chevyoneton

I had to drop to a 16# spring in my 4.5 to get some crappy old 9mm reloads to run but any reasonable load ran fine with the factory spring. I should say I am not one to see how light a spring I can run, but exactly the opposite. I want it to run a 100% but with the stoutest spring.

I run a XDm .40 in Production and 3 Gun with handloaded minor PF loads and the gun is not the problem. I do have to reload since I seem to run into stages that are 21-22, etc. rounds. But like others have said there is usually a place to change mags on a course with that many pistol shots. That said, I do have a 9mm conversion barrel on order just because I am trying to run more 9mm across my many shooting activities (USPSA minor SS, 3-Gun, NRA Action, Steel Challenge, practice, etc.).

I have gained about 20 myself since getting the correct size belt. I only have maybe 4-5 inches of over lap on my CS belt and have no issues. The original velcro keeper came off so now I run one of these: http://www.arredondoaccessories.com/category.cfm?cid=&pid=jg22i4311mrcxm&GID= and am very happy with it. I am working on getting my belt to fit better too, but it is hard over the holidays!

I run range pick-up .40. I don't know how much of it is mine, somebody else's, or what kind of gun most of it was shot through. After starting out gauging all my loaded rounds and then Lee Bulge-Busting the ones that did not pass, I realized that in less total time I could just run them all through the Bulge-Buster and be done. I do not know how many firings they have either, one or one-hundred.

I have a Storm Lake 40-to-9 conversion barrel for a 4.5 XDm and it runs 100%. Although I did have to drop the recoil spring weight two pounds to run with my low-powered reloads. I may buy this barrel for my G23 but am in no hurry since it is only $5 cheaper on sale than the regular price on the similiar Lone Wolf barrel. I have a Lone Wolf G20 10-to-40 barrel, and an EFK 40-to-9 barrel for a XDm 3.8 and they both work 100% also. I am a fan of conversion barrels.

I just got mine in and it looks OK. I have not mounted it on a gun but did install the throw-lever (what a pain) and put the scope in the "deluxe" base/rings combo. Like some here, I had to screw the eye-piece waaaaay out to focus but I will see after I actually get it mounted and adjusted. I wish the throw-lever came with a little longer screw. Even pinching the lever with pliers I could not get the screw to start. I had to slide the lever forward off the ring, start the screw, and then tap/beat/monkey the throw lever back onto the ring and then tighten the screw. It fits and looks great now and should be fine. Maybe I should have warmed it in some boiling water before trying to install it?

Since this is a wide open question, I would say (obviously) QD of some sort. Now with the obvious out of the way, I use the Uncle Mike’s type QD swivels as that is what all my other guns have on them. As a happy circumstance, my shotgun (Rem 1100 CM, yes some of us still run one) shares the same set-up and even takes the same length sling. Makes it handy and simple at matches.

I have wanted one of those for a while now but can't come across one at the right juncture of price and money on hand. I know nothing for sure but would bet good money they were intended for “original” Trap-Door type pressure levels. Some “modern” loads are down-right magnumish scary. If you want to test it out I just happen to have (no joke) some factory original 45-70 “Proof” loads. I really need to break them down and reload to a sensible level and shoot them up, before somebody less skittish than me gets ahold of them.

Looks like that load is right at 140pf. I know you may want to tweak things a bit to get the pf down for less recoil and maybe slight compoenet (powder) savings but don't dismiss a good 140ish pf load. My .40 minor pf load (Titegroup) runs there or a little higher and I really like it (XDm 5.25). My Single Stack Minor 9mm load runs better at 135+pf too. It not only cycles better buts burns cleaner too not producing as much smoke (Unique).

I have two for the 5.25 and will try and measure them tonight. Why two you ask? Well, I had one that fit my 5.25 and wanted one for my 4.5. I saw one offered on-line and listed as fitting a 4.5. The picture looked exactly like mine. I asked the seller was he absolutely sure it was for a 4.5 and he said yes, he had tried a 5.25 and it would not fit. So of course you know what happened. I bought it, it came, and it is for a 5.25! I did not mind as it is only 3/4" too long and the price was right but you wonder about some people sometimes.

I actually started with what I had, an XDm 3.8 .40 in Production. I shot it well and liked it a lot. I shot the 3.8 until the 5.25 came out (and was available) and got one of those too, also in .40 as I already had mags and had worked up a .40 minor load I liked. .40 minor is sweet. I recently added a magwell and (140mm) mag extensions to my 5.25 and am shooting USPSA Limited and 3-Gun with it. I am saving my pennies and looking for a deal on a 9mm 5.25 to use for 3-Gun. Someday, when I tire of Limited, I will add an optic to the .40 5.25 and shoot USPSA Open. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

I have seen that and figure they are just sending out a quick and dirty so you can get a feel for where you are. It is interesting sometimes though like when YOU are shooting Revolver and beat several SS & Production shooters........

I have the Smith & Alexander on my 9mm gun and am ordering another one for my .45 (both Colts). I did not want a huge magwell on my SS guns and the S&A is perfect for me. It works great with the stock Tripp-Cobra 10 round 9mm mags as far as length and I expect it to work well with my 8 round .45 mags with base pads.

Online (registration and payment), even if it is a lottery but with past participant preference.

When it comes down to it, a lottery of some sort seems most fair. But, I also think you need to favor past match competitors somehow. I know I would get a REAL bad taste quick had I supported a match in the past when it was not so popular, and then get shut out of it. Again but, I need to come clean with full disclosure on something. I am not going to pay $275, $300, or more to shoot a match. The only way I can and will shoot a major is by ROing. And I do, RO that is. I can do a lot of shooting for what it would cost to pay my own way to ANY major and it is just not worth it to me at my age and ability. I am glad there are people that do though, I enjoy watching you shoot!

I just "pulled the trigger" on one to go on my back-up gun. I got their extended mount and throw lever for $330 total plus shipping. Will see how it does. This is a lighter gun than my main gun and I may end up using it more for our local (shorter range) 3-Gun shoots.

I can see one on your "go to war" rig but on a 3 gun belt? How many mags are you having to store on the trip back to the truck/car? What with all the uber-cool tactical britches most of us wear I would think you would have lots of pockets to stuff spent mags in! Seriously, I bought a Chinese knock-off folding dump pouch off fleabay cheap to put on the Molle on my Tactical Dad Bag. Most of the time it stays folded up but I can open it quickly to have somewhere to "dump" (stuff) a sweater or light jacket.

Very happy with my Liberty Fat Boy (electronic lock) and with the dealer that delivered and installed it. I bought from a semi-local dealer who sets up Liberty safe displays at gunshows around the area. He offered me $200 off on a "scratch and dent special" Fatboy with really just a scrub mark on one side where he got too close moving a display model. You can't see it on the side of the safe in the back of the closet. I added an additional shelf across the top and can really pack a lot of guns in it. I wanted to buy from a local stocking gun store but they did not offer the deal this guy did and there was also a rebate at the time that they failed to mention. I tried to keep my money closer to home but not for an extra $275.

I've got a thousand (124 HP) coming and my plan is to use starting Jacketed data, shoot over the chrono and for accuracy until I am happy. I usually shoot 125 TCL from Missouri Bullets ahead of Unique (can't remember the load right now) for practice and USPSA SS Minor so the plated will be for "Major" matches.

See, right there at the start your story goes off the tracks and is suspect. "I have this friend........." Sure.

I would see how he shoots the XDm in practice. If it works for him get him geared up with holster, belt, mags, pouches, etc. and share the gun at matches. Swap on the line under the command of the RO. As long as the gun is the only thing you are sharing it will not slow the match down at all. Not the sexy, which-gun-do-I-buy answer but the one I would do. Then at some point get him his own XDm, or give him yours and you move to Limited/SS/Revo.,etc.

I run an old 1100 CM, old in age not usage. I bought it NIB from a bankruptcy sale many, many years ago when they were the s**t and put it away. Fast forward to a few years ago when I actually started shooting 3-Gun and got it out of the safe. I installed an EZ loader and did a little dremeling and polishing to the load port and it runs fine for me. I can load it as fast as I could load anything else. I have shot truck loads of skeet with an 1100 and an 1100 Magnum is my Turkey gun so an 1100 feels very comfortable in my hands. I will continue to run my 1100CM until it lets me down, which at my current match schedule rate will be several years. I do not think I would start out with one if I had to buy one, there are other (better?) options these days. But if I could just throw maybe a barrel (or not) and a mag extension on one I already had and get in the game I would go for it.

Forgive me but what I am hearing is: Have to have THREE guns, wah, wah ,wah. Have to carry THREE guns, wah, wah ,wah. Have to have gear for THREE guns, wah, wah ,wah. Have to learn to shoot THREE guns, wah, wah ,wah. Have to learn to load THREE guns, wah, wah ,wah. That about sum it up? Seriously, some people will never move beyond 2-Gun (pistol/carbine), and that is O.K. Some will use it as a stepping stone to 3-Gun, and that is better. Some 3-Gunners will do it because we like 2-Guns more than just 1-Gun and there may not be a 3-Gun match that weekend or one close enough to realistically get to. What I would not like to see is what I fear, people put on a 2-Gun match INSTEAD of a 3-Gun match because they don’t want to deal with 3-Guns for whatever reason.

Well thanks a whole lot. Here I am dreaming/scheming about a new 18” upper AR build for me and you come along and remind me I need to be thinking about building a light AR for my little princess! Humm, maybe I could re-work my back-up gun for her. Yeah that’s the ticket, it already has a 16” pencil barrel. Throw on a lighter handguard and she’s ready to rock! Daddy might get that new upper yet!

Depends on what you are hunting, if you need a plug or not. And local game regs of course. I haven't thought about hunting with my 3-Gun shotty but have shot some skeet with it. Gets funny looks at the club.