robport

Cool, because I was told that the 18.9 was too heavy, it's magwell was too wide, and it wouldn't fit in the box with standard basepads. That's not a bad looking pistol...and the price right now is very reasonable. ______________________________________________________________ whoops, on further research...it may take a little work to make weight and width. I may be guilty of hearing what I wanted to hear. Oh well.

Small update. I went to the range this morning to chrono, but since there were too many people there, I just shot some of my new Precision .45's. I used the same load as for my copper plated, since those were way below power factor for 230 gr (around 150 PF). Absolutely no smoke, but it felt and sounded like a friggin cannon going off. The 4.4 grains recipe, that I was using was way below the minimum given on the Alliant website for Bullseye. Who knew. I can see I have much more work to do to come up with a load for that...lol. I don't think the crimp was responsible, since I just barely removed the belling enough to get it in the case gauge. I have a lot more to learn about these new fangled epoxy coated bullets!

Just for info, the reshoot did actually happen and that person also happened to win the match. I would kind of like to know what they did about the other one though.

Thanks for all the input. For the gun locking up, it sure was the OAL. I had adjusted it some to the truncated cone design, but no where nearly enough due to the thicker shoulder on the design. I'm down to 1.080 now. I've never had one that short. I realize that that filling out the cone would take it up to about 1.160 or so, but it looks strange. These are ACME red, by the way. They shoot nicely. I didn't notice a change in accuracy. I haven't chronoed them yet because I'm still playing with the belling. I have it pretty loose now. I'm getting more smoke than I want, especially for the indoor range I shoot at. I guess I shouldn't refer to it as smoke, it's mostly just an acrid burning smell. I've adjusted the crimp so they barely fit back into the chamber gauge, so as not to crush the coating. These are being pushed by 3.2 grains of Bullseye. That's the powder I have right now. It pushes my Xtreme plated 147's at an average of 132 PF. Maybe it's too hot for these? I did have one annoying problem while loading. I kept adjusting the bell, and getting to just where I thought it should be when I tried to seal a bullet and it fell out when it dropped into the tray (what a mess). Thinking I had gone too far, I readjusted everything and it did the same thing (I didn't even consider the fact that I was running a Lee sizing die as the last stage...lol). After thinking I had a case problem and that wasn't it, I went to what I thought was the least likely and measured the diameter of the bullet....350. I had to start over again. I've since pulled a sample group out of the bag and measured them and so far, that is the only one I've found.....Murphy's law right? What were the odds that a bullet would be that far off in diameter? I guess I should have suspected it after I measured an average of 145 grains, rather than 147. They appeared to be all within a quarter of a grain of that though. I need a better scale to tell closer though. I have another 425 or so to play with, so I should know if I like them by then. I'm anxious to load some of the .45's (Precision coated). 20 of them weighed in as close as I could measure to 230 grains. The dark coating appears to be very different.

I think I might try the belt. I think a belt that doesn't flex so much would do it. A techlok attachment made it much worse. I have been using the ordinary thru-belt attachment that came with the holster. It came with belt and paddle attachments. The paddle actually works a little better for the angle, but is not as stable on the draw. The kydex holster holds it so tight to the body that I pull my shirt up with it a llittle when I draw. Then when I reholster, I have to check for loose shirt, which I'm afraid will overflow into the trigger housing on re-holster. I definitely don't want to deal with that. Thanks so much for the answers!

I received my first batches of coated lead bullets yesterday to try. I got some 230 grain for my .45 and some 147 grain for my Walther PPQ 5", both from different manufacturers. I've only been using plated bullets since I dumped plain lead a long time ago and my press is set up for those. It has been working well that way. I haven't loaded any of the 230's yet, since I'm out of large primers but I loaded about 20 of the 147's to test. They all gauged properly, but I cycled them through the gun by hand and they all went fully into battery. When I tried to rack the slide, at least two of the 20 wouldn't move without me bracing the front of the slide on a fixed object (bench, and it took a lot of force). I can't find any measurements out, except the OAL, which is short due to the bullets being truncated. I've obviously done something wrong...maybe with the bullet seating distorting the coating or something? Is there some way you setup your press differently for coated bullets? Just for interest, I also noticed that the 230's were spot on for weight and the 147's averaged 2 grains shy of 147...something I'm going to have to take into account with the chrono. I intended to try a few more companies coated bullets since some of these are a real savings over the plated ones I'm used to...unless these don't work with my guns.

During a stage at our last match, an SO came up to me at a stage without a cover garment and said that I would fail the dowel check by a large margin. I use a Bladetech holster with belt attachment and since I switched to a longer (and heavier) gun, it tends to bend the belt down more and hang at more of an angle. I really have to cinch the belt up to correct it (and it's one of those pretty thick web 5.11's). Does anyone have any good ideas how to correct it? I have a custom Kydex holster that may work, but I like the convenience of the Bladetech, with no loose shirt being pushed into it on reholstering (I don't feel as safe doing that.). I would hate to use the force of some our new societal norms and say that I declare myself a female for the purposes of this rule. My wife may not appreciate that. Thanks in advance for any useful ideas.

Nice, I'll have to try them too. Thanks for the tip!

I hope this isn't breaking any rules, but I was shopping for 147's yesterday and built a spreadsheet. The total is with shipping and any discount I could find. Shipping for Blue Bullets and Bayou become a smaller part of total with more bullets, but I was only buying 1000. Prices are from their respective websites. Cost per 1000 Total Coated Black Bullets 85 90.5 Blue Bullets 75 89 Bayou 75 90 Precision 76 76 Acme 81 78.9 Plated Xtreme 87.5 88.13 Berry's 107.28 107.28

If you get on their mailing list, they have daily specials and it seems like they have a 147 special every couple of weeks. 5% I believe. I've been using them exclusively for a while...but I'm now ordering some coated ones just to see if I like them (I'm trying some Acme and some Precision). They are a few bucks cheaper still...so we'll see. I've had no problems with Xtreme though. Unlike what I've read, they have been very accurate through my gun.

I used the Lee for a little over a year before replacing it.

Yup, for Father's day, I got a Hornady LnL. I have retired my Lee's. Trying to futz with the progressive, finally got to me, after I installed a bullet loader and it worked for 100 rounds, only to throw the bullets everywhere after that. I took that off, but I found that I was spending as much time adjusting things as I was loading. The indexing screw kept slipping and several other problems with it. I don't regret it, though. It more than paid for itself. I may mount the tower one back up if I have to load some specialty rounds in the future. This new press feels stable, doesn't flex when I pull the handle, and those 10% of rounds that didn't quite seat the primer right and I threw in the practice pile...well, I don't have a practice pile any more. The powder measure throws consistently within my ability to measure it (0.1 grains) and I'm getting to the point where I trust my rounds now. It may be the newness of it, but the 500 or so rounds I've loaded so far in 9mm and the 100 or so rounds of 45 have been much easier. One of the things I like the most about it, is the fact that if you question seating a primer or something, you can pull the round out and check it, then put it back in a matter of a few seconds. The biggest things, though, are the 5 holes and being able to get my fingers in to load without dropping the bullet. I'm using my Lee dies and one of the powder measures (for the .45), so I'm still using parts from the old ones. I may use some of the parts to build a case loader after I get used to this press. The primers are much, much, more difficult to load, but the extra precision with which they are placed is nice. So far, I'm a very happy camper. I can't believe the difference in loading experiences. Why didn't I go blue? I'm sure the blue group will ask. Total price vs capability. It is a progressive, I can upgrade it. It has five turret stations, etc. The 500 bullets were just a nice little bit extra since I priced the same ones the other day at BASS pro shop and they were $110. I never load anything that expensive, but I may actually resell them. Hopefully, I won't get struck down by a blue lightning bolt or anything.....

The only way I would see it as a problem is if you have limited spaces and someone that needs it (for a sanctioned match) can't get in. We have roughly 4 a year. The one before last, I got in when someone backed out. Otherwise, I would have had to cancel for a match (and lose the entry fee). I signed up three hours after the signups went live. If that isn't a problem around your ways, shoot away.

So effectively, we now have an open division in IDPA, cool! Here come the optics and the high dollar guns. I was wondering what they would look like up close...lol

I have one IDPA match within 10 minutes of my house and another within 40 minutes (though the traffic sucks). Both are run every two weeks. I don't have even one USPSA match within 100 miles. USPSA isn't a consideration for me right now.

One of the hardest pills I've had to swallow is that my match performance actually does reflect my skill level. I can just speak for me, but match performance is the result of all of those things discussed in Mr. Enos book. I need the physical strength to control the pistol and the dexterity to manipulate the pistol quickly. If the muscles aren't capable, it ain't happening. I need the physical stamina to keep your heart rate low enough to hold the sights until the shot breaks. Breathing hard after two steps isn't gonna help. I need the muscle memory to draw, attain, and maintain a good grip on the pistol and the awareness to bring the pistol back to the sight picture without conscious thought. I'm working on that still. I need the mental discipline (or practice, I haven't figured out which yet) to push all those other thoughts (what you just did, what you did last week, how others are shooting, the fact that your dog is likes a particular type of treat, whatever) out of your head and see that one shot. This is difficult for me. I need the presence of mind to execute that one shot as part of a rehearsed plan burned into your brain and not get lost in that plan. I need to spend more time with this pre-stage. I need the mental discipline to not lose your mind or that plan as soon as that nasty buzzer goes off. Still working on this one...a personal timer helps. I need the mental presence to realize when you need a deviation from your plan. I'm no where near good enough to even worry about this one yet. I haven't figured out how to do it all together yet. I'm at a point where the same shots I can't seem to miss in practice, I can completely flub in a match. I'm assuming that I need to concentrate on more of the mental stuff for me. I just haven't figured out how yet. I'm not sure if some of it is the chicken or the egg stuff though...do the pistol handling skills gives you the confidence to release the mental anxieties and break each shot without the world creeping in? How much of it is social programming over the years all the way to childhood? I can see that self confidence plays a huge role in success. Way too much thought for this early in the morning...lol.

I have a question about rule 6.9.2. 6.9.2. While blind stages are not allowed in IDPA, portions of a stage can have moveable non-threat indicators to allow for a shooter to make a shoot/no shoot decision as part of the CoF. These targets must be hidden from the view of the shooter prior to reaching the shooting position where the shoot/no shoot decision is made. In order to maintain a level playing field for all shooters, the first target and the last target will not be eligible as non-threats. Is it allowable to have the moveable non-threat indicators cover threats or does each moveable non-threat have to remain on its own stand. This past weekend, we were looking at a stage, reportedly from a major sanctioned match that actually had moveable non-threats that covered different threats for each shooter. Each ended up with the same number of threats, but the threats were effectively not in the same location for each shooter. In effect, both the non-threats and the threats moved. After a huge and long discussion, we still had two separate camps on this subject. One felt the non-threats couldn't be used to make the stage shoot differently for each shooter and the other felt it was definitely allowed by the rules. Which is right?

I guess he didn't get the COF book. Mine showed a target there and I would have asked the SO about it even though you can't see it easily at all. I guess the good shooters don't need a crutch like that book...lol Another little lesson I learned was that you can't trust everything an SO says on a walkthrough. Last big match I was in, one person in my squad asked if two targets were the same priority and the answer was yes. I got a PE for shooting them out of order because there was more than 6 feet separating them (You couldn't tell from the shooting position and there was no cover). I didn't appeal. My excellent sponsors (wife and son) only care that I enjoy myself. IMO, the match director should always be the final say. Any process, with outside interference, is only asking for trouble. Having to pull another competitor off the line to decide it is ridiculous. The final ruling official, on an issue should not be someone shooting the match. There is always a fear of them not being completely impartial. I hope the IDPA organization fixes this process and apologizes to the match director there. I only met him for a moment, but I was impressed. I've also only heard good things about him. He also ran the best two line safety briefing I've ever heard!

I asked this on another thread and didn't really get an answer. In regards to 8.2.2.20, I understand what a cone style barrel is, but what is a "heavy" style? Is it an exotic material? weight limit? barrel wall thickness? ..or are they trying to say weighted towards the muzzle, like some step design or something?

I'm assuming you are going to NCRR. 4 stages, 55 round count...but I would bring 75-100 rounds I'm not familiar with the FSS trigger, but if it isn't offered by the factory on any of their guns, the rules say you can't bring it. You can't have visible mods in SSP. The internal trigger mods are OK though. You need 3 mags, a mag pouch that holds two, a holster and a cover garment that covers the pistol and magazines. If you don't know anyone with the course of fire, PM me with your email address and I'll forward it to you. Oh yes, in case you don't know, the rules for wearing the holster and mags are different for IDPA. You use a regular belt, not multibelt rig.

SSP. That means though that you could also run it in ESP if you wanted.

I just noticed a part I had been jumping over when I read it. I know what cone style is, but what is "heavy" style?

I was hesitant to put this out there, but if it will help someone else...then so be it. To start, I'm in my upper 50's and just took up the sport about 18 months ago. I was almost ready to go to only my second sanctioned match. Since I was a little worried about being caught during the scarecrow check and 5.11 was dumping range vests for a great price, I bought one. The day before the event, I felt like crap. I still had a lingering virus that I couldn't shake. I decided I wasn't going, but the wife spoke up and said I needed to go. I left at 0300 and drove there. It was hot and humid, but I was feeling slightly better. I thought I was drinking enough water, but wasn't. I had made it through more than half the stages when it happened: I was on a stage when you start facing up range, turn and engage targets while moving back downrange. I had a little trouble shooting on the move, and emptied a whole magazine for makeup shots it turned out I didn't need. I was nervous and probably a little dehydrated again, I guess. As I was backing up to the next firing position, it happened. I was sliding by the stage prop, let's call it a gas pump, when the cut piece of hose sticking out off the side of it slipped under my arm and through the arm hole in the vest. When it planted itself on the front right side of the vest, it felt like someone had grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, probably at least 40 degrees (my old vest would have just disintegrated...lol). I immediately turned back and moved downrange to get off of it, since I was stuck. About that time, I heard "muzzle" from the berm on the left. It was too late. The RSO said nothing until I had worked my way free and by then, the RSO must have registered the muzzle call from the other guy and called stop. It was probably very quick, but was an eternity to me. At the least, I guess it was good that I was at slide lock when it happened. I didn't argue. I have no doubt I had broken the boundary, even though a few with a decent visual line said I was close, but didn't later. (I'm sure they were just trying to be nice though.) Hanging my head in shame, I gathered my gear, got back into my car and drove home (except for one magazine that I lost). In retrospect, I've learned that I need to inspect stage props more carefully during the walkthrough and give them more room as I back up. I hadn't even noticed that hose during the walkthrough. I also learned to drink a lot more water than you think you need, even if you aren't thirsty. On one earlier stage, my weak hand was shaking like crazy until I drank two bottles of water and it went away. I did notice, in several pictures taken after my group went through that stage, that the hose was turned down and downrange, so it looks like they fixed it after I left. At least that was something. Also, I really appreciate those that have told their DQ stories. I would have probably given up this great sport, when it happened, if I hadn't read those.

Just guessing, but with something this hard to find, it might be worth your while to pull the slide spring, cock the hammer and rack the slide slowly by hand to see if the fp safety plunger is hanging up slightly or something like that.

I find it hard to believe that with today's digital machining processes, the frames vary by as much as 1/4 inch. I would believe it of local IDPA boxes though. 8.2.1.4.1 would not allow the shaving of the beavertail for SSP (no visible mods). With shaving of the beavertail though, I would think the limited pro would be legal in ESP. I've heard you can shave an ounce off the elite match rail to make it legal for ESP too. I like the limited pro better myself. I would rather have something that doesn't wear as much....oh well, time to start saving before a quest to find one.