jm951

I don't know why you would want to. It may be great for closeup hoser stages, but get the range out there and it could hurt far more than help.

I use the silver dollar in the powder measure because I have an old Dillon and I'm too cheap to buy the latest whizbang stuff when keeping an eye on the measure and a silver dollar on top solves the problem nicely.

I'm using Clays. One other thing you might want to consider. I've been using a Dillion almost since they came out. Since I load multiple calibers on this press, I've seen some powder bridging occasionally. By experimentation, I found keeping the powder measure at least 1/2 full and putting a silver dollar on top of the powder in the measure keeps things running perfectly. No powder bridging since I started doing that. The little extra weight of the dollar seems to have completely ended bridging. I checked the charge weights for quite a while after I started, and there's been absolutely no problems with metering.

I was using a SA 1911, military look alike. It shot well and did what I asked but I found that when shooting in cold weather matches, my arthritis in the hands/fingers caused problems with the controls- safety, slide release and mag release. SO, I switched to a G21, no buttons besides mag catch, just shoot. The 1911 looks lonely in the safe now all by its lonesome in the corner, but I haven't had anymore problems with not being able to operate the weapon in the cold either.

I used to shoot an L1A1 inch pattern that I built. It was fairly accurate and you're quite right about it being a soft gun in 308. DSA has some guns assembled on Austrian parts that are pretty decent for the money. Ditto on thinning the front post a bit and I'd also consider the scope mount DSA offers as well. It's low enough that when you remove a scope, you can still see through the irons. I sold mine because there isn't much reason to have a 308 in the vast, vast majority of matches shot in my area as there is no Heavy Metal class. You'd just be shooting for the cool factor while the mousegunners eat your lunch on time.

Yup, the teutonic chili pepper in its turbo S configuration is probably the world's fastest SUV, its no slouch in the 4 wheelin department either. The down side is the cost. In my current turbo car, I can blast past stangs and vettes on my way to the range. Just cinch up the 6 point harness, twist up the boost and kill bugs fast while avoiding those annoying official letters from the state concerning velocity. But, back to practicality. Since I really need a truck at the moment for a variety of reasons, the toy has to go. So, whatever I wind up with will be my new 3 gun hauler. I don't think that 4 wheel drive is that necessary. For cab room, the Dodge is winner hands down. The Ford is likely a better made vehicle, mechanically speaking. Chevy and GMC aren't that bad either. I'm not a brand name koolaid type. I'll weigh whatever I wind up with by a financial analysis. As for other vehicles, the Element is a quirky vehicle but has a high utility factor. Fuel economy isn't bad either. If I didn't need a truck so bad, I'd consider thinking of something like the new Dodge station wagon. There's tons of room, decent fuel consumption and rides well for long trips. I don't see that a SUV is really necessary for 3 gun hauling. Then again, I don't haul along a gun cart, a golf cart, 2 spare guns of each type and enough ammo to storm Falujah single handed.

Porsche- there is no substitute. Just pack in the HK stuff, Valentine One and hit it. However, now that I am in serious need of a truck, my procurement director/finance minister has directed me that the fleet cannot be expanded, hence the Porsche will have to go since her Honda is most definately not subject to liquidation. I'm looking at getting a decent mid 90's extended cab. My 96 Ram got 20mpg highway/17mpg city. With the extended cab, I could pack in lots of stuff behind the front seats. A lockable hard shell tonneau on the bed kept prying eyes from seeing what was being toted in the rear. In comparison to the Porsche- switched from premium to regular, no more expensive insurance and cheaper parts- it's a financial wash, even with 3 gun trips factored in. The cool thing about older trucks is that they've already done most of their depreciation with a reasonable amount of life left in them. My 96 Ram didn't get traded away until 225k was showing on the clock. Find one with about 70k showing and in good shape mechanically, it should go in the 5-6k range. Pay cash up front, no payments, nor interest and you've got some cheap drivin.

Having been into mountaineering in my youth, I can say this much. Stay hydrated, work out as much as possible and get into the best shape possible before you go, get there a couple days early, once there, work out a bit. Be prepared for shortness of breath on your first day or so there. If you can get there early, your body will have time to adjust somewhat. Stay hydrated, did I mention that? It also wouldn't surprise me a bit if you develop a monster headache your first day there. The altitude change isn't terribly drastic, but age and conditioning do play a factor in how quickly you adapt.

That's what used to be called "Mexican Match" where you take mil surp, pull the bullet, rewiegh the powder and put a match bullet in it. Lots of guys in the SW shooting metallic shilouettes used to do it. It's pretty effective short of giong all out and matching cases. You'd be surprised at how well it can shoot with some tinkering to suit your particular rifle. I don't think that I'd take that kind of time with ammo for a semi auto, but for bolt guns, it was decent. Since I'm shooting HM now, I'm thinking seriously about bulk milsurp bullets. I've bought a couple k already and experimented with weighing them (a digital scale is a must for this!!). The curve is a bit skewed to the light side, but I got enough in the +-.1gr range to make up some very cheap "match" ammo. Cost will be comparable to surplus excepting my time of course. The bullets out of tolerance will go into rounds for "hoser" stages where the distance isn't more than 50yds.

I'm going Heavy Metal. Hey, that end of the pool isn't nearly as crowded!!

I was using a FAL, main issues are- trigger stinks, sights, LENGTHHHH. Properly setup, they're as reliable as a hammer unless you pull stunt like I did once and have the gas set wrong. Shooting a big bolt action ain't fun. I'm using a SA M1A this time around.

What about active duty personnel subject to being deployed? What would happen to their entry fees if they have to go to the sandbox?

Even with the "issues" it was still great fun. Count me in as a repeat customer!!

I'm shooting a 3rd gen G21 and I haven't seen the infamous Glock bulge. Maybe it's on higher pressure rounds than 45acp. The stuff I'm currently loading is 230gr lrn Precision Moly over 4.4gr Clays with Rem primers. No issues of any type noted. I'm using a 550B and full length size my brass too.

Since almost no matches in my area are 30cal neutral, I'm going with an AR platform. While it's way cool and there's no missing a 30cal hit on steel, unless the match is somehow unbiased on rifle pf, I can't see any reason to shoot anything other than 223. I wish there were some system for it, but the HeMan/HeavyMetal thing generally isn't done over here.

Since the handgun is holstered, and the shotty and rifle have slings, I've just stuck with some South African pattern web gear. It consists of a belt and suspenders with 2 integral fanny packs, each of which can hold up to 100+ shotgun shells. It also has 4 permanently attached mag packs that can hold 2, 20rd 30cal mags each or 3, 30rd 5.56 mags each. The set came with an additional bag that can hold lots more stuff. Packed out, I'm toting the belt, bag (extra rifle and handgun ammo), shotgun ammo belt, water, and guns. No carts here. The actual load is like 250 handgun rounds, 250 rifle rounds (much is in mags), and 150 shotgun rounds. There's also a liter of water and snacks stashed. When I get to a stage, I just set it all down, make sure I have the right stuff for the stage and go shoot. Between stages, I probably look like some form of psycho from a bad B grade scifi movie, but I don't have to worry with a cart. After the match, I just pop the trunk of the car, stow the weapons and drop the whole shebang in and go. Best part is the entire web gear set was only $35, and I don't even use the entire rig.

Using metric mags in an inch rifle isn't a problem, going the other way is. The issue is the size of the locking lug on the mag. It's much narrower on the metric mags. On the inch mags, it's far wider. If a metric receiver is cut for the inch mag, it's no problem using both. Start with an inch receiver, and you can use either with no issue. That said, there were some "inch" receivers that were made domestically that weren't quite up to spec and metric mags would wobble and not feed reliably. The key to any FAL build, as with any other rifle, is a good quality receiver to start with. +1 on the current kit quality. I'd go with a kit from DSA and get a much better parts set than a ragged set from someone else. I've seen some of the current sets coming out of SA, and they are really, really questionable. Pay a little bit more and get a good barrel, decent furniture and an overall better quality kit. As much fun as I had building it, For time savings, I'd go with a built SG58 from DSA or even a new production rifle. I really liked my FAL, but it just wasn't competitive on this coast. I have a NM M1A to use so, the need to keep the FAL was outweighed by the need to go with an AR platform. Either way, good luck with the FAL, they can be great rifles.

When I'm shooting the 1911, it's with the weak hand as it mounts on the gun, usually as the gun is coming up to the line of sight, pointing downrange and somewhat at the ground. I have arthritis in my hands and it's much less painful at times to take the safety off with the thumb of the weak hand. When shooting strong hand only, it's as I bring the gun up to the horizontal, just prior to putting a finger in the trigger guard, about in the same plane as before. On my Glock, different story, it's one less thing to think about. With it, I don't insert the trigger finger into the trigger guard until nearly the gun is nearly horizontal and pointing downrange.

If there were Heavy Metal/He Man classes in the competitions around here, I'd still have my FAL, but we generally don't. Since my finance minister has directed tha the homestead defense budget cannot be increased, something had to go to make way for the AR program. After much sentimental agonizing over the FAL program, it was decided to drop it in favor of the AR. While it's waaay cool to put a major thumpin' on steel with the 30, I'm tired of giving up mucho time to the ARs. Time to switch. When 30cal becomes a viable reality over on this coast, I can always still go M1A. Even so, if you have access to matches that have HM classes, you'll like the FAL and will find it's a very good rifle. Just because it's a kit doesn't mean it won't shoot. When you get right down to it, all guns are kits, the question is who assembled them. If you start with good components and take proper care, you can build a very satisfactory rifle. The main issue to look for in a FAL is correct feed ramp geometry in the receiver. If that isn't spot on, you'll have no end of feed problems. Good luck on the build.

Standard M16 pouches work in a pinch. You have to cut out the divider strip and put the mags in sideways from how the M16 mags would normally fit. One other source if you're in a hurry is DSA. They have a thigh rig.

I used to shoot an L1A1 in 3 gun. From a year with that rifle in competition- unless there is a pressing reason to shoot 30cal, like Heavy Metal/He Man class, the "right arm of the free world" is two left thumbs for 3 gun. I "built" that one from parts, it's not hard. Yes, it is a soft recoiling 308, yes, it can be very reliable. BUT, if you are shooting against mouseguns, and there is no leveling of the playing field, you're just coming out of recoil when the other guys have already fired their second shot and moved on. I sold my FAL and am building an AR rifle for those very reasons. If I were to go back to a 30, my first choice would be a FAL with an M1A a very close second. The FAL would likely be a new rifle from DSA, but the first mod would be to cut the reciever to it could accept inch pattern mags. Most of the 30rd mags I've seen were inch pattern. Stick with metric only would limit it to 20rd only. There are some 30rd mags for the M1A, but I don't have any direct experience with them. IF there was no power factor involved, then an AR platform in 7.62x39 looks very attractive.

I have very good results with #1. I would reload these, but most of the suppliers in my area don't carry any shot other than 6, 7.5,8. I've also been thinking about trying #2 and BB for an even denser pattern that will be more tolerant of a partial hit than 00 would be.

M1 carbine. Fun will be had. In the world of 3 gun, you are about to be assimilated, resistance is futile.

If IDPA stage designers were really serious about tactical and realistic it could happen stuff, why not design stages around documented encounters from LEO records? There will be a very few hoser stages and the majority will be over in less than 8 rounds with very little movement. Would that be attractive to the average shooter? I don't think that it would so, the stage designers have a slightly higher round count that would be most likely encountered in the real world with more movement. I would contend that this is a game and nothing more. If a local club likes longer stages with more movement and round counts, more power to'em, that's where I'll go shoot. If a club is emphasizing tactical sneaky peaky shooting with low round counts based on far fetched scenarios, like less than 14 per stage, I won't start the car for that one. Again, this is a game, I go play where I like the action and I'll vote with my feet and dollars for the club with more interesting COFs in a match. Maybe Wilson doesn't like it that way, but that's part of what I see as a big problem with IDPA in general and why I think USPSA has matured way past that point. Even so, I shoot both types, but bottom line is I enjoy USPSA much more because of the higher counts and movement. I'm not a top shooter in either by any means, but I know what I like to see in a COF and the tightly choreographed low round stages by IDPA diehards are not high on my "to do" list.

Care to back up those assertions with some hard data? Just pure speculation here, but I think that the Glock and the KB get the press because of the plastic gun syndrome started back in the day or because it's the evil black ugly gun of the gangstas. As for personal experience with a KB, I've had a KB with a 1911 due to shooting police supply reloads (won't ever make that mistake again). Should I now accuse all 1911s being prone to KB because I had one and I've heard of others?