perttime

What gun will you reload for? A gun might "prefer", or "dislike" a bullet for accuracy. I don't see how a coated bullet would be detrimental to longevity. For myself, I've gone for copper plated bullets. Possibly cleaner to use than coated ones and still less expensive than jacketed bullets.

Vihtavuori N320 should work, unless you are looking for high PF.

The madness has struck. I'm going to shoot a Match in a different Division: Press the release, open the cylinder with my left hand, dump contents into my right hand, pocket the contents, and grip the gun with my right hand again. Keep the cylinder open until RO gives more commands.

For pistols with a safety, I quite like having a "shelf". The strong hand thumb stays on top the safety lever while shooting. My hands are not large, so I tend to use the weak hand thumb for the slide release. If there's sharp edges, you should be able to blunt them with a fine file. Or dremel if you are handy with them. Even a sharpening stone. The hammer on my Ruger GP100 revolver used to draw blood from my thumb until I blunted it a bit For sight colors: whatever works. I remember an older guy painting his front sight all white, so that he could see something against a tan IPSC target. I'm still coping with all black sights.

Cheap duct tape should do it. Perhaps with chalk marks for verification. And screw the strips together if the Level and size of the match seems to warrant it. Duct tape can leave a sticky residue on the surface. Does that matter? (... In Finnish, duct tape is often called "jesus tape": it saves you in many kinds of trouble ...)

I have some N320 that is dated 2019. It has the same graphite color as the 3N37 that I have.

For IDPA, you must remember to load the 627 with 6 rounds only. "A.5.5.7 Revolvers must be loaded to the division capacity of 6 rounds in the cylinder. Higher capacity 7 and 8 round revolvers are permitted, but may only load 6 rounds."

... or that you have too low pressure to burn efficiently.

You are in Europe, so probably play by IPSC rules. There, you must have a 120gr bullet, or heavier, for Major PF. Vihtavuori tables don't have much that can help: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/handgun-reloading/?cartridge=42 130gr FMJ with 6.8gr of 3N37 at 32.0 mm COAL might barely make Major. Maybe.

This FB page looks pretty recent and it has an Event for an upcoming Match (full already, I think): https://www.facebook.com/dvcipsc/

What load did the seller use? What about round count on the barrel? Not worn out yet?

... and to be precise, magazines "must not contain more than 15 rounds at the Start Signal." So, for a loaded start, people like to have one in chamber and 15 in the first magazine.

I quite like the holders that I bought some years ago. I can no longer find them, and there's no brand marked on them. A European product, I believe. They are one piece of pretty rigid plastic. One way up they fit L-frame speedloaders, the other way they fit K-frame size. The speedloader is inserted by pushing it straight down in to the holder. The "ears" surround the speedloader partially, and will flex just enough that you can release by pulling them horizontally away from your body. There's a slot that can be used to thread the holder onto a belt. Or the slot can be used to mount two holders onto a Tek-Lok belt attachment. I hope I make sense...

Our club (northern Europe) will report it to the police if a round goes over the berm. I haven't heard of it happening, though. There's busy roads and some residential areas within reach. Our IPSC match WSBs state that pointing over the berm with finger on the trigger is a DQ (which IPSC rules allow).

@Schutzenmeister Understood. This thread started from guide rods and rapidly expanded to differences between USPSA and IPSC Rules and practices. You mentioned 180, so why not drift the thread to a related point in the Rules.

IPSC doesn't rigidly stick to 180 either: 2.1.2.1 Subject to the direction and approval of the Regional Director, stage(s) or range specific muzzle angles (reduced or increased) may be permitted.... At our club range, both reduced and increased muzzle angles are routinely used. It is often reduced when we fit two stages into one large bay or use a place that isn't actually a bay. Also, in our bays, muzzle angle limits are often marked near the back of the side berms, so that the angle is quite wide when you are downrange. The non-default angles must be published in WSB: "LEFT AND RIGHT MARKED WITH POSTS. 90 DEGREES UP. REDUCED VERTICAL MUZZLE ANGLE WHEN FINGER IS INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD (2.1.2.1)"

I have a feeling that there are regional differences. Start positions are often demonstrated, or it could be standing naturally anywhere in the shooting area (referring to "APPENDIX E2: Diagram of Equipment Position", for "standing naturally"). I don't think I've SEEN the direction of the head dictated, unless starting facing uprange with wrists above shoulders. Direction of the body might be determined by mandating foot locations (heels or toes touching marked spots on a fault line).

I think not, unless it is a part that Sig Sauer offers for the particular handgun. For Production or Production Optics anyway. IPSC Production is a little more "production" than USPSA Production. From IPSC Rules, the Divisions appendices: 18. Original parts and components offered by the OFM as standard equipment, or as an option, for a specific model handgun on the IPSC approved handgun list are permitted, subject to the following: (...) Guide rods are not listed as permissible aftermarket parts

The lighter bullet at higher velocity gives a faster recoil impulse. The heavier bullet at lower velocity gives more of a soft push, in comparison. Some prefer the former, others prefer the latter ... and some just don't worry about it.

My local Alien guys (with the "normal" version) are saying that the slide stop is very sensitive, stock. Inserting the magazine with any force is supposed to release it. Some were complaining that the slide won't stay back if you lay the Alien on a table. Some commercial ranges require you to leave it on the table with the slide back.

That is what I've been seeing at IPSC matches. Alternatively, a Long Course might let you start at the back but also make you go somewhere that you need to retreat from, so the RO can just stand back a little.

What you are doing is quite foreign to me. So methodical and goal oriented Fascinating to follow but not something that I would do. I guess it is enough for me to shoot for fun, and participate in a few matches. Make 60% score unless I have some serious issue, RO at local IPSC matches and maybe train some newbies to the point that they are safe on the range and can hit targets. There is a local match coming up, and the Madness has struck me. I'm thinking of shooting 6-shot Major Revolver, instead of Major .45 in IPSC Classic (SS). At least I'll have an excuse for not winning anything

And Revolver. It does not make any sense, competitively, to shoot 6-shot Major. But sometimes the madness strikes me and it feels good to have at least one advantage

It is not possible that millions of flies are wrong.

Looks like KMR also has models with sights that are adjustable both ways. Perhaps you can get a sight from KMR? ... do you still need a hammer if you loosen the screws?