JGus

Yeah, I did some research myself and you are correct. However, I also don't think mine is a TT, just a standard Limited model. I bought the gun at an estate auction and the sticker with the info on the side of the plastic container was ripped off. I did contact Para to ask when it was manufactured and they said August 2011, so I don't think it could be a TT.

I asked someone else about the TT and they said it's not for Travis Tomasie, but rather "two tone." As my Para P16-40 Limited has a black slide and stainless steel frame. Does anyone know for sure what the TT stands for?

Well, I feel a little foolish! I own that exact gun but didn't know the TT was for Travis Tomasie model. I bought my Para P16-40 Limited from an estate auction. The gun was brand new, unfired. According to Para it was manufactured in August 2011. One of the best deals I've ever found on a firearm as I got it for a ridiculously low price. I also just added a Dawson magwell.

I've been collecting 1911's for several years and have many. I just love the platform, the engineering, the beauty of a fine 1911.... You will hear all kinds of arguments about MIM vs forged, one brand vs another, and so on. But with the amazing advancements in technology, the recent production 1911's coming out of Springfield, Sig, Ruger, Colt, Kimber, Magnum Research (Desert Eagle), STI, RIA and several others I haven't mentioned are all of excellent quality. But, if you are willing to go up to $1500, I'd look for a used but great condition Les Baer or a new or used Dan Wesson depending on the model. If you get one of these you will have a gun you will never want to trade or sell. Just my opinion.

I just saw this on another forum: http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=379278 Pretty sweet gun. Looks like Para is really "upping" their game. I just recently purchased a Para P16-40 Limited that I'm anxious to start putting some lead down range. I'm looking forward to the day they bring out the Travis Tomasie model for Limited division.

Having only shot USPSA locally in Central IL at Lefthanders and Havana, and at Bullet Express in Springfield, the only way I've ever known it to be done is this way: When a person is done shooting, the RO will walk along the course and call out the hits and a person following will have score sheet. The shooter has the option of following the RO and scorer to see where where their hits landed. Once the RO calls out the hits and the scorer records them, then they get pasted. It may not sound like it, but it's a very fast process yet we still get to see where our shots are landing. And I really like it this way as I can walk along with them and see my hits. As someone new to competition shooting I find it very helpful to see where my shots are landing. I've only been shooting USPSA for about a year and until I read this thread I just thought the way it was done in my area was standard protocol.

I almost had my first DQ yesterday. Almost. It was a stage where we start with our toes on the X's, back to the stage to start, gun in holster. As I was turning I began pulling my gun from holster. The RO didn't call it, but one of the people in our squad said they would have called it on the 180 degree rule, while others said they didn't think I broke 180 rule. But, bottom line is that even if just one person thinks I might have violated 180 degree rule, then I started pulling too early. As always, safety first.

I've only been competing in USPSA for about a year now, and even then it's a challenge as I have two teenage sons with lots of activities going on. But, being a hunter all my life, I thought I'd give pistol shooting a try. I read a lot of info and watched a lot of youtube videos. One day I just decided to go to the local range for the Thursday night USPSA shoot. I brought my Baby Desert Eagle 9mm with a leather holster and a kydex double mag pouch. I had just the very basics and was pretty embarrassed by what I had vs all the other shooters in terms of equipment. But, there were a lot of people willing to give advice and tips, and help me progress along the way with both my shooting and my equipment. So, I'd say the best way to figure it out is just get involved in a local club and talk to the members. Nothing you read or watch online will compare to actually just going out and competing with what you have and talking to the members of the local club. It's the best way to learn and progress in my opinion.

Sunday's work fine for me, but I'd prefer Saturday's. But I understand the need to set up Saturday and shoot on a Sunday vs having to do it all on the same day.

That's good info to know. I recently bought a used STI Tactical 5.0 .40s&w and picked up a really inexpensive Para P16-40 Limited at an estate auction. I was told it hadn't even been fired, and I believe it as everything was still packaged in original box and plastic. I didn't realize the STI Mags could be used in the Para. That will save me some $$$. Dirk, I'll see you tomorrow in Havana. Haven't made many shoots this summer with kids activities, but planning on making Havana tomorrow.

This was the solution I came up with as well. Bought a 5.25 in 9mm first, then found a great deal on a xdm in 40. Both got great identical trigger replacements, one frame got a mag well and a Ti guide rod. Now I can switch back and forth between the two guns depending what I want to shoot (idpa, USPSA or 3G) and still stay within the rules and make major when needed. So are there no ejection problems when you put the 9mm upper on the 40cal lower? I worry that the 40cal ejector won't hit the 9mm brass properly... I've never had an ejector issue when I swap out my .40s&w barrel on my XDm40 4.5" for the Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel. Of course I also switch to 9mm mags that also work perfect in the XDm40.

I've enjoyed this thread. As someone who has only been shooting Limited Major for about a year (and sporadically at best with too many kids activities going on), I've learned some good info that I wasn't aware of. But like a few others have said, I also bring a back up. As of now I shoot a Sig P226 .40s&w X-5 Competition (with extended basepads and aftermarket magwell to try to be somewhat competitive), but I also bring an EAA Witness Elite Match .40s&w as back up. If something goes wrong with my main gun (which so far hasn't happened), I don't want to have to sit and watch.

Yeah, I second that. EAA, just like Sig, has figured it out. Don't just offer the full gun, also offer easily changeable complete uppers. I wish Springfield Armory would do the same so I could get a 5.25" complete upper for my XDm40 4.5". Because of the way the uppers can be easily swapped out, I'll never get rid of my EAA or Sigs. My Xdm, on the other hand...

Thanks for the info on the grips. Going to place an order today. I purchased a magwell from Staudacher. It's great! Also got the extended base pads from Roger Sherman, which are also fantastic. Now all I need to do is actually become a decent shooter . Your X-5 looks amazing. I'd seen pic's of it when I was looking at the magwell pic's on Staudachers posts.

Where did you order the Hogue grips for the X-5? I can find them for the standard P226 but not the X-5. Thanks.

I agree with some of this. True, buying a custom isn't going to make you any better over buying a stock Edge. I respectfully disagree that all you need are good magazines. I too have seen some really talented shooters with basically stock a Edge beat guys as well. The difference is they have been around long enough that when the ambisafety, link pin, ejector, extractor, slide stop, or one of the many other issues comes up, they work on their own guns. For a person who has no working knowledge, they either have to send their gun off for a month to get fixed, pay a gunsmith to fix it, or learn how to work on it themselves. Now if you don't mind tinkering or have a gunsmith friend handy, then buying a stock gun is less of an issue. This reply makes me a little nervous. I recently bought a used but very low round count STI Tactical 5.0 in .40s&w. I've shot 200 rounds through it without issue. I may use it in USPSA Limited at some point, but currently use a Sig X-5 Competition. Should I expect to start having issues with my STI Tactical with some of the area's you mentioned above? Are these problems common on an STI that hasn't been worked over by a gunsmith?

Did you have to make any adjustments to the Hogue Extreme Grips to have them fit the X-5? I've got the standard Competition model and don't have the adjustable trigger (L1 model). Also, mine came with the standard plastic Sig X-5 grips. I like them, but would like something a bit more "tacky" for gripping purposes, especially in hot weather. But I've heard "adjustments" have to be made to most other grips designed for a standard P226.

Mont1120: Does Storm Lake, or anyone for that matter, make a 9mm conversion barrel for the XDm40 5.25"? I've got a 9mm Storm Lake conversion barrel for my XDm40 4.5", but I didn't think anyone was making them for the 5.25"?

Yes, got the Roger Sherman extensions. They work great. I completely agree that Sig has really dropped the ball on offering additional accessories. I bought the extensions from Roger Sherman and an aftermarket magwell made by Danny Woodard. Both the extensions and the magwell are top notch. The quality for both is amazing. I'm just glad that Roger and Danny saw a need that needed filling and took the initiative to create their products. If it wasn't for them I'd probably be shooting my STI Tactical 5.0 in competition rather than my Sig X-5. Danny and Rogers products have allowed me to be competitive with my X-5. Sig really should contact both Roger and Danny and work out some kind of co-marketing, co-production deal. I don't think a lot of Sig X-5 owners are aware of these extensions and after market magwell are available. It puzzles me too, why a manufacturer would make a competition gun, but than not offer the many competition upgrades that other manufacturers offer?

Probably best that this was the end result. Seemed to be a real mess plus you had no idea what gun you were getting.

I bought some extensions and can now hold 18 rounds. It's not 20, but it's better than 15. The extensions fit perfectly on my 15 rd Mec-Gar mags.

Yeah, that's a good point about the amount of risk an aftermarket company would have to take if they were to make the slides and/or a complete upper. And if anyone would know, it would be you. The only company that could make them cost effectively would be Spfld Armory, and we know that won't happen anytime soon. By the way, if I ever do get a 5.25" XDm40 I'll be sending it you for some custom work. I do, however, have an EAA Witness Elite Match that I keep meaning to send off to you for some custom work. I live in the Springfield area so I might even just drop it by the next time I'm up in that area, which I get to on occasion. My neighbor across the street has an XDm40 5.25" he also wants you to customize. Maybe we will both just road trip up someday to drop them off. Streator is only about an hour and a half away from us.

Geez, am I the only one that shoots the X-5 and loves it?

Just curious as to how many people are shooting the Sig P226 X-5 (any model X-5) in any type of competition? I shoot USPSA Limited with a Sig P226 X-5 Competition model in .40s&w. Most of the people in my area are shooting Limited with an STI Edge, Para P16-40, Springfield Xdm 5.25", and the occasional Glock and M&P. A few shoot a Sig P226 in Production, but I'm the ONLY person I've ever seen shooting the X-5. I own a few other guns that I could use in Limited competition (STI Tactical 5.0, Para P16-40, EAA Witness Elite Match, all in .40s&w), but I really prefer my X-5. Obviously I'm in the minority. For some reason it just doesn't seem to be a very popular model with the competition shooters.

Yeah, I thought about that also. It's really the only option available at this time. It would just be nice to avoid the $$$ outlay for a 5.25" XDm40 (as I already have a 4.5" XDm40), then try to sell the lower unit to recover some of the costs of the 5.25". Fortunately I don't "need" the 5.25" upper so I can just wait and see if it ever happens where Spfld Armory (or some aftermarket co) will sell just the complete upper.