Moondoggie

I got a call. Going to Tulsa. Totally flabergasted, but happy!

I prime my cases with a Lee Auto Prime. I started out reloading 25 yrs ago with CCI primers. Had lots of problems with CCI primers being difficult to seat in the primer pocket. Squashed/mashed/deformed about 10% of them getting them into the case. Same experience with mixed/fired cases and virgin brass. Tried Winchester Primers once and never looked back. Smooth as butter. YMMV.

Sat down fast on a hard wooden chair (en masse' in bootcamp) wearing boxers after a lifetime of briefs...squashed 'em good; don't remember what the class was, but the lesson learned was important.

Uhum..... I'm pretty new to all of the big match stuff, but Area 3 had their stages posted on the web for weeks before the match. I don't know if others do. I downloaded/studied them quite a bit prior to the match. No, it doesn't come anywhere close to doing a walkthrough, but I think it really helped me. I was able to formulate something of a strategy and look at reloads. I feel like I had more of a subliminal familiarity with each stage when I got to it. I had a better performance at this match, didn't "forget" any targets, and didn't shoot anything I wasn't supposed to. I was a RO for that match, and shot on the same squad as Manny. I have to admit I paid attention (not obsessively) to what he was doing on his walkthroughs...I just plugged-in a lot more steps and seconds to my planning process. Working on the setup crew also helps.

I didn't have the time/opportunity to start IPSC until I was 51. I've shot quite a bit all of my life, but IPSC was a whole new skill set/mindset. I think I'll make it to a B level one day with enough practice to develop speed. I shot 24 "A" hits on a 24 rd stage at Area 3 recently, I still have plenty of accuracy...I need to get faster. I'm doing this for the shooting and the camaraderie. I enjoy the Zen Mode when the timer beeps. I also enjoy learning/picking up pointers from better shooters. There's a super-super senior guy in our club who's gun handling is atrocious...most of the folks give him a hard time about it. I don't. I've gotten familiar enough with the club members that I can usually RO this guy much of the time he shoots. My patience (which is normally NOT my long suit) seems to take a lot of the pressure off of him. I figure that IPSC might just be the only thing he has left going on, and I want to help give him a chance to participate as long as he can. He's never had an AD/ND, but he's dropped his gun a few times and needs reminded to keep his finger clear of the trigger sometimes. He still shoots a lot of "A" hits. He still wants to participate (if not compete), and I think he deserves a certain level of respect for that.

My sincere condolences. I'm glad that you do have so many fond memories of your Dad, though. Best wishes to you and your family.

I got assigned to RO on Stage 4....what a workout! By the time I could get a scoresheet done the CRO had the next guy just about ready to go. Makes the time fly! My CRO was a great guy, and I learned a lot from him. This was my first big match, and it was a tremendous learning experience. Getting to watch so many talented shooters gave me a lot to think about. I picked up a ton of ideas that are going to improve my shooting. Scott, Manny & all of the "senior" staff folks really did a superb job of organizing such a complex event. It worked just like similar events I was involved with in the military. Thanks to all of the folks that went through my stage for your courtesy and patience with a newbie RO.

I'm working setup on Thurs, shooting on Fri, and RO'ing on Sat & Sun. Taking my Freightliner "RV" and doing the camping thing...Mill Creek has a shower in the club house. Have no idea what stage/job I'll be doing. I'll have my BE Forums nametag on the back of my hat. Looking forward to meeting Ya'll!

Since I'm off work & only live 100 mi away I'm going to be working to setup on Thurs & Fri and whatever "they" assign me on Sat & Sun. I hope to see/meet as many of you as possible. I'll have my nifty BE Forums nametag on the back of my hat. Just got my RO cert in Apr, so there's no way I'm ready to RO at a match like this yet! Gonna help out however I can.

A comment on the Velcro noise during a tactical situation, if I may... I think of it like the wonderful "KACHING" of an empty M1 clip flying through the air; everybody in the immediate area with half a brain is gonna know that you are engaged in the process of reloading your weapon, or at least that one of your hands is doing something besides being "at the ready" and your attention may be diverted momentarily in the case of Velcro.

PS: Please note that I am NOT slamming Bill Laughridge or C&S. My purpose in posting here was to seek info and opinions as to the nature/usefulness of this modification from folks whose experience and knowledge I respect as greater than mine.

Ok, friends and neighbors...now for the range report: The first 15rds or so in practice before last nite's match were in single shot mode. That's because the slide locked to the rear after each round. I changed mags (BTW, during the work at C & S I had a steel mag catch installed.) after about 5 rds, but no improvement. I got pretty proficient at BANG, release slide, BANG...also could FEEL my blood pressure rising. However, after about 15 rds it began to cycle normally. (In the middle of the first stage it did it again just once...so hopefully this is gonna work itself out, more practice will tell.) The trigger was a vast improvement. My groups during the match were noticiably tighter. I shot better, so that's a plus. The hammer flipping back to full cock was no distraction, it happens in the blink of an eye when you disengage the thumb safety. The hammer being pushed forward during LAMR WAS a point of interest to both RO's. No one thought that these mods rendered the gun illegal for competition in Limited Class. (I should email USPSA and ask them for a ruling/opinion in case I need it someday.) The only real difference in gun handling is the requirement to push the hammer forward after chambering a rd before engaging the thumb safety. The addition of the ambi thumb safety (Now known as a "Cocking Lever") is a plus for me, since my wife is left handed. To clarify comments above, Bill and I DID discuss the intended use of the gun. He knew that I specifically purchased it for IPSC competition. He made the comment that a stock Para trigger was probably "Slowing me down." He originally intended to just ship me the kit and I would install it...further conversation led to the understanding that I didn't have the mech skills to do this, hence the drive up there and wait 3 hrs for installation vs wait 3 months and send it in for trigger job. The failure to communicate was in me not questioning what "SFS" stood for, and his assumption (I guess) that I knew what it meant. If I had known what it was I would have never put it in my gun. Now that it's in there, I'm not sure what to do. As far as standing up to hard use goes, there is a 2 yr gaurantee. C&S has a good reputation, so I'm sure I can get it fixed if the need arrises. Not too happy about the prospect of a 3 month wait for a repair. Since I just bought the gun in Aug, I'm sure I can kiss any warranty by Para goodbye. Bottom line; I've got a White Elephant on my hands. This is not what I wanted. Thanks for all of the input!

When I first spoke with Bill Laughridge we discussed that I was using the gun for IPSC, and he commented that a stock Para trigger was probably slowing me down. The president of the club in KC recommended C&S, so that on top of your positive comments is reassuring. There is a 2 yr gaurantee on the SFS "kit". I'll let you know how the live-fire test phase goes tonight. Thanks again for the input!

Cylinder and Slide is the shop that did the work. I talked with Bill Laughridge before I went up there, but when he talked about the SFS kit I had no idea of the concept. He didn't go into details, so I just thought the work being done was replacement/fitting of identical parts; only better. Like, maybe SFS stood for "Stainless Finish Somethingorother". If I'd have understood the concept I'm not sure if I'd have gone through with it. Seems like a good idea, but I'm not sure of the ramifications for USPSA or resale value of the gun...not that I'm likely to sell it. It's just that I've never heard of this SFS system before, and now I've got one. And it's inside my gun. The trigger is a vast improvement, however. Going to a match tonite at The Bullet Hole in KC, so I'll ask the proprieter and some of the other shooters/club president about it. Also try it out. Hope I like it. I'll let you know. Thanks very much for the responses!

Took my stock Para P-16 to a gunsmith yesterday to have a trigger, hammer, sear, etc installed with the aim of improving the trigger pull/break. When I got the gun back, I dry-fired it a couple of times and thought that there was considrable improvement so I put it in the case and drove the 150 miles home. OK, first, I should admit that I can be a moron at times. When I get home late in the evening and start to really look over the gun I'm flabbergasted! The safety lever won't move.....doesn't look like it's clearing the notch in the slide. Thinking to myself "This can't be right." So I break out the installation instructions on the "SFS" (Safety Fast System...never heard of it before) kit that they installed. Upon further reading I discover that my safety is no longer a safety, it is now a "cocking lever". The "system" works like this: cycle a round into the chamber, push hammer forward, engage "cocking lever" (upward a barely perceptable amount)....now you have 3 safeties engaged. To fire, press down on "cocking lever" (again, a very slight movement) and the hammer springs back to the ready to fire position. I'm having pretty mixed feelings about this, and a lot of questions. One primary question that comes to mind is what effect these mods might have on the classification of my gun...is it still Limited? Anybody know anything about this "SFS" system??? Thought I'd try to pick a few brains here before I called the gunsmith and say something like "Imagine my surprise." I'm headed down to my local gun shop (where I bought the Para) to see what my dealer knows about this...he's a pretty knowledgeable guy. Any input would be greatly appreciated, and please feel free to tell me what an idiot I am!

"The finest relationships are those without expectations." Taught to me by a dear friend who was much, much smarter than I. "Plan for the worst, hope for the best." Taught to me by the Marine Corps. "All work has honor." Plato, I think. "Whatever doesn't kill you outright only makes you stronger." Neitchze (which I probably spelled incorrectly). "Some you win, some you lose, some get rained-out." My very personal belief is that our existence here is intended to further our spirtulality as a result of having to deal with a physical existenence ("Life's vesisitudes", Shakespere) absent the awareness of our true spiritual nature. I could continue that thought into a whole other level of wierdness! IPSC shooting provides the opportunity for an "average" individual to experience an altered reality that is normally associated with high level athletes, combat experience, car wrecks, etc. I. e., tunnel vision (intense focus), adreneline rush, a perception of time/spatial distortion (slow motion) and other intensely altered perceptions without external chemical influence. Small wonder the sport is "addictive", or that folks become preoccupied. I think that the recognition that our minds have capabilities that we don't use to their fullest in the course of ordinary life is a benefit of this sport. Speaking of chemical alteration, I'm on my 3rd glass of wine and ready for some stargazing from the hot tub!

I agree wholeheartedly with Flex's pointers. The most important thing is to overcome the idea that the pistol is gonna hurt you when it fires. It IS a natural reaction for most folks. You CAN discipline yourself to relax, just let the pistol "lay" there within your grip as you concentrate on sight picture and trigger squeeze until it fires. Just let it happen. When you percieve yourself starting to flinch, stop the firing process, take a breath, relax for a moment, and start over. The "lay" there reference is how I think of it when I'm bullseye shooting. During my DI days in the Marines, we used to smack a recruit across the forehead with a short piece of 2X4 every time they'd flinch...one of our creative methods that fell by the wayside as the world moved toward political correctness. Worked wonders, but prolly not gonna be high on your list of corrective techniques! Perfect practice makes perfect! Good luck!!!

Yeah, Eric, I definately need some help from Hornady cuz as it stands I'm not making any ammo that I can shoot! I'll let you know what they say after I call them tomorrow morning. Thanks again for all of the pointers!

I'm beginning to think my brand new sizer die might be a little out of kilter. I'll call the Hornady folks just up the road tomorrow and discuss it with them. Especially since I'm using their bullets, too. I'm resizing with the die just coming into firm contact with the shell holder, without camming-over the ram. Using the brand new expander die to put just a hint of flare in the case mouth...bullet goes in easily about 1/32nd", but you can barely feel the flare with fingers. Bought a Chrono this week, so I only intended on loading 10 rds for starters. When I discovered the loose/setback bullets and FTF, I broke those live rds down and started experimenting with dummies. I'm pondering seating a few bullets in un-resized cases (dummies) and seeing if that makes a difference, just for a point of reference. Thanks for the feedback!

Fighting with reloading 40 S&W for the first time for my Para. The gun has about 700 rds of factory ammo through it without a hiccup. I've loaded .45 for my 4506, and never had anywhere near this much trouble. Bought new Hornady dies, and Hornady 180 gr JHP bullets (they were all I could find locally) just to get started. Using once fired Win brass from my gun. I'm using a RCBS single stage press. No matter how finely I adj the seater die, I can either press the bullets into the cases between my finger/thumb, or squash the cases trying to get some crimp on it. Put together about 50 dummy rds so far, if I get any case bulge at all they won't chamber, but even if they will cycle from a mag I'm geting setback. I'm testing each one by dropping it into the chamber, but some of the one's that pass still won't chamber from a mag...hang-up on the ramp. I'm loading to same OAL as 180 gr JHP factory ammo measured on a skeezy set of calipers (need to get better calipers). Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. When the buzzer goes off, I want to shoot, not work on the gun!

When & where is this match? I only live 9 mi from MO!

Two weeks ago I attended the CZ promo at The Bullet Hole in KC and shot 7rds of 9mm @ 15 yds to compete for the CZ 542 (not sure I remember the model #) .17 HMR rifle. MSRP $587. Knew I had a pretty good group, 3 rds in one keyhole w/all 7 in the black. Went back last nite to shoot another match and found out that I took 2nd place...by one point. No prize for 2nd place. "They" told me there were about 54 shooters in the contest. Aw, shucks! Now, if I could just get that bullseye thing to work fast, on multiple tgts, whilst reloading, moving, etc. Practice, practice, practice (Perfectly, of course!).

Shooter Grrl; I'm 51, Julie is 49...so we're getting a little set in our ways. Julie's first experience with an autoloader was with a cheap .25 as a teenager. It belonged to a boyfriend. Since it would FTE/FTF a lot, she just developed the attitude that semi-auto pistols are unreliable. Now I think her reluctance toward a semi-auto is mostly an aversion to more moving parts than a sixgun. Also more issues like mag performance, etc. She's perfectly happy with less capacity as long as it works all the time/every time with no questions. She shot my new Para, said it was OK..better than she thought it would be. Out of 14 handguns in our safe, 11 are revolvers. Our 625 is her favorite gun, followed by a 25-2. Our interest in IPSC is purely enjoyment...we're not strongly oriented towards being competitive. It's a fun game and we both like to shoot, but I/we are more interested in shooting our best with reasonable equipment than getting wrapped around the axle about scores/classifications. I'm just happy that my beloved is interesed in my addiction and willing to participate. It makes it a whole lot more comfortable than having to deal with recriminations about every $ I want to spend in that direction. I'll prolly have some work done to the inside of my Para after I've shot a few more matches, but I don't see me ever buying an open gun. It will be quite awhile before the limits of this gun are holding me back.

Rhino; I had an identical rifle back in the '80's specifically for shooting prairie dogs when I lived in SD. 55 grain Hornady SX bullets killed a lot of small critters out to 300 yds. When I was leaving SD knowing that I'd prolly never live there again, I traded it to a good friend for a Rem Mod 7 lightweight .243 (I got some $, too). I had a 3X9 Tasco 40mm on mine (I didn't have the $ for a high dollar scope at that stage of life). There were 5 of us that went to the Badlands together, and we'd trade rifles now and then. We had an assortment of 22-250, 25-06, .243. You could lay behind mine all day and not regret it the next day. Some of them had more high $ optics, but mine could hit anything theirs could. The heat/wind made it pretty hard to shoot much past 300 yds anyway. You've got a really sweet rifle on your hands! Enjoy...I know I did!!!

Thanks for the input! Some of those points were kinda floating around up there, especially the recoil and more frequent reloads. Also the questionable ballistics. Guess I'll save my money and go and observe a 3 gun match or two and see what folks are shooting (and what they've done to them). No point if buying a white elephant.