Flash74

The 3gun match I was going to Sunday got canceled. I am going to attend the match at FWRR. This will be my first match at this facility. Is there an approximate round count and aproximatley how many stages are there typically? One bit of advice, put the clubs address on the website. I could not find it anywhere but in this thread.

The polymer FSS and trigger kit will give the shortest pull and reset. The competition AEK may give a lighter pull, but the pull and reset are longer. I prefer the short pull and reset. I have not tried mixing the competition springs with the FSS and trigger kit. I find the pull with the kit to be light enough.

Are you having the issues with the stock barrel? In my experience the stock barrel has a huge chamber. If a round fits a chamber checker then it should slide in and out of the stock barrel chamber. M&P's are duty guns with loose tolerances for reliability. With the brass still in the barrel I am not sure how your slide is cycling to pick up another round. When I was having stuck cases in my storm lake barrel the round would fire, but the slide would not move. I would really have muscle it open or use a rod. Once I switched to a U-die and factory crimp die I have not had any issues.

I would definitely say Limited minor. I have seen too many new shooters in production get frustrated with mag changes. They start shooting an array, move, take two shots then wonder why the gun isn't shooting, look at it and go OH the mag is empty. Reload an repeat until the end of the stage. I have also seen the same thing with new shooters in limited, but they only have to stop and stare at the gun once during a stage. If your SO likes the 40 at 170pf then load her up some 140pf 40's and she should really like it.

For 3gun I am using my Pro 9 with Apex DCAEK with polymer AET and RAM. I kept the stock springs in my gun instead of using the springs in the DCAEK kit. It made for a much lighter trigger pull. There is plenty of take up and overtravel with these parts, but I find the trigger much better than stock. My stock barrel shot patterns (early model) so I replaced the barrel with a storm lake barrel. The replacement barrel is very accurate with all loads, but it has a tight chamber. I had some Freedom remanufactured 9mm that would not chamber at all. The rounds would barely chamber in my G17. I then tried my stock M&P barrel and the rounds would drop in and fall out. The stock barrel has a huge chamber, probably why the M&P's are reliable duty guns but suffer in the accuracy department. For USPSA Limited I use a Pro 40. This pistol is a newer model (2013) which had a much better stock trigger than my early model 9 Pro. In this pistol is went with the polymer FSS trigger kit and installed all of the parts in the kit. What a trigger, short and light with a somewhat crisp break. The FSS really makes a difference. The stock barrel accuracy is acceptable so I have not changed it. Both pistols have SSS magwells and guide rods with 13lb ISMI springs. It's amazing what lighter springs do for the feel of the guns when they are shot.

Is the WE Big Bird the best gas M&P airsoft available? It seems to be the only gas M&P I can find.

Gman, the tires on the first two strollers are too small. You will be frustrated pushing the carts on anything less than smooth terrain. The third stroller is good to go. I tried a wagon for 3gun and pistol matches but it was more hassle than just carrying bags. Once I went to a jogging stroller, I never looked back. It is much easier to push than to pull. I can make it through a whole match without back issues.

I second, third or fourth the Pro-Chrono. It is very easy to use and set-up. I have found it accurate and I don't have any issues with it missing shots. I had a folding Chrony (not sure the model) but it would occasionally miss shots and was sensitive to different lighting conditions.

The coated bullets have been more accurate for me versus plated bullets. It doesn't matter which manufacturer (Bayou, Blue, BBI). The only bullet more accurate than coated lead is a match grade jacketed bullet, but were not shooting bullseye here.

Xtremes normal plating is just like any other plated bullet (Berrys, Ranier, etc.). The heavy plated bullets load and shoot like jacketed bullets. I find the heavy plated bullets to be much more accurate than the normal plate. (It could be the way I am loading them) I use the Xtremes for practice, but like a coated bullet for matches. The coated bullets just seem to shoot softer and I get better accuracy out of them. I have over 6000 Xtreme bullets that have cost me a total of $44. Xtreme is very generous with their gift certificates at the 3gun matches I have been attending.

Loads for my M&P 40 Pro with stock barrel 180gr Bayou TC 4.9gr W231 168pf 1.160" 200gr Bayou RN 4.3gr W231 169pf 1.160"

I love my CED 7000. Small, light weight with many features. It has an internal battery that lasts a long time per charge. It charges in less than 2 hours. I use it with the hinged belt clip. Just flip it up to look at it. It has a spy mode which allows me to double check my runs in a match, read splits, etc.

Thanks for the information. Now it's time to go slide hunting.

I have recently purchased a new full size Witness with steel frame in 45. I purchased the pistol to shoot up a bunch of 45 I have and the price was too good to pass up ($350). The pistol shoots so well I would like to use it for competition. If possible I would like to convert it to 40 for competition but still be able to swap top ends back to 45. I am interested in getting a new top end with target sights for it in 40 to shoot limited. Is this possible? Can the 40 cal magazines work with the 45 frame? (I am assuming this is a large frame pistol since it is in 45) Can a magwell be fitted to the frame? Are there after market grip panels available for this frame? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I cannot tell the difference between the long stainless steel and the long tungsten guide rods. The biggest difference in feel came from changing spring weights.

I have the SSS ESP magwell on my Pro 9 and the SSS Limited magwell on my Pro 40. Both were easy to install with no fitting required and they both lock up tight with the guns. The magwells do not "wiggle". I have had no issues with TTI extensions in either magwell, but I had to trim the corners off of the locking plates on my Taylor Freelance extensions. Very little material was removed, just rounded the upper corners.

What a match, excellent stages, great competitors, good prize tables. The weather cooperated this year and the match ran smoothly. I am looking forward to next year. Thanks need to go to Rick, John, Chip and any others involved in the planning and design of this match. They bring their national match experience to the local level, it really shows in the quality of the stages. Anyone that skipped the match really missed out. I will be back to RO next year if they will have me. I will try not to knock down any more stages or destroy any more targets.

This was a great match. The match ran like clockwork and the RO's were on the ball. Getting through eight stages in 6 1/2 hours (with a break for lunch) was a treat. I was expecting to be there another 2 1/2 hours. The stages were fun and well thought out. Nothing was too tricky, only a few targets that were easy to overlook. I would like to see the difficulty increased a little. Throw in some texas stars and clamshells to add to the fun, but it might slow down the match for the extra reset time. I will definitely be back next year for a great match and to support a great charity.

I chrono'ed some 200gr Bayou's this weekend using HP38 powder which is the same as 231. I started at 3.9gr and went up to 4.3gr and all loads were 1.165". Using a M&P 40 with stock 5" barrel I got an average of 835fps at 4.3gr which gives a pf of 167. Weighing the 200gr bullets was a bit disconcerting. Most were 198gr with some down to 194gr, none of them measured 200gr. I was using the scale that comes with the RCBS Chargemaster combo. This puts the pf at 162 to 165 depending on bullet weight. Since the velocity is a little too close at 4.3gr and the bullets vary quite a bit in weight I am going to work up loads at 4.4 and 4.5gr to make sure I make major. If you are loading at 1.2" you may need more powder to make major. What I took away from my chrono session is that Bayou bullets smell awful when shot and I finally found a major load that definitely feels softer. I had tried 180gr jacketed, plated and coated and they all felt the same. The only difference was the amount of powder used to make major. The coated used 0.4 gr less powder to make major, but the loads felt the same as jacketed or plated. The 200gr loads definitely felt softer and my drill times were reduced. Not a whole lot, but every little bit helps. I will be trying some 220gr after these 200gr run out.

Rolex, I had the same problem on my 9 pro and 40 pro. Removing just the tip that contacts the frame helped me tremendously. I didn't remove hardly anything and it worked. It seems like there is a bur on the tip of the lever from the factory. When I went to the Apex polymer trigger in both guns I didnt have to do a thing.

Hodgdon says 3.9 grains to start with 4.7 maximum for 231 and HP38. Start low and work your way up.

Wow!!!!! that pretty much sums up this match. For my first USPSA match I got spoiled. 8 great stages, not too technical, not hoser stages, multiple trick targets per stage, what more could you ask for. I know this was an end of year match and a sort of grand finale for the current crew, but I applaud the effort put into this match. Everything was well organized and ran smooth. I wish i would have found about these matches sooner. In the future, I think I am going to be disappointed in other matches I attend.

Quick question, how strict are the rules at this club? This is my first uspsa match. Plenty of 3gun under my belt so I am not new to competition, but I am not sure what division to compete in. I have a G17 with the finger grooves ground off. Does this kick me out of production? I normally shoot with a light attached to my pistol. Is this allowed? (Not LE so it is not a duty gun)