time's the charm right), the Shop, Garage, AND house will be mine. Sorry, to drift... but to make this more "on topic"... Nemo, you are doing a fine job with the space you have. I seriously dig that cap organizer. Where'd you get it?

Scooter - A Bridgeport WOULD be the way to go, but I don't want to have to spend a lot of time reworking/rebuilding one once I have it. I want to be able to use it right away... Maybe I should go talk to the local Lockheed machine outfit here... Maybe they could clue me in on a BP locally that would be up and running...

Heh... what I wouldn't do for a fully functional CNC mill right now...

Icchan - Nice site... I'll have to keep an eye out there. No mills that I'd want right now (as I need one that I don't have to rebuild), but awesome site... zhunter - yeah... I don't like it, but the ONLY sensible thing is to get the machines first...

Sandoz - Where were you when I needed the push to buy the pistol first.... BEFORE these guys talked me into the "sensible" thing in getting the machines first.

Wow... Great forum Kyle... Thanks... Yeah, they almost ALL say skip the combos, and I agree from a setup standpoint. Sure gets a lot more expensive when you go dedicated though. I've posted on that forum to try and get some help picking machines. I guess this thread is pretty much done... The machines need to come first. I DO after al need to be able to make some supplementary money to support my shooting habit(s). Should have bought the CNC Mill I found in Hanford before I left...