Bamboo

Agreed, the ones from midway I've bought do not have the "official IPSC target" seal.

Midway sells them in 100 packs for about 30 bucks. Been using them for practice for several years. They do get shot out pretty quick, so keeping extras on the stage is a good idea. Good target, though, and should be a nice addition if used thoughtfully.

I'm wondering if maybe something else is going on as others have indicated. I intentionally long throated my KVA barrel for a couple of reasons that may or may not be scientific or germane to this conversation. But, the point is in that barrel bullets have to make a substantial jump (like .230"-ish) before they engage the rifling lead-in. My accuracy is very good. With a good bullet I can shoot a paster out at 20 yards off bags. In fact, the accuracy improved after I throated the barrel (might have been a new barrel vs. broken in barrel effect). I'd suggest taking a look for rough lead ins and/or asymmetry of your throating job. Also, might want to run a hundred or so jacketed bullets to burnish the fresh cut lead in. The barrel may yet be salvageable.

The new red coated SNS 135 grain RN are very good, also. Right there with the bayous in my guns.

Sweet looking Caspian!!!

Don't have a pic, but all you do is take a baby sock (or small child's sock) an put it on over the ball on the handle...kind of like a sock puppet on your ball handle (holy cow that sounds disgusting!!). Provides a tiny bit of cushion and a huge reduction in the friction on your palm. On the 550 I have to remove my hand from the handle anyway to feed a case, so the roller handle isn't as big of an improvement as it is on the 650 where my hand never leaves the roller handle if all is going well.

https://www.amazon.com/byNcStar-Tactical-Rifle-Scabbard-CVRSCB2919B/dp/B0050KFHMG Looking this up I saw that they had the tan one for 21 bucks delivered.

I've had better luck talking up steel challenge and using that as a gateway to USPSA. Steel challenge is easy to grok and not as intimidating to newbies.

Agree with what Daniel is asking. What are you going to use it for? Trickling rifle charges or just general pistol reloading? I have a high quality digital scale for precision rifle, but for 95% of my reloading which is pistol/.223 I use a Jennings scale that cost less than 50 bucks. I have precision check weights and it always checks good. Plus, by throwing five or ten charges and averaging you are effectively increasing your scale resolution.

I'm pretty sure the PSA is re-branded from another manufacturer. I'm not sure what that manufacturer is. I know that CMMG parts fit, though. I have a blem PSA lower and have been happy with it, but don't know the differences between the various dedicated colt lower brands.

AR9 parts gun w/Colt dedicated lower.

AR9 parts gun - 6 lbs 9 oz with magwell and C-more.

Yeah, I thought the same thing. That email was just mean! Solo1K is very good powder and I have one unopened 12 oz. bottle left as a memento, but I have moved on to other powders. Not sure even if it suddenly became available again that I would go back...unless it was dirt cheap.

just an observation - Got a notice a couple days ago from Midway that Solo1000 in 8 lb containers was in stock. Checked that afternoon and they were all gone. Not sure if that was just a dry run or they actually had it in stock.

^^^ yep, nature of the blow back beast. Picking up brass after a match you can tell which were fired from the blow back guns. Not so worried about the cases being sooty, but it is good to avoid having a lot of crap buildup in the triggerworks and bolt face. Had some 9mm loaded with AA#5 and HS-6 and it left a lot of dirty grains in the triggerworks. Shot the last couple matches with fast powders with no to low NG content and it only left a light soot that wiped away easily with a q-tip and no powder grains.

No. Both work really well. I use the one shot lightly for pistol and don't worry about removing after loading, and the lanolin based lube like Dillon for rifle and will usually either wipe down with rag or tumble to remove the case lube. I think others do pretty much the same. Not a fan of one shot for rifle...lanolin works much better. The only benefit to making your own is cost. I get reagent grade alcohol for next to nothing, and a tub of pure lanolin (enough for years of lube) for less than 20 bucks from amazon. Dillon case lube (or midway's which is similar) is about 8-10 bucks a bottle. A bottle will last a long time. So, making your own is a way to save a little money, and it is easy.

I was hoping to run the same exact load for PCC as i do in my 9mm minor pistols. After doing some load development it became clear that the two platforms (at least in my case as I use a 16" PCC) are just too different. I can use my 129-ish pf pistol loads but those run about 147-ish pf out of the PCC. As a reference, winchester white box is close to major out of my 16" PCC at 160pf. Basically, with all my loads from 115-160 gr bullets I am getting 16-20 pf points over my pistol. So, I what have settled on is using the same OAL and bullet, but different powder weights to get the PCC down to the 130pf range. For me, using a 130 vs. 150 pf load makes a big difference in how the PCC handles. So, I was ignorant going into the PCC arena and had the same desires as you to use the same ammo, but after messing with it realized there is a substantial difference with a 16" gun and changed my plan. You can use the same load, but you should also try loading down for the PCC to see if helps you. (also, if you are using a SBR that might change that equation). Good Luck!

135 grainers are worth a try, also. Makes a nice minor load with good subsonic velocity. Sns and bayou both give good accuracy at uspsa distances.

Good Deal, lots of PCC activity at our local clubs, and G.N. needs some competition now that he is a PCC GM! I've found that shooting PCC is a lot like shooting centerfire open so the transition to PCC was easy. Get a reliable gun and go for it! Another GM PCC'er in the club would be good.

Why? Not for USPSA but for outlaws like The Monster Match. I heard one guy had a c-mag and it still wasn't enough, of course...that is unconfirmed.

As part of sanctions in 2014 they are on a ban list. I like them and use them for everything but revolver When Grafs or Weidners was closing them out they were selling SP mags for $16/k. PV and even Midway commonly sold them for $100/5k case. It would be nice if they started importing them again.

The silicon works fine for pistol cases, but I wouldn't recommend it if you are loading rifle.

99.9+%, IPA is Reagent grade which helps with dissolving the lanolin into the solution. 91% works but it won't dissolve the lanolin quite as easily. You can heat the 91% IPA up a little to help, but be careful as it is flammable. Also, the type of lanolin used (oil, gel, etc.) makes a difference as to how fast it dissolves. All IPA is hygroscopic and it adsorbs water from the air pretty quickly, so, when not it use it is best to keep the cap on. Amazon is probably the easiest source for reagent grade IPA.10:1 to 12:1 alcohol:lanolin ratios work well for rifle.

I've been using MBX mags for an STI 38 super open gun for a while and have had good success with them. I have three 170mm mags and get 29 +1 for starts. 28 rounds easily reloadable if I have to reload to a big stick during a stage. I did have one mag that had a chronic feed issue and contacted Adrian and he resolved it quickly. For me the MBX mags have been rock solid, and when there were issues MBX worked with me.

I agree that with a PCC shooting minor it is about the dot bounce. I've tried a couple (and bare barreled) and can tell a difference in how the dot moves. I don't see that the juice would be worth the squeeze to go to great lengths to machine a custom muzzle brake/comp unless you are wanting to cut weight and go the Ti route. There are some good options out there for less than $50 that work. One of the ones I tried was 20 bucks shipped off ebay and it worked fine, but is a little heavy at 3.6 oz. due to the diameter (I may get that turned down to lighten it up an try it again). The PSA comp is Miculek like and makes a noticeable difference in dot bounce, and is fairly light at 2.25 oz. So far my favorite is the Kaw valley linear comp. It feels lighter than the PSA (on the gun and can't measure right now) and seems to tame the dot bounce...I wasn't expecting that with this muzzle brake. On thing about having a muzzle brake with side ports is that it helps the timer to pick up shots. Shot a classifier last week and had a good run on a speed stage and timer didn't pick up the last shot with the Kaw Valley comp. Reshoot wasn't horrible, but I would have taken the first run given a choice.