pskys2

Wonder if the practice schedules get lighter though?

At Level I I've done the "IF" a bit more emphasized than usual and it never occurred to me that it "was" coaching, technically it is. Don't remember anyone ever paying attention to it though? Maybe I'll just hesitate before I start the ULSC process and not change up my cadence in the future. I hope there's a future match I RO at! At Level II and up, I'd never even think about it! Too many Range Lawyers about.

Prayers to the families involved.

Exactly, the Make Ready AND the ULSC processes are NOT speed events.

Ummm actually if you wait for the RO to walk you through the ULSC process, AND show them the empty chamber as requested. The hammer fall won't be an issue. Good RO's hold the timer so the Scoring RO can see it as they watch the competitor ULSC. We do this to avoid the occasional bump, round fired in the next bay or some other inadvertent recording. Now if you go through all of this and they hold the timer close to your firearm as they say Hammer Down, you need to report it to the RM and if the RO is certified, report it to DNROI. Handling of the Timer is taught at USPSA RO classes and it is to a Club/Gun Ranges benefit to host an RO Seminar every few years. It makes for better/safer matches and actually helps competitors learn the rules and up their game.

Midway carries OEM RS Blades, I like the tallest one they have (which is what came on my 627PC) I think it's a .196. Don't like White Outline and the .196 gives a very deep notch. Actually quite a bit better than a Millet or a Weigand. For 9.99 you get the blade, don't forget the new windage screw 5.99 and nut 3.29. Or for 55.99 get a complete assembly https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004431882?pid=242918.

I understand what he was saying. I've had more than a few ask me if I make PF, of course they were all Semi-Auto guys never Revolver guys. Then every once in a while, I change the FS and shoot a stage with my SD practice loads, 125 GD's @ 1450 f/s for 181 pf, and then ask them if that explosion behind the RO had any ejecta matter in it?

Gaming the Classifiers isn't a well thought out proposition. Might make it easier to move up , but if one is serious and then goes to Major Matches, it usually bites them. I'm too lazy, or simple minded, to try to load/use/remember different loads and their POI's. I tend to set my match loads then use them for everything in that platform. But in Revolver the numbers might be more important than the details.

Clays/ClayDot works well. Titegroup will too but gets a little dirty at the lower pressures for lower PF. Try to find some lighter bullets for steel/icore than 200. I've used 175/185's at 700 f/s for Steel ICORE, can even use it for USPSA since most likely you'll be the only one at the match with a Revolver. So who is to complain? I've also had real good luck with the button nose swc's and even the h&g68 type from Acme in my Revolver. There's not much shoulder and the coating makes it slide into the cylinder pretty good.

If you are going into USPSA, get a 929 or 627. If you are going IDPA you best choice is a 4" 625. ICORE, Limited 6 is best with a 625 (no required length and a 120 PF), Limited or Open get a 929 or 627, barrel length is your choice and a 120 PF. I agree with you that one of the lures of shooting a Revolver is you can keep "busy" during transitions. But the difference between 6 shots and 8 shots in a USPSA COF, which tends to 8 shot arrays, is pretty big. Adding extra standing reloads or trying to game out 8 shot arrays by a factor of 6, usually requiring longer/harder shots trying to minimize those standing reloads, doesn't meet my definition of being busy. Welcome Back.

Nah just finding enough moola to get enough bullets to practice enough to be great! That's what I keep saying, I'm an eternal optimist If I just practice enough, and correctly, I too can be a Champion! It's just how hard one wants, or can afford, to work! Though some do seem to start with a lot more skills!

I'd not considered that and it does make sense. I'm learning more every day!

With Jacketed/Plated there are no choices. With Lead, and to a degree Poly/Moly, you are getting into the weeds. And I'll scratch that itch... The reason to match the throats to bullet diameter is for accuracy, and even then it's not always the final point to consider. Why it's always best to test for usable results, getting the exact fit for that last 1/4" at 50 yards may not be the best choice depending on velocity/PF/leading/availability/cost or even chamber fit (if speed loads are required). Velocity, pressures and even leading are also affected by this fit. Yet there is a relatively wide range of fit that will work. In mass produced Revolvers it is not uncommon to find multiple sized throats in one cylinder. So with all of that being said, the accepted standard for and, the general availability of, cast/moly/poly bullets are .001" over the bore size/standard Jacketed size. For the action sports it generally works out well. For Bullseye, Bianchi or Masters type competitions it is definitely a point to consider as accuracy is at a premium in them. Doug Koenig reportedly had a solid bench fixture for his barrels so he could work up loads to the absolutely tightest accuracy he required. I'm sure it would be wise to at least utilize a solid Ransom Rest to search out the best load in a particular blue printed Revolver.

PM Carmoney on this Forum. He was a Pin/2nd Chance Master Blaster and used 357 magnums with, I think, 200 grain bullets for Pins. Why 38 Specials instead of 357 magnum? Are you using a 38 Special Revolver, if so I'd not think it wise to push a 200 factor?

Be aware that WST is Inverse Temperature Sensitive, it will lose velocity as the temps heat up. I noticed it in 45 acp years ago and a buddy went to no score in an ICORE Regional due to it in his Revolver, I think it was 38 Special.

I don't load 9mm for revolver but in my Glock/1911's Clays/ClayDot filled the case and reached a point where velocity ceased to rise with increases of powder. That is usually a sign that you've reached the end of its range, and pressures usually start rising exponentially rather than in a linear fashion. The problem was I was just below of my target velocity. I also loaded the same bullet with ClayDot (the newer Clays and ClayDot in my guns run virtually the same velocities), same charge, at 1.115 OAL and also achieved a 129 pf, with no issues. But accuracy wasn't as good as the 3.0 Titegroup load. The other issue is getting Clays/ClayDot to meter from a Dillon type measure below 2.8 grains, Dillon actually makes a special "Small Charge" Powder Bar to address that issue. So for my 9mm 1911/Glock's I settled on Titegroup.

Never had, knock knock on wood!, a double charge with my 550 but I ALWAYS looked into the case when seating the bullet. I'm using a Super 1050 mostly now and set up a mirror to check the powder on every case. I'm a bit OCD though.

For WW Primers my 625 & 325 takes about 60+ ounces hammer fall with a 14# rebound spring for about 7 1/2 # Action. If you are using harder primers, CCI used to be, Remington or IF something really hard like Wolf's it will take even more. The sluggish feeling is definitely an imbalance between the rebound/mainspring rates. Seems my strain screw for the above was .380" or you can use a separate mainspring and bend to what you want/

Bayou's are Poly Coated, not Plated though.

TGO champions, I believe, the slap the trigger method on Semi-Auto's and I'd hazard that he does so with the Revolver. The theory is it removes the possibility of short stroking, I've even short stroked with a 1911 match trigger though there we called it Trigger Freeze. And TGO doesn't give up anything to anyone on shooting! JM I believe always stated keeping a live trigger, always rolling it, and I'm pretty sure he didn't slap the trigger. It all comes down to personal preference and individual capabilities. I've tried both and settled on "riding" the trigger instead of "slapping" But I'm also never going to have the speed of TGO, JM, MWP or any other Champion. I've yet to see an issue with the difference in a S&W and my Ruger GP100. Both tuned triggers have different feels too. As an interesting side note I once had an Apex 4 lb action on my 625. Even though it had a very positive rebound I continually short stroked it. It finally occurred to me that under pressure my "feeble" subconscious mind was confusing the light DA trigger with a 1911 trigger, which I was had shot for the previous 30 years, and was not going back far enough. I tried slapping the finger and it didn't help, for me. I finally, for other reasons, upped the action weight to 5 1/2 lbs with only slightly heavier rebound pressure and "most" of my short stroking went away. Further on stock Revolvers I have also ran into the short stroking issue at a much higher rate than with my tuned Revolvers. I've not had any issues with my 325 EDC Revolver with short stroking, I slicked up the action and set the weight at 7 1/2 lbs.

.358 for lead/moly/poly coated, .357 for jacketed and all of the Plated I've had were sized .357.

Just curious have you increased the chamfer of the cylinder on the 929?

Now where is the fun in that? Where is your sense of exploration and adventure, blazing new paths with new toys!

105.98/thousand isn't a bad price for FMJ either.

Some Major 9 can reach 60,000 psi I've been told. Heck 38 super major loads were over 40,000. 357 magnum is under 45,000 psi.