martyg00

+100! Marty A-7424

I'm really interested in some other responses since I'm kind of biased. I have shot a Caspian Open gun since 1993. My short answer is for a grand this sounds like a deal you can feel. My gun has in excess of 60k rounds. I would suggest you shoot the gun you are interested in and a STI- SVI to get a feel for both. I prefer the heavy steel of the Caspian as opposed to the other frame. But you might not. That being said if I was building another open gun it would be on a Caspian frame but I would not trade my current open gun for any STI SVi built by any gunsmith. I run Safariland 773 mag pouches and Shooters Connection has them very cheap right now. Starline for your brass. I run a Safariland 013 holster but don't shoot 3 gun so wouldn't know if that holster would be a good choice. My suggestion, call Gary at Caspian to get a couple of more magazines and go for it! PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send a pic of my Open Gun. Good Luck! Marty A-7424

I ordered 2 coupon books from the American Casino Guide (google). The books were under $15.00 each and contain tons of match play coupons, 2 for ones at a lot of Vegas casinos including a $10.00 match play coupon, 2 for 1 show ticket and 2 free drinks at any bar at the Orleans. My wife and I are staying at the El-Cortez downtown and are going to use these books to do a little exploring all over town. The last time we were in Vegas was 19 years ago. My first nationals after all these years and I can't wait. Marty A-7424

i also got my packet, and found it to be pretty lame. all of that info could have been easily (and inexpensively) emailed or posted on the website. +1 Marty A-7424

i also got my packet, and found it to be pretty lame. all of that info could have been easily (and inexpensively) emailed or posted on the website. +1 Marty A-7424

Coco, Sept. 5th match at the COPS range is a go.

It will be. I think the reason my old one could not be fixed is it was one of the original comp scopes that did not have the xd diode. This scope was originally set up to run 3 of the little batteries. (76 I think) The rescomp battery cap allowed you to run 4 batteries. The xd scope with the one battery is brighter than the old one with the 4 little ones. Brighter with 1/2 the batteries.

+1 Larry! I replaced an Aimpoint Comp (original non xd), on my open gun in January, after John Enloe at Aimpoint pronounced the scope DOA. Non repairable. Really tried to embrace the micro, but after taking in to consideration my 52 year old eyes, being used to a 10moa dot, the expense to replace the scope and mount... I found an almost new, blue comp xd, with a 10 moa dot and gladly paid $225.00 for it. For me, the 8-10moa super bright dot is the ultimate set up. I have never seen a c-more that would be a better fit for me. I expect this scope to last as long, if not longer than the first, (15 years), since I don't have to run a rescomp battery cap to achieve maximum brightness, with a downside of burning out the diode. My opinion is that Aimpoint has their hands full with the Military market and the sporting market for these scopes is not a priority. Hence no options on the dot size. Enjoy Marty A-7424

I load on an original Square Deal (not a B model), in .38 Super and have since 1989. Before that an original Square Deal in .45 ACP that I bought in 1987. Before 1987 I had NEVER reloaded a single round. I learned to reload on the Square Deal. I just got the super press back from Dillon and paid $49.00 for a complete rebuild and had the press back in about 2 weeks. I can't imagine loading without the auto-indexing feature. Ammo quality is fine in my Open Gun. (Ottocomp Caspian Hi-Cap). My recommendation: Buy Square Deal, new or used. Load ammo If you feel the need to upgrade later, sell press for not much less than you paid for it. Buy a 650 or 1050. Enjoy Marty A-7424

I would think Otto Matyska,(Ottocomp), here in St. Louis could handle this with no problem. 314-638-3327. IMO one of the finest Gunsmiths on the Planet! Marty A-7424

I have no clue what is "expected" in any other Country but as my Father used to say "when in Rome, you do as the Romans do", which means here in the US, you are expected to help. I am also confused about the statement "allowed this helping trend basically to give the shooters an edge", how can taping targets and setting steel in the hot sun give a shooter an edge? The edge would go to the shooter that is NOT helping! Poison, Just to let you know where I'm coming from, I happen to be a 20+year member of the range where this match took place and consider it my home range. I also have had 107 chemotherapy treatments so far, fighting an incurable cancer. I don't shoot many major matches anymore because it is very difficult for me to shoot 10-12 stages in one day, due to fatigue that is directly related to the chemo.However, I will be shooting my first USPSA Nationals in October and will assist my squad any way I can.... Thank God I wasn't on that squad! Respectfully, Marty A-7424 USPSA Member Open Division since 1987

Central Ozarks Practical Shooters shoot on the first Sunday of the month, so they will have a match on Sept 5th. They generally have a short shooters meeting at about 8:45 am and start shooting around 9:00. Great place to shoot. Website will give directions, a short hop from Ft. Wood. Marty A-7424

Thanks Boz!

Looks like the old man and the old Ottocomp will be at their first Nationals. Viva Las Vegas! Marty A-7424 Open division since 1987.. at that time the ONLY division.

After all these years I have entered the Open Nationals for the first time! Just curious about the schedule... Shoot all 4 days,just morning or afternoon, all day every day? Marty A-7424

How long will it be before we know we are in the match? Marty

Number 17 Open... No issues My first Nationals! Marty A-7424 Open since 1987

My first generation Caspian framed open gun has over 50k rounds through it. This 1992-1993 frame has been lightened, cut, checkered insert added, and the frame was cut and a magazine well was welded on and the frame is about 1/2 an inch longer than stock. I have no clue if the frame in the crack area was modified but I don't think so. Not a single problem with the frame. I like the older magazines better than the new ones. If the price is right I'd go for it. I would call Caspian and I'll bet Gary would weld the frame for free, if needed. I know of 5 other open guns on first generation frames and none have cracked, along with mine all built by the same gunsmith, Otto Matyska, here in St. Louis. If I was building another open gun it would be on a Caspian Frame. Marty A-7424

Any particular reason why? Lighter and faster bullets equals more muzzle flip and more recoil...two things that aren't entirely helpful for what we do. I shoot almost nothing but 180s out of my Trojan and it's far from sluggish, so that shouldn't be a concern. It actually has a nice crips feel (12.5lb ISMI spring, 19lb mainspring). The 165s can be a bit snappy in comparison....more than necessary really. R, The reason why as it seemed like J Michael Plaxco's book Shooting from Within recommended the lighter and faster loads, without distinction from compensated to uncompensated, but I could be wrong. Thanks for all the help, you guys are really putting out some good info! Keep it coming! Mike wrote that book I believe around 1990 or 1991 and at that time there was only one division, open, and everybody shot heads up. The lighter faster loads allow the compensator to work more efficiently as there is more gas pressure to work with. I trained with Mike in the late 80's and have that book and his series of tapes. Very good information. Mike was writing about compensated pistols in the book. I have only shot the open division but if I was going to limited, 180 would be my choice. Marty A-7424

Gloria, Congrats to you and Matt. It looks like Matt did what about 99 percent of us guys also did...... Married UP! Best wishes to you both! Marty A-7424

+1 I shoot an Aimpoint with a 10moa dot and personally would not shoot with a dot smaller than a 7 at the distances we shoot in most matches now. Marty A-7424

The first Hi-Cap used in the USPSA Nationals was in 1988 or 1989, I believe in 1988, in .38 super and was built and shot by Otto Matyska, ("Ottocomp") of St. Louis. This frame was designed and cast by him with magazines from Europe with the capacity of 19 rounds. Since the rules at that time were vague about mandatory reloads he ejected the magazine and just as it cleared the pistol he reinserted the same magazine.... this prompted a rule change later. This frame was retired a few years after with some cracks in it. I'll bet that frame had 100k rounds through it at 180 or better power factor. I personally shot about 500 rounds through that gun. The interesting thing is that frame bears a striking resembalance to the Caspian Hi-Cap..... which is the Hi-Cap that Otto built for me in 1993 (my fourth Ottocomp Open Gun) that I continue to compete with today, complete with an Aimpoint Comp XD and a Red Buff scope mount. Oh the memories! Marty A-7424 Open since 1987

+++++10! Marty A-7424

JR I shoot a round trigger guard Caspian with a Red Buff mount and indeed the frame needs to be milled to remove the plunger tube. I shoot with an Aimpoint Comp and my gunsmith modified (removed) most of the rail on the mount so there is just room for the 2 rings holding the scope. I don't know how to post pics but PM me and I will send you a pic that may help. I really like this set up, (prefer the aimpoints) and if I were building a new gun today I would set it up the same. I also saw the Fred Craig gun on Gunbroker and think that would be a great gun for the money. Enjoy Marty A-7424 Red Buff did make a mount with intregal rings, I have one of these on my Single Stack open gun with an Aimpoint 5000 but I don't think they are available anymore.

Thats good news! I ordered 5k Winchester Small Rifle primers from PV in April... Marty A-7424