TonyT

S&W did manufacture a Performance Center Model 686 in 38 Super. Used with Ranch Products moonclips and Remington brass it's a very speedy reloader and great shooter. I kave heard that 38 Super is a better chambering for the revolver since it is a straight sided case whereas the 9m is a very tapered cased. The tapered cases may have a tendency to stick in revolver chambers.

I am using some that are 40+ years old.

I have used Metalform magazines in both a SA 1911 and a dan wesson 1911. In the SA 1911 I have used both the Springfireld type and normal mags without any problems.

Stick with Federal standard large pistol primers for use in lightened DA revolvers. For semi-auto I use the Winchester large pistol primer, highly uniform velocities.

WSF would be a good choice for both the 9mm and 40 S&W.

If you are looking for bullseye level accuracy at 50 yards then you have to consider either one of the specialty (pricey) 22's such as the Walther GSP or Hammerli. Sopmewhat lesser in price is the S&W Model 41 which come with a superb trigger. If you want bullseye accuracy with a 1911 framne then the Marvel conversion unit gets you there for about $400. For less pricey guns which will require some trigger work the Ruger and Browning are a good bet.

I reload and use the 147 gr. Star FMJ with 3.4 gr. titegroup or 4.0 gr. WSF. Both provide ca 900 fps and shoot well in my 9mm's. (PO18-9, S&W 5906, S&W 99, S&W 952, Sig 226 & 229)

Both the Baer and STI's are great guns. Im purchased my Trophy Match forless than $900 (so called salesmans sample) unfired. I purchased a Dawson "innards" set and installed it myself - gave a nice 3+ lb trigger pull. I hear you. I'm sure SA Trophy Match is a good gun. I'm even eyeballing it. BUT about $1100 for the gun, plus $ 150 for sear, hammer, spring, plus labor for the trigger job, $30 for short trigger another $30 fiber optic sight plus labor will will put me to the price range of a Baer- Premier II or an STI Sentinel.... I'm wondering what should be the reason why not to just buy one of those... At the and of the day I would have an STI or a Bear, not a pimped out something. I think I pretty much answered to my own question...now I have to make up my mind Baer or STI....

I did not expereince difficulties with metering the new unique in my Dillon 550. However the Alliant ballistic data for 147 gr. jacketed 9mm m loads is somewhat anemic. In 9mm i prefer Bullseye, WSF, or Power Pistol. In 45 ACP I prefer the faster burning powders like WST, American Select, or Clays which burn more cleanly than Unique. I do use Unique for reloading 28 ga. shotshells and it's a great performer.

If you are "addicted" to the Cl;ays line of powders then plain old Clays is the powder for 45 ACP. You may want to consider both American select and WST - I have found both to meter well and both are clean burning.

I kave used light loads of both WST and W-231 in my PO16-40. Both shot very well with lead, plated or jacketed bullets. All my loads are on the mild side nver exceeding ca.800 fps. with 155 to 180 gr. bullets. Enough to punch holes in paper targets and knock down steel plates.

I would opt for WSF if all I were reloading was 9mm and 40 S&W with jacketed bulets.

If you are going to reload with cast lead bullets then I would highly recommend the Dillon dies. The bulletseating pludg is very esailly removed for cleaning. If all you plan to load is jacketed bullets then any major manufacturers dies will work. I use several Dillon dies alonf with Lyman, Lee and RCBC.

If you have a medium toi large hand then the PO wide body frame is not a problem. For people with small hand size it's a bit too wide. My son can hadle a CZ-75 and Sig 229 or 226 but has difficulty with the PO wide body frames. That's the price one pays for a widebodied 45 ACP.

I purchased a SA Trophy Match and S&W 945. Both shoot far, far better than I can ever hold. The SA Trophy Match required a $120 parts kiut (new hammer, sear and disconnector) to get a nice trigger pull. The S&W 945 came with a ggreat trigger pull right out of the box and is supoerbly accurate. It's now my bullseye gun. The SA came to under $1100 and the S*W945 to slightly over that.

I used 4.8 to 5.0 gr. of W-231 or 3.6 gr. Clays behind the 200gr. LSWC in 45 ACP. More recently I have switched to 4.0 gr. American Select or 4.2 gr. WST, both were somewhar cleaner than W-231. That being said, W-231 and Bullseye are probably the most universally used pistol powders.

I have been using American Select and WST in my 45 ACP reloads. American Select may burn a tad cleaner than WST but it's easier to see the WST in the case because of it's light grey color.

I use either the Berry's/ ainier plated bullets ot Star jacketed with American Select or WST. Nice clean burning loads.

CZ's are rugged and relaible handguns. The Springfield XD line also has an excellent reputation.

The Hodgdon manual list 4.7 gr. Titegroup as a maximum load with 180 gr. Hornady XTP OAL of 1.125 in. at 978 fps and 33000 psi. With 4.3 gr. Titegroup and Federal primers I believe you are seeing the flattening of the soft Federal primer cup. I use 3.9 gr. WST with FSP in my 610 for a nice light load and it also shows flattened primers.

No problems using the Ranch Product moonclips with remington brass.

I use American select for plated and jacketed loads in 45 ACP and reduced powewr loads in 40 S&W and 357 Magnum - very consistent velocity and clean burning. I have also used WST in 45 ACP, both it and American Select meter well in my Dillon 550.

I have never had a problem using the Dillon gage. Most all the rejects from the Dillon gaga still fit and fire in several of my guns but I only use the Dillon rejects for practise.

What is the current value of a new S&W 627, 8 shot, in 38 Super ? I have been searching for one recently and have not located.

If you want bullseye level accuracy then the Marvel is the only unit to consider. (I have not tested the new Accurate Arms unit) The Ceiner and Kimber units are plinkers! Jarvis previously offered an all stell unit for use with high velocity ammo and it was better than the Ceiner/Kimber but not as good as the Marvel. The only minus with the Marvel is that since the slide is made of aluminum it does not stay open after firing the last round - a small price to pay.