DRobson

I knew of one guy around here that would load new 38 auto to major one time and leave it.

No need to add the powder bar. The powder measure will come with the large and small powder bar. I wouldn't waste time with the fail safe rod either. It takes maybe 10 seconds to adjust it for the next caliber.

10gr of AA7 @ 1.165 will give you plenty of gas.

I currently shoot a full length 9mm with a brazos thundercomp at 174PF. I had a new gun built with the cheely comp. Waited 6 months to get it and sold it after the first time I shot it. To me the cheely comp is pretty flat but violent in the hand.

EGW. I think the Lee die is even tighter. I've used the EGW and found it to be more than enough to prevent setback.

Make sure you aren't over crimping in order to avoid setback. Crimping does nothing to prevent setback. In your case a U die will help or stop the setback.

If its just cerakoting something like a grip, just look for someone local. I've cerakoted a few steel grips and they are hard to mess up.

I tried bayou and blue bullet 180's. I tried various loads and various amounts of crimp with no luck. They weren't horrible but 5-6" groups at 25yards isn't so great. Switched to PD 180 FMJ's and groups shrank to about 1" at 25 yards.

My AET barrel didn't shoot coated lead bullets very well. I would just skip on the AET barrel but that's just my opinion.

Add a couple of rhinestones and play Billie Jean in the background. You might be on to something.

Akai sends one mag with their builds.

Expansion industries also has powder out there. They claim it loads like tightgroup or wst. $100 per 4lb

I thought I heard .250"

Search on ebay for 5-40 button head. Either that or try your local hardware store.

AA7 will work great.

I do it on my 9mm U die. For some reason it was always coming loose. It's good to go now.

Sounds like the rounds are just too long for the chamber and the egw gauge. I reamed my barrel and egw gauge for my loads with a 124 jhp. If you are leaving a crimp a crimp ring on a montana gold you are crimping way too much.

I would go with the BBI 125's. I was more than impressed with the accuracy in my m&p and open gun.

I say split the difference and then some. 5.5" sight tracker.

I would just use the data you've found for the 124's and go from there.

I would imagine that a good welder would have no problem. I'm guessing that you would have to drill a couple/few small holes through the back of the mag. That way there's a simple spot to take the spacer in.

Tack weld them in.

I would go "new school" with whatever latest and greatest gun I thought was the best. After all this game is mostly mental so knowing you have the best gun out there may help your confidence. That being said, I've only been into this for about a year. I went straight for a 9 major from freedom gunworks.

Maybe the follower is catching on the slide stop.

Just split the difference and go with a 5.5"