chevyoneton

Preach it brother!

I am glad to see a few other 1100 shooters come out of the woodwork, I was feeling like the only one still running an 1100. I have a 1100 CM I bought new years and years ago and then it sat in the safe waiting for me to take up 3-Gun. By then everybody was running the "B" gun and my still brand new 1100 CM was positively "old skool". I would show up at matches and people would think I had been shooting 3-Gun for a long time time! Anyway, I hear all the "an 1100 will not hold up to 3-Gun", too many shots too close together and slugs thrown in the mix and the old 1100 just ain't up to the task. Maybe, but I kind of doubt it. Are there better (mo money) guns for the game? Sure. But, I have shot boat loads of skeet with another old pawn shop 1100 that has NEVER had a new part, not even a gas ring and it is going strong. I may never put as many rounds through my 1100 CM as I have my old skeet 1100, and I take care of my 1100 CM.

If the key is not binding on the gas tube, is it tight and properly staked? Is the key clear (run a pipe cleaner through it). Does the bolt rotate freely bak and forth within the carrier? Are teh gas rings properly aligned on the bolt? And I know you said it was passing air, but are you SURE the tube is free and clear? And, this one is almost too obvious to mention, have you tired some known GOOD strong ammo?

I have ran a train-car load of Missouri's 180 grain TCL over 3.5 grains of Titegroup through my XDms. I like the load a lot but it can be smokey.

I had a full on squib at a USPSA match a couple of years ago.　 It was all on me as it was one of my reloaded .40 S&W cartridges.　 Had no powder and the bullet was lightly stuck in the barrel.　 The RO yelled "STOP" and I went and pounded it out.　 Funny thing, I had just bought and placed a squib rod in my range bag.　 Last month I had a pseudo-squib and stopped myself during a USPSA stage. It felt and sounded light but apparently had enough powder to clear the barrel. As I was only a few targets into the stage and it was a club level match I go a do-over. I would have stopped either way, one stage is not worth a ruined barrel/gun/right hand.

Nice vids, you were working that pump pretty good. One piece of advice, NEVER put spent/used mags back in your pouches. It is just a matter of time till you step up to a stage with empty mags on your belt. I know, I NEVER did, except last Saturday, and got burned.

I know it looks like a lot of money all at once but there is real truth to the saying "buy once cry once". Not to say you need to just jump in with both feet unawares, but once you have done your due diligence and made an informed decision on quality hardware, you are better off just buying it if you can swing it. For several reasons: •If you don’t stay in the game, quality stuff sells faster at a better price, and holds its’ value longer. •You will never regret having good equipment that does not nickel and dime you to death either in repairs or incremental upgrades. •Good stuff is not nearly as frustrating to work with. At my age I am willing to spend a little more not to be aggravated, and constantly wondering if I should have bought something better. •If you really take off in the sport you will have good stuff that can stay with you, and allow you to concentrate on your shooting, and not worrying about your crap equipment. •If you do want to upgrade, you can sell your old stuff in good conscience to a newb. Good luck!

Isn't that special.

Trick out your 3-Gun shotgun to your liking for the game, and pick up a used Rem 870 or Moss 500 for HD, and add a light to it. And yes, this is exactly what I did.

I am not familiar with that handguard but don't know why a carefull fellow could not drill a couple of holes and hold the nuts inside with some needle-nose pliers and screw a piece of rail on (with a dab of Loctite). Just like that run-on sentence. Seriously, I would not "glue" anything to my handguard. I might not want it on there, or in just that spot, forever.

I run six in SS myself, of course space on my belt is not an issue I am sad to say. I have a combination of Uncle Mikes and Baldetech, until I can find enough of either one to run all the same kind. You may want to look into some of the "quad" (I think Bladetech makes one) setups if reaching-around is a consideration. I have also seen, but was not able to find when I looked, a SS mag pouch that oriented the mags 90 degrees to the belt, thin wise if you get my drift. I would like to know who made it but never found out.

As long as a load meters consistently I don't know why it would not be fine. I bought the XS (extra small) powder bar just for doing little bitty charges for loading .380 but have not used it yet.

Thanks for the idea, if I understand it correctly you only have a max of three layers of belt anywhere instead of four. But I have lost 8 pounds (so far) so maybe I will not "need" this!

I am pleased to say any issues I have had with my 550b over the past two decades in this area have been resolved by a through cleaning.

This! I know for a fact nobody at our club would disagree with this course of action. Assuming the person doing the ROing was qualified of course.

Hmmm, sorry for your trouble. An AK with 10 round mags just does not do anything for me.

My .40m S&W XDm mags do that sometimes. I just whack it on the table or mash it with the Lula or something. I think it is the spring binding. This si a different issue than new mags being hard to get the last few in or not being able to get a fully loaded mag out without pushing up on the mag. New XDm mags are just dang stiff, but will loosen up.

I would not have done that. I get you want him fast and "just like Dad". But a fellow used to the system can be pretty dang fast, and very safe. My thumb just naturally disengages the retention on my ALS holsters and I don't see it as slowing me down any. I am not blazing fast anyway. I would just tell him I was preparing him for 3 Gun where pistol retention over the course is more important.

I am glad I bought a box of the Fiocchi dummies before they became unobtainium. I really like them and they have held up well. Prior to getting the dummys I did practice with live shells but did not like doing it. I was just loading and removing them from the tube, I did not run live shells through the chamber. My daughter likes the Fiocchi shells, she laughed and said "they say Dummy". Before I got a timer I had her time my reloads with a stop watch program on her little toy tablet computer.

My standard mode is to creep up on stuff, and possibly spend more than I would have had I "bought once, cried once". I know for sure it is more aggravation my way. So far I only have a magwell and PRP Ultimate trigger installed on my XDm 5.25. I would not have tackled the trigger myself if I did not have the (free) services of a good buddy/gunsmith to help/do the work. I know it is supposed to be easy to do, and there is plenty of help on the web, but I just don't trust myself with fine work (I am a bull in a china shop). All that said, go with your gut and if you can swing it all at once then by all means avail yourself of one of the outfits mentioned.

I have the two little lights that came with my Liberty and they work OK. Although they seem to go through a lot of batteries. Which is no big deal as I use rechargables. I did add a garage-sale gooseneck desk lamp hung over the top to add some serious illumination on those occasions I feel the need. I would like some hi-speed, lo-drag rope lighting inside but haven't gotten there yet.

The Super Swage should not affect the case mouth, at least I have not noticed it if it does. I would add one small thing to your plan. I run a backed-off .223 size/deprime die in station one for final loading just to clear the primer pocket in case a little media got left behind.

My best stage or favorite? Stage "1", the skeet platform, was my best stage and right up there with the ones I liked the most. My favorite was actually the Suburban/Sniper Tower stage. I never get to do stuff like that anywhere else. And if I can drag my butt up the tower, then you young’uns should not be complaining. The skedco/container stage was my least favorite. Of course it was about a 105 dadgum degrees heat index the afternoon we shot it, sure am glad it was the last stage for our squad that day! Honestly, I would have a hard time ranking the stages, I enjoyed them all. But you just have to love: "start seated in Suburban, shotgun loaded and placed in back, upon start signal engage targets to rear of vehicle while hanging out window". Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

I have a Lee Classic set for .32 ACP. I have actually used it, once. How much .32 ACP is a fellow going to load in a lifetime anyway? The hand press just looks like trouble, a cheap bench mount has to beat the pants off that.

I don't have a 1050, am too cheap to buy one, and too much in love with my old 550B to consider replacing her after all these years. All that said, yes .223 loading is a pain. I try and break up the process. I do the initial size/deprime on a single stage press (cheap Lee) bolted to a board which I then clamp to the dining room table so I am inside watching TV with the family. Then I tumble to clean the primer pocket and get the lube off. Then swage the pocket with a Super Swage (bought from Brian) bolted to another board also clamped to the dining room table. Only then do I depart for the "gun room" to load my processed brass through the patiently waiting 550B. Nothing special about my setup on it except I have a backed-off sizing-deprime die at station one just to clear the flash hole of any media. Don't have, or want, a case feeder either. Just one more dadgum machine to keep up with. Don't kick that 550B to the curb yet.