smokshwn

Bob, For what it's worth, I love my Wilson KZ, and have been shooting it in CDP for about a year now. Some don't like the feel of the grip because it is not exactly 1911 but I don't mind it at all. My gun has been completely hasslefree for probably 4-5k rds. I definitely think for the dollars the KZ kicks the Kimbers ### but I may be biased. As far as the reloads go there is a distinct advantage IMHO over the true singlestacks. The magwell opening on the KZ is quite a bit bigger than on a singlestack yet the top third of the mag is quite narrow. Makes reloads about the same as any traditional doublstack (glock, xd, cz, etc). I was able to pick up the gun with about 300 rds on it with 6 mags for $900 bones so I think the ultimate price between it and the Kimber may be a wash. Good luck, Craig

I have to add my thank you's as well. I have now done three gun transactions, an STI frame purchase then sell and several other doodads. As always I never gave the money (mine or theirs a second thought). I think this not only speaks of this forum but probably of gun enthusiasts especially competitive shooters in general. I grew up trapshooting at a very competitive level and the comraderie there is the same that I have found here. So thank you all for the incredible education I am receiving. Take care and best wishes, Craig

Bevan, Thank you so much. I never cease to be amazed at what other knotheads are on the forums at all hours. Take care. Craig

I have some questions regarding Bevan's new magsprings and followers. I have my mags and springs and just can't wait for mon to call him, so here goes. 1. What length is appropriate for .40 cal STI mags in 126mm with standard basepads and 140mm with Dawson +1's? 2. What length for 9mm SVI mags in 140mm and 170mm with Dawson +1's? Any other helpful mag info would be more than welcome as I am just embarking on the whole S-I adventure in both Limited and Open. Thanx in advance. Craig

I have just purchased a 5 inch bushing barreled SVI in .40. I had the chance to pick up a recoil master for a class win at our state shoot and I would like to try it in the SVI to compare the standard spring setup and the rm. Is there any special fitting that needs to be performed or can I just install and get shootin? Also which RM should I be using for 125 pf loads? and which one for 165pf loads? Thanx in advance. Craig

Stu and Nik I respect the efforts you both seem to make in your arena to correct the problems of modern journalism. However given that most jounalists "know very little about everything" my issue comes into play when those who know very little about the subject take it upon themselves to simplify the explanations and statements of the knowledgeable. Most of the journalists I have been exposed to through my position as a Public Info Officer for my department have such an inflated sense of superiority and intelligence over their readers/viewers that they feel it their duty to simplify the info for the "dummies". In my experience this is where much of the misinformation/bias/agenda pushing etc. comes into play.

I have been following this thread and even posted before and I am not trying to completely lambast Dave. However, how many people have complaints about Benny Hill, Greg form Comp-Tac, Bevan, et al. These guys run just as busy of a business, turn out an equally high quality product and you know with almost 100% certainty that unless some cataclysmic event occurs you will get what you pay for. IMHO it is ridiculous to do business when at best it is a 50/50 proposition on getting your product as expected.

My experience with Ky-tac has been very poor. a holster and mag pouches for a G35 took 4 mos. and only arrived after my credit card company began an investigation to get my money back. As you can imagine several calls and emails went unanswered. Whether a sole proprietor, day job, trainer, or not I felt this was completely unacceptable. On the other hand I have found that Greg and Tammy at Comp-Tac are outstanding both in product produced and customer service. Both orders I have placed with them this year have arrived before the promised date. The quality of their product is IMHO superior to the kytac stuff as well. YMMV Good luck Craig

I thought IDPA was supposed to be a little more true to life and "tactical". In real life guns are not equal, and no one carries the ten rounders.

Doug, I'll apologize upfront if you are specifically looking for the lightest possible bullet load, but I took your question to ask for a nice shooting ESP load. I currently am shooting a 180 MG over 3.3gr of titegroup. This gives me about 132pf, is 100% reliable and is soft enough to feel like a mouse fart. I shoot this load out of both a 5" SVI and a G35. Others on the board have even gone to 200gr bullets and report another factor of recoil reduction. It seems the heavier bullets tend to lengthen the recoil impulse thus lessening the perception of the recoil whereas the lighter faster bullets gives a snappier recoil impulse. Good luck, Craig

As of Friday 9/10 SVI only had 140 mm tubes available. I ordered four, but was told that there would be no 170mm tubes for a couple of months. I asked if there would be any increase and availability with the sunsetting of the ban and the answer was no. I got the feeling that it seemed to be the stupidest question they had ever heard.

I wanted to build a 5 inch bushing barreled limited gun in .40 that would also be IDPA ESP legal as well. Basically the same platform as the SVI crosscomp. I originally was going to be able to get one of the big smiths to build it with all the dreamy parts but I have run into budget constraints. I would still like to build the gun but I am looking for suggestions for completing a gun with budget parts in mind. I already have a frame, and front and rear sights (dawson FO and Bomar). Given that a competent smith will be doing the work which parts would you use to get very good serviceable quality while at the same time keeping costs at a bare minimum? I would like comments concerning Hammers, sears, discon, slides, barrel, bushings, IDPA legal magwells, ejectors, extractors, grip safeties, ambisafeties, firing pins, guiderods etc. etc. etc. Thanx in advance, Craig

Dave, I currently am shooting 3.2gr of tightgroup under a 180gr MG. I can't remember my velocity out of a G35 but I do remember it is right at 132pf. It feels as if I am holding on to a mouse with gas. (haha) My gf is new to shooting and took no notice going from a buckmark .22 to these loads in my G35. I have loaded as low as 3.0gr of TG but my velocity spread opened a little. I think it was related to a low case volume at that charge. However even at 3.0 I was still easily making minor pf. BTW I have shot about 8-9,000 rds of the 3.2gr loading for IDPA ESP without a single hiccup. Good luck getting your wife set up with something that she wants to shoot. I can't wait till my SO gets a little more confidence so she can start shooting more with me. Take care, Craig

be its from Saturday Night Live's "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy" Craig

Another vote for the LULA. If you carry your rounds loose I would be willing to bet you can load a mag with a LULA as fast as you load the Cammenga and then your mag. Hands down it unloads mags better than any other method with the added benefit of counting the downloaded rounds if you need to. One advantage of the LULA that noone so far has mentioned is the ease with which you can load partially loaded mags. None of the other devices that I have experienced allow you to load 3, 8, 11, etc. rounds if need be. To give you an idea of how hand the little device is, I took a carbine class at gunsite two years ago and was the only student to have the LULA. I took a bunch of crap at the first of the week but by Wednesday guys were waiting around my truck to load their mags with my LULA. If I had extras I could have easily sold them for $50 apiece. They are the shiznit!

I think you pretty much have it covered. Craig

I have been shooting seriously (both USPSA and IDPA) for about 8 mos. now with a G35. I come from trapshooting at a very competitive level and would like to build my skills to compete on a national level in the pistol sports as well. My shooting has improved (B shooter in limited 10 and Expert in ESP) with practice and round count and a couple of months ago I started making plans to have an S-I built with a short dustcover and bushing barrel which would still allow me to shoot both disciplines with one gun and continue my improvement. However after reading some posts which indicated that an open gun speeds up a shooters learning curve I started thinking about a move to open. (I very much like the trickness of the open guns as well.) I have been searching the board but I couldn't find a post which directly answered my questions so here they are. 1. Given equal effort (practice, dryfire, matches) which gun will help speed my improvement more? 2. If your opinion is open, should I go with a 5" gun or can a new open shooter handle the short hybrid open guns? 3. Finally, if open is your answer, which caliber? thanx in advance, Craig

I can't refute the experience of other's concerning plated bullets, however my personal experience has been that berry's and west coast run very well in my G35 all the way to 1050 fps. The only reason I say this is that there may be some other causation of the keyholing that is being masked when a switch to jacketed bullets takes place.

DECOT'S DECOT'S DECOT'S DECOT'S DECOT'S........ Sorry for yelling but I can't say enough about these glasses!

Dog Check out Decot Hy-Wyds. They offer three different frame widths and lense choices too numerous to mention. They are solely in the business of shooting sports and know how to match lenses to conditions second to none. Not to mention as your eyes change they can do very trick things to make your glasses work for you. They actually had an article i the most recent front site mag. I have been using these glasses for 16 yrs and I am still on my first frame. Good luck, Craig

The dustcover is slightly wider on the KZ than on a standard 1911 but I found that it has fit perfectly in both the uncle mikes injection molded kydex and a comp-tac locking paddle.(both are IDPA legal) I see no reason why it would not fit in most other kydex as well. As far as leather goes it should fit in anything made for the 1911 although it might require a few more draws to break the holster in. Good luck, Craig

Knick, I have somewhere around 6,000 completely trouble free rounds through mine and could not be more pleased. If you are into tinkering with your gun then the ability to not completely disassemble may be an issue. However I have had no reason to mess with mine what so ever. As far as muzzle flip goes, I do not notice much difference between my KZ and my CQB. With a little load tweaking and a 15 lb. recoil spring I can track the sights very well adn still make PF just fine. My gun has the fixed sights and it shoots directly to POA and is a 2" gun at 25 yds. If you have never owned a Wilson pistol, Bill only guarantees the pistol to run with certain ammo. However my gun has eaten anything and everything I have fed it without a malfunction. As far as magazines go initially there was a shortage of mags due to some import problems shortly after 9/11. The mags are manufactured in south africa and Wilson had some containers on a ship that was quarantined in customs for quite some time which seemed to create a myth that the mags were all but unobtainable. I have six and although they were $40 a piece they run flawlessly and have proven to be very durable. On a side note Wilson service has been great to me. I had sent in my CQB to adjust the grip safety and in return for my shipping costs Dave sent me an extra KZ mag. So in short I am a fan and wouldn't hesitate to buy a KZ for limited 10 at all. Take care, Craig

I have been very pleased with my magwell from JP enterprises. Not only does it enlarge the opening but it helps very much to lock my hand in the gun.

Thanx, thats what I was thinking I just needed some reassurance.

This may sound silly, but I bought a 1lb can of Titegroup to start out with and just purchased 4 lbs to continue. Do any of you retest (chrono, etc.) your loads when aquiring a new container of the same powder or would your suggestion be to just go ahead and load? Thanx Craig