earthshine402

I use the Dillon case gauge for .401 Ibejiheads.. most of the time they all pass.. last time I loaded 500, I had one not pass.. I recently bought my first case of 9mm Bayous and had a similar experience in that an alarmingly high percentage (more than 1 in 500, more like 10-20%) would not pass my case gauge. I "fixed" it by running those rounds through a LEE FCD and then later using the FCD in the normal loading process for those rounds.. I still ended up with having a bunch be tight in the gauge, but at least they passed. my .40 die setup: EGW undersize die, Mr. Bullet Feeder expander, Dillon seat, Dillon crimp my 9mm die setup: EGW undersize die (not sure I really need it for 9..), Mr. Bullet Feeder expander, Dillon seat, LEE Factory Crimp Die

Here are some websites where you can find the Mr. Bullet Feeder expander: http://www.doublealpha.biz/bulletfeeder/powder-funnel I bought a .40 and later a 9mm version right from the inventor of the Mr. Bullet Feeder at http://www.mrbulletfeeder.com/buy-now/ I had to get him on the phone to give him my credit card info, and got the part a few days later.. RAK SYSTEMS LLC, Mr. Rick Koskela (480) 235-8864 rick@mrbulletfeeder.com www.mrbulletfeeder.biz

you need to expand more if you are shaving lead. also, I recommend buying the expander insert from Mr. Bullet Feeder - it doesn't make a simple trumpet bell like the Dillon expander - it almost cuts out a straight section and then does the trumpet.. this makes the bullets sit very straight when you place them in the case.

Passing a case gage with a loaded case is a function of the bullet profile, which is going to be affected by both diameter and OAL. One person saying .401 bullets worked fine in a Dillon gage and another saying they didn't is pretty meaningless without knowing the actual profile of the bullets being compared and the OAL you both are using. For example, I have an EGW case gage for 9mm (I only have my 9mm OAL data handy here at work for this). I can load a Berry's 9mm 124g Round Nose to 1.195" and pass case gage....well over the max OAL for 9mm. But a 9mm 124g Hollow Base Flat Point can only be loaded to 1.115" in the same case gage. Same diameter bullets. In my case, I load long to 1.180", and the bullet profile does not get hung up inside the case gauge.. sticks out the other side.. plunks in freely and drops out freely.. I'm not so concerned about bullet profile rather than just making quality ammo that will fit in my barrel. If I ever encounter a bullet profile that has an issue with the standard case gauge, I guess I would just use my barrel instead.

you are better off shooting CDP in IDPA with a .45. It will be the same exact setup (as long as you dont use a big mag button) as SS. Technically, you can shoot a .45 in IDPA ESP at 125 power factor, but you are limited by the gun having to fit the box, and with that, you are still limited to 8 rounds, and ESP mags are allowed 10 rounds, so that would not be ideal for you.. Just shoot IDPA CDP and USPSA SS (if .45) If 40, try to get the 10 rounders to work and make sure it fits the box - you can run .40 minor in IDPA ESP and minor 10 rounds or major 8 rounds in USPSA Single Stack.

yea, I had a Dillon crimp die come loose on me in 9mm, what a nightmare that was! I had to re-run everything back through the crimp station.. I definitely tighten all nuts with a big wrench - so they don't work their way loose and cause issues.

I just loaded 500 MG 180 JHPs (.400) and 500 Ibejiheads 180gr FPs (.401) this weekend - everything fit my Dillon case gauge.

Looks like a nice job. Do you guys feel this offers better grip than a nice stipple job? I used to really like the sandpaper stickers for my glocks, but once I got my 2011 with a stippled grip, I think stippled is the way to go. I haven't tried holding a Si carbide grip though..

Try getting in touch with your builder on facebook.

I'm curious if anyone has any experiences with the differences between these - I'm thinking of mostly BBI, Bayou, and Ibejiheads. I know BBI primarily offers .400 sized, Bayou defaults to .401, and Ibeji gives you the option. Does accuracy suffer at .400? more leading? more powder required for the same PF?

Test one at a time? I use a 17# mainspring btw.. some people go down to 15#. I know a single stack shooter who prefers a heavy mainspring (21# ?) and a really light recoil spring.. less force on forward movement of slide... I would think that one might run into feeding problems with too light of a recoil spring.. I guess it is all about what feels best for you and works reliably(obviously)

Not sure what the firing pin spring has to do with the recoil spring... If anything, the mainspring might affect your recoil a bit as the slide cocks the hammer... I use a 12.5 in a tri-topped, lightened slide.. there is also a good youtube video out there by Nic Taylor (spelling?) on tuning your 2011 recoil spring.

Aren't some SV slides stainless? I don't think STI's are.. Does this mean it eliminates the need to finish - hard chrome or DLC, PVD, etc?

Nice slide work on that Edge!

I would case gauge at least major match ammo or all match ammo. If you are loading correctly, a very small percentage won't pass. It also depends on some specifics like bullet type, seating depth, etc.. I recently switched my 650 from 40 to 9 and loaded some Bayou 147s (first time loading coated 9) that had an alarmingly high case gauge failure rate (5-15%?).. not sure what is causing it yet, but I have since went back to .40 as Limited is my go-to division.. 40 seems to be easier to load the coated bullets in.. at least with my experience..

So who is the builder?

I should not have assumed as such then.. even better for you! I guess at first glance, it just looks like a Brazos.. gotta be doing something right if you get imitators (yea its an obvious statement).

I think we all expected the builder to make this right. He has a great reputation.

Yup, that is the general word here.

I bought my TTI pads and guts from benstoegerproshop.com

did you ever have any mixed brass ammo not go bang or chrono? Load to 170 PF and forget about it.. Just seems like you are worrying too much about nothing.

Overkill much? You might be better off just buying new brass with all that time you put into it.

I never had a problem with 40 brass.. as others had mentioned, 9mm is a little more irritating.. I throw out the crimped pockets, and sometimes specific headstamps like GECO or CBC are a pain in the butt, but with 40, load 'em up!

I tested out some loads with TG behind some Ibejiheads in 40 and Bayou Bullets in 9mm, not too much smoke, fine for outdoor shooting.

I have the best luck with TTI 4G2 basepads and either Grams or TTI springs and followers to get 21+1 to start, 20 reloadable. I was previously using the Dawson SNL pads and had to file the back of the feed lips just to get the mags to fit the gauge, and I only got 20+1, 20 reloadable. The TTI pads allow the mag to fit the gauge much easier also. This is all with factory STI tubes, not tuned or anything.