ArnisAndyz

Found some cheap ACT mags for the P14 from CDNN. (I'm using them in an Armscor widebody). Quality seem really good, better than the Macgar that came with it. Its tight, but I can cram 14 rounds into it. Magbody is longer than the Macgar, I think its the same length as the new model factory Para mags. Basepad is plastic. Took the baseplate of my friends new Para mag (which is also plastic) and it fit perfectly onto the ACT, so I assume Grams, Dawson or Arrodondo basepads made for P14s will fit these as well. Ran 200 rounds through it with no malfunctions and it locks the slide back. For half the price of Para mags, I'm really happy with them.

Most people go with a 20" - 24" barrel for Limited/Tactical/HeMan becase an 8 magazine tube (class maximum) ends up real close to that. I have an HK Fambarm FP6 with 20" barrel I use for HeMan. With the screw on choke it lines up perfectly with the mag tube. Most everybody is running some type of choke regardless of barrel lengths. Its very typical at my local range to see guys with 18" defensive shotguns having trouble with knocking down steel. Its not the length of the barrel but the abscence of a choke. Open guys sometimes go with 24" + barrels since thier capacity is greater. I believe there is some type of rule that limits how far the extension can go beyond the barrel, but you'll see some guys with short barrels and long tubes, so I don't know. Advantages? shorter = quicker and lighter, more manuverable in the tight stuff. Long barrel = longer sight radius, more pointable, weight absorbs some of the recoil. Here is a pic of mine without the choke. Might not be an ideal setup for HeMan but its what I already had at the time. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...8441&hl=FP6

You'll be faster with a semiauto, but as a new shooter use what you have. if you have an old 870, mossberg or 1300 laying around use that. At the local level I've beat guys using autos with my pump (and I've been beated by guys with pumps using a semiauto). If you shoot Heman class you'll be scored with shooters using a pump. I'm putting together some guns for Tactical class...I'm waiting to see how that new FN Practical (rebadged SX2Practical) feels.

Just started loading for 223. lubing, sizing, trimming is a pain. getting the primer pockets ready is another one. I'm figuring out that I need to sort my brass by headstamp so I know what task needs to be done. Most primers go right in, but some pockets need swaging/reaming. Whats a good tool to use for this? TIA

If you have any trouble ask Ivan (Blackdragon), he'll set you strait. You could probably just send him the safety to trade out for another one.

excellent...thanks for the info, looks like an SP01 is in my future! Doing some further reading on old posts, I see that the SP01 is not legal for IDPA due to weight. If you had to choose would you get the standard CZ75/85 DA/SA for SSP or the CZ75 SA for ESP?

Does the SP01 have an ambi-safety? I'm a lefty and wondering how hard this would be to setup for a lefthanded shooter. I know there's the CZ85 but what would it take to get the SP01 lefty friendsly? thanks.

Right. Dump the mag, reload, and keep on truckin'. Basic rule is: Slide lock, dump mag; slide forward, retain mag. Addendum to the basic rule: Malfunction clearance, dump mag; if slide doesn't lock back when gun is empty due to design, modification or bad juju, dump mag. Your supposted to retain the mag on slide lock? I was under the impression that you didn't have to retain if you shoot to empty. To clarify what revchuck posted... Basic Rule Slide Lock = dump it Slide Forward (one still in the chamber but mag empty) = retain it

Smith & Alexanders Magwell for the Para might (or might not) fit into the box. You have to trim part of the frame down. It does look much smaller than the Dawsons though.

LOL, your right...but I'm probably the smallest "Heman" at our club.

I would practice isolating what you want to work on, essentially agility and plyometric speed training. Do activities that might help this, basketball, raquetball, martial arts, chase a chicken around, whatever. If you look at games you played as a kid, tag, king of the mountain, kick the can, etc, they were designed to develop physical tools to be used later in life (I never turn down an offer to play tag with my daughter). You'll get in shape, develop your tools and have fun at the same time. Whe you feel and increase in your physical capacity you can start mixing it back in with your shooting. Sometimes when we do something we really like (shooting) its hard to concentrate on what we really need. Alot of it is also mental. You have to "think" fast. Burst up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Race that shopping cart around Walmart. So many people make it a "program" or a chore they have to do. If you make it fun and part of your everyday life you'll be more likely to stay with it.

When your 6 year old daughter tells you you left the hamster wheel (brass tumbler) running again.

revchuck for king! I like this idea, it sets limitations but also allows for an amount of creativity and built in consequences, rather than leaving it up to the RO to call a FTDR. If you dump rounds or have some rounds left in your mag when you dump it, you may not have enough to finish the stage, but then again, you might. I see this as more "real world" than making poeple just follow the rules because they exist. Problems that might crop up under this way of doing it...how many extra mags can you carry? Stage designs might start centering around "tricking" the shooter into reloading mistakes rather than just making good stages. How do you deal with the different capacity limits per division?

Thanks, I'm on my lunch break trying these drills right now. Its been a couple weeks since i started, but I changed my workout routine so I can wakeup earlier and dryfire practice in the morning outdoors using actual targets at match distances (instead of the reduced targets indoors). Its a big difference! I'm tracking alot better and I feel like my vision is getting more of a workout. An added plus is that it feels more like match day being outside and my FO is easier to pickup.

Isn't that Pamela Anderson's younger sister? Last couple weeks I've gone away from reduced targets indoors to actual fullsized targets outdoors set up at distances I might see at a match, it really works my far to near focus, in retrospect, reduced targets didn't really work my vision that hard.

Are the Aguilla mini-shells legal to use in 3-gun? I shoot a pump in Heman (9 in the gun max). My tube holds 8 (+1 in the chamber). I was wondering on starts where the gun is on the table, tube loaded but chamber empty, could I replace 2 stardard length shells with 3 mini-shells to bring my capacity up to 9 in the gun at the start?

Got one...don't think it will work for my configuration (Lefty) otherwise it seems like a decent alternative to a beta-C. For sale in classifieds!

Thanks for sharing that. I was entertained just by reading it, almost as if I was there. If you shot the rifle from the table I assume you could just put the other guns down (with a loaded chamber) safety on since your not leaving your weapons. I guess you would have to calculate the time penatly in having to clear the weapons vs the points lost on non-A hits from the table.

Thanks for the old link on this Chills...its like deja vu! I read through the entire thread. I think I'm starting to see a pattern. Alot of ROs won't call it. They have there own opinions about the rule and they need to make a subjective decision. I'm guessing because 20 secs is pretty much a match ending penalty and most ROs are nice guys they might give a warning. Now if ROs aren't enforcing it, people might enterpret that as it being OK to dump rounds (like I said earlier..."when in Rome"). So...why doesn't HQ make it a 3 second procedural instead? 3 seconds would be enough to take away the speed advantage vs RWR. If its ALWAYS called people will start figuring out it would be better to develop thier RWR than take a 3 second hit every time. ROs will be more likely to call it, if its called more, people will get the idea that they shouldn't do it. Problem solved. I think dumping rounds fits better with, not using cover, not moving when told to move, and air gunning, etc anyways, no? Although, it doesnt really solve the conflict with Vickers count.

Excellent replys...thanks for the info. I'm still learning the game. I don't intend to be a "cheater", just would like to know what is "allowable" within the rules of the game. Just like someone else said, it kind of rubs the wrong way when your the only one doing it right and everyone else is playing to the limit of the rules (or beyond). Its kind of a hazey line between Vickers count and dropping rounds, add in the personal opinions of any given RO on any given day and the answers could vary. Part of me wants to do what my dad always told me "Do whats right". But the other part says "When in Rome"... So if everyone (including the RO) is skimming the line, should I do it the right way or get drawn into the game? I guess its a personal descision on what I want to achieve.

Been shooting for about a year and a half in IDPA. I usually do pretty well on one stage and crash and burn on others bringing my overall score down middle of the pack. At our local club match this month I placed 5th out of 40 shooters overall, 2nd in CDP! Last month I placed 5th out of 32 shooters, 1st in CDP! To add icing to the cake I've been using my $300 Armscor cheapy! Still have a loooong way to go to break into the top 5 consistantly, but if one or more of the top shooters has a bad day, I'm at least close enough to sneak in there.

Thanks for the replys. I hear what your saying...its kind of like basketball and if the refs are going to call it tight or let you play. In practice I'm consistently faster shooting to slidelock. My RWR needs some practice, but I don't think it will ever be as fast because of the extra motion of stowing the mag. I know I kind of answered my own question, but I was also concerned this may be viewed as "gaming." Since reloads must be done behind cover, the third option doesn't seem as efficient to me, in addition, it would break my rythmn. Id be all set up for the next array, fire one shot then have to go back to cover to reload then re-engage when I could have just done it on the way. OR if your out in the open and shoot to slidelock are you permitted to reload without cover? thanks

Lets say your shooting CDP 8 + 1 and your slicing th pie on 4 targets before going to the next array. Is it more acceptable to leave one in the chamber and reload w/retention or would it be OK to dump that last round (sorry, fire a quick makeup shot) till the slide locks back so you could drop the mag ? Seems like in this instance shooting to slidedlock would be faster. Am I risking a FTDR by taking that one extra shot? Seems like a fine line...did i knowingly dump a round to gain a competitive advantage or was it a legitimate makeup shot? Is it at the discretion of the RO?

I have a couple old Mitchell Drum Magazines which I got a long time ago. I think MWG used to be Michell (but I could be wrong). They look exactly the same, with the tear-drop drum design. They have metal feed lips and are still going strong. I think I paid alot less than what they are selling for now. I also have a bunch of the 25 rounders from butler creek and other manufactures that work ok. After a while the plastic lips get chewed up but thier cheap enough to get more, or get the ones with steel lips.

I'm planning on putting a Picatinny rail and an EOtech (or bushnell Holosight) on my old 10/22 for practice. Manual of arms will be different then my tactical gun but at least I'll have 50 rounds to blast!