michael1778

Weak hand load four or "load two" (either strong or weak hand) will probably be faster. I personally found Load Two easier to learn.

Chris, I'm eager to read your review. Looking forward to it when you have the time. Thanks, Mike

+1 Good stuff!

I have the same on my M&P Pro 5" 9mm that I use for 3-gun Open. Easy to install and no frame modifications. I use the Taylor Freelance +10 basepads

XM193 has been banned from Ironman due to the effect on steel but it is allowed at other matches. I'm currently using American Eagle Tactical AE223 because Cabella's had it for about $280 a thousand. On a stage with short and long targets I'll load up my longrange stuff and if I have a known number of short targets first I'll put in the 55s for those targets. Otherwise I just shoot the good stuff at all the targets so I don't have to think about ammo during the stage. I have seen guys that change mags between the expensive and cheap ammo during a stage but that's too much monkey motion for me, I would rather use too much good ammo than worry about saving a few dollars and screw up the stage. Doug I'm familiar with M855 and related steel core ammunition not being welcome at most matches, but the lead-only M193 family is a problem? Is the lead a harder alloy than some commercial loads? I don't shoot it, but am keenly interested in how it is different from other 55 grain FMJ loads that would make it unwelcome at Ironman because of effects on steel. Thank you very much. -- Mike

For the moment, I use American Eagle AE223 55 grain. I think my Loki is wringing about 1.5 MOA out of it when I do my part. I'm strongly considering moving to 75gr Hornady Steel Match, if I can find it. At least for the longer range targets.

I bought a +4 and an extended Briley choke. My +8 NC tube on my 26" versa max sticks out much more. Don't sweat it.

Wasn't only yours. Saw a couple others that had failures. I'm sure Clint's was fine since he won the match. Those things run like crazy when it's right; just scares me how quickly it goes the other direction in some circumstances. You aren't lying about the weight work required with an Xrail!!! Holy smokes, man! A tube with 14 hanging out there was enough for me, for now. You were smoking it at the Remington side shoot. Did you see that guy in Squad 6 that had his Saiga become a pump gun once he switched to slugs? Frightening. Sorry I couldn't make it back with you guys for day #2. My cardiologist had changed up my meds last week and it wiped me out after a long day. Not to mention that I didn't drink enough (my fault). Just not used to the "new me" since my heart attack in March. Getting back to 100%, just not quite yet. -- Mike

Well, I shot the Versa Max as an Open shotgun at Tarheel 3-gun this past Saturday. It was flawless. Nothing fancy, just a 13 round tube (total) and no tricks. But, my shotgun ran better than ANY of the box fed variety I saw in operation that day (only saw a few). I reloaded like a Tac Optics guy and did "Load Two" from my Carbon Arms FSL caddies. I didn't win any speed competitions, but it was a test run. I did the best on the shotgun portions of the stages. Next step is get a load assist gate and some TecLoaders, if I could only find them in stock!! Somewhere??? Anywhere???

I think that is correct, when you go to many 3rd party springs you are getting a new guide rod and new springs. I don't know if all 3rd party springs are like that. The factory spring is captive to the guide rod. All of my M&P pistols have been that way. I have four: Shield 40, 9mm Pro 5", 40 compact, 45 full-size.

Bryan, Thank you for taking the time to post your comments along with their context. Wishing you the best in all your matches!

Since the original poster (OP) is relatively new to our world, I offer this dictionary: TI = Tactical Irons division FF = Free Float

Bryan, did you get the SFP with BTR-2? I feel dizzy when you walk about shooting a DPMS with optics........you'll always be a M1A iron sight guy to me! With regards to the ability to see the holes at that range and magnification, it makes sense to me. I could see .223 holes on crummy white paper at 100 yards with 10x on my Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x Friday afternoon. Helpful lighting would make it easier in some circumstances. -- Mike

+1 I agree very much. It exposed some pistol weakness I didn't know I had and showed my rifle is improving but I've got a long way to go.

I don't know but there were a few stages where many people made some mental mistakes that resulted in Match DQ. One stage had 4 or 5 Match DQs on day one. I was only able to attend on the first day (Squad 7).

I didn't know JP made a 16 inch barrel with rifle length gas. Their current JP-15 Upper order sheet shows only mid-length gas for a 16" barrel selection. Besides that, I'm afraid I don't have anything to add to your host of questions. Sorry about that.

Open is where the fun is. Come join us. I have a long, long tube on my Versa Max. :-) And big mags on my pistol, two optics on my rifle, etc.......it's all fun toys. On a more serious note, I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

I bought a .40 Shield today. Luckily, both of my holsters for my Walther PPS also fit the S&W M&P Shield. I was too rushed for time at the shop to take it over to the range, but it feels great to my hand. It's like my M&P 40 compact, but on a diet. Familiar texture, control placement, and theory of operation. I may get a chance to try it when I zero my new 3-gun rifle and scope tomorrow or Friday; no promises.

How has that .40 version of the Shield been running for you?

I have shot the 147 grain loads in a rental 9mm range gun before I purchased my first two M&P pistols (.45 and .40). But it ate them fine and showed superior accuracy in my hands versus two Glocks, an XD, and an XDm 5.25. My 5" 9mm Pro is flawless with the 147 grain. I know that isn't the 4.25" version, but I can't imagine how the function would be so different from my 5" Pro and the 4.25" rental range gun. I think you'll be fine.

I just saw this video and review last night: http://gunblast.com/Remington-VMT.htm See the fourth paragraph. The discussion of this and evidence of them actually firing a 3.5" shell is in the video. In short, it would seem to be able to do what you want. Disclaimer: But I only have used my 26" version. I have never handled a VM Tactical.

Versa Max, my friend. Love mine. Snag a VM Tactical.

On a purely technical basis, excluding cost, I think the consensus would be the M2. I own a CZ712 Utility myself. Also, I have a Benelli SuperNova. The fit and finish on the SuperNova are superior to my CZ. So, extrapolating out the the M2, it's a "better" gun. But they operate on different physical principles and cater to different markets. I decided to try something less common and bought a Remington Versa Max 26" and had it worked up by Jeff Cockrums. Given the difference in price points and styles of shotgun, I am not sure the answers to your question will give you much useful information. If it's a simple fit and finish question, I'll take the Benelli over the CZ any day. However, I went a different direction for my 3-gun shotgun.

Yes. This will be my first match shooting Open.

Utility