itchy

Frank's fast times are mainly due to luck! He's lucky that he only uses 5 shots a run. All kidding aside, he's one of the hardest practicing guys I know. I wish I could put in as much time as he does. Seiichi

If you are shooting the match to improve your skills, just consider it like golf. Measure your own improvement using the same equipment. Don't worry about what others are doing. If you plan on being competitive, you should probably get an 8 shot. That being said, I've have to reload during a string and I have an 8 shot. I try not to make a habit of it, but it happens. I always keep 2 loaded Hearthco moons on my belt, which hold the rounds a little tighter and help with the speed of reloading. In the end, Steel Challenge is an accuracy game. My estimate is that every pickup shot is about half a second, at my shooting ability. I say, shoot what you have, and if you want to get more serious about it, consider an 8 shot. Seiichi

To really test the grouping ability of a gun, it should be done on some kind of fixed rest, such as a Ransom Rest. I have friends that will disregard the first shot off the rest because the gun was hand cycled. I'm sure if we rested guns more often we'd be surprised at how well assembly line guns actually do group. Seiichi edit Also, you generally end up exchanging accuracy for reliability. The "loose" guns are more reliable, but generally don't have exceptional accuracy. The guns that lock up tighter may be more accurate due to the consistency of the lock up, but are generally more finicky. Kind of like comparing an AK to an AR platform gun.

I think Apex was trying to get Smith to run a batch of pistols with their parts in it from the factory, so it would make the FSS and their actual redesigned trigger legal for production. Seiichi

I would ask an armorer from Glock, (not just anybody who took the armorer's course), if you can change the extractor with a current model. I recall that there were at least two types made pre 1990's and now there's the LCI (loaded chamber indicator). The extractor depressor plunger and/or bearing may be different for those early model guns. You may need to change all associated parts with the extractor. Seiichi PS If you change the locking block, make sure you get the correct one. Glocks were originally made with 2 pins to hold all the parts together, now they have 3 pins. The locking blocks are different.

I think Safariland builds the products to your order. Just after SHOT, I ordered 773s for 2 different types of mags, 2 holsters, shotshell caddies, and a 3 gun bag and it took a month to receive my order. Order early! Seiichi

Looks great! Like a mini 627. What kind of barrel is that? Seiichi

If you're running open/limited, why would you run without mag extensions? +8 for the SJC. The Pro-Am match put on by Phil Strader. 10 round limit. Open and Limited. I generally shoot Production, so I don't have mag extensions, and I'm not going to build new mags for one match a year, but I am willing to slap on a magwell. I guess I can just practice my reloads more...but that would be like cheating. Seiichi

Can you use the SJC magwell if you don't have an extension on your magazines? (If you are using standard 17 round 9 mm mags?) Seiichi

This reminds me of a funny story I heard from my friends. One of them says, "Man, I couldn't get any rest last night. All I heard was beep, thud. Beep, thud. Beep thud. All night long." The other says laughingly, "Heh. You must me in the room below me. I was practicing going prone for Far and Near." Gotta love those revolver shooters! Seiichi

Wow, that's odd. I have 2 buckmarks that I shot for Steel Challenge for 3 years. Both have non fluted 7.25 inch iron sight barrels. Lots and lots of rounds through each of them. I wonder if they changed the manufacturing process. Mine are 5 years old. I've shot a TS 1911 conversion for the last 2 years. Their warranty service is outstanding. Seiichi

It's not a race, so go at a comfortable pace. I load on a 1050 and have the RF100 auto primer filler, but I only load about 250 rounds a hour. I recheck the powder drop about every 50 rounds and re zero my scale every time I load a batch of ammo. It's more about no making a mistake, rather than rounds per hour. I can only concentrate for about a hour, so the max I'll load in one sitting is about 500 rounds. Then it's off to the classifieds to see if there's something I need to buy!!! Seiichi

Not for all I went to the World shoot 10 years strait shot two guns 9 of the years, The Prize Table was never my motivation for going. The Prize Table run was good, But not my reason for shooting it. I wanted to see how close to my penitential for Speed and consistency that I could reach. I want to experience every part of an event, If the prize table is part of the event. Thin Its Not Over till its over. I have to agree with Jaime on this one. The Steel Challenge had one of the best prize tables at one time, but it has declined in the last few years. The prize table does help to offset some of the costs involved in attending a match, but it shouldn't be the only reason to shoot a match. It's tough during these economic times. We all have our "favorite" matches. There are a lot of matches I would still shoot if they reduced the entry fee and got rid of the prize table. If you really wanted to get a new gun, wouldn't it be easier to skip the match, save the money, and buy the gun? We're just greedy...We want to hang out with our friends, shoot the match, and win the gun. LOL Seiichi

Very innovative idea. Seiichi

If you are not shooting multiple guns with differing barrel lengths, use what feels more comfortable, whether kydex or race. I used a CR Speed, but ended up dropping my gun twice, so I switched to kydex. I don't think there's much difference in speed. Chris Stewart (Ready Tactical) made me an N frame holster that I could use with either a 5 or 6 inch barrel. I shoot a 627 for ICORE and Steel Challenge. Haven't dropped a gun since. Seiichi

Just sent my carrier into Jeff this week. Can't wait to get it back. Seiichi

I vote for moonclips!!!!!!!!!! Gas is almost as expensive! LOL

The Steel Challenge rulebook recommends a minimum velocity so that the bullet will fragment when it impacts the plates, instead of staying whole and bouncing back toward the shooter. That being said, I've never seen them chrono at any match, ever. I recommend trying to shoot a lighter bullet faster, if you have a choice, especially out of a revolver. I loaded some really soft shooting 38 special a couple of years ago and the slower velocity screwed up my timing. I also had a bear of a time hitting the rear plates on Outer Limits, as I was lobbing the rounds in. So, just know where to hold on each target if you decided to use a slower moving bullet. Seiichi

Kytac SH2. Seiichi

Don't forget to get a QLS setup, there are 3 types. This is the attachment for the holster to the belt. The holster does not use the regular ELS mount. I had to order one after the fact. Also, you can order most of the mag pouches with the ELS 34 and 35 already attached, so you don't need to order a 10 pack. I ordered several of the two pack 34/35, but they are sitting around, since I ordered all accessories with the 34/35 attachment in place. If you can find someone who is sponsored by Safariland, they often times have a 50% off discount card you can use if you order online from holsters.com I got a few at the end of last year from Scott Carnahan. He's a good guy. I guess it doesn't hurt to shoot club matches with him. I'm so grateful. It saved me about $300. Seiichi

It's muscle memory. Just keep working on your draw. It'll get faster! Seiichi

Well, if you are mainly going to shoot USPSA production and Steel Challenge type matches, you can switch entirely over to short colt. You can easily make PF and you can probably make a good steel load using a lighter bullet. I mainly shoot ICORE (twice a year, lol) and Steel Challenge and probably have 3 to 4 thousand R-P or Federal cases and 2 thousand Winchester cases I only use for Steel Challenge. Even with all of this sitting around, I'm switching to short colt. I think the only issue I'll ever have is if I want to shoot IDPA since the round you shoot must be what is listed for the gun. So a .38/357 gun has to be shot with 38 special or 357 mag. But with a 105 PF for SSR, you can probably find some light factory loads to shoot. I think my Steel Challenge loads are more than 105 PF. Just had a question regarding Production with a revolver. How do you start a stage that is a chamber empty table start? Can you have the cylinder loaded, but have it open at the start? Seiichi

My short colt oal was 1.145 and everything was fine using Berry's 158 roundnose. Got 126 and 135 PF using two different charges of VV N320 out of a 6 inch 627. Just gotta see how it groups now. ICORE PF is 120. Seiichi

About being competitive using Specials...Josh Lentz shot Classic, which is 6 shooter with speedloaders, at last years IRC. He won Classic Division and would have been 2nd in Limited, which allows moonclips. The stages in ICORE are basically 6 round neutral, but that's still awesome. I'm working on a SC load for this year's IRC. I tried LC and it wasn't much different than Special. Regarding crimp die, I went for a 38 super die (.356) since I'm loading .357 I noticed that my 9 mm die was "sticking" too much while crimping. Almost resizing the brass around the bullet that was already seated. Seiichi

Oh great. At least I only loaded 30 rounds. LOL Is there a recommended OAL? Seiichi