mac266

1- Yes, I'm an avid bullet caster, so I am quite adept at selecting the correct size, lube, and alloy for the task. 2- Yes, .357 magnum cases. I wouldn't even want to begin to try to make major with .38 special. Perhaps my math was wrong; everyone is saying it's easy to make major but I was showing it only approaching maximum loads. I'm sure I just calculated it wrong. If I do shoot USPSA in revolver division, though, I'm going to have it machined for moon clips. Yes, I know it's odd with a rimmed cartridge. Color me odd.

I've been toying with the idea of shooting in revolver division using a 6-shot S&W 686, a .357 magnum. From looking at the loading data it appears I would have to push maximum load to make major. My bullet of choice would be a 158 grain lead round nose, because I cast my own bullets and can make them by the thousand very cheaply. Plus the round noses would enable fast reloading. Assuming the actual weight to be 158 grains (because it could change, depending on the alloy I use, so we'll start there), and looking at the load data on the Hodgdon web site, loading to their maximum load with Titegroup would give me a PF of 166. The minimum for major is 165. Other powders give similar results. Of course, this is all subject to the actual weight of the bullet, and the actual velocity as measured by a chrono. But, in these early stages of just toying with the idea and looking at "book data," it makes it seem as though I would be feeding my gun a steady diet of heavy hitting ammo to make major. I usually keep my reloads in the middle of the load charts. Does anyone think this pursuit might not be worthwhile using a .357? Maybe shooting a 925 with the big .45 bullets wouldn't beat up the gun so much? The thing is, I have a .357, and I don't have a .45 ACP revolver. Maybe I'll show up with my .44 magnum Ok, that was a joke, but I would like to know what guys are doing with .357s regarding PF.

I did that on my first jump at Airborne school. Once only. Doggone that hurt! Landing with a military 'chute stinks, but in that instance falling was worse!

I did that with a patrol car. I had parked around the corner from a wanted murderer's house I was trying to arrest (no, I was not alone). It's a good thing it happened at 3 am, too, because if anyone had heard all the cursing the complaint would have been SUSTAINED! As luck would have it, no one heard it (or if they did, didn't bother to file the complaint). My thumb nail fell off a few weeks later.

I'm sorry, but the total misinformation is driving me nuts in this thread. Let me qualify my authority on the subject: I've been a SASS shooter longer than I've been shooting IPSC, and I'm an RO level 1 for SASS, too. Ok, let me clear up a few things: 1- There certainly IS an RO training program. There are currently four levels of RO, each with its own course and test. Each higher level is allowed to RO for larger events, just like we do in IPSC (I use IPSC and USPSA interchangeably, however incorrect that may be). 2- ROs do NOT count misses. ROs, just like in IPSC, are responsible for watching the shooter to ensure safe conduct. Other than running the timer they have no other responsibilities. 3- There are three people assigned to count misses. At the end of a stage, the RO asks the counters how many misses they counted. If there is any disagreement, majority rules. Really, this isn't hard; I don't know why more than one poster made it sound like it's impossible to score accurately. One person mentioned listening for the steel ring, but that's not how you do it...you WATCH the steel target. With hard cast lead and slow velocity ammunition, it's quite easy to see a hit. We also prescribe the order in which you shoot targets, unlike IPSC in which you're expected to solve the problem on your own. With steel targets, this makes it easy for the counters because they know which target to watch. 4- In many ways, SASS is safer than IPSC. For example, there is no movement with loaded guns. There may be movement on a stage (and often there is), but it's with handguns holstered. Rifles and shotguns are staged, and there is no movement in front of a staged loaded gun. All the "sweeping" rules you would expect to find in a shooting sport apply -- i.e. the 170 degree rule, match DQ for sweeping someone with a loaded gun, etc. 5- It probably varies by locale, but in my experience in three states over seven years SASS shooters are far more cordial to each other than IPSC shooters. I know I just offended just about everyone on this forum, but I must call it like I see it. At a SASS match, it's normal to see a new shooter who needs to borrow one, two, or even three of the required four guns to play the game. I've seen 50 shooters raise their hands all at once begging to let the new shooter use their guns. Ever see that at an IPSC match? I haven't. I've also seen SASS shooters give away ammo, spare gun parts, etc. When an IPSC shooter's gun breaks, other shooters will deny him a spare part even though they have three of the doggone things simply because it's now one less person to beat. As to shooter conduct, I make it personal policy not to quibble about little things and the vast majority of SASS shooters agree with me. If two out of three counters called a miss on a stage, it's a miss even if I disagree. I've seen IPSC shooters argue with an RO for twenty minutes over whether a shot was an "A" hit or a "C" hit. One particular argument degraded into name-calling and cursing (I took a few years off from IPSC after that debacle). I've never seen behavior like that at a SASS match, and if I ever do that person will not be shooting on my posse (squad) ever again. 6- One poster was correct in saying there are no sponsorships or cash awards for winning. The Wild Bunch (the board of directors) has stated they made this rule from the outset to avoid attracting professional shooters. The point of SASS is to have fun, nothing more. 7- There is a costume requirement, but it's very minimal. All you have to do is look western, even modern western. Wear blue jeans, a long sleeve shirt, modern cowboy hat, and modern boots and you're fine. Most SASS shooter "get all dudded up" because they want to, not because they have to. When I started I didn't really care for the costuming, but it grows on you. In summary, I agree with many shooters who think that ALL shooters should stick together, regardless of discipline. Shoot one, two, three, four, however many games you can afford and have fun with them all. But we all need to understand that each game is different, has a different focus, has different rules, and even different etiquette. We need to encourage non-shooters to become shooters, and plinkers to start shooting an organized sport -- regardless of which sport(s) they choose. Having more active shooters in our country means more people who think guns are important politically. We need to stop publicly poo-pooing other shooting sports because they don't do things the way our favorite sport does (which reminds me...cool it with the IDPA vs. IPSC bashing too -- it goes both ways, and it's destructive).

SWEET!!!! I'm in.

Do we know yet if Single Stack will be made a permanent division? I'm sorry for my ignorance, I let my USPSA membership lapse and haven't shot in a few years (until TODAY!!!). When I last shot, there was no such beast but I shot the division today. I'd like to make it my permanent division, but not if it's going away.

It seems that Caspian's .40 S&W hi-capacity (i.e. double stack) magazines are looming on the very near horizon. I'm drooling, I must admit. Are there any disadvantages to using this frame as opposed to another hi-cap 1911 frame for a Limited gun build?

I have a customized Springer, but if I had to do it over I'd just buy a Wilson made the way I want it...no hassle. That being said, I'm currently building a 9mm Caspian to use in ESP.

Well, it's good at least that you're no longer doing business with them. Didn't you know Sprint is anti-gun? They're part of the AOL-Time-Warner conglomeration, who donates millions every year to groups like PETA and the Brady bunch.

It's called a "roping cuff." Like the name suggests, it was to protect from rope burns when using a lariat. I can make you a set if you want, all I need are your measurements at the wrist and 6" up from the wrist.

What do you guys think about using accu-rail system on a stainless slide / stainless frame gun (both made by Caspian)? Necessary? Worth the price? What is galling in regards to SS fit?

Is it possible to make major with a .30 carbine? It's a .308 diameter bullet, but I'm not sure how fast it goes. Anyone have any experience with these guns? It would be a cheap way to start shooting 3 gun, since I already own a .30 carbine, plus it would piss off the guys shooting $3000 AR-15s in minor

I was just about to suggest those same grips...that's what I use. They don't look as nice as some other grips, but function is the best form of beauty!

I currently shoot cowboy action and IPSC. Next month I'm going to my first NRA Action Pistol match. I bought the NRA rule book, but without ever having seen it done it's all kind of confusing. I'll be shooting a Springfield 1911A1, single stack, .45 ACP, with Novak tritium night sights. What class does this fall under? What other advice can you give me?