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I would recommend that you take the dive and do it correctly the first time. I started with a Tanfoligo and hated it. By the time I got it running I was very disheartened. Then I bought a TrueBor and spent another $1,200 in shipping parts and labor to trick it out and still was not able to do what I wanted. to make a long story short I am on my 5th open gun and finally got what I wanted. I have three at this time and will be selling one of my backups soon. I am considering a duplicate of my new gun as the backup so I can go down to two guns. I would recommend Want 2 Race or Dan Bedell as builders if you are going to shoot open.

I am thrilled with my TrueBor. But I did have Dan Bedell go over it and spent another $1,200 on it when you include parts labor and shipping. If I had it to do over again I would just get on the custom build list and hold off the 12 months it takes to get your gun. It still took me 4 months and I was unable to get the slide racker that I wanted.

" with a 6" gun that aiming shit is over rated"

try sitting the comp in a Can of Coke for a few hours, and then place it in your sonic cleaner.

I have been having similar issues with nose dives. I am looking for a suggested brand of spring OTHER than Grams. Any suggestions.

Calls Shots, your last post sounds like a good fix. I have a Dillon 650 setup for 9mm and S7W 40 but wanted something to pound out 45 ACP and found the Lee Pro 650 cost less than the parts to load 45 ACP on my Dillon so I bought one. Although I did have learning curve with the Dillon Press I have not had any luck with the Lee. THe primer issue has just got the best of me. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE FOUND A SPECIFIC BRAND OF LARGE PISTOL PRIMER THAT WORKS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS?

I have an STI that was customized by Dan Bedell and have shot several of his full custom guns, They are fantastic if you can get one. I am having a new shorty gun made by Shaun Hopkins. He has done a lot of work for people in the area and he did a custom limited gun for me about a year and a half ago, and simply put that gun just runs.

the cost issue does exist in that STI and other Stock like manufacturers do not offer a low cost factory like S&W 40 gun. they do have several offerings that are around or under $3,000. I can tell you if you buy a stock STI you are probably going to want to do some upgrades. I spent another $1200 on my Trubor. Looking back I should have held off and had a custom gun made. If you are going to go with a custom gun I can not see any reason why it would cost any more. Finally you can have a significant savings if you are already loading S&W 40 for a limited gun. I have a new open gun in the works and thought about 40 but already have the investment in loading major 9. therefore there would be no cost savings for me.

I joined this club tonight. After I got up from the floor, changed my shorts, and cleaned the florescent lightbulb out of my hair I posted it on our local forum and googled "Dillon 650 primer" and Google automatically added explosion. Apparently I am not the first person to have Federal primers do this with my 650. THe lesson, I will always have eye protection while reloading, and if my hearing returns I will also consider hearing protection.

I wanted to hard chrome my open gun but two highly respected builders both told me that the slide was much more likely to crack if it was hard chromed. They made this statement based on experience not based on physics. However, it does make sense that a chromed product is more brittle than a blued surface. I decided to leave my gun blued.

When a gunsmith takes 4-6 months to fix a gun I believe that a year is not out of the ordinary. Most Mjr. Makers are taking a year. As for 3 and 5 years WOW. In the software we had a name for things like this it was called vaporware meaning software that really did not exist. Good luck getting your gun or at the least good luck getting your parts back. I hope it turns out well for you.

Lots of fantastic names, one that I have used and been very happy with, but he takes time (not one of the guys I am talking about below). I too am looking for a gunsmith to fit a new barrel. My issue is the gun sat with one gunsmith for 6 months and he did nothing in that time and lost a $60 Dawson tool less guide rod. So, I picked up the gun and took it to another local gunsmith. It sat there for 4.5 months. He to did no work and lost the same part. The first gunsmith made good on the guide rod the second one has not yet done so. The first guy said it would be 30 days the second said it would be two weeks. I am sick of the carp. I would be happy to pay for the overnight shipping and insurance, but I want my gun back soon. I don't mind if it takes 2-4 weeks, but I want it back then. Do any of you guys have any suggestions of people who can do good work and actually deliver in a few weeks.

schuemann. STIs are a lot more work to fit.

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Any time I have called he has always taken my call or called back in the next few days. The man has a business but he also has a life. He has served the community a lot.