Flash74

Sorry, I have been away for a while. Philip, the box is simply a top, bottom and sides made out of 3/8" plywood. The pieces for the top and bottom are 12"x7", the sides are 6.5"x7". The total outside dimension is 12"Wx 7"Hx7"D. That is as big as I could go. It was a chore getting it into the opening and into the bottom of the bag. Russell92, for a match I don't take a lot of stuff. I can fit 6-20oz gatorades, small ice pack and some energy bars in the top cooler. I carry a gunshot kit, Oakley glasses case, spare set of glasses, glasses cleaning kit, ear muffs, 3-pairs ear plugs, pistol in rug, 6-140mm mags, 2-100rd 40cal ammo boxes, small tool kit, small parts kit, bug spray, sunscreen, towel, tissues, keys, phone and can of dip in the rest of the pockets and bottom compartment. Other items that I would use for a day of practice (stapler, pasters, larger tools, etc.) are kept in another bag that stays in the truck. I will try and get some pictures this evening if I remember.

After searching for a decent backpack for the range that doesn't cost an arm and a leg I think I have finally one. This is a tackle backpack from Bass Pro Shops. It is on sale for 39.99 without the plastic tackle boxes until August second. When I checked it out at the local Bass Pro I was surprised at its construction. The pack felt well built with good zippers that have nice pulls on them, good stitching and it felt heavy for its size similar to my maxpedition backpacks. It is comparable in size to the DAA medium backpack. It is constructed of 600 denier nylon, has a cooler for the top section and the bottom opens from the front to access ammo. The pack does not have much structure to it so I built a box out of 3/8" plywood to prevent any collapse. This allowed the front access to zipper open and closed easily and the drinks in the top sit on top of the box. I can fit 6-20oz gatorades in the top along with a small ice pack. I used it for a match on Sunday and was happy with how it worked. Time will tell if it holds up. For colors you have a choice of red, red or red. It's the "Bass Pro Shops XPS Stalker Backpack" if you are interested.

It might be that the mag bodies have swelled over time. If you can measure the width of the mag bodies and compare it to a factory mag you may find it "fatter". It may be time for some new magazine bodies or a little squeeze in a vice might be in order. Since you are running the same two all the time I am sure they see a lot of use. I have 10 mags for my 9mm and 6 for my 40. While all my mags get used having a greater number allows for rotation to lessen the wear and tear.

Everyone, thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the advice and now have a few more options to ponder.

I just won a 40 Pro Custom in an auction. Since it only comes with two magazines I will need more to compete. I know STI/SVI mags may or may not work, MBX makes mags and ACT mags for the Rock Island double stacks can be made to work. What I don't know is if the 15rd Mecgars for the 16.40 will work if a pro custom mag base is put on them or if a Brazos base is put on them. Does anyone have an idea? Also will the 15rd Mecgars work on the pro custom if the mag well is removed? Any help will be appreciated.

My experience with my M&P 9 pro (circa 2008) is the factory barrel likes 124 grain bullets pushed to +p velocities. When I shot defensive ammo my pistol was accurate off a rest at 25 yards, 2-3" groups. When I shot cheap 115gr fodder it was a foot low and 8" right at 25 yards. 147gr subsonics did not shoot any better. The only idea can come up with is the pistols are designed for officers using duty loads. Once I went to a Storm Lake barrel, all my accuracy issues disappeared. Everything I feed it shoots decent for me.

I wish I knew. I am going to try to replicate the results when I get a chance. I hardly ever get to the range to practice or chrono. I am always at a match or camping with my family on the weekends. I am not too worrried, I only use 9mm for 3gun. It doesn't have a power factor. As long as the steel falls I am good.

tcazes, the board over the chrono is a good idea. I will try that next time. deerassassin22, all of the coated bullets I have tried in the past have shot and chronoed the same. I have not experienced BBI's Hi-Tek coated bullets being faster than anyone else's coated bullets in 40. (All my experience with coated bullets has been in 40 cal so far) Are you perhaps referring to the old moly coated bullets? The searches I referred to in my original post were for loads using W231 and coated 147gr bullets.

My thought of out of the shooters control would be a second shot on a falling popper, hitting a stage prop, barrel, etc. redirecting the bullet somewhere other than the backstop.

I worked up some loads for 147gr BBI flat point with W231 powder. The velocities I am getting do not seem to jive with the search results I have gotten off this site. All were shot with an M&P Pro 9 with Storm Lake barrel. W231 avg vel. avg PF 3.3gr 952 139.9 3.4gr 967 142.1 3.5gr 975 143.3 3.6gr 996 146.4 3.7gr 1011 148.6 All were 10 shot averages and loaded to 1.125" OAL. The day was sunny and 70 degrees. The chronograph was 10ft in front of the muzzle and was in the shade with sky screens and a clear sky above. It seems like my results are 7-10PF above the results of others in the searches I have done on this site. It seems 3.4gr grains is the norm for a 130-135 PF load on this site, but I am getting 142PF. Am I loading too short? Do I have a "fast" barrel? The 45 loads and 40 loads I chronographed at the same time were what was expected from Enos search results and previous chronograph results. My 9mm 124gr Xtreme loads I am phasing out also matched previous chronograph results so I dont think it was a chrono setup issue. Maybe I am being paranoid and should be happy using 3-3.1 grains to get 130-135 PF in my 9mm. When I can chrono again I will see if I have similar results.

This is the best comment I have read in a while. In an indoor range, if a round doesn't hit the backstop I think a DQ is in order (unless it is out of the shooters control). There is not much margin for error.

Jack, did you shoot at Wauseon on the 12th? I was there and it was a fun muddy mess. There are lots of USPSA within 1-1 1/2 hour drive, Wayne County Raccoon Hunters, Livingston Gun Club, Brooklyn Sportsman Club, Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver. Wauseon puts on the smallest and most laid back match in the area. It is great for new shooters to get their feet wet. Wayne County puts on the best matches in the area. They usually have 9-stages that never disappoint and the competition level is high. I hope to meet you at a match sometime. Ryan

Simply the best. Simply the best. I wish all my local matches were this good.

I am going to second or third the Acme bullets. They were at Camp Perry this past weekend and the owners were absolutely great. They even had a gator at their booth to run bullets out to your vehicle. I checked out the coated bullets and they looked great, comparable to BBI which I have been using for a while. The coating was smooth and slick and nothing rubbed off on my hands like Blue bullets do. I was originally going to get 1000 40-180 and 1000 45-230, but they cut me a good deal so I got another 1000 40-180. ($45/500-40, $50/500-45, prices included tax) In the video above you can see their packaging for 100 count boxes. The 500 count boxes are the same wooden box, but roughly 6"x8" and the same depth as the 100 count. When they are empty, they are going to make some nice storage boxes. I have not loaded any, but I am sure they will shoot as well as all the other coated bullets I have tried (they all shoot the same for me). I will do a report once I load a batch and test them out.

I also get the brass dust when loading on my 550. I have found that when the bell is a hair too much, the edge of the case mouth gets scraped when going into the seating die (Hornady with bullet aligning collar). I can even get an almost complete ring of hair thin brass if I bell a little further. I just have to adjust my bell to a little less and I am good to go. Even though the scraping is happening at the seating die, the brass dust always ends up at the crimp station. I think the crimp die "wipes" all the dust off as it enters the die (Lee factory crimp).

FYI, TTI website is only $6.99 for the springs. Even cheaper than SSS with the 4 pack pricing.

TTI is the best, available in short for +3 with use for the stock spring, +5-140mm and come with an extended spring, and they are tool less spring. These extensions automatically give you an extra point on your hit factor!! TF is a close second and come in short for +3 for use with stock spring, +5-140mm and +10-170mm, the extended ones will require the purchase of a spring ($7). All three extensions require an allen wrench for takedown. I had to trim the retaining plates slightly to work with my SSS magwells. About 2-minutes each with a file, just knock the corners off. Arrendondo is a distant third, known for self destructing if they are dropped with any rounds in the magazine and they do not fit with a magwell on the pistol.

I am glad you found something that will work with the stock barrel. If you want to shoot bunny fart loads through your 9mm then you will have to go to an after market barrel. I am happy with my storm lake barrel, but it has a really tight chamber. I use an undersize die and a factory crimp die to make sure everything fits. Since you have a 40, you can always load 180gr bullets to 130pf for some really fun light loads. This is my wife's favorite load. It is even softer than 9mm 147gr at 130pf.

Will 22 rounds in your gun make a difference on a stage, or is this simply being able to say you can get 22 in the gun? I run mags that are 19 reloadable and have never thought I could do better if only I had 2 more rounds. There is always a place to reload between arrays,

I have used Remington primers for about 2000 .40 loads. I load to 168-170pf using W231 and experienced no issues with pressure. I rate them about the same as CCI primers for hardness. If your gun can light off CCI then you should be good with Remington primers.

3.3GR N320, BBI 147fp, 1.130" = 135PF from M&P Pro w/Storm Lake 5" barrel.

In my experience, the stock 9mm barrel works best with 124gr bullets that are really moving. The only rounds I have found to be accurate are duty/carry ammo. I had to put a storm lake barrel in my 9 Pro for any accuracy with gamer loads. My 40 pro with stock barrel eats everything with about the same accuracy. 3-4 inches at 25 yards. I have been very happy with it, my 9 Pro, not so much.

Most use 180gr bullets, but most do not shoot factory ammunition. I have found that most factory 40 is 175PF and above. You are having to deal with a lot more recoil than those who reload. Out of a stock M&P Pro 40 I was getting 178PF for the WWB 165gr rounds in the 100 packs. Freedoms 180gr remanufactured was 181PF in the same gun. Freedom definitely does not download their ammo so I would think their 155gr reloads would be around 180Pf or above. You may want to try Atlanta Arms for downloaded ammo that meets PF and will shoot much softer than what you are used to.

Replace the plastic parts and the striker spring and you should be good to go. I don't think enough heat was applied to affect any of the metal parts except for possibly the striker spring. Springs are cheap so I would replace it for piece of mind.

I have the small spring in both my 9 pro and 40 pro. I have apex kits in both and have not experienced issues with either one due to the small springs. I did have issues with the flat trigger, but that was my inability to tune it, not a spring issue