eggman

Give us some feedback after your match I ended up not shooting the 3.4 gr. Prima V 135 gr. Bayou LRN load at our local match but did end up shooting a 124 gr. Bayou LRN using 3.9 grs Prima V with a 1.14" OAL load. I used my 5" Trojan 9mm for the match and the load was accurate and clean burning. Not sure of my exact PF with this load using the Trojan however I had chrono'ed it using a Glock 19 and was a 130 PF . So, far I'm very pleased with Prima V for 9mm except for having to make sure the powder is settled in the powder measure before I start loading. I also noticed leaving the powder in the measure overnight more settling occurs and I have to adjust the micrometer adjustment . Once the powder settles and test weighing about every 10th round ( I don't normally check powder charges that often) the charge only varied .05 gn per charge loading 100 pcs of ammo.

Having heard good things about Prima V using it for 9mm (9x19) I bought 5 1.1 lb. bottles from Grafs last week when they had free shipping just to try it. I first tried 3.4 grs of Prima V using 135 gr. Bayou LRN at 1.132" OAL . Across the chrono I got 980 fps with 9 ES with my Trojan 5" with decent grouping at 20 yds . With a 4" 1911 that I use in CCP division I got 964 fps with a ES of 19 (same load) and was really surprised with a nice 1 1/2" group at 20 yds off of a sandbag . I may try 3.5 grs just to see but I think I nailed it the first time with 3.4 grs for both pistols. Hopefully will get to try it in a local match this weekend.

Thanks!! Very well said and so true !

I have a 5" Trojan 9mm that I had put back in the safe as I couldn't depend on it feeding reliably in matches . I had tried Dawson , Wilson and Tripp 10 round magazines and with all of them I would get "nose dives" with the top cartridge of a fully loaded magazine . Only just recently heard about the CM XP 10 round 9mm magazines and bought three to try . I shoot 147 gr. coated lead bullets and the xp magazines are working flawlessly . Since switching to the XP magazines and returning my Trojan from retirement I have not had one failure to feed . I also found out that I didn't have to just use RN bullets and have been shooting up a bunch of FP bullets .

My favorite practice bullet for my 45's is a 200 gr. LRNFP that a local bullet caster makes using a Lee six-cavity mold sized to .452" . I think I'm the only customer he makes this bullet for as most prefer a 200 gr. #68 SWC but I have found this bullet will feed in all my 45's and it is very close the The Blue Bullet 200 gr. RNFP that I use in matches over 4.8 grs of WST or 4.3 grs of N-310.

I got a email flyer that Wideners Reloading had received a "small" shipment of Alliant powder . I checked and sure enough they had 8 lb. jugs of e3 so I wanted to let anyone who might need some it was available . It is the first I've seen in a long time .

Yep ! , the mags drop free and I didn't really have to "Squish" anything well not too much anyway..... I think the rubber on the padded jaws just gripped the magwell and guided it over the grip better than my first few attempts of just banging it on the towel covered workbench . I might have been able to get it on that way but was afraid I would damage the magwell and not be able to return it if it didn't fit.

Nevermind....sorry I've taken up bandwith with this problem but I finally figured it out . I ended up forcing the front of the magwell over the front of the grip with a padded vice enough to where the magwell would slide over the back . The holes lined up better than I thought they would and now I'm good to go . But this Tactical Magwell sure is ugly being used to the Dawson ICE magwells with there nice lines. Anyway, I've got a magwell on this Eagle and it will fit the IDPA box. Rodney

I bought a STI Tactical Magwell for 2011 pistols from Dawson to install on my STI Eagle 9mm that I shoot IDPA ESP with but it doesn't look like it will fit without removing material from the grip. I was just wondering what others have done to get the Tactical Magwell to fit on the Eagle ? It slids over the front of the grip just fine but when I swing it around to slide over the back there is just too much grip there to allow the magwell to slide over the back . I tried applying wax to help it slide over but it just dug into the grip. Thanks, Rodney

For whoever might be interested Graf and Son's Reloading has 1 lb. and 4 lb. jugs of N-310 powder in stock. I just thought I would post this as it's the first N-310 I've seen in stock for quite awhile now. Rodney

I just got word from Robin Taylor at Taylor Freelance that he is picking up some +0 basepads for Glock 45 cal. Magazines . They will weigh 1 oz. and be IDPA legal. I had been looking for a basepad for my G41 magazines that would be IDPA legal but add enough weight to help the mag drop free on reloads . I found plenty for 9mm and 40 cal mags but none that weighed 1 oz. for 45 mags . I ended up contacting Robin who said he would work on it and just now got an email asking what color i'd want . Anyway, if anyone else is interested get up with Robin at Taylor Freelance. Thanks, Rodney

Fred , Let us know how the BA 10 compares to Clays . Rodney

I noticed that Graf and Son's and Powder Valley are Stocking the Nobel Sport Vectan line of powders . http://issuu.com/grafandsons/docs/vectan_reloading_data?e=1795079/11745149 I load mostly for 45 ACP major and 9mm and 40 SW for IDPA so it looks like my best choices are going to be BA10, BA 9.5 , and BA9 with BA9 being the slowest burning and BA10 being probably too fast for 45acp. I would like to tinker with some but right now for the first time in three years I'm pretty well stocked on powder and may wait to here the experience of other shooters before I jump in and try the Nobel powders for pistol. I was hoping someone here might have some experience that they could share with me ? Rodney

I use Warren rears and either Warren or Dawson front FO sights on my G17's /G19's and had to go to .245" front height instead of the suggested .215" . I have one Gen 3 G19 that I'm thinking of trying a 10-8 precision .250" FO front as I'm still high at 25 yds with 124 gr. bullets. The only Glock I own that was able to use the suggested .215" front was a G22 Police trade-in I bought . Rodney

I appreciate the help finding 45 acp basepads . I think I will give them a try. Thanks, Rodney

I've been looking for +0 aluminum base pads for my Glock 41 magazines like the ones Dawson, Taylor Freelance , Taran Tactical etc. offer for 9mm/40 magazines that weigh just a fuzz under an ounce. and have come to the conclusion that no one makes one at this time. My thinking is that just the little bit of extra weight would help my mags drop free when they get dirty from burnt powder etc. . I saw that Lighting Strike does offer one but there is no way a G41 would fit the IDPA box with the LS basepad installed on it's mag. I just wanted to ask if I've missed one that might be out there that I don't know about ?

I have never liked the levers or tabs you have to press to release most of the retention systems I've seen but they were mostly the kind of holster WalMart might be selling . then after trying several IWB holsters I found that N8 Tactical have a really unique retention feature built in their "Professional" model IWB holster . Several folks have purchased the holster then when they tried it out the first time couldn't figure out how to pull the pistol back out of the holster until they read the directions that come with the holster. Here is a quote from their web site about the retention feature : "Using polycarbonate also allowed us to develop a positive retention IWB holster with our Twist Release System™. When the holster is worn, your body puts pressure against the backing, which presses the firearm against the polycarbonate. The polycarbonate holds the firearm in place and provides additional security for the retention of your firearm. Simply drive your thumb between the holster and the grip, then slightly twist the grip toward your body to release the trigger guard from the retention bump for a smooth draw!" I carry a G26 in a IWB holster at 4 o'clock and used a N8 Tactical "Professional" holster for a long time and was really happy with it and it is very comfortable as well but have since started using a "Stealth Gear" Onyx IWB holster because it has a thinner profile and breathes better in hot weather . However,... after viewing the video clip I may have to rethink the N8 Tactical holster because my SG Onyx holster has no retention whatsoever . https://www.n82tactical.com/holster-options

I really like this bullet for IDPA CDP major load in my Glock 41 . I bought 5 lbs of TiteWAD powder when I saw that Hodgons had reloading data for it and found I could make 169 PF with it and the blue bullet 200 gr RNFP at 4.1 grs seating to the cannelure . I'm thinking mine measured a longer OAL at 1.189 though. Accurate and soft shooting load that burns fairly clean compared to other powders I've used for same load. I've found that TiteWAD works well with 185 gr. and 200 gr. coated bullets but struggled to make major with 230 gr. RN coated bullets and just settled on the 200 gr. RNFP bullets to use up the rest of my TITEWAD.

My G17 ESP pistol looks about like yours and I use a Comp-Tac paddle holster . For my Trojan 5 9mm I bought a leather lined Kydex holster from Garrett Industries to keep from getting the same type of wear and so far so good. The leather lining takes some "break-in" and still feels like it has a little more drag than just a plan Kydex but it is easier on the blued finish. http://www.giholsters.com/silent-thunder-d2/ FWIW Rodney

Powderman81 I hate to hear of your experience with the PARA Pro Custom you purchased . I will have to say it was the opposite of my experience. I was quite pleased with the quality of the Pro Custom 14.45 that I purchased . The finish was excellent and fit to frame was very good as well. I did replace the trigger with a Gun Craft trigger and replaced the sear hammer disconnector with a Cylinder & Slide kit that I had on hand . I'm quite pleased with the end result but can't get used to the wider grip of the Para after shooting a STI Trojan 5 45 with thin grips all winter. Sorry I took so long to reply, eggman

I purchased a Para Pro Custom 14.45 from Buds about 6 weeks ago and am now getting it ready for IDPA competition. It would not fit the IDPA box with the Dawson magwell that came with the pistol but have since fitted a EGW magwell that will. The EGW is open in the front and also allows the mag to contact the grip frame when you insert a mag off center. I guess I could chamfer the grip frame to prevent this . Other than the magwell not fitting the box it was pretty much ready to go. I had a C&S light weight sear and hammer so I installed those parts and used a shim to convert it from 80 series to 70 series along with changing the factory mainspring to a Wilson 19 lb. MS. . I may change out the plastic MS housing to an aluminum one but am probly close on weight as it is. This is my first Hi-cap and the learning curve has been steeper than i thought making the transition from a STI 1911 to a Para . The pistol might be ready for prime time now but I'm not .

Thanks for the replies and the phone number . In case someone is interested I will let you all know how I get along with customer service. Thanks, Rodney

I'm needing a Take Down Lever Retaining Wire for my M&P Pro 9mm . I've purchased a couple from Midway and Brownells but both were so flimsy I don't think they are doing much "retaining" . I thought if I could get the original S&W part it would be of better quality. I lost the original retaining wire putting in a Apex trigger and purchased the wire from Midway as Brownell's were on backorder.. Anyway my M&P Pro Owners Manual doesn't have parts schematics or a "parts" phone # . Also, will S&W sell parts to the public without sending the firearm in ? I know lots of questions but I'm hoping someone else has had this problem and solved it . Thanks, Rodney

Thanks Robert I was hoping for a solution as I bought a bunch of these bullets but I'm thinking you are correct and I am wasting my time gettng these bullets to shoot . Thanks, Rodney

I ran out of the 147 gr. SNS Casting FP bullets I had been loading and picked up a bunch of local hard cast 147 gr. Lyman # 356637 bullets and am experiencing bullets tumbling and going through the target sideways as close as 15 yds. After reading posts on this forum of similar problems with lead 147 gr. bullets I went to virtually no crimp (just straightening out the case neck flair), not using my Lee Factory Crimp Die and going up on charge weight and down . My usual 147 gr. SNS load is 3.3 grs of 231 or HP-38 . I also tried 3.5 grs of Solo 1000 with the Lyman bullet which eliminated much of the tumbling but am still seeing it about 25% of the shots. I'm using a XDm 5.25 9mm Comp. but experienced the tumbling in my Glock 34 with a KKM barrel. My Lyman load manual shows an OAL of 1.058 for this bullet which is a shorter OAL than I use with the 147 gr. SNS FP . Has anyone experienced this problem with this bullet ? Oh... It measures the same diameter .356" as all the other lead 147 gr. bullets I've used with no problem. Thanks, Rodney