JGus

I've now only been running STI mags (for my STI Tactical .40s&w) in my Para P16-40 Limited and its been great. I've got 8 STI mags, and on half the slide will lock back after the last round, and on the other half it won't. But no big deal. Haven't had any issues at all. Also haven't had any problems with mags dropping free.

I have an STI Tactical 5.0 in .40s&w and have several STI mags for it. I also have a Para P16-40 Limited that came with two mags. I had read on this forum that the STI mags will run in the Para. So I tried it, and it works great. I now only run my STI Mags in the P16-40. The slide will not lock back after the last round for all the mags, but will on about half the mags. But I can live with that. The gun using STI mags has been 100% reliable. I've also got a Dawson stainless steel magwell on the P16-40 and the STI 140mm mags fit perfectly in the magwell. So that saved me some money as I didn't have to buy extended basepads for the two para mags, but I will at some point.

I just recently added a Pistol Gear "Unlimited" size magwell to my XDm40 5.25". This is the largest size magwell they sell. The magwell is great. There is no movement at all once attached. And it is very easy to put on and remove. I haven't and won't blend the edges inside the magwell. After doing many dozens of practice mag changes I haven't had any issues at all with the mag catching the edges. On a side note, it also helps improve my grip by having the magwell as it keeps my hand up high on the gun. This magwell is definitely worth the money. Here my XDm so you can see what it looks like with the Unlimited size magwell:

Just an FYI and thought I'd share. Today I went to the range to compare five of my guns that could all be used for Limited Division in USPSA, and all are .40s&w. Of course I've shot all five on regular occasion (the X-5 more than the others as it's the gun I use in Limited) but never all five at the same time to compare against each other. The five guns I shot today are: 1)Sig X-5 Competition 2)STI Tactical 5.0 3)Para P16-40 Limited 4)EAA Witness Elite Match 5)Springfield XDm 5.25" This was FAR FROM anything scientific and is not meant to be anything conclusive. And, I'm an average shooter at best in terms of shooting for accuracy. With each gun, I shot 2 full mags from 20 yards, and 1 full mag from 25 yards. Why 20 and 25 yards? No particular reason. I guess I just wanted to test my accuracy with each gun from these distances. The shooting was done off hand, and performed slow and steady. For all the guns I shot the same ammo, Ultramax .40s&w 180 grain fmj 930 fps. There wasn't a major difference in groupings from one gun to the other. The groupings were all pretty good (for me). But, the tightest grouping was with my Sig X-5 Competition. I shoot this gun in competition so it only makes sense that I shoot best with it as I have the most trigger time with it. But, simply by eyeballing the targets, the best grouping came from my Sig X-5, followed by the Para P16-40 Limited, EAA Witness Elite Match, STI Tactical 5.0, and the least tight grouping came from my Springfield XDM40 5.25". But again, let me stress that the difference from my best grouping (X-5) to my worst (XDM) was very minor. They all shot excellent groupings. After shooting all five and comparing the results, I concluded these are all outstanding guns that will give the shooter outstanding accuracy if they do their part. And not one of these guns will hold me back in attempting to move up through the classification ranks. But, the X-5 definitely handles recoil the best, as it is the heaviest of all the guns. And I definitely prefer the overall feel of my X-5 which is why I shoot it in competition. The STI Tactical (which I bought used and was tuned by Dawson Precision) has the best trigger, which was expected. None of the other guns have had trigger work. Because of its lighter weight, the XDm had the most muzzle flip which would cause me the most problems reacquiring the target (yet I've got a neighbor that consistently beats me in Limited with his XDm40 5.25" with no trigger job, no magwell, and no extended basepads). So, I'll keep using my X-5 as my primary gun, and use any of the other four as a potential back up should something happen. I know that if I have mechanical problems with my X-5 during a match and have to go to a back up, I have every bit of confidence the back up won't hold me back.

Buy the P226 Enhanced Elite 9mm for Production. Then if you want to shoot .40s&w, you can buy a .40s&w exchange kit (I think Sig calls them X-Change kit) that can be used on the 9mm frame. You can find them for a little over $200 if you search hard enough. Now you have two guns in one with two different caliber uppers and one frame. But unless it's specifically a 9mm "conversion" barrel for the .40s&w slide, I don't think a standard 9mm barrel will work. But, I don't think using a 9mm conversion barrel in a .40s&w slide is legal in production, even though I doubt if you would get much slack from anyone at your local club. I own four Sig P226's in both 9mm and .40s&w, and I think they are outstanding guns. I use a Sig X-5 Competition model in .40s&w for Limited and a USPSA model for Production. So I'm definitely biased towards Sigs. The Enhanced Elite you are saving for would be an outstanding gun for Production, and just a great gun to own for any reason.

I'll email them. I own four P226's (X-5 Comp .40, Bitone .40, Diamond Plate 9mm, and Stainless Steel Frame USPSA model). I'd put the GGI Intermediate mag release on all of them.

The person who gave me the idea to swap out the extended competition mag release with a standard mag release also suggested the first choice should be the GGI intermediate mag release, but he couldn't find one. I also would have got that version of the mag release, but searched all over the internet and couldn't find one either. If someone has one they want to sell, I'm definitely interested!

I shoot a Sig P226 X-5 Competition .40s&w SA only model in Limited. Every time I run a stage where I have to shoot weak hand (my left hand), I am constantly dumping the mag as the base of my trigger finger is right on the mag release button. It seems like it always happens while shooting a classifier, too. I've tried playing with my grip, but there is just no way for my hand not to cover the mag release. As anyone with an X-5 knows, the competition mag release sticks way out. And I understand why Sig designed it that way, as it's conducive for "running and gunning." I've been communicating with another member of this forum who also shoots an X-5 Competition model and was also having problems with hitting the extended mag release and dumping mags. So, he swapped out the X-5 extended mag release with a standard P226 mag release. He said it made all the difference and hasn't had any mag dumps since the swap. Well, I followed his lead and ordered a standard P226 mag release from Midway USA for a few bucks, took me less than a minute to swap it out, and it makes all the difference in the world! I have no problem accessing the standard size mag release vs the competition sized extended mag release. When shooting weak hand my weak hand still covers the mag release, but it's no longer an issue because the plastic grips have enough width where the base of my trigger finger goes right over the top of the mag release, barely making contact with it. I haven't tried it yet in competition but after running through several practice mag changes and weak hand dry firing, I'm very confident the problem has been solved.

I have a railed EAA Witness Elite Match in .40s&w. I also have a Baby Desert Eagle II 9mm all steel model with the 4.52" barrel that's also railed, and I discovered about a year ago that the EAA fits perfectly in the kydex holster I have for my Baby Eagle. I bought the holster from CDNN Sports. It's a basic kydex, inexpensive holster. But, I also used a Blade-Tech drop and offset attachment that I took from another holster I had and attached the Baby Eagle holster to so that it is dropped and offset. And now I use it for both my Baby Eagle and EAA. It's kind of a piece meal holster, but it works great and it looks like it all came as one package. Just a thought.

I've got four guns that are all excellent Limited Div guns; EAA Witness Elite Match .40, Para P16-40 Limited, STI Tactical 5.0 .40, and a Sig P226 X-5 Competition model .40. I use the X-5 in matches, as I just can't get a better feel nor better accuracy than with my X-5. So far my X-5 has been virtually flawless. The one issue I had was because the gun was dry, and after a few drops of lube, it's never happened again. I've never had an issue with the extractor. I really like all four of these guns. They are all very accurate, outstanding guns. And now having spent time sending several rounds downrange with all of them, they still can't surpass the X-5 in all around fit, function, and accuracy. Of course what's good for me may not be so good for others. If you really want to see what the gun can do go to Youtube and watch this video of Sig pro shooter Max Michel, it's pretty impressive: Here are my four Limited div guns I was referring to:

I would assume it would work since it works on the standard P226 frame. But I don't know this for sure. The standard slide assembly on my P226 worked great on the frame of my P226 X-5 Competition.

I didn't catch it the first time, but just watched it again, and that sure looks like one of your magwells on his X-5. Very nice!

Just watched this video (from July 29, 2011) of Sig pro shooter Max Michel, and towards the end he really got my attention. He said that Sig has been working on a Sig 1911 double stack for competition. I really, really like my Sigs so I am biased, but I'd sure like to test out a Sig 1911 double stack. Anyone else heard anything about this? On a side note, I also shoot the Sig P226 X-5 .40 Competition model in Limited, just like the gun Max is shooting in this video. And in my mind, I shoot and move just like him. Of course no one at the club matches would agree with that, ever, but in my mind...

Danny, that's what I thought, but I appreciate you confirming it. Going to try shooting it with this combo in the next couple days as I have to adjust the rear fixed sight on the standard P226 slide to get it dialed in.

Just for the heck of it put the slide from my Sig P226 bitone .40s&w with 4.4" slide on my Sig P226 X-5 Competition .40s&w just to see how it would look. And I like the look of it. I haven't shot it with this combo, but would it cause damage or be unsafe to shoot the X-5 SA only Competition model with the upper assembly from my standard bitone P226? I can operate it just fine. Slide to frame fit is nice and smooth. It dry fires just fine. I know slides assemblies can be switched on standard P226's. I'm assuming it would be ok to shoot like this, but I wouldn't dare try it until I got feedback from someone who would know for sure.

Gunfighter01, Thanks for the info. I'll go to youtube and find the videos from Dawson Precision.

I'm also using the Mecgar mags, but I'm shooting .40s&w. I converted my 15 rd Mecgars to 18 rd with the Sherman extensions. But, I thought I read you could even get the .40s&w Mecgar 15 rd mags to 20 or more with a more costly option. But I'm just going off memory so I may have that wrong.

I know how you feel. After competing in USPSA for the last year and a half, I've done several embarrassing things. Nothing that violated safety, but just stupid things like trying to shoot when the safety is on, accidently hitting my mag release and dropping my mag, TWICE, during a stage, finishing a stage only to realize I didn't go all the way through and left unshot targets. Yeah, I've had my share of embarrassing moments. But I know I'm still going through the learning curve of this sport. I've also changed guns three times but now finally have a platform I'm very comfortable with. So I also know how tough it is to shoot a few matches right after the gun change. But now it finally feels like things are coming together. I still get a little nervous before a stage, but nothing like I did when I first started. And the only reason I still get nervous is that I still don't have a lot of confidence in my "run and gun" ability, but it's growing all the time. But I caught the fever and now I can't get enough of this sport.

I'm not sure. I thought it was more involved than that. If that is all that is necessary to get to over 20 rds in a mag I should order a few of the followers. If you find out that is all that is necessary please let me know. Thanks.

The Sherman mag extensions are great. My only regret is that I went the less expensive route and ordered the extensions to only get me to 18 rd per mag, when I should have just ordered the more expensive set up to get me to over 20 per mag.

I put this in the "Gun smithing" section but haven't had any responses, so thought I'd also post it here: I was shooting a brand new Sig P226 9mm with fixed night sights that I purchased recently but haven't yet shot until now. I'm thinking of eventually shooting it in USPSA Production. I have cleaned it and re-oiled it before I shot it for first time. The gun was shooting way to the right. From 15 yards I couldn't even hit an 18" diameter target when holding on the bullseye. I was shooting a tight group, they were all just hitting dead right of the target. My nephew shot the gun and had the same problem. I was also shooting two other guns that were hitting close to dead center on same target. I'm not a great shot, but I'm not that bad! I was shooting WWB 9mm, but even from 15 yards it shouldn't completely miss the target to the right. When myself and others looked at the rear sight, you could visually see it was slightly off center to the right. The elevation was basically perfect. Obviously I need to move the sights to the left to adjust it from shooting so far to the right. I've never attempted to adjust fixed sights. I know I can buy a fixed sight adjustment tool, but I'd rather not have to spend over $100 just to move the sight slightly left. Is this easily accomplished with a small hammer and a brass punch set for a fixed sight novice like me? I thought it would be better to ask before I tried it, kind of like the old saying "measure twice, cut once." Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I went shooting this weekend on the farm with some different guns that I've been shooting for awhile. At the end I decided to shoot a brand ne Sig P226 9mm with fixed night sights that I purchased recently but haven't yet shot. I'm thinking of eventually shooting it in USPSA Production. I have cleaned it and re-oiled it, but have not yet shot it. The gun was shooting way to the right. From 15 yards I couldn't even hit an 18" diameter target when holding on the bullseye. I was shooting a tight group, they were all just hitting dead right of the target. I'm not a great shot, but I'm not that bad! I was shooting WWB 9mm, but even from 15 yards it shouldn't completely miss the target to the right. From the same distance I was dead on with my other pistols. When myself and others looked at the rear sight, you could visually see it was slightly off center to the right. The elevation was basically perfect. Obviously I need to move the sights to the left to adjust it from shooting so far to the right. I've never attempted to adjust fixed sights. I know I can buy a fixed sight adjustment tool, but I'd rather not have to spend over $100 just to move the sight slightly left. Is this easily accomplished with a small hammer and a brass punch set for a fixed sight novice like me? I thought it would be better to ask before I tried it, kind of like the old saying "measure twice, cut once." Thanks.

There are several brand new in box XDm 9mm 5.25" currently listed on www.gunbroker.com.

Thanks for the info and the link. Looking forward to when Para does start production of the Travis Tomasie 16-40.

Yeah, the more I look into it the more I'm sure it's not a TT model. However, a buddy of mine pointed out this link on www.budsgunshop.com that led him to believe it was the TT model, as this one is the exact gun I have and it's marked TT. But I'm sure that Bud's probably just used a stock photo of a Limited for this ad as it sounds like the gun isn't even out yet: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/79092/Para+SX1640ST+16-40+TT+45+ACP+5%22+16%2B1+Syn+Grip+BlkSS+Sterli