T_T

MB- You are exactly right about the angle on the base pad! It is too extreme for a 1911 style pad. That is why I had a custom one made. I believe if you could find some extended EAA pads they would work. I just don’t know what the capacity would be. Tanfo does not import the chrome mags that I’m using, but EAA has a blue one that is way better than the Pro Mag. It's extremely easy to adapt to the Caspian. Shoot me a PM if there's any thing I can do.

Wow, thank you for the kind words gentlemen! I showed my Tanfo mag conversion to Caspian so hopefully Gary can setup them up for OEM. They are equal in quality to SV tubes and can hold 21 rounds 40 cal with a custom pad. Let me know if you need any help. Thanks again, Travis

No. I always wanted to try it though. Hopefully there will be no need for that now.

I've been using those tubes since '98. They require maintenance no doubt, but the bottom line is that they work. As far as a rebirth, I’ve never given up on the Caspian. I've been hackled and harassed though, and told by the other frame manufactures that I’d never be competitive with one in Limited. That I needed to stop "fighting the power". I say choose your own path.

I sent a couple mags to Caspian and they've tested flawlessly. I have no idea when or if these will be available.

I have no interest in selling or marketing these mags, but Caspian might. I’m sending some to Gary and he has shown great interest. Personally they are a dream come true. The base pads were custom made for me by Tony Kidd. He is an artist and perfectionist, so they are truly beautiful. The tubes are so dimensionally consistent and true that no tuning is required on the feed lips. Also the feed lips are longer than any other 1911 mag in order to guide the round through more of the intake stroke. They feature a high-polished, hard chromed finish, on both the interior and exterior surfaces of the body. With the Kidd base pad they are USPSA legal and can hold 21+1 rounds of .40 cal. I've got to catch a plane for some good old Army training, but when I get back I'll try my best to answer any questions. TT

Hello, I'll try and post some details regarding my new Caspian mags soon. Here's a couple pics: Travis Tomasie USAMU

Manny is my hero I don't think another top shooter gives more back to the sport than him. When he went into the last stage at Nationals with a lead, I think I was more nervous for him than if I had been shooting! Travis

Still Praying- The only reason you'll need a bottle of oxygen is from the exhilaration of using some of the "props" we have in store for you! Hi Walter- The longest shots will be 300 yards. There will be some partial rifle shots in between there, so I recomend you know your elevation holdoffs. Absolutely no shame in slapping some glass on there though. The entries continue to pour in and I am amazed at the caliber of shooters signed up thus far. It is a field as deep as Nationals! I really wish I could shoot this match but somebody has got to run the clock. It will be a great opportunity to see the BEST in action! Travis Tomasie USAMU

Here are a few pictures of my new M2i Caspian, built by Matt McLearn. This has already become my favorite gun and has earned 1st string. The fit on this thing is amazing and it’s the softest .40 I’ve ever shot. There is nothing like having the Nation & World IPSC Champ building your gun. Thank you Matt, you are THE man! http://www.mattmclearn.com/ Travis Tomasie GO ARMY

Bob- Thank you! It was a pleasure having you in the class and you are an awesome student. I hope we'll see you on the range this season! To those asking about the finish, it has held up pretty good. I would say a bit better than blue. There are obvious signs of wear from the holster on the trigger guard, but that's about it. Matt McLearn of M2I won the gov contract to build me a new Caspian .40 and it will be done shortly. If you remind me I'll try to post some pics of the new heater. Pat- I'm not sure where Caspian is at on the new mags. I may have some 20 round .40 mags available at Max's Choice very shortly. Travis

I don’t know about the female and juniors, but the men’s Open and Standard teams are awesome! Not only are they the best shooters but also the nicest guys, and will do a magnificent job at representing the USPSA. It looks to me like the selection criteria did its job and then some. Congrats to all of the team members. We are very proud of you! VR, Travis Tomasie U.S. Army

Decisions, decisions, and limited coin........do I get my other heater dipped like Predator, or dip some parts on the truck?? Lots of people have asked about Fred Craig. He's currently unavailable and conducting contracting work in Iraq. Don't forget EGW (George Smith is the professor!!) and Rich Dettlehouser ( http://www.canyon-creek.com/ ). Rich has been doing some amazing work on Caspians. I shot a 6" hi-cap of his that was sweeeeet nectar. Some very exciting things are on the horizon for the Caspian frame. I've been working with a manufacturer on the development of a new magazine, and Caspian has been very supportive and has agreed to invest in the project and make them a reality. Hi Bulm540- I believe it has around 50K rounds and the ugly one I'm not sure. I traded a plastic gun for it and am not totally sure of its history. As the dust cover testifies it was a convertible and did double duty as an open gun. It is truly an awesome shooter. Super G- I'll give the Joe man word about your blaster! Henny- You're too nice! Best regards, TT

Thanks guys- The contact info for the finish is: DuraCoat Bobby Davlin (706) 321-1222 Cell (706) 681-0759 Ask for Bobby. I explained to him the sport of IPSC and that I needed the most durable finish. Just make sure to tell him you shoot what Travis the Army guy shoots and want the same treatment on your pistol. The turn around was three days. Cullen- What a small world….I’ve been reading your articles for some time. I’ve built a Mk1 and a Mk2 and really appreciate your work. Dave- That name rocks! My heater would be honored if you don’t mind?? Kimberkid- Thanks! As Dave said this was built by Fred Craig back in ’98 when he homologated the Caspian hi-cap for USPSA Limited (Fred is a genius). I make the flat triggers myself by filling in the holes with epoxy and using a file to flatten the trigger pad. If you still want access to the over travel screw, you can take one of those little straws that comes taped to brake cleaner cans, and stick it in the access slot before you fill the pad with epoxy. I believe EGW can make you a flat Caspian trigger as well. Just so you don’t think I’ve gone soft and want a “pretty gun”, here’s my other .40 cal: Now that's more like it. TT

Chief! It’s great to hear you’re well brother! I can never thank you enough for the greatest promotion ever. The sound of the mini’s in stereo and the rush of the G’s still gets my adrenaline pumping! You are the MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!! T

Thanks a million guys! I think a carbon fiber finish is very untraditional so it's probably not for everybody. Cullen, good call! You must be a fellow car nut The finish is a process called hydrographics by Dura Coat. He can do a matte or high gloss finish (mine is matte), and also Real Tree camo. He had about a dozen scatterguns done in Real Tree and some Glocks in that finish as well, but the Benelli in carbon fiber was me. Here’s a pic that maybe shows the detail better, but I probably need a newer digicam: His shop is local to me so if anybody is interested I’ll get his number and contact information. Thank you for the kind words gentlemen. TT

Hey guys, Randy just sent me this thread and I wanted to thank you all for such kind words! I really don’t deserve any of that, but it was really nice of you. Well, since my Caspian Fantom won the Point Series, I treated my buddy to a new finish (can you believe it's the same gun?): EricW, I just got it back and now I need to install my Tru Grit for traction. Thanks again everybody, TT GO ARMY

Hey guys, This will be an event not to miss! My teammate and squad leader SFC Hamp, has an awesome match in store for you. The only other way to play with “props” like these is to take the oath! Hope to see you there, Travis Tomasie GO ARMY

Bruce, Gary, Rob- Thank you for looking into it gentlemen. I'm sorry if I've missed any email as I'm in the field for a week. Thanks for your hard work and time on the BOD. Best regards, Travis Tomasie

B, I have a section match that won’t upload the necessary PSC information to the USPSA website. I shot the minimum 8 matches so not getting credit for that last match costs me the series champ. No big deal but it would have been cool for an Army sweep with my teammate! This isn’t the only match that Staci at Sedro has had problems with. I hope all is well, TT

Gary- The BOD should look at what happened to me and address this issue. I would *hate* to see this happen to somebody else in the future. Sincerely, Travis Tomasie L-1973 Go Army

Well, I heard the AMU was sending their top scattergun artist; AKA the Brad Pitt look alike. Jody Harmless I think it was. Good cat that one.

Well, after a long CQ shift and 30 hours with no shut eye, my AAR would read something like this: Negatives: *RO’s forced to work from dusk tilldawn and DQ many competitors over a particular infraction that isn’t particularly dangerous. *Seemed like a really expensive club match, but this was my first so perhaps this is the norm *For some competitors prize distribution didn’t seem to correspond with final results. *Firing countless well aimed rounds into a rock and anxiously awaiting the RO to yell “hit!”, because it looked a lot like the unpainted plates. *Stages that were pretty……funky. *I don’t understand why 5.56 can’t be Major PF Positives: *World Class RO's. *Watching my squad leader, SFC Hampton, use his SPR to take high unclassified Open with no practice and tactical gear, and not bow down to the pressure and remove his can. *Had fun. *USPSA’s willingness to create multi and Bruce Gary doing the thankless job of getting a set of rules done at the buzzer. *Using the match to R&D the 3rd Infantry Division’s new DMR for the Squad Designated Marksman role and placing top 5 with it (because you never know when your SDM will have to engage booger eaters at 300 yards with weak hand and stock sights) *Kurt Miller is much, much, much more than just the king of loading the gauge. Oh yeah, he also owns an optic so don’t think you can hide out in Tactical. *Taran taking the title in yet another division, and proving that he can dominate a tough match. *Lap dance at the spice house. *Makes me appreciate and want to shoot matches like Kyle’s, Kurt’s, and Sam's. *RO’s who worked from dusk till dawn and never gave up. Good night, Travis T