[.308 Small Base Sizing Die]

As for the sizing, are you at least using a case gauge?

Is the gauge going to pick up all problems?

of course not. but it might rule out some.

[Reloading]

bullets I ordered back in mid Nov. shipped this week! Woohoo!

only tracking numbers show they were shipped to my old address in another state, Boohoo!

keeping fingers crossed USPS will correctly fwd the two 65lb boxes.

(and yes, my invoice had my new address, the vendor's database must be screwy).

-rvb

[Kyle's Flinch Breaker - 101]

- Know that the big explosion going off at arms length won't do you any harm (simple, I know...but it is something the shooter has to "decide" to accept)

I occasionally teach brand new shooters the basics as an NRA instructor... friends, coworkers, etc. Never made a dime from it, and the NRA "cert" makes them feel like they can have confidence in the class material (and take home a piece of paper). And I've noticed flinching is one of the biggest and most difficult problems with new shooters. That big "EXPLOSION" taking place at arms length is scary....

So here is a trick I have learned to get people over it quickly....

First, obviously double up hearing protection and being outside is better than inside.

I have them load one round in the gun, take a sight picture, and close their eyes. I tell them to focus on one thing... how the gun feels in their hand when they pull the trigger (not slowly and trying for "surprise" or anything, just pull it straight back).

I then ask them how it felt, and they are almost always shocked at how there was no pain, how they didn't notice the noise, and how little it moved in their hands.

Have them repeat the drill a dozen times or so.

By focusing on something else, the feeling in their hands, it takes away from the noise. Also, I think most people start off with that idea that the shot should "surprise" them so no wonder they flinch with the surprise of the noise and the image of the gun flipping out of their hand. Take those sensory inputs away and make them focus on just how little there is to be afraid of, THEN work on trigger control, etc.

I've had good luck with that drill so far...

An add-on for that is to have the new shooter tell you how high the front sight went in recoil. It forces them to keep their eyes open and then you can show them that what looks like a TON of muzzle flip from behind the gun isn't so much in profile... again reducing the fear of what's happening in their hands.

You can watch a big percentage of the new shooters "decide to accept" at that point that there is nothing to be afraid of.

-rvb

[.308 Small Base Sizing Die]

I was wondering if there's a problem with the gas system, but the factory loaded ammo I have shot through it (Austrian surplus) functions just fine. ... What's really frustrating is that the gun feeds everything I put into the magazine without fail, but ejection is problematic.

So it feeds everything ok, but doesn't eject your reloads?

Could still be a gas problem, but due to your load. Perhaps post more data (powder type and amount, especially).

I'm not an M1A expert (other than I can tell you how long mine's been on order! ), but others might be able to tell you if your load is good.

As for the sizing, are you at least using a case gauge?

-rvb

[rvb]

Friday 3/27, got on the outdoor practice range. Production Beretta gear.

Did basic drills like various draws, el-prez, etc to compare live-fire times to dryfire times. My el-prez wasn't bad, best at 4.90ish and worst at 5.20ish. My draws sucked, have to work on those -better- in dryfire. can do 10yd draw in dryfire in 0.8 but no better than 1.0 live fire?? Also worked on accuracy shooting at my 8" plate at 60 yds. Started off 9 for 10 hits, but kept getting worse.

Put 100 rounds through my new .22 conversion. that's FUN. Will make a good practice tool, but I need to use it FIRST in the practice and follow up w/ match-pf 9mm. Had to up mainsprings to a stock-length 15lb 1911 mainspring to get reliable ignition. I think I'm actually going to like the slightly heavier trigger weight, too.

Shot the IN SS/PD State match in Riley. Came in 2nd.

Final results for Production

Place Name No. USPSA Class Division PF Lady Mil Law For Age Match Pts Match %

1 Robert Vogel 79 A49056 GM Production Minor No No No No 736.3091 100.00%

2 Ryan Brammer 25 TY56060 M Production Minor No No No No 641.8799 87.18%

Since this was my first match shooting PD since getting my M card, I was quite happy to shoot a master percentage of Bob.

Lots of room for improvement in how I shot this match... The first stage I shot I hit a NS. He was blocking a drop-out target and the activator pad was positioned such that if you were moving out of the position at all after activating you would break the 180. I got scared of bringing the gun around too far and hit the NS but called it, backed up a hair, and made it up.

The next couple stages were just "ok." Nothing great or horrible. The par-time course I had two misses. One on the first shot SHO and one WH. Didn't call the SHO mike.

The biggest field course was my best. I had a good plan, executed it perfectly. 1-for-1 on steel (including several 25yd mini-poppers), timed the movers perfect and it just all clicked. Won this stage.

The following stage I -thought- I rocked. It was a high-HF 24-round course. Scoring reveled a mike that I didn't call (but on another target I called a D and made it up). More upset that I didn't call it than anything.

Most importantly, I had FUN at this match. The FUN factor had been missing for a while. When I got up that morning to drive to the match, that was my match goal... FUN.

-rvb

edit to add:

shot 84.8% of the match points... that's a little disappointing....

-rvb

[MERGE IN]

..when I go to WV and merge onto the innerstate from an off ramp people move over and let you in--

I'd get over too...if you were coming at me from an offramp.

That reminds me of driving in Maryland....

I actually saw that several times.

It was usually people who realized they had taken the wrong exit and decided to REVERSE UP the off ramp to get back on the highway.

I don't miss Maryland. I miss some people and the job, but not anything else about the state....

-rvb

[SSP Equipment Question]

I keep saying I'll switch from my Beretta when I feel it's what is holding me back... still shooting it.

Now currently there is nothing coming out of the Beretta factory that appeals to my uspsa/idpa desires, so if my gun goes belly up tomorrow I will be switching platforms. I'm not "loyal" to them, but it's what I shoot.

- Pro: shooting DA makes you a better shooter, I believe.

- Pro: a gun w/ a hammer makes me feel a little safer at lamr since I can physically hold the hammer down with my thumb. however I am not afraid of striker guns and would shoot one in a heart beat.

- Con: It takes some time and dedication to shoot DA/SA well. (or is this a pro?)

- Con: I still feel I am a little slower w/ a DA shot on long and/or tight shots out of the holster. Maybe what I could do in 1.0s w/ a single/safe action takes me 1.3-1.5s DA.... no big deal as we're talking like 1 shot per 100. The rest of the time I don't even notice the transition or the DA shot...

- Con: a little difficult to make dryfire just like live fire. The result is most dryfiring is in DA. This makes it seem even easier to shoot on match day (or is this a pro?)

DA guns have won in the past and will. Look at guys like Olhasso and Langdon and up-commers like Stoeger.

I'll add that I'm just a "nobody" in this game and I only shot IDPA Nats once, in '07, and I came in 3rd in ssp w/ a TDA Beretta and finished at or near the top of ssp at some state matches.

As with all gear in this game, if you think it will limit you, then it will. You can either move on to something you feel won't limit you or choose to believe it's not an issue.

-rvb

edit: as for why there aren't more, I think it has more to do w/ marketing than true ease of use. When Langdon was winning w/ Beretta and Beretta was sponsoring matches, you saw a lot more of them on the range. Look at who is sponsoring matches, giving guns away, sponsoring shooters, etc. It makes a difference. Now a lot of those shooters who were shooting Berettas and had Langdon smith on their guns, etc have now moved on to other platforms.

-rvb

[Another production grip question]

Funny this tread pops up, I guess a few of us are thinking alike. Scary????

Last night I sent the following questions to my AD and DNROI:

One issue that I do think could be cleared up is in the modifications of grips.

1st, from the strict wording of the interpretations, it appears that grip panels (as found on Berettas, Sigs, Paras, etc) cannot be replaced with aftermarket panels, only "Internal beveling. Checkering, stippling, and addition of grip tape or grip sleeves." Is that the intention that only OEM and no aftermarket grips can be used? Was this considered in the interpretation or was just the stippling/checkering of guns like Glocks and M&Ps considered? Would it be reasonable that aftermarket grip panels with the same size and profile as factory grips be allowable? I find it questionable that aftermarket slides are explicitly allowed but not simple/inexpensive grip panels.

2nd. I know the goal of the interpretations was to get away from things that are "implied" to be allowed, but the interpretations themselves imply (in 21.3a) that it is allowable to refinish a gun with a textured finish in the area allowed in E4 and therefore modify the grip in a way NOT explicitly allowed in D4.21.

3rd. Can "permanent grip tape," such as gluing/epoxying on silica, be allowed? Would this just be a finish application as implied above so long as it meets appendix E4?

For a practical example, I use "Burner" grips for my Beretta. They are the same shape/size/profile as OEM grips (even being constructed from modified OEM grips) just with a permanent grip-tape-like texture. My reading of the rules says they are not allowed since they are not OEM... unless it is "implied" that a textured finish is ok in the grip area as shown in E4.

(http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/Jerry-Barnharts-Burner-Grips-P1245C121.aspx).

-rvb

[IDPA & Recoil Master]

IDPA has an official means for updating or clarifying rules, they just choose not to use it.

The result is "some guy" who maintains "some position" made a decision and told "someone" and we are supposed to know it.

From the rule book,

"NOTE: The rulebook posted on the IDPA website (www.idpa.com) will be the most current issue."

Note that it does not say idpaforum.com. If "rulings" are made, then directly under the book pdf or included with the book pdf should be the rulings.

Something that needs to be considered is there are new people to the game who have never been to nationals, never been on idpaforum, and never heard of Robert Ray. All these people know (and should need to know) is there is the book that comes with their membership and it directs them to idpa.com. I was once one of these new people, too.

As to the recoil master? Is it a replacement steel guide rod? Is it a competition only device? My opinion doesn't matter. Only the MD's. And his guidance is to follow the book on idpa.com. Obviously based on the discussion going on here, the answer isn't so obvious so the MD has to use his/her best judgement.

So do I think we should ignore the rulings? Well, I try to stay current with them to keep myself legal, yet I have never in 8 years seen an official ruling.

-rvb

[Beretta M9/92]

I would shoot your M9 with factory ammo any minor PF ammo and not look back.

Agree 100%

Gun that locking block came out of now has well in excess of 100k rounds through it.

Don't know round count when it broke (10yr old police trade in when I got it, I had put ~15k through it).

That gun is my practice gun... I clean it every 2-3 years or 20k rounds, which ever comes first.

-rvb

[Beretta M9/92]

asked for just one picture of a broken locking block and/or cracked Beretta slide. ....Still no pictures... sigh...

No first hand experience w/ broken slides, luckily. I don't doubt it happens, and much more-so during the early days especially when you read about their troubles with getting the heat treat right, etc. I also don't doubt that the issue is grossly exagerated in some circles. Seems I remember seeing some photos of slides in two pieces on berettaforum...

I did bust a locking block once, an "old style" block.

-rvb

[Beretta M9/92]

in my unhumble opinion the only reason to care about the G variation is (in order of importance)

1. The ability to introduce a new front sight to the slide, if you really want to swap front sights you pretty much have to get a G. Even Novak won't attempt to cut a dovetail into a 92 slide. I asked them.

2. The heavier slide to soak up recoil and increase service life with extremely high round counts using duty level ammo.

3. ...would never get a G model soley for the deckocker resetting.

That is the definition of the "G" models, decocker only.

There have been regular-slide G-model 92s and G-model "vertecs."

G does not necessarily = brigadier slide or dovetailed front sight.

-rvb

[CM 99-46 Close Quarter Standards]

Looks like no-one has shot or talked about this one in a while. It's a good "standard" standard.

Shot it yesterday in open : 14 As, 8 Cs, 2 Ds in 12.78 for HF = 8.2942.

Didn't get my string times.

Looks like ~79.7% from the classifier calc.

I was a bit slow/conservative on string 1 as it was my first buzzer of the day (and after a 2.5 hour wait to shoot), but it went smooth and the reload felt great.

Rushed on string 2 waiting on the dot to settle and threw the 2 D's (one right on the D/M perf!).

I've been practicing my WH transfer and it showed... the dot was just there.

-rvb

[rvb]

Small 3-stage match today at MI08, Bend of the River club. Shot Open.

With all the snow it took an extra 25 minutes or so to get up there (about 2hrs, 15 min).

Pretty happy with my shooting today, but the devil is in the details.

First stage was 99-46. Wish I had gotten the string times. Shot a 8.2942 HF. 14 As, 8 Cs, 2 Ds in 12.78 seconds.

I don't think currently I could have done the first string better. Very smooth shooting, the reload just slid in, and I didn't rush the last shot before getting to the reload. The second string (SHO) was strong, but that's where I shot my 2 Ds. One of those Ds barely caught the left side of the target. Just waiting an extra nano-second for the dot to settle would have made all the difference... a blunder in patience. I rocked string 3. weak-hand transfer was smooth and the dot was spot on and made very good hits.

Stage 2 I was very happy w/ how fluid I was from port-to-port (9 targets requiring 4 different ports) and even hit one target on the move through a port. Could have set myself up better in the positions. Felt like I was hunting the right spot to be in but it was minor. over-all very happy w/ this stage.

Stage 3 felt like "disaster averted." Walls set up so you had narrow angles to engage targets through. I decided a couple shooters before my turn to hang back and eliminate movement vs get closer for a wider angle... mistake. I didn't get my footwork just right and really had to play "hunt for angle on the targets." Surely cost myself 2-3 seconds, but fortunately I was patient and made all A hits and no hits on hardcover so it didn't totally kill my HF.

Total points was 92.4% of those available.

Good to be shooting matches again!

-rvb

edit: realized my post was much was negative than positive...

good thing: Didn't try to reload my open gun every 6-10 rounds like it was my PD gun. Much much more smooth!

-rvb

[Beretta M9/92]

slight thread drift...

Is there a way to convert an FS model into a G "decock only" model?

A way? sure there's a way.

Not just a matter of replacing parts, though.

The detent/spring angle is different on the right side to give the lever more return strength plus it doesn't need to disconnect the trigger bar, so that would have to be redrilled. It wouldn't be hard to shape out the small detents on the left side that allow the FS safety to "click" into place. Then you could swap in a G safety group. Not easy, but not impossible. No, I've never bothered to try.

Aren't you a member of beretta forum? Talked about to death over there.

-rvb

[Beretta M9/92]

I use a 92G Elite II.

Only downside to a 92FS/M9 is the slide safety. Too easy too accidently engage the safety during malfunction clearing or loading on an empty-gun start. 'G' Model only decocks so gun is always ready to run.

-rvb

[VA-MD Scetion Championship]

Sorry I won't make it, always a great match!

-rvb

[.223 Remington reloading problems]

There was a thread a couple weeks ago where Dillon said they had some 223 shell-plates escape that had been improperly cut. If you call them and they think that's the problem they'll send you a new shell plate.

Just to make sure, "fit" in the case guage means between the steps for both headspace and length, right?

Ditto everyone else on the trimming.

What about a sized case w/o a bullet loaded? Does it fit in the chamber?

-rvb

[rvb]

Had a real good practice session at the indoor range on friday 2/13.

put about 50 rounds through the 1911 and getting that svi trigger out and replacing with the sti did solve my hammer-following issue. and do like the trigger better.

Put 400 rounds through the open gun.

ran the first 150 rounds in timing drills. Discovered something weird... dispite the 5k or so rounds I've done in timing drills in the past where I could only get the dot to return solidly to the target by using a light grip, Friday I had the best results I've ever had with a pretty firm grip... just slightly lighter than I was using with the 1911. Had a lot less rise in the dot, too. Perhaps it truely is just a matter of me finally learning the timing of the gun? Man, this open stuff is tough. It truely was the best the gun has ever tracked for me, though. One other difference is I did make a bit of a grip change by actually lowering my WH grip on the gun....

The next 150 rounds I split between SHO and WHO. Learned some good things about grip tension. The stance changes I've made for standing sho/who seems to have helped the sight tracking.

The rest I spent shooting groups. Shot some decent groups but they were about 1" left at 10 yds. Made a note of my grip and trigger finger and when dryfiring it when I got home I realized I had reverted to where I used to place my trigger finger before adjusting my grip. I think I needed to move my finger about 1/8" further into the trigger.

After running the timing drills I put a few rounds into just working the trigger as fast as I could to see if I could a) keep the tension out and b ) while really working the trigger the dot would continue to track so well. I was happy with the results but .... I got yelled at by range staff. "sounds like a machine gun out here." [Of course the guyy on the next lane was shooting a round every 2 seconds or so and didn't even hit the paper half the time, but obviously I was the unsafe one with my baseball-sized group ]

-rvb

[rvb]

Good 75 minute dryfire session last night. open rig.

In addition to usual basics, practiced table draws. 0.90 was the best I could do consistently. 0.80 I could hit half the time but the rest of the time I was late to the par beep. Table was a couple inches under elbow height.

Ran a new drill last night. Set it up so I couldn't see the target until I ran left/right to a fault line and had to lean hard to see the target, then go back the otherway to see a second target.

something like this (hopefully it stays formatted right [it didn't. Ignore '.', just used for spacing]

T1.......T2

..|.......|

..|.......|

.....xx

Some things I noticed...

I need to break it down into sections. entering and leaving.

I need two targets, not one, on each side. With one it's too easy to just peak around and while shooting be changing directions.

Staying low helps. No suprise there. More upright = harder to change speeds direction.

I had the targets set so I really had to lean hard.

Started the drill running in 3.6s. Ended at 3.2. Hopefully with some practice I can get under 3.

-rvb

[rvb]

wow, been a while since I logged anything here.

Took a couple weeks off dryfire. My shoulder had been bothering me. Got back into it with a light practice last night, for about 45 minutes. Also spent 30 on the stationary bike. Gotta get back into shape (but "round" is a shape, right?).

Was happy that my index was still really solid after two weeks away from the gun. Makes me think my practice has really paid off and engrained my relationship to the gun to get the dot to just be there.

Even though I haven't been dryfiring, I've been doing a lot of "gun stuff."

Started reloading .223. I have a 100 rounds together ready to test in my gun and another 1k+ pieces of brass prepped and ready to load. Also did a bunch of work on my 1911... fitting a new STI trigger, better fitting the guide rod, etc. Also did a little bit of dryfire on the AR.

Now to get back in the grooooooove.

-rvb

[Upper Eschelon Classifiers]

The ink isn't even dry yet on my M card, so I don't consider my classifiers "upper eschelon" but I will say that if one were to look at my scores, all of the best scores were scores I just shot at my pace and ended up suprised at the results. All of the worst scores are ones I tried on. I've never had a hero/zero run make me look like a hero. There's a lesson in that information. I'm still trying to learn it, too.

-rvb

[2009 Indiana Single Stack/Production]

Can somebody tie Vogel's shoe laces together

Please don't do that!

'Cause then I'll have to admit to getting beat by a guy who's shoe laces were tied together.

-rvb

[The State Of Auto Racing]

Used to watch a LOT of auto racing. In the last 5 yrs? None.

Only thing worth watching now is MotoGP, FIM WSBK.

Hadn't heard that about nhra going to 1000ft. That's just damn depressing.

I quit watching nascar when the t-bird went away. Since when does any "STOCK" car they are racing have a V8, 2 doors, and RWD? screw it. it's a commercialized joke. So much for "win on Sunday, sell on Monday."

-rvb

[Shrinking Pictures]

Open pic in MS Paint, which every PC has.

Go to Image -> Stretch/Skew and enter the % to shrink by

"Save As" a new file.

done.

-rvb