Flash74

I have owned a few Taurus handguns and I would recommend to stay away. I have never owned a PT92, but I had a revolver and small auto. I cant remember the model numbers. Both guns started off pretty nice, reliable and accurate with nary a problem. After getting a couple hundred rounds through them the problems started to show up. The revolver's trigger kept getting worse the more it was shot instead of becoming better like a S&W. The heat treat on the trigger parts was paper thin and soon rounded off and became dangerous. Taurus did replace the parts, but I sold it as soon as it was fixed. The auto was a 380 pocket gun that functioned well, but the extractor self destructed and flew off while I was shooting it. Again Taurus fixed it up and I sold it soon afterward. I have owned XD's since they were HS200. I found them to be accurate and reliable. I put many thousands of rounds through the ones I had and there were no issues. I only sold them off because I liked the M&P series of pistols better.

You people who can shoot all year long disgust me! Not really, I am just jealous. I have 2500 .40 and 3000 9mm on the way. I guess it is reloading season. There was enough shooters interested so we had a November match, but I should of just stayed home. I did not have one clean stage and I completely blew the classifier. I was snatching the trigger something fierce, low left all day long. I got to know a guy named Mike pretty good Sunday. Man I really hate that guy!!!

There may be an issue where the "tabs" on the back of the barrel project into the width of the breach face. They could be slimmed down to fit the 9mm breach face. I would be patient and find a barrel that fits (storm lake, KKM, etc.) versus trying to fit something not made for my particular pistol.

The difference between 180 and 200 is what feel do you like. Here are some real scientific terms, do you prefer a pow pow or do you prefer a paka paka. 180 definately moves the slide faster, hence the pow pow and 200 is pretty slow on the slide and I feel every movement, hence the packa packa. I am not a fast shooter (Limited C), and I prefer the packa packa feel. It is hard to describe, but I rush too much with 180's. Many of my shots are low and to the left. If I use 200's I almost feel like I am waiting on the slide and shoot much better. I am slow but smooth with a good hit factor versus fast and mashing the trigger with a low hit factor. This is the reason I have sold all of my light bullets and am sticking with 200 in 40 and 147 in 9mm. Try both and figure out what works better for you.

Sportsman's Den did not have any 231 or HP38 today. They did have plenty of Bullseye, Titegroup and power pistol. They had 8lb and 1lb jugs.

I have been fortunate this year to have been able to attend at least three 3gun or USPSA matches a month since April. Some months I shot 5-6 matches. Even when camping with my family I could get away and shoot a Saturday match and be back in time to cook dinner over the fire. Winter is fast approaching here in NW Ohio and my last match of the year is scheduled this Sunday. There is talk that the match might be canceled because it will be cold out. Ugh!!! April 2015 can't come soon enough!!!!!

H4895 is a touchy powder in 223. With a starting load of 26gr and a max load of 27gr there is not much room for error. As always, start low and work up. I have found H4895 is excellent in larger volume cases like 308 and 30.036, but have not tried it in 223. There are much better powders for 223 like CFE223, H335 and especially Varget. Varget is my go to powder for pretty much everything in rifle.

Wrangler cargo pants from Walmart for me. They are tough, light weight, ripstop material and only cost $15. I can buy 3 pairs for every 1 pair of "tactical" pants. I have been using the same 2-pairs for 3 years and they are holding up well. The knees are just starting to show wear. The best part is there is a tool pocket behind the left cargo pocket that is open on top. It fits a 30-round Pmag perfectly or 2-M&P mags. I use the tool pocket for my make ready mag and to store my used mags after a stage.

I would love to have a press with a nickel finish. Might as well have the press match the pistol. Any chance of a retro line of presses?

Sometimes it pays to complain. If this match came to fruition out of spite because I complained about my carpal tunnel, I couldn't be happier. Where do I sign?????

Can we get some pictures? I sure would like to see one. Was it a factory run at one time or somebody's creation?

I am located in the Toledo Area. It is an 1 1/2 hour drive to the Sportsman's Den for me so I don't make it too often. Friday I will be in the area pheasant hunting and will stop to see if they have any powder in stock.

afletcher, thanks for all of the information. I am off to place my order. Please keep us informed if you encounter any problems or quirks after you get a lot of shots through it.

Sportsmans Den in Shelby Ohio has had it in stock. I picked up a couple of 4 pounders the last time I was there a month ago. I swung by Fin Feather and Fur and they were pretty much out of pistol powder.

I think everyone else hit the nail on the head with the heavy bullet in the 9c. Especially if it is older with the slow twist rate. One other item is the Freedom reloads. If you have not pulled a bullet from one of their reloads, try it. I got very deep marks on their plated bullets. They are crimping the crap out of their rounds. Dont get me wrong, I like Freedom and have had good luck with their products in 9 and 40, but noticed their crimp when I pulled a bunch of 40 to download them. (I am a recoil wimp, 165.001 PF for me) After seeing how bad the 40 bullets were, I pulled a couple of the 9mm I had and the same thing, a very heavy crimp. I reloaded the heavily crimped 40 bullets and had some accuracy issues. It was relegated to practice ammo.

The hollow point have virtually the same profile as the flat point since Extreme uses uses a rounded bullet with a flat point versus a truncated cone. However, I have found I am limited to mag length in the M&P. I can fit 1.160" in my mags without malfunction. My chamber will take longer, but I have no idea the max length since I stopped when the cartridges stopped fitting and feeding from my mags.

I have one that has been flawless with brass cased ammo. Steel cased was a no go from the start. I couldn't even load it with steel cased past 40 rounds or so. I never run it in a match. I haven't encountered a stage where I couldn't find a place to do a reload while moving. 30 or 40 round Pmags with TTI extensions are my go to mags.

I use the imperial sizing wax for neck sizing. I just touch the tip of my index finger to the wax, roll it between finger and thumb to distribute and then roll the neck of the case between finger and thumb. I only lube every third case or so. The wax tends to stay on the die.

I have had good luck with H4895 in 30.06 in my Garand. It is one of the first powders I bought when I first got into reloading for rifle and was recommended for 30.06. It is one of the most versatile rifle powders available and will work well for 308.

H335 and Varget are my go to powders in 223.

In my stock barreled Pro 40 I have no issues making major PF using the Extreme 180gr HP bullets. 5.3gr HP38/W231 loaded to 1.160" gives me a PF of 168. The only pressure sign is the primer just starts to flatten. Using factory ammo I get much more flattening on the primers. I am unfamiliar with the powders that you have, but if they have similar burn rates to W231 then you should have no issues making major.

Thank you, I will be in contact.

130,000 PF!!!!!!!!!!! That is 884,354 FPS with 147gr bullets. What type of fairy dust and how many grains required? Ha Ha!!!!! Just kidding with you.

The kydex work looks outstanding. I have made a couple of holsters, but none of them turned out as well as yours. I really need to get/make a kydex press. The bladetech belt loop (or maybe a tek-lok) is a good idea. It puts the holster away from the body for a better draw/easier access for gun games, but it can be removed to use the holster for concealed carry. Using the same holster for everything is good for developing muscle memory.

The match was great. 350+ rounds in a couple of hours really made the carpal tunnel flare up. The numbness is just starting to go away. Looking forward to next year.