Haywizzle

Knockdown is a blast! We have gone to Long Island, Wallum Lake RI and Ontelaunee as well. Revolver is really the only thing new to her this year. I will admit, counting is always a challenge! I changed my slide stop and mag followers on my open gun for the match so that the gun locks back because I was tired of hearing that click of a hammer or without a bang. PCC is pretty fun, here was my best run ever at PSA: Here was my best open run ever at Long Island:

Thanks @Dr. Phil! She wants to make one load for potential iCore matches as well so I think 125 to 130 power factor is what we are aiming for but knocking down the steel was the priority. We've had shot it with a few friends the last 4 years from the New England / New York area shooting auto irons, auto open and PCC. This is the first year she's decided to shoot the revolver. We will be shooting Friday afternoon and both sessions Saturday. We hope to see you on the range!

Thanks fellas. We will focus on the 160gr for the reactive knockdown steel targets. Any thoughts on the overall length or an I overthinking it? This is a .357 magnum cylinder so loading longer shouldn't be an issue. We will probably play with c.o.a.l. for improved accuracy anyway.

Hello Wheel Gunners! So my GF decided to shoot the PSA Knockdown steel match in two months with her Ruger GP100 4.2". She had decided to reload .38 Special for the first time. She's been reloading 9mm for years on her Dillon 650 and she is dusting off the quick change kit and dies she's had for years to take the plunge. I have reloaded numerous pistol and rifle cases over the years, just never .38 Special, so I have a few questions. I've reloaded .44 Magnum/Special but I used bullet with cannelures so O.A.L wasn't an issue. I hope this ok in this Revolver forum rather than the the general reloading forum. She bought three sample packs of Blue Bullets, 125gr, 147gr & 160gr round nose at .358 bullet width. She would like to use CFE-Pistol as she is stocked up as it's what she uses in 9mm. We found Hodgedon data on the 125gr bullet and plan to do a ladder at starting at 5.2gr every 0.2 up at the listed C.O.A.L of 1.445": We have not found exact data on the 147gr or 160gr but using cast data we plan to start at: 147gr @ 4.7gr to 5.1gr 160gr @ 4.4gr to 5.0gr Questions: 1) For the 147gr and 160gr bullets, should we keep the C.O.A.L the same at 1.445" or increase it? I know a shorter C.O.A.L. will increase pressure but using Gordon's reloading tool it should still be safe. My thoughts is a shorter cartridge length could marginally help reloads? 2) With these bullets, what velocities or power factor should we stay above for knock down steel? There is no calibration calls at this event. We will chrono all these ladder loads. 3) Any other tips? 125gr length = 0.6270": 147gr length = 0.7025": 160gr length = 0.7630": Thanks!

I just thought of another option if a larger MOA dot is a requirement. Forum sponsor @FTP_Shooting_Sports has a micro dot with 8, 10, 12 MOA options. It would fit the mount you already have as it is the same as a Romeo3. You could probably sell the Romeo for the cost of the FTP Alpha 3. I'm not sure if there is still a active coupon code. https://fasttoys.net/shop/FTP-Optics-Alpha-3-Red-Dot-Reflex-Sight-V3-Short-Body/

Inline fabrication makes one: https://inlinefabrication.com/products/case-feed-stop-dillon-1050 So does Armanov: https://www.armanov.com/shop/case-feeder-stop-switch-for-dillon-1050-1100-99#attr=523 Armanov available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KMS²-Case-Feeder-Switch-Dillon/dp/B0BRBWZLW2

Awesome news! Glad to hear you are happy with it now. I've been meaning to put the FPB back in my SP-01. I believe you can only edit posts for 48 hours.

I started with a C-more slideride on my used open gun, switched to an RTS2, then Holosun, and now a Romeo 3 Max for the last couple seasons. The Max3 and C-more, in my humble opinion, have very similar clarity and dot brightness. The width of the Max 3 is 30mm, while the slide ride is 29mm. The c-more aluminum slide ride is 4.5 oz while the Max 3 is 1.5 oz. The slideride stated battery life is 300-1500 hours, when the Max 3 is 25000 hours. The max also uses a much more common battery now. I know it's not an issue on a properly tuned gun, but the slideride mount is usually over the ejection port area, and if you're extractor isn't 100%, brass can deflect or bounce off the mount and give you stovepipe issues. The Max 3 mount would be in front of the ejection area. That is one of the reasons I ditched the slideride for a smaller optic. I think this comes down to if you're happy with a 6 MOA dot on the Max. The C-more let's you change diodes and has many more options available.

Anyone using Berry's 100gr hollow base round nose? I have a few thousand on order. I wanted to work up a steel challenge load for PCC (10.5" JP barrel & Brekke comp) and open (2011), maybe a CZ Shadow as well but not the priority. I'm stocked up on N320 and HS-6.

Hey mannyc, I'm not sure if you got your magwell yet. Your post made me check my setup which is a Springer Precision Magwell, not an LOK, so your results may vary. A Mec-Gar 17rd tube and the TTI extension will not seat in the Springer Precision magwell. As you thought, the retaining pin gets in the way. Using the Mec-Gar tubes, these extensions: Springer Precision or Henning with magwell option chosen, might work for you in place of the TTIs. I would reach out to the manufactures to see if they have tested it before buying them. I do have OEM CZ SP-01 18rd tubes with the CZC "short" extensions that work with my setup. If you want a to maximize capacity a Grams Engineering or CZCustom follower kit would get you to 23 rounds. If I was starting from scratch, I would just bite the bullet and buy the MBX small frame mags and be done with it. Pics of my setup with the OEM SP-01 Mag and CZC short extension:

I have a 507k ACSS. I like the ACSS Vulcan reticle on a carry gun as it helps find the dot, which might not be automatic in a high stress situation especially if one were in an awkward position. I did consider the EPS and EPS carry, and might try one in the future. Dogtired, non-lint collecting because it is a enclosed dot?

Doesn't PCSL use a K-zone target? k zone is 10, A is 5, etc?

Lol Congrats! I'm glad you didn't find out it was a bottom loader the hard way.

No prob and good luck. Just make sure you tap it the correct direction. Let us know how it goes.

Good info JCN, thanks! I wonder if this phenomenon is the reason CZC asked for my optic to be sent when I was having my slide cut. I know Primary Machine also requires the optic in hand when they do their work.

I think Open will be around for a good while. The fastest division will always have it's appeal. If they allow comps in LO it would steal a few shooters from Open but I don't think that is going to happen. I do have my first custom open gun on order so I hope I'm correct.. hah

So I used to have a dedicated but I remember researching this. I believe the top loader is removed by have the lower separated from the upper, push the magazine release in and just push the adapter up towards where the upper would be. It might be a tight fit and a small rubber or plastic hammer could help. https://hahn-precision.com/top-adapter-instructions/ Edit: If the bolt catch is in the way you would have to remove it. Such as this 9mm bolt catch is in pic three of the product page: https://hahn-precision.com/ar-15-top-9mm-adapter/

Two years ago I shot limited for the season for the first time. I had a good time but couldn't help but notice barely any other shooters we're competing in limited. I've always said shooting is like golf where it's you vs the course, and other shooters don't factor into what one gets out of it. Last season I shot carry optics and enjoyed it even more so. I have a season's worth of 40 major loaded and I honestly don't know when I'll use it. My gunsmith is doing a lot of limited optics conversions right now. I've thought about doing the same with my limited setup but I already have too many guns in too many divisions. First world problems...

My pleasure fpf! When I first bought my LNL, I also got the powder cop die. I thought it was silly and sold it because it's still required visual inspection, and I thought just looking at the powder in the case had the same result. I ended up replacing it with the RCBS lockout die. When setup properly it physically won't let you advance the press on a empty case. I recommend it to all new pistol reloaders. Only downside is potential powder spillage from the probe, especially when dumping powder for major loads.

I don't think there's anything to be done for two major reasons. Younger shooters are growing up watching YouTubers talk about force multipliers and the necessity of being target focused at all times. Optics ready pistols are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Those new shooters buying their first guns are just starting with red dots. The second reason is older shooters losing their eyesight. It's a lot more enjoyable to put the dot on a target and hit what you're shooting at. It's easier to get a prescription that works with shooting red dots.

Love it! Reminds me of those '90s laminate countertops with a gold-plated faucet. https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Wilsonart-4-ft-x-8-ft-Laminate-Sheet-in-Blackstar-Granite-with-Premium-High-Gloss-Finish-4551K13504896/202840219 & https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Lyndhurst-2-Handle-Bridge-Kitchen-Faucet-with-Side-Sprayer-in-Matte-Gold-HD852N-0554405/304778420

Lee also makes a universal expanding die. I picked it up because I found my 300 blackout cases shaving plated bullets even when chamfered properly. It has worked well for me. I agree the Hornady powder measure runs much smoother if not expanding cases at the same time. Hornady pistol dies, unlike Dillon, usually come with an expander die. This is because the Hornady powder drop system does not expand unless you acquire the additional PTX inserts (powder through expansion). My Hornady 9mm bullet feeder die came with the appropriate PTX insert, and they are also sold separately. This is due to losing station 3 for the bullet feeder die. That way, combining expansion and powder on the LNL in station 2, one could still powder check on station 4 and then seat & crimp in station 5 with Hornady's combo die. It seems that most prefer not to seat and crimp in the same die, but I have found once setup it's good to go. If separate seating and crimping dies are required, one could always ditch the powder check die in this scenario.

I have used both federal small pistol and rifle primers with HS6 for major loads in my 2011 Trubor and can not tell the difference. The chrono data was near identical. Brownells Smyth Busters talk about it here on YouTube. The gist is the harder cup of the rifle primer is the only thing you really need to worry about when loading IPSC Major loads, but as always, they remind us to work up loads when changing components.

Understood. Sorry to hear the Dillon powder measure was unsatisfactory for you. I shouldn't have assumed that you hadn't used the Dillon on that press and were just throwing parts together.

Yeah can't expect Hornady to answer that question. Have you considered selling the Hornady and just buying a Dillon setup? Scheels and DAA both have the Dillon setup for about $130. The Hornady setup is more expensive with only MidSouth selling the complete unit for $180.